“Oh my God, guys I cannot believe we are actually performing at the Beacon!” Kate squealed.

“Why,” I asked. “I mean its just another venue, just another screaming crowd full of Moffatt fans.”

“Way to rain on Kate’s parade, Nati,” Sara said.

“Nope, nothing can ruin my mood not in New York City. I mean here at the Beacon think about it. The Backstreet Boys and Hanson have actually played here!” Kate announced, full of excitement.

“I knew it had to do with the Backstreet Boys. It always has to do with boy bands.” Sara snidely commented.

“Ha ha, but not even you, Miss Thang, can ruin my mood. I mean, it's New York,” Kate exclaimed. Sara hit Kate with a pillow, finally. “Ouch!”

Kate glanced at the sulking Liv. “So, Liv, are you excited about the concert tonight or what?”

Liv just looked at Kate and shrugged. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Ok. Well, I guess we should be getting out there soon. Gotta have someone to calm down the crowd before horny Scott gets on and does his strip tease.” Said Kate with a smile.

Olivia glared at Kate, who was exiting the room. “Olivia,” Said Sara, “What’s up between you and Kate? I mean, what happened? Two venues ago you guys were great friends, what happened?”

“Kate is an evil back-stabbing little weasel, that’s what. She stole Scott away! She told me to wait for her by the TCBY stand while she went to the bathroom and she never came back. I asked Bob and Clint where they were, they said Kate and Scott went to the woods to “get to know” each other. I can’t believe her!” said Olivia with fury in her eyes. She started to shake and Sara went over to her to calm her down.

“Liv! Stop shaking. We have to get on stage and play. Just put what happened behind you for an hour and then when we get back you can talk to Kate about it.” I compromised.

“No! I’m never talking to her again. Let’s just see how she likes it!” Replied Olivia.

“We really should get going though.” I said. “We can’t NOT go on stage.”

“Just give me a minute. I’ll meet you out there.” Said Olivia.

“Ok, hurry up though.” Sara answered back.

NATALIA

I sat behind my drum set, adrenaline growing slowly at the sight of the major crowd. Kate was already scoping out the few (but precious) hotties in the front rows. Olivia concentrated on tuning her guitar. Sara was waiting patiently for the cue.

“So,“ Sara asked the audience. “Who are you guys here to see tonight?”

An explosion of noise blasted us from the audience. Screams were even heard from the back. Hey, gotta love New York. It brings even the weirdest people out of the nooks and crannies.

“Could you be waiting to see...Bob?” Asked Kate teasingly.

Screams rose from all parts of the audience. Well, Bob has at least a little bit of a following.

I put my mouth up to my microphone. “Or could you be anticipating the arrival of...Dave?”

More screams erupted from the audience. Cardboard posters with the boys’ names on them rose from audience members.

Sara spoke up. “Or how about...Clint?”

More and more screams blasted from the crowd. I winked at Sara. Time for the big one. Everyone put in your earplugs.

“You wouldn’t be here for...Scott, now would you?" Cheers and screams exploded, along with most posters and foot stomping. Sara and I were laughing so hard, I almost fell off my stool. Those girls can get pretty carried away over a horny guy like Scott. I mean, who wants him? Besides Olivia. But there’s no accounting for taste.

“Well, sorry, but we are not the Moffatts! We know you all want them, but you gotta get through us first!” Said Olivia. “I’m Olivia.”

“I’m Kate”

“I’m Sara.”

“I’m Natalia.”

“And we are, Nine Lives.” Finished Oliv.

The audience emitted shouts and cheers. Wow, we actually have a following. That makes me feel better.

“And this is our new single, ‘Imagine This’, get ready!” shouted Kate over the loud crowd.

NATALIA

“Okay guys this is your first day off since the beginning of the tour what do you want to do?” Frank Moffatt asked.

“Shopping in SoHo!” I yelled.

“I agree with Nati on shopping, but I’m much more of a Fifth Avenue girl myself,” Kate added.

