Charlee Has a Secret
Charlee had a secret. By day, she was a regular kid, hanging out with her best friend, Harper, and playing basketball after school. But at night, Charlee became **“Starry Charlee,”** a pop star with millions of fans watching her perform live online. No one at school knew. Not even Harper.
One afternoon, after gym class, Charlee and Harper sat on the bleachers eating snacks. Harper was scrolling through her phone when she looked up, eyes wide.
“Charlee, check this out! This girl named Starry Charlee just posted the *coolest* video of her singing. She’s got, like, a million views! Her voice is *amazing*,” Harper said, holding out her phone.
Charlee’s heart skipped. She recognized that name—it was her. But she smiled, trying to stay calm.
“Wow, she sounds awesome!” Charlee said casually. “But I bet she’s older, right?”
Harper nodded. “Yeah, I guess. But still—*imagine* being that famous!”
Charlee swallowed. Her video was going viral. Now everyone at school was talking about it. She overheard whispers: “Did you see Starry Charlee’s new song?” “She’s going to be huge!”
The more Charlee heard, the harder it was to keep her secret. But she couldn’t tell Harper. It was her thing, something she wanted to keep to herself.
Then, at lunch the next day, a group of kids started singing the chorus of Starry Charlee’s song. Charlee’s heart raced.
“Isn’t it the best?” one girl asked. “I wonder what she looks like!”
Charlee’s cheeks burned. *What if they found out it was me?*
Just then, Harper whispered, “Charlee, you *should* be a pop star. You’ve got the voice!”
Charlee froze. She quickly shrugged. “Maybe,” she said, forcing a grin. “But I’m happy just playing basketball.”
Harper smiled. “You’re a star on the court too!”
As the days went by, the rumors about Starry Charlee grew, but Charlee kept her secret safe, perfectly happy with her life as both a regular kid and a secret pop star.
★★★★★8.4
