Like a Love Song

Chapter 1 

Everything s Wonderful 

Nothing can prepare you for the bright lights of fame. Nothing. When I m stepping onto a stage, the spotlight is a warm embrace. But when I m walking a red carpet, the spotlight is cold, the camera s flashes little daggers of ice, making my heart speed up in turn. 

I m lucky I m not alone tonight. 

Trent is by my side as we pull up to the E! People s Choice Awards, but it takes him a moment to look away from the paparazzi s cameras and turn to me. He smiles, his Hollywood-white teeth bright. Deliberately, he puts his arm around me, and the butterflies in my stomach calm down. I feel elevated. 

We re immediately guided from our limo by security people wearing black suits and earpieces. We barely have time to exchange another look before we re stepping onto the international symbol of fame and fortune: the red carpet. 

Natalie, when is your new album coming out? asks one of the paparazzi. 

Natalie! Over here! another shouts. Are you excited about tonight? Do you think you ll win Female Artist of the Year?  

Natalie!  

Natalie, over here!  

Natalie!  

The trick to posing on the red carpet is to suck in your breath, plaster on your most photogenic expression--for me, an open smile--and ignore everything the paparazzi say. Nobody looks good mid-speech, and this is all about looking good. Force your eyes to stay open, but somehow make it seem natural. You ll get used to the flashing lights eventually, seeing nothing but white and black dots in your vision. When that happens, only smile brighter.

One foot in front of the other. I can totally do this. Breathe in, breathe out. 

I m wearing a dress with an asymmetrical hem, shorter in the front and flowing down to the ground in the back, lilac tones deepening into purple. The torso is strapless and covered in

Gabriela Martins is a Brazilian kidlit author and linguist. Her stories feature Brazilian characters finding themselves and love. She was a high school teacher and has also worked as a TED Ed-Club facilitator, where she helped teens develop their own talks in TED format. She edited and self-published a pro-bono LGBTQ+ anthology (Keep Faith) with all funds going to queer people in need. When she's not writing, she can be found cuddling with her two cats or singing loudly and off-key. Like a Love Song is her debut novel. Find her on Twitter at @gabhimartins and on Instagram at @gabhi, and visit her website at gabrielawrites.com.