Chapter Nine
The condo was all it was expected to be. Shrubs lined the walkway from the parking lot to the front entrance way. In the lobby there was a big marble fountain with a crystal chandelier floating just above it. On the sides where stairways that led to elevators that would eventually take the girls up to their own private condiminium. Bellboys scurried to the door at the arrival of the girls so they could take their bags.
"Do you know where condo 505 is?" Kim asked the first visible bellboy.
The short, pudgy boy answered, "Why yes ma'am, follow me." They all walked up a short flight of red-carpeted stairs to the platform where the elevator awaited. A stubby plump finger reached out to push the number 5 button. "Going up, ladies."
At last, the elevator brought the girls up to the fifth floor, and the doors slid open. Sitting in front of them was a long white hallway with wall sconces and doors on either sides. The short bellboy led them to their condo.
"Aye!" Brandi exclaimed. The girls had never been so awestruck. The setup was similar to their other apartment in NYC, but this was finnished off very nicely. All the walls were sparkling white, with peachi-colored trim around the doorways; very light and summery.
There were 4 good-sized bedrooms. Each had their own character to them. The living room had a sliding glass door at the far end that led to a varanda deck. The deck overlooked a nicely landscaped courtyard with a sprinkler system that was set to go off every 4 hours. There was also a fireplace in the livingroom. Chelsea saw no point to this seeing as how it was never really cold enough in Orlando to use a fireplace, even during the winter.
The kitchen was fully equipped with everything imaginable from a toaster oven to a deep freeze freezer. And as for the 2 bathrooms... well, they were bathrooms.
"Enjoy your stay," the bellboy said as he backed out of the room
"Wow, I can't believe we're actually going to be recording another album," Brandi said amazed.
"Yeah, I can't believe we're actually staying in an awesome condiminium like this," Katy said, ever more astounded.
"And I can't believe it's not butter," Cheryl said sarcastically because she hadn't gotten enough sleep on the plane ride down.
Just as the girls were through looking their temporary home over, there was a knock at the door. Kim scurried over to the peep hole in the door and found out that it was Justin knocking at the door.
"Word up! Long time no see, huh? So dis here iz where y'all going ta be living?" Justin asked, as happy as ever.
"Yeah, it's pretty cool," Kimber boasted. "Ya dig?"
"Oh yeah," Justin agreed as he gave Kim a nice friendly hug.
"Justin's here!" Kim exclaimed so the others could hear here at the other end of the condo. They all came rushing out of different rooms, scattering together like mice. Brandi just stood there.
"Hey, you actually found it," Chelsea said with a grin.
"Smart-ass," Justin replied. "The others couldn't make it."
"Why, what's wrong?" Katy asked.
"Well," Juju said, clearing his throat. "Y'all know JC. He claimed to be sleepy. When isn't that boy sleepy? Anyways, Joey had to tape the new Superman series, so y'all know he's glued to the television. Let's see, oh yes, last time I saw Chris he was spinning records and just chillin'. As for Lance, well, Lance was um... in the middle of styling his hair."
"Sounds like fun," Joyce said as she gave Justin a smile.
Remembering that she was supposed to call Lynn as soon as they got in, Brandi darted to the phone in the other room and dialed Lynn's number.
The phone rang. "Hello?" Lynn picked up on the other line.
"Hey, this is Brandi. You wanted to hear from us?"
"Oh yes, how was your flight down?"
"It was pretty bumpy. The peanuts were stale, and the sandwiches are soggy. Oh yeah, and the soda was warm. Bath water warm. Besides that, everything went great."
"What else is there?" Lynn mumbling. "How are things down there? Settled in yet?"
"We just got here maybe a half hour ago. Justin's here right now by himself."
"Well I'll let you go now. Just wanted to make sure everything was going alright."
"And it is," Brandi answered, as they both hung up the phone.
In the living room, Brandi walked out to find the gang sitting on the couches that were already there, talking. The conversation was lively, so she just decided to listen in. All of a sudden, Justin's cell phone rang.
"Your dime, my time," he answered it.
"Uh, hi," Joey said on the other line. "Superman's over, so I was wondering if I could come up. Where are you?"
"It's Joey," Justin said to the girls as he covered the reciever part of the phone up with the palm of his hand. "I'm at the girl's place. Do you know where Sandstone Road is?"
"Well, yeah," Joey replied.
"Ok, take that road all the way down, and make a left at the end of it onto South Mango Drive. Go down that road for about a mile, and you'll see a big parking lot on the right side. Go into the parking lot and we'll meet you at the entrance. It should only take you ten or fifteen minutes to get here."
"Ok man, I'm on my way," Joey said, as he hung up the phone and headed out to his car.
Chapter Ten
