So this is my brand-spankin' new story. I had said that I was going to post an old story that I wrote a while ago up, but PART of the plot for that story has SORT OF been appearing lately (meaning that I noticed someone else write about something similar… =[) so I thought I'd give it a moment and put up a new one instead. This idea has been going through my head a lot lately so I needed to get it out anyway. =]

I'm going to tell you guys now, these chapters will probably not be as long as Bad Days had. This is just… an impulsive whim. I love it, but there won't be TOO much in each chapter. Just enough. =]

ENJOY.

**********

I stared at my phone, anticipating the ever-so important call. The clock on the wall read that it was already five minutes late. What was the hold up? Did they not know how much I needed to know what was going on?

The sound of an elegant bell filled the small janitor's closet, matching the vibration my phone was emanating. I jumped out of nerves, shock and excitement as the phone nearly fell from my hands before I brought it to my ear.

"Hello?" I asked in an anticipating whisper.

"Em?" My brother's familiar deep voice filled the other end of the phone in confusion. "What's with the whispers?"

"I'm the janitor's closet. You know phones aren't allowed in school." I replied quickly, anxious to hear the results. "So? How did it go?"

"Honestly?" There was absolutely no excitement in his tone, just embarrassment. My heart sank as disappointment washed through me.

"Oh, Dan… I'm so sorry…"

"Sorry? You haven't even heard the story yet!" Was it bad? The embarrassment never faded from his tone.

"Okay? What happened?"

"I show up at the audition, right? Turns out it was for a full out BOY-BAND. Seriously, Em, I was the only one with a guitar. Everyone was standing around doing stretches and dancing…It was so embarrassing… I'm still blushing now…"

"… So you didn't get in?"

"Well, no obviously. Not to that band."

Something clicked inside my mind as I listened to his pleased words. There was definitely a reason why he wasn't upset.

"Was there another band?"

"You definitely got the brains in our family, sis."

"Oh my god!" I squealed, jumping up and down in an obnoxiously dorky manner. I was alone for god sakes! If the janitor walked in right now… It was better to not think about it.

"I know! It turns out that the kid video taping the auditions tried out for Busted a while ago. You know them, right? Yeah, well, he almost got in but in the end they chose a different guy. The label kept him on anyway to see if they could put together another kind of band and guess what?"

"What?" I humored him, though I could guess where he was going with his story.

"THEY SIGNED ME!"

I forced my hand over my mouth as I almost screamed, not wanting to draw attention to my awkward dancing inside the closet. My brother, my brother, was living his dream! He was in a signed band!

"Danny, I am SO happy for you!" I squealed, trying to whisper.

"Oh, you have no idea! We'll get to write with James Bourne and everything. Apparently him and Tom, the kid video taping the auditions, hit it off pretty well and have written a few songs already!"

"James Bourne!"

"I haven't called mum yet, so don't give anything away all right? I want to break the news okay?" He sounded really excited as he spoke.

"Don't worry about that, Dan. I'm still in school - remember? You'll probably get home before me anyway."

"Is it as clear to you as it is to me that you definitely have our family's brains while I have all the talent?"

"Yeah, well… I have our looks."

"Don't even go there, Em."

"Oh, I went there, Mr. Rock-Star."

Danny laughed loudly on the other end and I could practically hear him roll his eyes.

"See you later, Emily."

"Bye, Dan. I'm so happy for you!" I said again as I hung up and stowed my phone back into my bag. After completing one last celebratory dance, I opened the door a crack in order to make my escape. The hallway seemed clear enough for me to quickly make my way to the bathroom, where I was actually supposed to be according to my teacher.

Inside, my best friend Jessica turned around to face me anxiously, looking up from her watch anxiously. I was late, but so was the call! It's not my fault Danny didn't know how to call when he said he would!

"So? Did he make it?" She asked after my body language gave her no information.

"No…" I trailed off, teasing with her.

"Oh…" Her face dropped, looking extremely bummed out. "Well, at least he tried right?"

"He got into a different band!" I squealed happily, jumping up and down excitedly.

It took Jessica a moment for her to grasp the meaning of my words. Her face still showed a large amount of confusion but that didn't stop her from jumping up and down with me. Together in the girl's room, we grasped on to one another and danced out our joy.

"This is amazing! He must be so ecstatic." She gushed as we slowed down our extravagant jumping.

