In the meantime at home, Selma is busy contacting every manager she knows. She wants to look for a good manager for Lila. Especially that Lila would be starting tomorrow. She browsed through her phonebook when the phone started to ring. She answered the phone while still browsing.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Selma. It's Ricky Thompson"

Everyone knows that Ricky is a composer, song writer, and most important, the Jonas' manager.

"Oh hey Ricky. What can I do for you?" Selma asked.

Ricky is in his office looking at a demo CD, producers gave him. It was Lila's.

"I was wondering if you already found a manager for Lila" he asked.

Selma stopped browsing and listened intently. "I'm actually looking for one, why?"

"Well, the producers sent me her demo CD and I'm actually thinking of being her manager"

"Really, is that real?" Selma is a bit excited.

Ricky turned his rotating chair and holds a crumpled letter and grinned.

"Yeah, I think her voice is great and she could be another teen hit. And I also received a threat note from a so called Mr. Danger"

Selma looked bewildered, "Isn't that—"

"Yes, it is him. And I think he can never forgive me if I don't follow him"

"Well, thank you for being such a dear. I wouldn't have to worry anymore"

Back at the university, Joe waited for Lila until she finished all her classes. He didn't care he has to wait for two or three hours. The bell rang and Joe stood up from the bench and could see Lila going down the stairs. He couldn't help, but to think how beautiful his girlfriend is. Lila went straight to him and Joe jumped down of the bench.

"Sorry for making you wait that long" Lila apologized.

"Nah, I had a nice nap though" Joe said.

He took Lila's books like a real gentleman and walked together holding her hand.

"How was class?" Joe asked again.

Lila shrugged her shoulders, "So-so. I am doing great again in English"

The way she answered was timid. She doesn't like it when other people are looking at her during conversation. It's also been awhile since the public saw them together.

Joe noticed how uneasy Lila is feeling and squeezed her hand tight and smiled, "Is it okay if I take you to some place?"

Lila faced him with a sneer look. "When you say some place, what does it actually mean?"

"If you think it's the murdering kind of place, then you're right" Joe said teasingly.

Lila giggled. "But we need to be home by six"

Joe nodded and they walked on their way without telling Marissa or violet.

It wasn't hard for Lila to guess where Joe is taking her because there's only one place they go to; the beach. There are completely no people due to the cold weather and Joe likes it more. It's like they have the beach all for themselves. The both of them walked on the sand with bare feet and holding hands.

"So" Lila started as she swings their hands.

"So?" Joe repeated.

"Do you have anything to tell me or do you just want us to freeze to death here?"

"I'd stick to the first option"

Joe stopped walking and faced his girlfriend and took both her hands.

He took a deep breath before starting to speak. "Okay, I have something for you"

Again? Lila thought.

He keeps on giving Lila stuff and she feels guilty that she hasn't given him anything.

"Joe, whatever it is, I can't accept it. You've been giving me so many things and I haven't given you anything in return" Lila explained.

Joe chuckled and kissed her left hand. "I never said I wanted you to give me something. You, yourself, is enough for me"

That is the most wonderful thing that Joe has ever said and Lila is very glad to hear it. Joe lets go of her and reached inside his pants pocket and pulled out a silver ring. Lila is surprised because rings usually mean something.

"Are you proposing because you know I'll say no" Lila remarked.

Of course she'll say no. She's just nineteen and Joe is twenty two.

Joe let out a sarcastic laugh and just puts it on Lila's left ring finger. "No, doggie, I am not. My dad wants me to give this to you"

"Is it a purity ring like yours?"

"You got it"

"Wow, how come your parents are giving? Literally. Your mom gave me a necklace and now your dad wants me to have a purity ring!"

"That's because they love you, silly" Joe said as if talking to a little girl.

They walked back towards where they left their shoes and put it on. Lila sat on a table while Joe sat on a bench to fix his sneakers.

"Hey Lila" Joe said as he tie his shoelace.

"Yeah?" she asked, busy fixing her own shoelace.

"Are you serious about saying no to me when I ask you to marry me?"

Lila turned to him and joined him on the bench. "I just said that because I thought you were going to awhile ago. We're still both young. But, at the right time, I can make some exception"

"That's definitely a yes for me"

"Please, let's not talk about marriage stuff. It creeps me out"

"Fine, let's just talk about ponies and fairies!"

Joe ran as he knows that Lila is annoyed and is going to slap him.

That night, Lila went home alone since Joe went straight to their house already. Lila closed the door and saw Marissa coming down.

"Hey Marissa" she greeted.

Marissa didn't realize she's there until she spoke. "Oh hey Lila. Listen, sorry vie and I didn't wait for you"

Deep inside, Lila felt relieved. She thought that Marissa and violet waited for her when she already left. But fortunately, they both had plans of their own.

"Uh, oh, it's all right"

They went to the dining room together and their parents are already there with Gertrude. As always, they seemed to be busy even when eating. They have their cell phones around. While eating, Selma decided to break the good news to Lila.

"Guess what Lila, I found a manager for you" Selma said excitedly.

Lila puts her fork down and looked at her curiously, "I thought you're my manager"

"Well, you know, I'm quite busy with my job. So I looked for one"

"Who is it?"

"Ricky Thompson"

Lila knows Ricky as the Jonas' manager. It's cool that it is someone she knows and could be trusted. The uncool part is that the Jonas' would be seeing her work. She couldn't even sing in front of her family, what more when the Jonas brothers are around? Lila definitely lacks a lot of self confidence.

"What do you think?" Selma asked.

Lila went back to eating and just nodded.

The night is colder as usual and Lila thinks that it is a great time for a nice hot bubble bath. After eating, she ran upstairs to take some of her pajamas and soak in the tub for a nice two hours. She turned the faucet to fill the tub with steaming water and poured vanilla scented bubble bath. She stripped off her clothes, tied her hair in a bun, and slowly went in the tub. She sighed in relaxation and closed her eyes.

.

Her phone is just on top of the tub beside the bottles of bath soap and it nearly fell in the tub because of its vibration. Luckily, she got it on time. She carefully answered it and wiped the soap on her face.

"Hello?"

"Hey Lila, its Tyler" he said.

For some reason, hearing Tyler's voice makes Lila smile. She continued playing with the bubbles with a hand as she talks with him.

"Oh hey Ty, what's up?" she asked.

At the other end of the line, Tyler is in his room, lying down on the bed while tossing a football up in the air and catching it again.

"Well I have a good and bad news for you" he said.

Lila gasped. "What, what kind of news? Is it a rumor about me?!"

"Would you relax? There are no rumors about you. What do you want to know first?"

"The bad?"

"Ashley already knows that you're into singing also and wants to crush you badly"

"What?!" Lila exclaimed and splashed the water with a fist.