Kayla laughed as AJ made a fool of himself on the stage. The guys were definitely putting on a great show, the two week long vacation was making them antsy and anybody that knew them, knew they couldn’t wait for the show to be over.

Kristen, while eating a banana, came walking up beside her. “Pat wants to talk to each of us some speech on what is allowed while we are on vacation. She is ‘worried’ about us.”

Kayla rolled her eyes. “Whatever, where are we meeting?”

Kristen led her over to a room off by stage right. Everybody was already gathered there. Kayla sat down by Sara and Kristen by Dani.

“Okay, now I know you are all probably watching the clock go by and can’t wait for your two weeks to start but I do have to make a little speech to you.” Pat paused and then decided to just go ahead with it.

“Now that you have won an award, an MTV award, you are going to be in the spotlight even more. Precautions have to be taken since you are all 21 and are of legal age to drink, I can’t order you to stay away from alcohol. But what I can ask of you is that you behave and drink with your brain. I can’t be getting calls from a superior or anything, understand. Be smart girls, don’t draw any unnecessary attention to yourself.

“I’m not really worried about it but holidays can make people crazy. I was young once and I know that sometimes things get out of hand. But can you promise me that you will use a brain this weekend,” Pat said giving each girl a glance.

“I promise,” Sara said softly.

“Me too,” Kristen added. “But my parents do own a bar. So I will be around alcohol most likely.”

“I promise,” Kayla said.

“I do too,” Dani said although she thought Pat was being a bit to motherly.

“Okay, now, unless any of you have any questions, this meeting is over,” Pat said.

“I have a question. When are we going into the studio for our sophomore album?” Kayla asked curiously.

“I little before Christmas is what I’m aiming for,” Pat said opening her Daily Planner. “December 16th.”

“When’s the tour over?” Kristen asked trying to remember. Pat had told them but the answer was not coming to her.

“Well, you guys are done right before you go into the studio. The guys start up again in January,” Pat explained.

“Do we have to stay at our parent’s house for the whole 2 weeks?” Kayla asked. When everybody looked at her she shrugged her shoulders. “I can only stand so much of my parents.”

“No, you can go wherever you want to for you vacation.” Pat was quiet for a moment but then remembered that she had no idea where Sara was going for Thanksgiving. “Sara, where are you going, you never did tell me.”

Sara sighed. She knew this moment had been coming. When she had told Brian, she hadn’t really thought about the reaction her friends and Pat would express. She knew what Dani’s would be, it wasn’t hard to guess. She would be angry but Sara new, deep inside, that going to Brian’s house was the best choice she had. I’m going to Brian’s parent’s home,” she said softly but loudly enough so that she wouldn’t have to repeat it.

Time froze then, everybody stared at Sara, as if they expected her to change her mind or something.

“Is that a good idea Sara?” Kristen asked finally.

“Yeah, isn’t that getting a little serious,” Kayla added.

Sara smiled, “yes, it is a good idea but I don’t think it’s a big deal. He’s a friend who offered me a place to go for the holiday. It’s not like we’re getting married.”

“I should hope not,” Dani said so no one would hear. Sara had pissed her off by choosing to go to Brian’s. ‘I thought we were best friends’ Dani thought to herself.

“What do you mean Sara’s going to your house for Thanksgiving?” Kevin just found out the good news. Brian was trying to explain to the guys what was going on for the holiday.

“Sara didn’t want to go home or to one of the girls’ houses so I invited her to my house. What’s wrong with that?” Brian couldn’t defend himself very well but he tried as hard as he could. Sara was an important part of his life and they couldn’t change that.

“Yo B’Rok, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do man!” AJ yelled. He was all for Sara going to Brian’s. He just hoped their vacation wouldn’t make him lose Kayla.

“Bone, you would do anything,’ Brian said, getting an “I know” from AJ.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea?” Kevin asked making the mood serious again.

Brian sighed. “Sara’s a friend. A good friend that needs a family right now. My mom will be good for her.” He paused for a moment and thought about his next words carefully. “And I’m beginning to fall for her.”

Kevin didn’t look surprised. “What about Leighanne?”

“What about her?” Brian asked confused.

“You told me you loved her. Always would and now you have Sara,” he explained.

“Leighanne,” Brian said softly. “I will always lover her. But Sara is so different from her. There is something about her. She’s just...I dunno.”

AJ decided to join in on their private conversation. “Sounds like it’s love already Rok.”

Brian smiled. “Maybe it is but I’m not positive yet. And Sara isn’t ready for that yet. She is very skittish about relationships.”

“Your parent’s are okay with her coming,” Kevin said.

“Mom’s ecstatic, I haven’t brought anyone home since Leighanne and now she has one that is in badly need of mothering,” Brian said chuckling.

“I wish Kristen could come home with me, but she wants to see her family,” Nick said pouting.

“You can’t be mad at her for that, she probably hasn’t seen her parent’s for awhile,” Howie said.

“Yeah but she could stay at her parent’s house for a week and then come to my house,” Nick insisted.

“She could, but she won’t. It’s her family, Nick, you wouldn’t want to go to her house instead of home, would you?” Kevin asked.

“Well no,” Nick said slowly. “But, that’s different.”

Brian rolled his yes. “Nick, shut up.”

“Why doesn’t Sara get along with her parents?” Kevin asked curiously.

“I’m thinking it’s because her dad just doesn’t agree with her career choice. He wanted her to get a degree or something along those lines.” Brian knew he wasn’t being fair to Sara’s father. He had never met the guy and he couldn’t judge him but Sara was Brian’s girlfriend and you could see her pain was genuine.

“That’s sad,” Howie commented quietly. “Sara must be really hurt about that. She acts so happy though.”

“That’s ‘cause she is happy,” a voice said from the doorway. Dani stood there in the doorway of the hotel room. “I just came to say goodbye. My plane is taking off soon.”

AJ stood up and gave her a hug. “Did you say goodbye to Wade?”

Dani gave him a small smile but it wasn’t one of happiness. It was one of sadness. “He’s already left Alex. It’s probably better this way, I don’t make a very good girlfriend, especially right now.”

AJ stared at her for a moment in silence. Finally he spoke. “Dani, the more I watch you and get to know you, I see someone who is really, deep down, afraid. When you get back, make time. Wade is a good catch, probably too good for you.” AJ chuckled as Dani hit him. “Just kidding, but take my advice. Make time.”

Dani gave him a hug before walking out. The first person to leave and the guys watched her in silence. The rest would be leaving soon. This would be the first time they had been apart, could they all make it? Or would some people end it?