1Disclaimer from chapter 1

sooo . . . . . . about those reviews . . . . . . that you know I love so much. Could we keep them coming? 'Cause if we don't, I might have to start writing cliffies, and none of us want that, right?

ok this chapter is short, but I plan on posting another one in a few hours, unless I get tired, then you have to wait. MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Alrighty then, on to the story:

The next morning Jack and David let themselfs in the back entrance of Irving Hall. They found Medda near the bar in the audience area of the Hall, talking to a man with a clipboard. Form the sound of their conversation it seamed to be a regular inventory check. The boys waited for her to finish before they approached her.

"Jack! David!" she exclaimed when she say them. "Its been too long boys, what has kept you away for so long?" She asked, giving them each a hug.

"Wes been kinda busy, but hey we got a favor to ask ya," Jack said before anyone else could cut in. "Blink told us yous was looken for a new singa."

"Yes I am, one of my girls got married and is moving to the west coast. But," she looked from one of them to the other, "I have heard both of you sing, and I don't think that you would work out."

Jack started to laugh and David blushed, "Not us Medda. We have a friend who needs a job, she's really good."

Jack managed to recover himself enough to join the conversation. "Medda you should hear her, she's great." Medda started to shake her head, "wes not asken you to give her de job right out, but let her audition."

The woman seemed to think it over for a minute, "hmmm. She'll need to have at least two pieces ready, but this theater could definitely use some new blood. Okay boys, I'll hear her, but I'm not making any promises." Jack lifted Medda up in a huge bear hug.

"Tanks Medda, you wont be sorry, I promise! When can we bring her by?"

"How about this Thursday? Thats when I'm having the rest of the auditions." The boys nodded enthusiastically. "Alright, Thursday afternoon."

Jack turned to David and handed him some change, "Dave, go ahead and buy me papes, I gotta talk to Medda about something else." David nodded and left, then Jack turned to Medda again. "Listen Medda, dis girl, Lily, she me sistah and . . . ."

"I didn't know you had a sister! Jack you should have brought her by a long time ago, I would have loved . . . ."

"No, Lily ain't really me sistah, she's so close that I feel like she is. But, you see, deres kinda an interesting story about Lil." He seemed to hesitate for a minute, but continued with an encouraging nod from Medda. "See, Dave and I, we found her, or really she found us. Dat was about five months ago now. Shes been liven wit de Jacobs, but she hasn't left de apartment since we brought her dere. Dats why we want her to do dia audition, to get her out."

"Is there something wrong with her? Why doesn't she want to leave?"

"Really she would have to tell you dat, but lets just say shes been hurt, real bad, and she has a hard time trusting people, especially men. If she does end up getting the job you will have to look out for her, you know, make sure shes safe."

"Of course, all the girls are well protected. Then there is Julia, she sees every person that comes in this theater."

"Okay, good. Look Medda, I got to go, but we'll see you in a few days." He gave Medda a kiss on the cheek, "tanks again."

"No problem Jack, and stay out of trouble!" she called after him. He turned around and waved to her on his way out the door.

Julia walked up to Medda, who was still watching Jack out the door. "So, a new girl?"

"Yeah, Jack says we'll have to keep an eye on her."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure no one bothers her," Julia said as she scanned the theater, "thats what I'm here for, after all."

Medda nodded a little absently, then turned to the girl next to her. "Next time tell me when Jack is here!"

"Sorry, I didn't think you'd mind."

"I didn't mind them being here, I just don't want them to have to wait around for me. You know how those boys get into trouble." Medda gave her a smile and a wink, "now, lets get back to work."

That afternoon David went to the library and checked out as many books of sheet music he could find. One of them was bound to have some songs Cate could uses for her audition. When he got home he dumped all the books on the table in front of her.

"What," she asked, "is all this?"

"Medda said you would need two songs for your audition, which is next Thursday."

She began looking through the books, "In that case I better get started."

Lily spent most of the next week looking through all the books David had gotten for her, and trying to pick out two songs. Once she had it narrowed down she started to learn them. She mused about the fact that the music classes her parents had forced her to take were going to actually help her in the real world. Who would have thought it?

All the boys pestered her none stop to let them hear her audition pieces, but she always said no. She would practice during the day when no one was home. She knew it was silly, but she didn't want to sing for them before the audition. Maybe she was being silly, but she really didn't feel comfortable performing for her friends before the audition. She would sneak up to the roof if she wanted to practice at night.

Sarah made a big deal out of what she would wear. She spent three days tearing through the wardrobe they shared, trying to find the perfect dress. Finally they decided on a pail purple skirt with a matching jacket and a white blouse. The skirt and Jacket had a delicate periwinkle trim, and the entire outfit was completed with a small hat that perched delicately on her head. Really the outfit was a compromise, Sarah wanted her to wear something more flashy, Lily didn't want to draw attention to herself. But, they both agreed that she looked very nice in the skirt and jacket combination. The purple and blue made her eyes look less sharp and made them a softer shade of blue.

Finally Thursday came around. Lily spent the entire morning pacing around the apartment and reviewing her songs. At lunch time they boys showed up to take her to Irving Hall. Jack had brought Skittery, Mush, and Blink with him, he said it was because he wanted her to feel safe on the walk to the theater, but she strongly suspect it was because they had bullied him into letting them come to her audition.

They all complimented her on how pretty she looked. David didn't say anything, he just stared at her like he had never seen her before. Mush gave him a quick elbow to the ribs and he snapped out of his trace. He blushed and told her she looked beautiful, which made her blush too.

Once she had pinned her hat on and had her music they left.

At first it was all to much for Lily to cope with, there were so many people and so much movement. She turned to run back inside, but Jack and David grabbed her arms and turned her around again.

"Uh, uh, uh," Jack said, "you've come to far to go back now."

She looked up at him, begging him to understand how scared she was. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Comon kiddo, your gonna be fine." Then he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. She looked at the other boys gathered around, they had all moved in front of the door to the building, like they thought she might make a run for it.

Jack pulled back and looked her in the eyes, "Ready?" She nodded and turned to face the streets of New York. With Jack on one side and David on the other, they started towards Irving Hall.

THE END

Just kidding! Wouldn't that have been the worst end ever? There is really so much more to this story, like 20 more chapters, just thought I would mess with you guys some. I mean, really, we haven't even gotten to any good romance stuff yet!

Estrellalily

love reviewes!!!!!!!! Please!