Zoe was listening to Chase Gibson's newest song while doing research for her hero project.
Her project partner, Amanda, had already made a list of possible heroes—all politicians, artists, and scientists.
"Boring," Zoe thought after reading about Amanda's fifth-choice pick.
Amanda had already said no to Zoe's first choice—Chase Gibson.
He was her favorite singer.
And he could dance and act too.
"But how has he changed the world?" Amanda had asked at school that day.
"Besides, I read he isn't even that nice."
Zoe didn't care.
Maybe she could still persuade Amanda that Chase was talented enough to write about.
Taking a break, she pulled up the official Chase Gibson fan website.
She could hardly believe her eyes.
"Aaah!" Zoe's scream echoed through the house.
"Zoe, what's wrong? What happened?"
Zoe turned around to see Mom in the doorway.
"Chase Gibson is coming to the mall this Saturday to sign autographs!"
Mom frowned. "Never scream like that, unless you're hurt or in danger."
"Can I go? Please, Mom!"
"You and Amanda are working on your project on Saturday," Mom said.
"Schoolwork comes first, you know."
"But Mom!" Zoe pleaded.
"Zoe, no," Mom said firmly.
"Now turn that music down please. Dinner will be ready soon."
Zoe slouched down and lowered the volume as Mom headed downstairs.
"I have to go to the mall this Saturday," she thought.
After waiting in line for over an hour, Zoe finally stepped up to the table.
Seeing Chase Gibson in person made her forget all about the big lie she'd told her mother.
"Hi, Chase! I'm your biggest fan!" Zoe said to the star.
"Can you sign some things To Zoe, without a y?"
She emptied her backpack filled with Chase Gibson merchandise onto the table.
Chase Gibson looked at Zoe and then at the pile of stuff.
"I can't sign all that!" he snapped.
"I've been signing autographs for hours!
And look at that line!"
Zoe felt a lump in her throat. "But I'm your—"
"Biggest fan? Yes, I know. That's what everyone says.
Now pick one thing, and I'll sign it.
Let's keep this line moving."
Zoe shyly unrolled a small poster.
Chase Gibson quickly scribbled an autograph on it.
As Zoe walked away from the table, she looked at the autograph:
To Zoey, —Chase Gibson it read in big ugly letters. "Ugh."
Just then her phone beeped.
It was a text message from Mom.
Come home right now!
"You lied about where you were going!" Mom's eyes narrowed.
"I had no idea where you were when Amanda's mom called!
Then I remembered that Chase Gibson was at the mall today."
Zoe winced at hearing that name. "I'm sorry, Mom."
"I'll talk with you about some consequences later.
For now, go to your room.
Amanda will be here soon to work on your project.
I hope you've learned a lesson!"
"Oh, I learned a big lesson today," Zoe murmured.
Zoe trudged off to her room.
She flung her backpack, still filled with Chase Gibson stuff, onto the floor.
She reached for her notebook.
A Chase Gibson sticker smiled at her on the cover.
Zoe stared back at him.
"I still like your music.
But Amanda was right—you're not a hero."
She flipped open the notebook and began searching for a hero from Amanda's list.