Chapter Five

"But mom, it's the summer!" I complained as my mother pushed me into the lobby. I'd already been in LA for a week, and everything had been going awesomely, but then mom dropped the bomb shell about school...
"I know, but we need to get you a place at The Palm Woods School."
"Why do I even have to go to school?"
"Because, you do."
"Because isn't a valid answer!"
My mom sighed, and pulled me over to the front desk.
"Do you have any vacancies at The Palm Woods School?" Mom asked the guy at the desk. He was overweight, with a pair of glasses balancing on his nose.
"Yes," He said. "But, she needs a job in..."
"TV or music." Mom finished his sentence.
"Yes." The guy said. He handed me a sheet of paper. "This is a list of all auditions."
"Do I have to do this?" I sighed.
"If you want to get into The Palm Woods School, then yes." The guy said.
I sighed again, and titled my head back. "Fine."

I sat on the orange couch back at the apartment, looking through all of the auditions. None of them caught my attention. I groaned, and threw the paper on the ground.
"There's nothing good enough here." I moaned.

There was a knock at the door.
"That'll be Jo." Kendall rushed to the door. "Hello." He said as he opened it.
"Hey." Jo smiled, and she walked into the apartment. She saw me, slumped on the couch, my face moody and frowned slightly. "What's up?"
"She needs a job, to get into The Palm Woods School." Kendall explained.
"But there isn't anything that's good enough." I sighed.
"Well, I heard the producers of Newtown High, saying they need someone to play Drake's sister." Jo said.
"Newtown High..." I said thoughtfully, a smile spreading out on my face.
"Yeah," Jo smiled. "Do you want me to get you an audition?"
I jumped up and hugged Jo. "That would be awesome!"
"I'll talk to the producers tomorrow." Jo smiled.
I turned to Kendall, and pointed at Jo. "I want her as my sister-in-law!"
Kendall smiled. "Come on, we should get going." He took Jo's hand.
"Thank you!" I smiled, as her and Kendall left the apartment.

"What are you so happy about?" James smiled as he entered the lounge.
"Jo's gonna get me an audition for Newtown High."
"Awesome." James walked into the kitchen. "What's the part?"
"Drake's sister." I followed James into the kitchen.
James gaped.
"What?" I asked, worriedly.
"Jett Stetson's going to be your co-star!"
My eyes widened and eyebrows raised, the smile disappearing from my face. "Say, what?"
"Jett Stetson plays Drake in Newtown High!" James said. "I thought you told Jo that you watch the show?"
"No!" I said. "I was just being polite!"
"You can't go to that audition!" James said.
"I have to," I sighed. "I have to get into The Palm Woods School." I rubbed my forehead.
"I mean, what's the worst that could happen?" I tried to look on the Brightside.

The next day, I spent the whole day in the apartment, waiting for Jo to call, to tell me about the audition.
I was just going to get food, when there was a knock at the door. I ran over, and answered it. Jo was standing there, a smile on her face. I widened my eyes and bit my lip.
"My producer said, you can come for an audition." She smiled.
"Yes!" I said excitedly.
"Now." She added.
"Now?" I asked.
Jo nodded. I screamed and jumped up and down with excitement.

"Michael, this is Robyn." Jo introduced me to the producer.
"Good to meet you." He smiled. "Now, just stand on that X and read out these lines."
Michael handed me a scripted entitled 'Drake's Sister.'
"I'll be Drake for now." Michael said. "Hayley, what are you doing here?"
"I'm attending Newtown High now." I read. "Didn't mother tell you?"
"Don't be so idiotic! I haven't spoken to mother in years!"
"Well, maybe it's about time you did."
"No chance."
"You're the same old Drake, aren't you?"
"Don't start that with me, Hayley."
"I'm not starting anything. I think it's best we keep our distance."
"Why's that?"
"You know why."
"Just because mother abandoned me..."
"Mother never abandoned you! You were the one that left!"

"OK, we'll stop it there." Michael smiled.
"So, when will I know if I've got the part?" I asked.
"I'll call you by the end of today." He said. "We have a few more auditionees, but you did really great."
"Thanks." I smiled.

"You're awesome at acting!" Jo said as we left the studio.
"Thanks." I said. "I've never acted before."
"It comes naturally." Jo nodded.
Jo and I went back to The Palm Woods, where we met Carlos and Kendall at the pool.
"Hey." We smiled as we saw the two boys.
Carlos sat bolt upright. "Hi." He grinned.
I grinned back.
"How did the audition go?" Kendall asked, sitting up.
"Good." I smiled. "I think... I hope."
"She did fine." Jo said.
"The producer said he's gonna call me later today."
"About what?" James asked. He popped up out of nowhere, making me jump.
"If I got the part in Newtown High or not." I smiled.
"Oh, right." James said.
He slipped his arm around my shoulders. I looked up to him, and smiled. He looked back and smiled. Our eyes met, and connected. I don't think I blinked for ages; neither did James.
"Hey, you two?" I heard Kendall say.
"What?" James and I both broke our gaze and looked at Kendall.
"Um..." Kendall frowned slightly. "Never mind."
I looked over at Carlos. He wasn't looking at us. His eyes were fixed on a squirrel that was running around in a tree. I found myself smiling at his child-like nature.

"Well, I'm gonna go back to the apartment, and wait for the producer to call." I said.
"I'll come with you." James insisted.

"It's been four hours already, when is he gonna call?" I paced the apartment.
"Don't worry." James said calmly.
"I'm worrying!" I raised my voice.
"Come here." James smirked.
"Why?" I asked.
"Just come here."
I sat next to him on the orange couch. He shuffled closer and put his arm around me. If this was his way of getting me to calm down, then it was working.
"Have you stopped worrying now?" He asked.
"Yeah." I smiled.
But just then, my cell phone began to ring: Just don't forget this, we won't regret this. We've got one chance to get it right. We're alive and we dive to the centre of it. Where we know we're all fine, and this just can't be it. And in the end we all know we only breathe for so long. So tonight's the night; We All Roll Along.
"Oh my God." I said before answering it. "Hello?"
"Hey, Robyn, it's Michael, the producer from Newtown High."
"Hey."
"I just want to let you know that... you got the part! Congratulations!"
"Seriously?" I asked excitedly. "Oh my God, thank you so much!"
"Filming starts on Monday. See you then."
"See you on Monday. Thank you again."
I hung up, looked at James, and we both smiled. I jumped into his arms and hugged him.
"Congratulations." He said as we pulled away. "When do you start filming?"
"Monday." I smiled excitedly. "I should go tell the guys and Jo. You coming?"
"Nah, I'll stay here."
"OK, see you later." I said, and kissed him on the cheek.
I bounced away, down to the lobby. It was only then that I'd realised; I kissed James... it may only have been on the cheek, but it still counts as a kiss right... even it's not a proper kiss...?

"Hey," Kendall said. "Did you get a phone call?"
"Yup!" I grinned. "I got the part!"
"That's awesome!" Jo smiled. "We get to work together now!"
"That's awesome." Carlos parroted Jo's words, and hugged me.
I smiled. "Thanks Carlitos."
"Congratulations." Logan said.
I put my thumb up. I would have hugged Logan, but Carlos was still hugging me. "Thanks."
"Good job sis." Kendall said, pushing Carlos away. Kendall opened his arms, as did I, and we hugged.
"Thanks bro."
"Just promise me one thing?" He asked. "Stay away from Jett Stetson."
"You didn't even have to ask!"