“Well it’s up to you kids, but try to somewhat stick together. Remember the buddy system,” Mr. Moffatt commanded.

“Yeah, we got it Dad, we’ll see you later.” Bob said as we all piled off the bus onto the streets of New York City.

“Okay, so who’s going where?” I asked trying to organize the group.

“I’m up for SoHo with you, Nati,” Dave said.

“Yeah, that sounds like fun, Bob you wanna come with us?” Sara asked with a half smile. Way to flirt, Sara: 10 points.

“Sure I’ll come with you guys, someone needs to keep an eye on Nati and Dave,” Bob answered.

“Well, I’m going to Fifth Avenue whether I go by myself or not. Macy’s is calling my name,” Kate stated.

“Personally I see you as a Victoria Secret girl and just in case that happens I’m coming with you,” said Scott obnoxiously.

“I’m coming, too,” Olivia quickly chimed in, “I mean, just because FAO Schwartz is on Fifth Avenue.”

“Oh that store’s awesome,” Clint agreed.

“Okay then meet us….” I started to say.

“At the Panda King in Chinatown at 6:00,” Sara blurted out.

I could hear muffled laughter from the rest of my band members as we walked in our different directions.

NATALIA

“Isn’t this hat the best, Nati?” Dave asked me wearing this ridiculous Dr. Suess hat.

“Oh yes Dave, it is so you,” I said sarcastically pulling the hat from his head.

“I can’t believe we’ve been shopping all day and I haven’t bought one thing. This has got to be a world record for me,” Sara informed us.

“That’s lovely dearie, I have bought stuff.” I said with a smile. “Now join the club, cause you don’t look like you’ve had any fun.”

“Oh, we’ve had fun, right Bob?” said Sara, glancing at the sheepish Bob.

“Yeah, it’s been fun.” Bob answered, turning a crimson color.

“Hey, Bob, loosen up. I don’t bite.” I said.

“Not hard, anyway.” Said Dave with a grin. I hit him with my bags. “Come on, I want to get back to that shoe store and get those hot pink docs. They were screaming my name.”

CLINT

Olivia and I walked down the crowded sidewalk of Fifth Avenue. We were meeting Scott and Kate at Rockefeller Center. Olivia didn’t talk much the whole time at FAO Schwartz. I guess she was kinda upset about the Kate and Scott thing. He told us all about it. I guess Kate had told her too.

I noticed Olivia shivering a bit. “It’s getting a bit cold out, huh.” I took off my Old Navy jacket and put it around her shoulders.

“Thanks,” Said Olivia with a smile. “I can’t believe it’s actually cold in the middle of July, but I guess it is.”

“Yeah, it feels like its gonna rain.” I said scanning the sky for rain clouds.

Just then, Kate ran up to us, her hands full of bags. Scott was walking up behind her, carrying a bag and wearing a new Nike hat.

“You guys will not guess who I saw at Macy’s.” Said Kate with excitement, “I was trying on the new L’Oreal perfume, Mystique, when I look up and who is at the other counter trying on Tommy Boy, but Jonathan Jackson!”

Olivia opened her mouth to say something, but nothing but a pitiful squeak came out. She began to shake.

“Olivia, calm down, I got his autograph for you, and gave him your phone number on your cell phone.” Said Kate reassuringly.

Olivia closed her mouth. But the shaking got harder. I grabbed her shoulders and led her to a table in front of a good jazz band that was playing in the Center.

“Liv, calm down, she got the autograph for you. It’s ok, calm down.” I told her.

Kate brought her bags over to the table and sat down. Scott put his bag on the table and stood looking at the band. Kate noticed him coming towards her.

“Uh, Clint! Dance with me. Now.” Demanded Kate. Scott looked a little hurt. Oh well. He can live.

We began to dance in front of the band along with a few other couples. “I’m sorry I had to pull you away from Olivia, but I Scott started coming towards me and I didn’t want Liv to get all upset again. She’s kinda on the brink of a meltdown.”

