*AN* After a long Hiatus I am finally back to uploading. I was going to wait until after Christmas or after New Years but this story that I am currently writing was getting long and I didnt want to lose track of Chapters. Just a word of warning this is a bit long winded I guess and I hate that it has gotten that way but I'm at a loss of whether I should go back and change or continue on, I want to do both but at the same time I'm a bit satisfied with the work I have. I took a guess at the amount of chapters and it's roughly already in the 20's and it's not quite done yet or even close to it. I'm working on a plot twist in the story right now and I'm trying to see how it is playing out or if it is going to work so bear with me as I upload chapter sporadically or whatever.

As a word of warning, the first few chapters only mention BTR as far as names, they dont get any speaking parts for a while. The bigger parts come later and will eventually surround Kendall and my OC Katie. Bear in mind that this is another alternate version of meeting BTR for the first time and becoming famous in order to meet them. I found this idea in my notebook from over the summer and I wanted to put it into a story and I somehow came up with this long story although it follows the main plot a lot in the beginning. While this follows the characters of BTR, some of the details might follow the real life BTR such as having their own show, living on their own, etc but I put in background for each similarity to kind of separate it from the real BTR.

I'll upload the first couple chapters until I at least get to some main BTR stuff and then the uploads will come randomly after that. I have more free time now that I am on vacation from school but I still have so much to do. Enjoy the story thus far and I will keep working on it or leave it as is and just create some alternate endings or even a condensed version if I need to or want to. Also as a word of warning, there is a lot of dialogue in this story in several chapters. As such, some of the more long winded conversations will be color/font coded to alleviate he said/ she said redundancy. Any time this method is used I will put a key code in the AN however in the event that I might forget, the first few lines of dialogue will have some sort of possession regarding who said what; that way you can figure it out for yourself if you had to.

PS- When I hard began writing this story, I had assumed it would be shorter than it is now. As I'm editing the tory I realized that the ages are off in accordance to the time line of the plot. this chapter my character should be 16-17 y/o as should the guys. By the time the time line reaches to the point I am at now (currently being written), they should be 22-24. I apologize for this confusion but hopefully I can put some hints/reminders where they might be needed. *

A few days had passed and Katie was down stairs watching TV with her dad. A commercial for one of Network TV's shows, MiWebshow came on. Katie took the opportunity to start a discussion.
"Wouldn't it be cool to be famous?" she opened with
"Nah." her father replied
"Why not?" she asked
"Everyone's always in your face, pictures of you all the time, fans stalking you. There's no privacy. Every time I turn on the news there's something about some celebrity whether it's a royal family or those teen pop sensations like that kid Skylar Clark and his girlfriend Francesca Martinez. It's no life being popular." he explained
"Even when those stars are making millions of dollars?"
"Maybe if they are but its still not a life I'd want."
"What if I had the chance to become famous? Like go to an audition somewhere around here and try my luck?"
"You wouldn't make it. You don't have any of the skills Hollywood is looking for."
"Oh."
"They want good looking, talented people who already have money to buy their way in or at least have a loop hole to get into Hollywood. Besides, school comes first."
"But the chance at being famous, whether I'm good at it or not, is a once in a lifetime opportunity! You're saying that if by chance, I got offered a part of some sort, I couldn't just pause school and continue it when I'm done, or even do online classes?"
"Nope."
"But I thought you said, I was an adult and can make my own decisions?"
"You are an adult and you can make your own decisions. This is a hypothetical situation that will never happen. Besides, I didn't go to college so I know how rough life is going to be if you don't get yourself a college degree to get a better job than me. I know what's best in this situation and school comes first." he said half stern as he read the newspaper.

Katie was quiet, debating whether or not to tell him about the opportunity that lie ahead but she decided against it and let the conversation fall. She went on with her life for the time being and made no other mentions of her new job. She had no one else to talk to and she didn't want this getting out, not yet anyway. When all was said and done and she still had the job, then maybe she'd tell a few others. It'd eventually get out in the media once the show started and fans started to do some digging on the new stars.

With all her outlets exhausted, she just kept to herself, quietly debating on the next step to take. Her mom never brought up the conversation again, adding to the fact that she didn't believe her daughter; thinking that Katie had either made it up or had some sort of weird dream that for some reason she kept thinking was real. Katie went on with her daily duties and never mentioned it to anyone again. Liam remained distant and actually tried avoiding Katie, who kept trying to talk to him but he wasn't having it. She finally gave up and just wrote him a long letter and pinned it to his car and hopped he would answer or talk to her.
Kevin had called the day before and told her everything was all set. As soon as school finished, she was to get on the next plane to LA to start the testing of the pilot to see how the cast interacted. It wasn't always the case that cast mates got along offset but it wasn't a requirement that they do, but it was important and encouraged. Katie had 3 weeks left of school before summer break and was working hard on all her presentations and papers as well as studying for her finals. She'd have to wrap up the current canine science classes early so she sent emails to her students and staff about the abrupt change and to prepare accordingly. Only her classes needed to be changed, any others going on would be fine left on their current schedule however her next set of classes would have to be taught by someone else.

