It was 7:10 am and everybody gathered round at the studio to begin warm-ups, before actually filming.
"Ok guys, gather round the piano to begin your vocal warm-ups. We're starting early than normal today. We have a big day ahead of us. Brad, please start them at a C scale and take them up from there," Ryan ordered.
"Yes sir," Brad replied.
Five minutes into warm-ups Lea spoke up.
"Hey where's Chris? He like never misses practice."
"Oh, he's just lying down. He wasn't feeling too good today." Amber told Lea with an expressionless look on her face.
"Yeah, I think he's in Ryan's room taking a nap or something. That's where I last put him." Cory gave in.
"Oh my gosh, is he ok? Will he be able to film today?" Jenna asked with concern in her eyes.
"I think so….I mean I hope so…." Amber said, now with a worried look on her face. "He did have a warm forehead and he also did look paler than normal this morning when I woke him up…."
"Is that even possible?" Kevin now into the conversation spoke up.
"I don't know…" Amber said quietly.
"Ok guys, we're wasting valuable time here. Sorry to rain on everyone's parade but we really need to rehearse. Filming starts in about 2 hours." Brad said. "Ok now, from the top!"
Ryan went in his room to check on Chris. He was sleeping soundly on the couch with a warm blanket Ryan put on him. He felt his forehead to check for a fever. It was warm but that was probably because he had cold hands. He took out a thermometer he kept in his drawer for situations like these and he checked again.
The thermometer read 101.3˚F. Ryan began to worry a little. 101.3˚F was definitely a fever but it wasn't terribly high. He sighed and put the thermometer down. He looked at Chris and noticed how pale he was. Amber was right. He did look a little paler than normal. Actually, maybe a little too pale. This worried Ryan even more. He wasn't used to seeing Chris weak and helpless like this. Chris was always the one who joked around with him and told him stories from his past childhood.
Ryan quickly looked at the time and noticed it was 7:43. With one quick glance at Chris, he hurried back to the studio where the cast was practicing. They had finished vocal warm-ups and started rehearsing their songs each of them was singing for the episode.
"All right guys, you have an hour to practice your songs. Then you guys are splitting up. Some of you are going to the recording studio, and the others will be here learning your dances. Then you will switch. Use your time wisely. Also after you guys are done recording your songs, you will all be getting together to perform the big dance number for the end of the episode. On your marks, get set, go!"
