Hearing the ringing of Danny’s phone near by Reese grabbed his windbreaker off the chair and looked in the pocket. “Danny, phone!” She called over to him when the music stopped.

Taking a sip from his water bottle Danny looked over to Reese. “What number is on the caller ID?” He questioned.

“It just says Meter’s cell?” Reese said, giving a quizzical look to her boyfriend. “Who’s Meter?”

Danny laughed as the music started up again. “It’s Parker. Go ahead and answer it.” He okayed before turning his attention back to Ricky, who was going over some new dance steps.

Rolling her eyes at the thought of talking to Parker, Reese flipped the front of the phone up and placed it to her ear. “Hello.” Reese said, expecting to hear Parker on the other end. She was surprised when the missing member, Tommy, talked back.

“Hey, Reese.” Tommy started out; “it’s Tommy. Can you please tell the others that Parker is driving me to the studio and I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes?” Reese agreed and before she could hang up Tommy added in, “be sure to slap Ricky upside the head for me while you’re at it. I’ll explain later.”

Exchanging their good-byes Reese hung up and relayed the message to the three members who were present.

Ricky shook his head, a look of disappointment graced his tanned face. “That idiot was way more trashed that he wanted to admit last night. After having me drive him to the Taco Bell he begged me to go to a strip club with him.” Laughing Ricky shrugged, “I took him back home instead.”

Eric sat down and leaned against the mirrored wall. “I’m facken hung over and I’m still here, what’s his excuse?” He looked up to see Danny and Reese on the couch, their heads bowed together as they exchanged whispered secrets and brief kisses. “Oh yeah, it was either party with Tony or go over Danny’s and be forced to see that.” He joked, gesturing to the lovebirds.

“I heard that.” Danny spoke up, shooting a playful glare at Eric.

“Hey Reese’s Cup,” Ricky beckoned her attention by waving his hands frantically from where he sat crouched by the tape player. “How is it that you’ve managed to go a year here, ya know before you left, with out getting to know Parker?” As he mused the thought out loud, he noticed Reese tense up.

Keeping her lips pressed Reese formed a smile to convince Ricky, but he knew better. “I’m actually looking forward to meeting her again. I think that first year Danny and I were together you guys were doing a few tours and she was starting her new job and had a few other friends so she was busy and didn’t come around too often.” Reese continued to smile as she thought, “But she sure seemed to have changed all that since I was last here.”

Danny finally got a clue that Reese was agitated and he massaged her shoulders. “Hey, don’t worry baby, Parker is a cool girl, I have a feeling you’ll get along fine.”

Eric cut him off and sprung to his feet as Tommy than Parker walked into the rehearsal studio. “Speak of the devil!” He exclaimed coming over to give Parker a hug.

Returning the gesture, she smiled to her friend. “What you guys were talking about me Stretchy?” Parker shoved him slightly. Eric picked her up, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, spinning her around a few times before placing her back on the ground. After stumbling for a minute she caught her balance and in a fit of giggles she looked up to see a cold stare coming from the red head on the couch with Danny.

Reese felt strange when Parker entered the room. The boys that she had once shared only with one another now had a new girl to hang out and be buddy-buddy with. She looked on at the antics between Parker and Eric, narrowing her eyes in a jealous envy. “You must be Parker.” She finally stated extending her hand, which Parker shook briefly, the smile on her face as fake as Reese’s.

Ricky sensed the tension in the room growing and broke the awkward silence by pressing play on the tape player. “Now that you’ve been so kind as to joined us Tommy let’s get through this rehearsal so we can eat.” He paused than turned to face the mirror. “Ready? 5, 6, 7, 8.”

Tommy, Danny and Eric scurried to their starting positions as the song began. After a few rough run throughs Ricky shut the tape player off and sighed. “Eric, you’re a little off on that last step. Tommy, you need to be over here when you sing your part, leaving us enough room to do the flips and whatever. Danny, you’re not focused today … you haven’t caught onto ANY of what I’ve showed you and this is like our eighteenth go at it.” It was common for Ricky to get very serious when he choreographed and his band mates knew it. No one argued, instead they nodded and got ready to… “Take it from the top”. Ricky called pressing play once again.

Reese and Parker sat on the couch, neither trying to make conversation, they watched in awe as the four boys made each move, even the mistakes, seem easy.

“Ugh, what I wouldn’t give to dance like them.” Reese finally said, more to herself than Parker.

“Yeah, the guys sometimes show me moves when the serious work is done. I’m hoping now that Eric is my roomie that I’ll have even more time to learn.” Parker boasted.

Reese cringed. “Bitch much?” She thought. Out loud, she said, “I’m sure Danny will do the same, since I’m crashing there for a while.”

Not wanting to talk anymore Reese stood up and walked over to the door. When she finally caught Danny’s attention she pointed and mouthed the words, “I’ll see you at home.” Than blew him a kiss and stalked out the door.