She still kept the whole thing to herself and in her spare time got all the scheduling sorted out for the next few months of teaching while she took a leave of absence. It wasn't out of the normal that she did this but still, her motives were questioned. She declined to answer but left it as nothing serious. Word would spread soon, no doubt, once the show aired all their questions would be answered and replaced with new ones. She packed her bags the week before and got ready to go, she made arrangements with another friend to take her to the airport and still all was quiet. The day before both her parents were watching TV and she finally confronted them.

"I'm leaving for LA tomorrow." she said abruptly

"What?!" They both said.

"I've kept it a secret and quiet just because I know you wouldn't believe me but I was indeed offered a job on a television show. Regardless of what you think, I'm going to put my schooling on hold or at least slow it down and go for this acting thing. You might think it's a waste of time or going to be a flop, and maybe it will be. But I'm not going to know unless I try. I need to know what life is like beyond what I know, I need to learn to survive on my own, make my own choices. I want to stand out and prove to others that I'm not some failure. I want to do this, I've made up my mind and I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Where did this come from all of a sudden?" her father demanded

"Yeah, this isn't real. Honey, your dreaming, this doesn't happen in real life." her mother reasoned. Even though she had a full blown discussion about this just a few days ago, she acted like she knew nothing of it. She had just pretended to go along with what Katie was saying thinking she was just haveing a dream that seemed real and wanted to make her feel comfortable.

"Here's my plan ticket and my contract. I sign it the day after tomorrow before we make the pilot. Believe what you want but this is real, this is happening. I didn't want to spring it on you guys but you left me no choice. You didn't believe me when I told you, nor did you even have faith in me to even do acting. I love being home, I love all that you've done for me, I love you guys. I was just hoping you'd love me the same and be there for me no matter what choice I make." She said. She was met with silence as her mother began to quietly sob.

"You cant go. I wont allow it. Its dangerous there and you'll never make it!" her father chastised

"This is exactly why I'm going. You don't believe in me, so why should I even bother to stay in school, or run a business?!"

"Because at least you know how to do that already! Jumping into something new right now is crazy!"he continued

"I might as well do it while I'm young. If it doesn't work out, I'm still safe, I just go back to school and finish up and I'd still have my business. Its not going to close while I'm in LA. This is no different than when I take long vacations to do my other schooling. I'm tired of being talked down to and treated like nothing. You guys don't realize it but you take out all your emotion and anger on me. You've had me on a tight leash all my life and while I know it was for my own good, how am I supposed to learn to live without that leash when it finally frays? I never learned how and as morbid as it sounds, we wont be together forever…Just let me do this, it's the one chance I got, anyone would be crazy to pass up a chance like this! I could be the next Skylar Clark for all you know!" Katie debated

"The chances of that happening are quite low." her mother said coldly

"Regardless, I'm doing this. I have the summer to get it started and if I have to put off school until the next semester, I will. I will finish school its just going to take a little longer now. I'm leaving tomorrow morning and I hope you'll stand behind me all the way." she said lastly before heading back upstairs.

Like clockwork she left the next morning, bags in hand and loaded up in her friend's truck after saying a heartfelt goodbye to both her parents; promising that she would come home as soon as she could and that she'd make them proud. It took a few hours to fly to LA and once there she had the day off to get settled in her new digs. She was in the dressing room of a sound stage in its own block, although it was still inside the well protected gates.
She didn't want to unpack right now she was kind of excited and nervous at the same time. Tomorrow she'd sign her contract and get started on the pilot and socializing. She wasn't a people person but she was bound to make this happen and put her best foot forward. For now though, she needed some support so she made the long journey to the other side of the lot to the bunk house and knocked on the door. To her surprise, Jess answered the door before screaming in surprise and jumping into Katie's arms, tackling her to the floor.

"Oh my god! Katie! How did you get back here? Why are you in town?!" she screamed

"Remember that audition last year?" Katie asked

"You got the part?!" Jess concluded

"No."

"Huh?!"

"I didn't get the part that I tried out for, instead I got the lead role of the show!"

"Are you serious?!"

"Yeah! They really enjoyed my performance as far as the emotion I put in it. I'm going to get some acting lessons to really sell it and be the next star!"

"That's amazing! I'm so happy for you!"

"What have you been up to? Any good parts?"

"Yeah, I've tried the acting bit myself and got a few walk on roles. I'm working my way up and next week I get a short recurring role in a CSI. I really got inspired myself, after watching you go for the big jobs."

