The Girl in the Band – After saving the guys from disaster with an impromptu performance, Desi becomes the newest member of Big Time Rush. But how do you survive in a boy band... When you're a girl?

Chapter One: Big Time Disaster

"I can't believe you made me come here." I said to my friend, Jolie, as she dragged me though the Mall Of America.

"I had to," she whined "my mom would only let me come see them if I went with someone and you the one who answered your phone!" here green eyes shining with excitement.

"Well next time you send a text that says 'emergency! Come ASAP!' you better be on fire"

"I'm sorry!" she replied "but I just had to see them!"

"Who?" She smacked my arm, and scowled at me.

"Big Time Rush, remember! Oh my god, I might see Kendall up close!" she smiled really big

"He's sooo Cute!"

"Which one is he?"

"The cute one." she explained again and grabbed my am " C'mon it's going to start soon!" and she dragged me down the first floor of the M. o. A.

I really didn't understand her obsession with them, to me, they were every other boy band I'd ever seen I my life. If anything it was insulting, two years and thirty-six videos on You Tube of me singing various covers from "It's A Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown to "Crazy in Love" by Beyoncé and nothing... but take four random guys, throw in some auto tune and corny dance moves and you've got yourself the next big thing. Funny isn't it?

When we got to the main stage we found it in totally chaos. Little tweens shouting for Big Time Rush.

"See!" I said pointing out the flaw " Their first home concert and they're not on time, you know I don't even really think they're really From Minnesota..."

Jolie cut me off "Shh! Follow Me," she said pulling me out of my seat.

"Dude we're gonna lose our spots and if I was woken up at seven am just to have my spot taken by some psycho teeny bopper, I don't wanna here jack shit about it." I whispered to her as I followed her down a hall to the rest room and stopped at the men's.

" Big Time Rush" she gasped " they're in there... I saw them." Then she gave me a look I knew all too well, the kind of look your best friend gives you and you know whatever she's about to do is gonna get you in deep shit.

And then she ran into the bathroom.

"Shit!" I said following her. When I caught up to her she was hiding behind a wall. I crouched next to her and said " man, if we get caught, I'm kicking' your ass"

"Girl shut up I can hear them!" she whispered. I leaned a little closer and I heard four people, three guys and a man, arguing in panicked voices.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOST CARLOS?" boomed the man's voice.

Jolie looked at me " That's Gustavo, their manager." she whispered

"Well it was an accident," said a panicky voice " he'd always get distracted and lost at the mall"

"Look," said a more confident voice " he's probably in one of two places, Zumies or the Food Court. Let's Just go look for him?"

"Ooh that was Kendall!" she's squealed, I rolled my eyes.

"But what about the CONCERT?" Shouted Gustavo.

"Oh, right."

" We need a distraction," said a fourth voice.

"Yes James, we do," said Logan, "but what?"

That's when I got an idea, a good one. I stepped out of our hiding place. They guys were to busy arguing to see me so I coughed. No response.

"What are you DOING?" mouthed Jolie

"I GOT this, okay? " I mouthed back and coughed a little louder. Still nothing. I blew out a breath and shouted "HELLO?" suddenly all eyes were on me. "Uh, hey" I gave a small wave and felt kind of stupid.

" Uh... Who's that?" asked James who stopped combing his hair. Logan looked back and forth from me to the others.

"Doesn't she know this is the boys bathroom?" he asked quietly

"The autograph signing is after the show," said Kendall

" What? No!" I composed myself " I'm here because I was passing through and I couldn't help but overhear you and." I smiled persuasively "I think I can help you."

Gustavo crossed his arms "Okay, shoot"

"Well I'm pretty good with taking care of crowds," I said " I'll warm them up for you while you go find... uh"

"Carlos" whispered Jolie.

"Yeah Carlos!"

"Really?" said Kendall

"Yeah, Just leave the audience to me and. Try to find him quickly"

"I don't care what you do just FIND HIM!" yelled Gustavo

"Okay Gus," I said dragging in out of the bath room "I'm gonna need you assistance. Jolie you got you laptop?"

She held up her bag which held, among other things, her Mac book "never leave home with out it" Gus looked at her quizzically "Free Wi-Fi is everywhere." she explained and we raced to the main stage.

When we got back stage, Gus called over Kelly, his assistant. She sprinted toward us.

"Some one needs to go out there, the crowd's getting restless" she said in a panicked tone then noticed Jolie and I "where are the boys? And who are they?

"Not now, just get this one a Mike," Gus Replied pointing to me" and get the other to the sound crew. NOW!" Kelly shuffled us to the sound crew and handed me a Mike.

"Good Luck." she said then ran back to Gus. I turned to Jolie who was hooking up her Mac book to the sound system.

" What song? " she asked should we stay familiar or should we educated their musical taste?"

"Familiar" I said "try early Christina.'

"Okay... good luck" I nodded back and walked on stage.

The crowd was hectic as the chanted for Big Time Rush, and then suddenly quieted when I walked towards center stage. I took a deep breath.

" Hi... " I said as nervousness began to creep up on me " Big Time Rush will be out in a minute but I'm Desiree Carter and I'm you warm up act"

"Boo!" shouted a random audience member "WE WANT B.T.R.!" the rest of the crowd roared in agreement.

I shook it off and gestured for Jolie to start the music. As soon as it began to play, I felt better. As the beat flowed through my veins, I got the feeling I always got when I sang: this is what I was meant to do. I took a breath than sang.

"Come on over, come over baby

Come on over, come on over baby..."

As the crowed began to listen their chanting became cheering. They liked it. When the song was over I thanked the crowd and ran backstage to see Jolie who hugged me. Next to her all four member of Big Time Rush were staring at me in awe.

"That was amazing Desi!" said Jolie "the boys came back with
Carlos around the second verse, he was in the food court."

"Which one?" I asked.

"The one with the Burger King"

Ooh" looked around "what happened to the big angry guy?"

"He's on the phone with the label," said Kendall walking up to us "you were great by the way."

I smiled. "Thanks" This guy might be so bad after all. I thought as I made small talk with the boys.

Just then Gus and Kelly came over to the rest of the group.

"Well I just got the news from Griffin," taking of his shades and pinching the space in between his eyes.

"What news?" asked Logan as he stole a fry from Carlos?

"Yeah what happened?" Asked Carlos.

Gustavo sighed, "Big Time Rush is no longer a boy band."

"What? We're fired? But we just got started!" the boys protested

"SHUT UP FOR A SECOND!" everyone was silent.

"What happened?" asked James

Gustavo walked over and stood next to me. I looked sheepishly at my feet feeling bad for the boys as they braced themselves for the ax on their budding career. "Dogs... meet the newest member of Big Time Rush."

Oh ooo way oh