"That doesn't even cover it. He's in a band with the runner up for Busted, Jess. He'll get to write with James Bourne and everything!" Was this even possible? Danny Jones, my unbelievably weirdo of a brother was making it big! I knew he could do it.

"That is absolutely unbelievable." Jess sighed, shaking her head in astonishment. I couldn't help but agree.

For the rest of the day I lived in some kind of euphoric dreamland. My emotions were on some kind of natural high, like a meditation or something. I was so proud of him and excited at the same time. My family had never really had anyone accomplish anything like this before. Danny was a first.

"Emily? Emily Jones?" I spun around from my locker as my name was called, searching for the speaker. My eyes widened in shock at Bethany Townsend stood in front of me in all her seventeen year-old beauty. Every girl I ever knew envied her for her long blonde hair and creamy clear skin. Every boy I knew fantasized about her, though no one was really good enough. Rumor had it that she only dated college guys, seeing as all the boys in our school were so immature. Was she actually speakingto me?

"Bethany?" I asked, confused.

"It's Beth." She corrected, smiling sweetly.

"Oh. Um, hello." My voice shook awkwardly as I shut my locker behind me. We both had lunch together and we made our way towards the cafeteria. People turned to stare as we passed.

"So Emily, rumor has it that Danny's doing pretty good. I remember him. Didn't he graduate last year?" She asked, interested.

"Yeah, he did. He took a year off to get a band together. He just got in to one today, actually." I replied, surprised that the news had gone around so quickly.

"That is so awesome! Your friend, Jessica, just told me. How does it feel to have a famous brother?" She asked, laughing lightly.

"Oh he's not famous really. Or at least… not yet. I suppose it won't feel much different though. He'll still be Just Danny to me." I laughed as well, thrilled that we were getting along. Of course, I knew her initial interest in me had to do with Danny's acceptance into the band. Was it too horrible for me to wish that maybe she'd like me in the end? That maybe she'd realize I was interesting and she'd introduce me to all her college friends… A girl could hope, right?

"Yeah, totally. He's such a down to earth guy, obviously he wont change too much. He'll meet all those snobby famous people anyway, and realize that he won't want to be like that." She stated, sounding very normal and interested.

"He'll actually be writing with James Bourne soon. You know the guy from Busted? You don't suppose he's an asshole, do you?" I asked as we entered the cafeteria.

"Well, if he is, I bet Danny will set him right. Are you buying?" She asked, motioning towards the lunch line.

"No, bagged." Lifting up the brown paper lunch bag in my hands.

"Oh, alright. Why don't we sit together today? I'll be right back with my lunch." Beth smiled as she set her bag down on a round table before walking off to the lunch line. I set my lunch down on the table before rushing out of the room and towards the toilets. I seriously needed to check my nerves before heading back in.

In the mirror, I checked my average reflection in the mirror. Brown hair, blue eyes, pale skin, and boring features… Nothing really stood out, did it?

I splashed some water on my face before heading back out. The room had filled up considerably since I had left, and my table had filled up some. Jessica was sitting happily on Beth's other side, giggling and chatting away with her vicariously. I smiled a little bit, secretly glad that they were getting along so well. I could see a new friendship in the making.

As I slowly approached the table, I managed to grasp on to some of their conversation. Curiosity fueled me to hear some of what they were saying before I took my place back at the table.

"Seriously, they're nothing a like. I've known her family since I was little. Danny's so nice and she's… so weird. I just don't get her sometimes – you know?"

I sucked in a huge breath as I walked up behind Jess and Beth. Were they talking about me?

"I get what you mean. I get sketchy vibes from her. Danny though – definitely a catch, that one." Beth's smile was dark and mysterious as she bit into her salad.

They were talking about me.

Was I really that weird? Was I mean? Annoying? Jessica was my best friend! She'd never said anything like this before! Was this all because of Danny? It was betrayal at it worst. A double whammy; shot through the heart by Beth, and stabbed in the back by Jess. There was no way I could survive this.

"Oh… Emily…" Jess turned around suddenly to see me standing behind them, stunned. I knew from the way her eyes held no apology that we would never really be friends again. My heart hurt more, knowing that.

I spun around and walked away, vowing to myself that I would never allow Danny's fame to affect me in anyway, ever again.