"That's great! You'd still come on my show right?"

"Absolutely! Name the time and the place and I'll be there!"

"Deal! I'm meeting with officials tomorrow for my contract signing and I made a list of changes so I'll add you to it!"

The girls spent the day together and Katie showed her the stage she was staying at for the time being and Jess offered her a place at the bunkhouse I she ever wanted to sleep over a few times. Most of the other girls were new and Jess was now the RA of sorts. They didn't know who Katie was so it'd be good socializing practice for her. After a day well spent full of catching up and introductions, Katie returned to her temporary digs at the soundstage and unpacked enough to get ready for bed before turning in. She was woken suddenly the next morning by staff who seemed to be in a big hurry.

"Katie! Wake up!" the staff member yelled into the dressing room.

"Ahh!" she screamed in shock trying to fight her way out of the sheets. When she fell to the floor with a thud, the staff member came in, only to tisk at the mangled mass of sheets on the floor, Katie had encased herself in.

"Come on, we don't have time to mess around! Get up and get dressed or you will be late for your meeting!" she hurried

"What? I thought that wasn't until noon?"

"That's right."

"Then why are you waking me up now? It's only 9!"

"You need to get your hair done, make up applied and the right duds."

"For a meeting? Seriously? What is this? I don't need that much time to get ready…if we were filming or I had an interview then yeah but not for a simple meeting…"

"You will do as I say! I am your agent and I know what's best!"

"Not for my health apparently. Look I don't want to turn into a diva or anything, especially since I havent even made a name for myself, but I will do as I please when I see fit. I know enough about the industry and have great people skills. I will get all dolled up when there are cameras rolling and not before. Is that clear?"

"You cant talk to me like that!"

"Oh yes I can. As per my contract, I can choose my personal staff to my liking and right now, I don't like you. I also have the rules of the Hollywood Actor's Guild on my side; article 43 section k paragraph 9 states that I have the right to hire and fire my own outside employees and not have to keep the hire that is assigned to me." She said slyly.

"But…I…I don't…" the agent replied in pure shock at Katie's seemingly advanced knowledge

"I will be ready for noon. Come back here at 11am for your second chance. If you are more than 5 minutes late, your fate is sealed." she said coldly.

The agent left and came back at 11 as instructed. Katie was ready and properly dressed for the occasion; Katie was planning on just some casual jeans but she got a little fancier just for the sake of proving a point. She went to her contract meeting where the other cast members were waiting. Everyone got introduced and then they all spent the next 3 hours in group talks before getting their one on ones. Katie had everything already prepared on paper so she was done quickly compared to the others.

Her first impressions of her future coworkers varied. She was glad their were some guys working on the set but they seemed to be more professional and not inclined to socialize with the 'newbies'. The girls were a tad annoying; but Katie didn't really get along with females in the first place, her friendship with Jess was a rare occurrence. Only time would tell if the group would work so they spent the day together to open up, as per directors orders. Katie wasn't a social butterfly so she was fairly quiet; the others were as well, seemingly loathing her for her place in the show. The script seemed equal in parts, only a few lines difference but most of the story lines revolved around Katie's character so maybe that's why. She tried playing it off that she was no different from them and actually held them in a higher regard but it didn't seem to phase them. It would take some time before they would open up and they did. Katie still wasn't overly close or friendly with the girls and more or less just tolerated them but they got along regardless.

Soon after they shot the pilot and it was a success to the directors and editors and now ready for its debut. Katie thought with her work done she could head home but she had to stay until the debut to see whether she'd be staying in LA to continue the show or going home empty handed. She was excited but at the same time, she was nervous about the debut. She had come so far and even though the cast meet and greet was a little shaky at first, they all worked through it and became very professional. Katie received nothing but praise for her acting and she had become a lot calmer and more smooth as she got in front of the camera. She wasn't nervous and was more at ease and had fun, much to the delight of the staff. She was able to maintain her fear, anger or sadness right on cue though which was really great. Katie drew on everything she had kept locked up inside for so long to produce the flood of emotion that gave everyone shivers down their spine.

Katie kept in contact with her parents every day until she was needed on set, then it became every few days. Even after the shoot was done, she was still busy with other preparations, photo shoots, promotional videos and more to get ready for the debut. She kept them in the loop though, whatever she knew, they knew. They weren't overly satisfied though and bought every copy of every teen magazine available on the rack whenever they could. The news hadn't caught wind of Katie's hometown yet so her identity and profession was under wraps for the time being but it wouldn't be long now. On her birthday, October 2, the show would debut. It was only September but time flew by fast and soon, together with Jess and the bunk mates, they settled down to watch the premier of The Other Side of High School.