So… I know it's been ages since I wrote the prologue, but school has been crazy and I only get an hour a day on the computer. Actually, I'm grounded right now so I don't get any computer time whatsoever. I'm in my journalism class, taking advantage of the time I have.
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(The beginning)
"Oh, my God, I can't believe we're going to meet Connect 3!" my best friend, Sierra, exclaims, giggling. "Connect 3! Shane, Nate, and Jason! We're going to meet them!"
I roll my eyes but giggle despite myself. I can't exactly deny I'm excited, or that I've been waiting for this since I was twelve or that meeting Jason White is a dream come true for me. "I know, Sierra, you've already told me. About twenty times, too," I say.
Sierra smiles sheepishly. "I know but… I mean… You know what I mean!" she exclaims and I shrug. We step closer to the table where the band is meeting all the screaming girls who are just as excited to meet them, if not more. It's hard to believe we're actually going to meet them, considering how hard it is to get meet and greet passes, but thanks to Sierra's determination to get them, no matter what it took, we did. And well, that's why we're here.
We take another step toward the table and as the lucky fans who have already met them move away, we can finally see them. Sierra's eyes widen and all the talking she'd been doing before (and she talks a lot when she's nervous or excited) stops. She elbows me in the stomach, surprisingly harsh.
"Ouch, Sierra!" I exclaim, wincing. "Why did you have to hit me? That hurt!"
Sierra points at the table where the band is, signing autographs and taking pictures, and I follow her gaze to see Shane Gray staring directly at me. I blush immediately and look away, feeling exposed.
"Shane Gray is staring at you," Sierra whispers, still looking at him in shock. I pull her hand and turn her so her back is to the band.
"Stop looking!" I say, shaking my head. "That's rude."
Sierra smiles sheepishly and turns back to look at them again. I look up hesitantly to see Shane still staring at me, and I wonder why on Earth he would. What am I, besides another fan? One who doesn't even like him, too! Why isn't Jason the one looking at me? Why is Shane looking at me? Why is Shane looking at me? I sigh and look down again, playing with the bracelet we received when we got the passes.
The line moves up, and this time, there's only a couple of girls separating us from the band. We're so close, in fact, that I can hear Jason talk, and I almost melt at the sound. As you've probably realized, I'm not one of those fans who say they can't pick a favorite because they love them all too much – I can definitely pick one. Jason White. When I first started listening to the band, I fell in love with the playful smile he showed on their CD cover, with the occasional time you could hear his voice, and with every single guitar solo.
I'm not obsessed. I don't have any posters of them up on my room, and I don't try to get good seats just because I'll be closer to them. I go to their concerts because I love their music, I buy their CDs and watch their music videos because I enjoy them as a band. Not because I want to marry Jason. I just happen to like him better than Shane and Nate.
The girls in front of us step up to the table, and I watch Jason, mesmerized by the sound of his laugh. I look away for a minute and see Shane still looking at me, and I frown. What if this is some kind of sign? What if it means that because Shane likes me, I might be able to also get Jason to like me?
I smile to myself when I think of this, and the next time I look up, I see Shane smiling at me. Did he think I was smiling at him? Because I wasn't. Before I can react to this or look away, the girls they'd been talking to leave and it's our turn. Sierra smiles brightly and steps up to them, wrapping her arms around Nate immediately, who looks a little surprised. I smile shyly at Jason, and he smiles back.
"Hey! What's your name?" he asks, and for a minute, I can't think of an answer.
"Mitchie," I say quietly, blushing as he hugs me. I wrap my arms around his waist and close my eyes, enjoying the one second I get to be in his arms. Too soon, however, my second is over and Sierra is hugging him, and I step over to Nate as he smiles and hugs me. Before I know it, I'm standing in front of Shane, but all I can think about is how it felt to be in Jason's arms. I don't realize Shane is talking to me, and I just nod along, blushing brightly just at the thought of Jason's hug.
"So give me your number and I'll call you tomorrow," Shane says and I look up suddenly, shocked. Why does he want my number? When did we get to a point in the conversation where it would be okay for him to ask for my number? Sierra nudges me, and, assuming I'm too shocked to answer, goes ahead and gives him my number. I look over at Jason to see he's talking to Nate, completely oblivious to what's going on next to them, and I smile at Shane.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow," I say, realizing this is my one and only chance to be more than a fan of Connect 3.