“Yeah, I could tell. Listen I need your help. I’m not quite sure how to go about this. Well, you know that I think Oliv is a great chick and she really, well, I don’t think she’s interested. What should I do?” I asked her.

“Clint, you are so damn cute when you are flustered. But really, I know, Olivia isn’t always aware of anyone else but herself sometimes. She can lock herself up in her little world or whatever and if she acts like a bitch to you or anything, its because she thinks the world is revolving around her that day. But she’ll come around sooner or later. You just have to let her know. And considering the deep funk she’s been in the past week, she could use someone to talk to. Lord knows she isn’t gonna turn to me.”

Kate finished her advice and so did the song. We sat back down at the table in silence. Olivia still had my coat on.

Suddenly a ring came out of nowhere.

“Did you hear that?” I said to Scott. He just shrugged. “It sounded like a phone ringing.”

Olivia jumped up and searched her pocketbook frantically. “It’s Jonathan! Jonathan’s calling me!” She found her phone and tried to collect herself.

“HELLO?! This is Olivia Chalifoux and I am your biggest fan!” She shouted into the phone.

Suddenly the smile melted off Olivia face. “Right. Shut up. Yeah. OK. Bye.” She turned off the phone and slumped in her chair.

“Olivia! That wasn’t very nice! Why did you talk to him like that?” Kate asked.

“Because it wasn’t him. It was Sara. She said it’s past 6:30 and they are waiting at Panda King for us.” Olivia grumbled.

NATALIA

The waitress came up to us. “Hello my name is Paula and I’m your waitress tonight. Can I start you off with a drink?” said the waitress in a typical "Noo Yawk" accent.

We gave her our orders and then relaxed into the fake leather seats.

“So, how was SoHo?” Asked Kate.

“It was so great,” Dave answered her. “I got these great shoes, they are black patent leather with silver buckles.”

“And heels.” I chimed.

“They do not have heels!” objected Dave.

“Oh, honey, they have heels. Not big heels, but heels all the same. They are quite a pair of shoes.” I replied with a smirk.

“They don’t have heels.” Dave mumbled.

Sara and Bob started laughing. “Yes, Dave, they had heels on them.” Said Bob.

Dave smirked. “So how did you do on Fifth Avenue?”

“I got a cool pair of sneakers at the Nike store.” Said Scott.

“And I got a talking Furby at FAO Schwartz.” Said Olivia. Kate groaned. “And what is so horrible about Furbies?” questioned Olivia.

“Nothing! Nothing at all. They just scare me. Like Teletubbies.” Kate replied.

The waitress came back with our drinks and we ordered our food. She came back fifteen minutes later. Clint and Bob dug into the Moo Goo Gai Pan. Scott helped himself to the beef with broccoli. Kate and Sara split a poo poo platter. Olivia got fried rice and an egg roll. I didn’t know what to get so I let Dave order for us.

“What are you feeding me again?” I asked him.

“It’s orange flavored chicken, Sichuan style. It’s really good.” He answered.

I stole an egg roll from Kate and Sara. “Sorry, I die without them.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t eat them.” Kate answered back.

I looked at the orange chicken. I speared a piece from Dave’s plate. “Not bad. Very citrusy. But not bad.”

“It’s ok. Not as good as the kind I make.” He answered back.

I froze. Oh, no. Please don’t let Kate and Sara hear him talking about the chinese food thing. But they had. Kate looked up and me and smiled. Sara nudged Liv.

“Yeah,” He went on, “Some day when we have some free time and a good kitchen I’ll make you some chinese food.” He said with a smile.

Just then Kate spit out her coke all over the table. Sara was laughing so hard she fell off her chair. Olivia covered her mouth with her hand to muffle the laughter. I didn’t know why, but I felt a little queasy.

“What?” he asked. “Why does everyone always laugh when I say that?”