Ashley Morgan raced up the stairs to her apartment. "Alex, Alex, I've got wonderful news."
Her best friend, Alexandria Royce, walked out of her room. "What's the good news?"
"I'm one of the finalists." Ashley held up the letter. "I'm going to Florida to audition."
"Oh, that's so wonderful," Alex said, giving Ashley a hug. She knew Ashley had been waiting to get something on the contest, and this is what she'd been hoping for.
Ashley had, one month earlier, entered a contest put on by the Backstreet Boys. She'd always been a big fan, and this contest was a dream come true.
Boy Band No Longer Wants To Be Boy Band, the headline had read. It announced that the Backstreet Boys were looking for another band mate- a woman. Ashley had been in California at the time, and her brother had showed her the article. The day after, she'd flown home, to New York, and had asked Alex's help in writing the 5,000 word essay on why she thought she should be a member of BSB, and in recording the dance routine and song that were also required.
Alex had helped, and three days later, Ashley sent off the package. And in the month since then, she'd checked the mail three times a day, and was always disappointed when it didn't come.
“When do you leave for Florida?” Alex asked, going through the other mail Ashley had brought up.
“The day after tomorrow,” Ashley told her. “Monday at nine in the morning.”
“Aren't you gonna have fun waking up before ten.” Alex laughed at Ashley's expression. She hated getting up before ten.
“You're coming with me,” Ashley told her.
“I figured I would be.” Alex gathered the rest of the mail, which was all for her, and walked toward her room. “You're lucky summer just began.”
“I've got to start packing.” Ashley paced the living room. “What am I gonna wear during auditions? What am I gonna wear when they're announcing the winner? What if I'm the winner? What if I'm the loser?”
“Ashley Noelle Morgan, shut up,” Alex called from her room. “Stop worrying. Go practice your routine if you need something to do.”
“How rude!!!” Ashley exclaimed. But she took Alex's advice and headed for the gym in their apartment complex. She needed lots of room to practice.***
Alex stared at the manila envelope she held in her hands. The return address screamed at her. Do I open or do I wait? she asked herself, filled with trepidation over what it contained.
Either an acceptance or a rejection.
Please let it be an acceptance, Alex begged, slowly turning the envelope over and opening it.
She pulled the stack of papers out, her eyes reading the first line.
Congratulations.
She didn't read any further. Couldn't. That single word held her eye for a long minute, then she smiled. And started laughing.
She was getting her first book published. For someone who had been reading since she was five, and writing since six, it was a dream come true. The world had just been handed to her on a golden platter.***
Ashley collapsed to the couch. After two long hours of practicing the routine she knew by heart, she was worn out.
Alex had been the one to come up with the routine, two years ago. They were both dancers, Alex undeniably the best out of the two of them. But she was shy, so avoided dancing unless it was in her room. The few times she'd gone to a club, she'd danced only a few dances.
But one day, they had been trying out dance moves, and Alex had come up with a routine. Ashley learned it, and had used it for the tape.
Alex walked out of her room a few minutes later, a dreamy smile on her face.
“What's up?” Ashley asked. Alex didn't look so happy unless she was writing, or had gotten good news.
“I got a reply from Random House today,” Alex told her. “They're accepting. And the deal they're offering me is sweet.”
“What's it like?”
“Three million for my first book, another three for the movie rights, plus 50 percent of the royalties.”
Ashley looked at her in shook. “Six million for one book? Plus half of whatever it makes?”
Alex nodded her head.
“I knew you'd get your books published one day.” Ashley hugged her. Alex was a wonderful writer; she had a way with words that was amazing. She could make the reader see a perfect day, feel the coldness of a winter wind, or smell tantalizing foods. Alex just had no faith in herself, and didn't think she was a good writer.
“Thanks,” Alex said. “Did you call everyone and tell them your good news?”
“Oh my God,” Ashley gasped. “I have to go do that now.” She headed for her room. “Let's see, I have to call Dad, and Jasmine, and Nate, and....” Her voice trailed off as she closed her bedroom door.
Alex laughed. Ashley wouldn't be out of there for sometime.***
“You'll never believe the news I got,” Ashley said to her second best friend, Jasmine Scott, who was currently in Louisiana, visiting family. Usually, she lived about a mile from Ashley and Alex.
“What?”
“I'm one of the finalists for the new BSB band mate contest.”
Jasmine screeched. “You are? Oh my God, how wonderful. I'm jealous.”
“Did you enter?”
“No,” Jasmine sighed. “I was too busy at the time. Unfortunately. Otherwise I would have given you a run for your money.”
Ashley laughed. Jasmine was joking, and she knew it. Jasmine was a good dancer, and a good singer, but they both knew she wasn't as good as Ashley. Jasmine didn't resent that, because she wasn't that interested in becoming a singer or dancer. She wanted to be a model.
“I fly to Florida Monday,” Ashley told her. “Alex is coming with me. Oh, she got good news, too. She's getting her first book published.”
“How wonderful for her. Tell her I said congratulations. How long are you gonna be in Florida?”
“For the week. Why?”
“I'm gonna be down there Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.”
“Want to get together and do something?”
“How about shopping and dinner?”
“That sounds good. We're staying at the Hilton in Orlando. Call me sometime on my cell and I'll tell you which room and everything.”
“Gotcha.” Jasmine laughed. “Someone is pounding at my door, so I better go let them in. Talk to you later, girl. Good luck.”
“Thanks. Bye.”
After hanging up with Jasmine, Ashley called her best male friend, Nate Barron.
“I'm a finalist,” she began before he could even say hello.
“Oh, it's you. A finalist in what?”
“The BSB contest I told you about.”
“Oh. That one.” He wasn't a fan of the Backstreet Boys, just like Alex, and while he was happy for Ashley, it didn't change his opinion of them. “Congratulations. I'm sure you'll win.”
“I hope I do. It would be the best thing in the world. But even if I don't, just knowing that I was a finalist is good.”
“But you want to win.”
Ashley laughed. “Of course I do. I'd love to be the new Backstreet band mate.”
“What will they call the band now?”
“Just Backstreet. They have to drop the boys, because they're not all boys now.”
“Ah, but you wouldn't mind being a Backstreet Boy.”
“Oh hell yeah, I would. I ain't no boy. I am woman.”
Nate laughed. “I know. You've told me that time and time again.”
“Don't forgot it either.”
“I won't. Now I gotta go to work.”
“Ah, ok,” Ashley sighed. “I suppose, if you must.”
“Work means money.”
“And money is important.”
“Yep.”
“But not as important as me?”
“Nope.”
Ashley laughed. “That's why I love you so much, Nate. Now go to work and earn money. I'll talk to you before Alex and I leave for Florida.”
“Ok. Love you, babe.”
“Love you, too.”