Chapter 2: Final Choice

Kelly rushed me off to the studio where there was Gustavo and a bunch of people waiting, "Rikki's here now, where are the boys?" "With Mister X. Let's get her look done now, I want her to be ready by tomorrow." they rushed me and got me changed into a big puffy dress with ruffles and my hair all curled and pinned up like 70's look. "Prom baby! Girls will want to be her!" I couldn't stop my laughing as I told them to send me home because there was no way I was going to wear anything like that. "More options now!" I was forced into more outfits and I continued to tell them that there was no chance of me actually wearing that before Gustavo gave up and took me to the dancer, but I told him I knew how to dance and had no plan on trying to dance like any of his previous bands.

"I'm going to be myself, sing my own songs, dance how I want to. Or send me home." I stood my ground and Kelly had to rush him out before he exploded on me. "Head over to the main studio, we'll meet you there." I waited a few minutes, I wanted to do this so bad, but I wasn't going to give up what made me. I learned to sing and dance from my mom, it was all her and I was sticking to that, that was the one thing I was refusing to change. I walked into the studio to see four guys looking broken down and exhausted on the floor as Kelly and Gustavo was waiting for me. "DOGS! This is a girl we met BEFORE you! If you suck, then she will be the rock star. Now we all will be recording demos and I can't have you idiots ruining anything!" he stormed out as Kelly motioned for me to come over.

"Okay guys, this is Rikki. Both of you will perform for Mr. Griffin on Friday and whoever he likes the best, they get to stay and continue recording, the other will have to go home. I'll let you guys get to know each other." She gave my shoulder a pat and whispered good luck as she left. They all jumped up and started pushing and fighting to get over to me first. A tall blondish guy won I guessed as he held his hand out. "Hey, I'm Kendall and we are….we don't have a name yet." He smiled and I shook his hand. "Nice to meet you and I don't have a name yet either." Then he was shoved out of the way and a short guy with a helmet stared at me with an open mouth. "Uh… Who are you?" I asked and he just stared. "You have to ignore him. He's a little slow. I'm Logan, A pleasure to meet you Rikki"

I nodded and shook his hand before turning to the helmet guy. "Nice to meet you too, Helmet man" he snapped out of it and stuck out his hand. "I'm Carlos. I love my helmet!" I smiled and shook his hand too. "And I'm James" said the last guy, his hands doing this weird hand thing in front of his face. "Are you alright?" I asked and he seemed confused, but Kendall spoke up, pulling all of them together. "I guess let the best group/person win?" I smiled, they were weird…but seemed to be nice guys. "So if we win, you have to go back home?" Carlos asked and Logan replied, "And if you win, we have to leave." I nodded and we all shared a look of worry, but I shrugged and wished them luck. "See you guys around."

I met Gustavo coming down the hall. "I can't take the dogs! Get rid of them!" he yelled as he passed me, I turned to Kelly. "Don't ask, I'll try to sort this out and let you know. Just go back to the Palm Woods, I'm sure you're tired and want to relax. Your sister called to see what time you would be finishing up." I nodded and took off down the hall. I hurried to the Palm Woods and went to the room we would be living in. "Rikki! You're back!" Jess looked excited and asked about my day, but I noticed there was a quietness to the room. "They're down at the pool." I blinked, that was not going to be a good thing, the manager seemed to be a mean man and I told her I was going to check on them.

I walked out to the pool area and saw them running and spraying people with water guns as they laughed and dodged hands trying to grab them. "Hey Rikki!" I glanced over and saw the guys walking out, having just got back from the studio too. I waved and heard them coming my way, I ducked in time to dodge the water blast, not warning the guys and they got hit right in the faces. "Opppss. Missed…" I heard them laughing and went to take off, but I grabbed their shirts and stopped them from getting away. "Apologize!" I snapped and faced them to the guys, who were still coughing and wiping their face. "Sorry." I rolled my eyes, they didn't mean that at all. "You're gonna have to forgive them, they still need to learn their manners." I explained and smiled.

