NOTE FROM AUTHOR/

This Thursday I am heading off to a camp. I will be gone until Sunday. So until tomorrow I will be trying to spit out as many chapters as possible. Keep with me

Chapter 15

Ring Ring

"Let's try it again from measure 8." Reagan suggested at another tiring band practice.

No one even batted an eye when TJ threw down his bass. They were all fully prepared for another breakdown.

"We have been playing for 5 hours. What's the point if Reagan's getting the spotlight?" Without waiting for an answer TJ stormed out of the dim garage, pulling a few strands of lights down with him.

John ran a hand through his messy hair. "Let's take five." When Reagan's face fell he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Everyone's getting tired. Five minutes and we can get that chord change perfect."

Regan sighed and nodded in defeat. Everyone walked away from the instruments, lost in their own thoughts. Reagan sunk into a shabby maroon chair, and let out a sound of discomfort when John sat on her. "How's Jeff?" He whispered.

"Better." Reagan grunted back. John patted her head and slowly stood up, off her. "Is he coming to our garage concert on Friday?"

Reagan nodded, a bit brighter. "Yup! AND he is bringing Amber."

John put his hands on his hips and looked down at her with a knowing smile. "Is someone we know playing matchmaker, AGAIN?"

Reagan closed her eyes ignoring the question. She opened up her mouth started singing while bobbing her head. "This will be an everlasting love, now. This will be the one I've waited for." John shook his head watching her as she pretended to rock out and switched to a different part of the song. "Hugging and squeezing and kissing and pleasing together, forever, through rain or whatever."

"That sure, things will work out?"

Reagan opened her eyes in a flash and smiled brightly up at him. "I know things won't work out. But it's just the push in the right direction that he needed. He shouldn't be lonely." At that moment Reagan cell phone started ringing. The chime sounding something like jingle bells, despite the fact that it was June.

John's smile diminished and when he was sure she wasn't listening he said to her lightly, "Neither should you." He slowly walked over to join the other band members who, at that moment, were watching Miles spit soda out his nose.

"Hello?"

"Reagan?" asked a muffled voice.

"That's me; may I ask who this is?"

"Reagan this is Haley, Haley James. It just so happens I am in Broadway Mall. I need to find outfits that are 'in' right now, and I thought you might be the one to help me. What do you say?"

"Ummm"

"Hey you played last night, you must have some cash you want to spend from your good performance…."

Reagan jaw nearly dropped. "S-sure. What t-time?" Reagan caught John's curious stare across the room.

Haley looked at her watch from inside the mall. "How about in 10 minutes?" She asked while paying for her jamba juice.

"Sounds great!"

"I'll meet you at….Mervyns?"

Reagan shook her head, biting her lip with a smile. How could a famous star still shop at Mervyns? "Sure. See you then. Bye."

She slowly hung up the phone and had to concentrate on her breathing to make sure it was real and she wouldn't hyperventilate.

"Who was that?" John ventured to ask.

Reagan snapped back into reality. All watched as she shot up from the couch. "Band practice will have to continue tomorrow. I'm going shopping." All the boys just stared after her, open mouthed as Reagan ran out of the room in a giddy spree. Miles was the first to talk.

"Girls…Do you think she is buying a thong?"

Reagan arrived on the scene to see Haley at the entrance browsing through ordinary shirts.

"Reagan!" Haley walked over to her with a bright smile. When Reagan had first heard of Haley James she had been enthralled. Her voice was so deep and different to be coming out of a body like that, and the fact that she played guitar and piano made her highly accomplished. Like every girl Reagan had a dream to be famous and meet someone famous, but she never wanted to meet Haley. She had decided a long time ago that she thought Haley as perfect, and that stars were never what they seemed. She didn't want what she envisioned Haley to be as, proven wrong. But here she was, in a mall with the multi platinum superstar sensation. And the girl acted just like any other girl. She was sweet with a breezy smile and it made Reagan more comfortable to be around her.

Reagan was also in her own thoughts. Here was this young girl standing in front of her that reminded her so much of herself at that age. Part of her wanted to stand beside her, push her because she knew this girl had the talents to make it to the top. And part of her wanted to hold her back and save her from all the hardships. Part of her heart had been taken with this girl and the want to pull her under her wing was strong, but this girl had to make it own her own. Still, Haley wanted to become acquainted with her.

Out of no where a flash came from behind a rack and both girls blinked. A man was taking pictures of Haley, flash after flash click after click.

"We better get out of here." Haley suggested.

"We should have gotten out of here to begin with. This is NOT the place for a superstar to shop." Reagan added with a laugh.

"Then where shall we go?" Haley asked, interested a teenager called her out on her fault.

"Do you mind spending lots of money?"

Haley thought for a moment. "Nope, as long as its on something I like. I mean I've got the money. Not all of it has to go to charitys."

It was Reagans turn to think. Without warning her eyes flashed and she had an idea. "Follow me."

Haley shrugged and followed Reagan, not glancing behind at the man who was now being scolded by a member of the store.