"What is your address, bebe?" Steve asked.
"Why?" I asked him back.
"I'm sending you an early birthday present."
"It's only August."
"I know... it's very early."
I sighed. "1595 Old Orchard."
"Thanks. Well gotta go. Talk to you later, honey."
"Ok, bye."
A knock at the door made Mel, Amanda and I to stop the CD. It was a day that we got together to practice. These days we tortured my mom by making her record them with the camera, I wanted a home documentation; plus it helped to keep Mel from changing the dance moves.
"Does a Laura Anglen live here?" said the man.
"Um... I'm Laura." I said almost shaking.
What did I do now? Damn it, I don't remember doing anything.
"My name is Charles Freeman. Stephen Gran gave me your address, I guess you had no idea I was coming."
"Not exactly. He told me he was sending my a present."
"Well, I guess that would be me," he chuckled at Stephen's remark. "Do you have a parent here?"
"Um... yeah. Come on in."
"Thank you."
Mel and Amanda were sitted on the loveseat and Mom was sitting in her chair. Mel and Amanda were drinking water and catching their breathes. I walked over and sat next to them while Mr. Freeman took a seat on the couch.
"Now, I bet you're all wondering why I am here," he commented looking at the three of us sitting on the loveseat.
"Yes," I said as Mel and Amanda just sat quietly.
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the tape I had sent to Steve. We all caught our breathes. I really hadn't expected a reply so fast if even at all.
"I'm here about this," he almost laughed at us because we had not let go of our breathes. "I presume these are the others on this tape?"
"Yes," Amanda said almost in a whisper.
"We know that the songs belong to other people but none of us can play an instrument so we don't have our own songs. Steve said that it was alright. It is isn't it?" Mel said.
"Yes, oh, yes." he paused really looking at us. "May I ask why you are all out of breath?"
"They were practicing." my mother told him.
"You girls are out of breath from singing?"
"No, we were practicing our dance." Mel told him.
"Would you mind showing me?" he asked.
We all looked at each other. "This is like an audition, isn't it?" said Amanda.
Mr. Freeman laughed, "Yeah, actually. Do you mind?"
"No, course not. May we just tell you that it's incomplete." Mel said.
"That's quite alright." he smiled at us.
So there we were getting off the plane in California. Luckily Mel and I had gotten permission to be under Amanda's care, even though I was of legal age, I wanted my mother to know that she would be there to keep me 'in-line', as they put it.
"Laura..." Steve yelled as he rushed toward us. He enveloped me in a hug. "God, it's been to long."
"Graduation," I laughed as I peeled myself out of his arms.
"Yeah, months ago." he smiled.
I introduced him to Mel and Amanda.
"What were yall's name again?" he asked.
I let go of a big sigh. "This is Amanda...."
"No," he interupted me. "Your band's name." he said.
Mel and Amanda began to laugh.
"Oh, Angelhart." I told him for probably the tenth time since I told him we were coming to California.
"Right, got it now." he beemed.
"For how long?" I asked him as Mel and Amanda began laughing harder.
He chuckled with sarcasim while I looked at him with innocent eyes.
"Well, check it out. I'm in the company of the next female sensation, Angelhart."
I pushed him with my elbow. "Yeah. We keep hangin' around with you and no one's going to like us."
We all laughed and walked to get our luggage.
I am a major jokster when it comes to my friends. Steve is always getting sarcastic remarks from me. It's because he's so good at setting himself up for them, as you will see. Of course, I do it with practically everyone. :)
The alarm went off at 7:00 am. The aroma of bacon filled the apartment. Steve shut the alarm off and wondered who was cooking so early in the morning. He walked out of his room to see Amanda and Mel sitting at the table with coffee and orange juice and me in the kitchen.
"What are you guys doing so early? " he questioned through a yawn.
"Steve, it's 9 am where we're from." replied Amanda before taking a drink of her Starbucks coffee.
"So ya'll have been up since five?"
"No, since 6. That's 8 for us." Mel said turning toward me, "You know I don't think I like the time change."
I laughed at her. "Don't worry we won't be here long."
"Oh, using me are ya?" Steve joked.
"Yep." Amanda said.
"Mmmmhmmm." agreed Mel.
"Oh, but my dear Stephen, it's so easy. Why else did you think we came out here?" I said.
Steve had a blank stare. Amanda and Mel saw the pain in his eyes.
"Steve, she's joking..." Amanda assured him. "Aren't you?"
I looked at him with fake shock. "Why Stephen, you didn't think I was for real did you?" I hopped over to him and struck him on the shoulder. "You should know me better than that by now."
"Oh, really?" Mel joked.
"Mel, I was kidding. Now enough of this nonsense, when do we have to meet whats-his-name?"
Amanda stiffed a laugh. "Um... at nine."
"Good."
After six months had past, we were still not very well known. But something was about to happen, I could feel it. The only good news was that we had our own songs. A few at least. And today would be the day that would change it all...
The phone rang loud in the quiet apartment that the three of us shared.
"Someone get that," I shouted. We had all finally gotten used to the time change.
"Hello?"
Mel had answered the phone, which was good. It was 7:30 on a Saturday morning and I was super tired from clubbin' the night before. Poor Mel, was still only 17 and couldn't accompany us which was why Amanda and I hardly went.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she yelled.
I climbed out of bed angrily and went into the living room. Amanda had fell asleep on the couch and woke up from Mel's scream.
"WHAT????" I screamed at her.
She put her finger up to hush me. I went over and sat beside Amanda still in my sweatpants and sports bra.
Nightclothes are so comfortable.
"What the hell is going on?" she asked.
"Beats the shit outta me." I told her.
Mel hung up the phone and turn toward us.
"Well, what the hell were you screaming about?" I asked her.
"Oh nothing. Freeman found a traveling gig for us."
"Really. Like a tour?" asked Amanda.
"Our own tour?" I said.
"No, opening act." she commented trying to hide the smile that played on her lips.
"Well, for who?" asked Amanda.
"Oh, just some group with five of the most hottest guys." she said.
"No shit...." I couldn't belive it.
"NSYNC?" asked Amanda with shock all over her face.
"NSYNC!!!!!!!!!!!!" Mel yelled again.
Amanda and I jumped off the couch and began screaming along with Mel.
This really is finally happening. I thought.