They went to speak, but my attention was caught by the boys as they slipped my grip and took off running and laughing again. "Crap. See you guys later!" I took off after them, knowing that if they starting spraying people inside, we would be kicked out of this place. I caught them again and dragged them back upstairs to the room and sat them down. "I get it, you're in a new place, it's warm and there's lots to do. But if you get us kicked out of here or cause trouble, we will be sent packing. Back home. And think of what Dad will do if he finds out what happened. You guys have to find fun without trouble. Please." Jess joined in our talk and I feel like they started to get it and apologized again, putting the guns up and I sighed, maybe this would work out…if I was able to get us here.

I stayed with my family that evening, enjoying and getting to see how they were feeling about the whole we might be staying we might be going home thing. The boys clearly wanted to stay, they seemed to be having the time of their lives and even said they seen some younger kids like them that they were going to play with. Jess was worried about it, not knowing what was going to happen and tried to see how I was feeling, but it was as if I was numb about it. I wanted to stay and live this dream, our mother had loved to sing and dreamed of becoming a famous singer, but then she met our father and settled down instead. "Rikki?" I blinked and realized I was chewing my lip again and zoning out.

"Huh? Sorry." "I said you tonight to finish for the audition, do you know what you are going to sing?" I shrugged, I wasn't sure of anything anymore, the closer the day got, the more stress I was feeling. I excused myself and went to my room, trying to get a plan in mind. I spent the next couple hours going through my songbook and practicing on my guitar until I was out of energy, going to bed. After a quick breakfast in the morning, I was leaving when Jess ran after me, catching up at the elevator. "Wait, I want to wish you good luck alright. And here." she handed me the case with our mother's guitar in it. "For luck, even though you don't need it." I hugged her tight and stepped inside, this was it, this was my last chance to keep my dream alive.

The guys were at the studio already as I was getting dressed and I got to see the end of their song and dance, it was really good. I couldn't compare to that, I didn't have anything like that. "Rikki, you're next. Come on." Kelly said and ushered me into the room the guys were coming out of. We didn't get a chance to speak, but they gave me a thumbs up and I waved back. I was dressed in a light blue knee length skirt and a button up white and blue blouse, my hair in long curls and I was holding onto mom's guitar for life, it was the only thing keeping me steady. "She's not going to dance?" I heard Mr. Griffin ask and I answered him myself. "The song I am singing isn't really for dancing. I have others that if you like and keep me, you'll get to see." I sat down and took a deep breath.

**Sings Realize by Colbie Caillat**

I was shaking as I finished, completely feeling like I blown my chance, I had to had been off key, messed up the words, all of it. I had messed this up and I was going to have to tell my family that I wasn't good enough and I wasn't able to keep us here. I was too scared to look up and see their laughing faces, the doors opened and the guys came in, all smiling and congratulating me. "That was awesome!" "You're amazing!" I was being hugged by them and then Gustavo's voice came through the speaker. "Get in here, all of you!" we walked out and met in the hallway, Mr. Griffin had already gone, it was just Kelly and Gustavo and their team. "So?" I asked…not sure if I was ready for the answer. "Griffin said…he's giving you both a shot. But one slip up and you're gone, no breaking rules, no stepping out of line."

I let it sink in and the guys began to cheer and jump around, but my ears were muffled, it was still in my head that I was going home, that I was going to have to tell my family I failed and that we were leaving. "Rikki!" I blinked and realized that Kendall was waving his hand in front of me. "You good?" I shook myself and nodded, smiling. "Just shocked. This was something I didn't expect." "But that's great right! We all get to stay." Kelly said we were done for the day and that we should enjoy this and celebrate back at the Palm Woods. I went straight to the apartment and told Jess and the boys about what happened! They were excited and happy that I was able to keep us here as I put mom's guitar back up in my room.

There was a knock and Jess opened it to see the guys in their swimsuits and grinning ear to ear. "Yes, I heard the news, proud of all of you. Rikki, the guys are here." I waved and the boys took off passed us all down the hall. "Race you to the pool!" Carlos took off after them, laughing and screaming. "I have to go to the store to get some groceries, Rikki, keep an eye on the boys." I nodded and she slipped by the guys and they came inside, looking at the apartment. "Why is yours nicer than ours?" Logan asked and I smiled, telling them how I overheard the manager saying that he would not be giving hockey players a nice apartment and having them ruin it.