Lana woke up to the beeping of her answering machine. She was afraid to press the receive button. But she said it was just probably her mom. She pressed the button. "Hey, Lana! Uh, it's Chris.....sorry I didn't call before. It iss 2:00 in the morning, and I know you are sleeping. I was just....tired. To repay you for calling me, I was wonderin' if you want to go to a movie with me. Or maybe dinner sometime. I should have called you and I'm sorry. I was just so tired and I had lots of things on my mind. If you only knew what I was thinking. So, um, call me back! And this time I will call you back. Thanks .....bye.", Chris's voice said through the speaker. Lana smiled and grabbed the phone. She held it for a second then dialed his number. She was expecting to talk to the machine but a voice answered. She was in shock and stood there frozen. "Hello? Hello? Is there someone there? Hello?", a woman's voice spoke through the line. Lana had to talk to Chris. She faced the fear of humiliation and asked. "Hello.....may I please speak to Chris.", she asked shakily. There was silence for about a second. "Sure! Hold on!", the voice answered. Lana sighed happily but felt this tingly feeling in her stomach. She knew it was "the butterflies." "Hello? Who is this?", Chris's voice asked as Lana smiled and replied, "It's me...the girl you stood up last night." She heard him laugh and she felt that tingly feeling grow. "Hey, sorry about that. I was just so tired that night.", Chris replied. "That's okay.....I kinda fell asleep. I usually pull all-nighters, but last night. Mmm....last night I wasn't into it. It's not completely your fault.", Lana said to him. She smiled wishing she could be with him. "Whatever.....let's not talk about that.", Chris said laughing,"Let's talk about you....so where do you live?" Lana felt that tingly feeling one more. She laughed. "I'm a true Queens girl. I'm also a True Mets Girl." "Why do you like the Mets?" "Yankees don't give the game much adventure to the game, they just win and win. Now, the Mets. You actually have something to look for. You see a real rush. The Mets have their ups and downs. The Yankees, well, ALWAYS have the ups. And to me.....that's really boring. I'm sorry if you a Yankees fan, but you did ask why I liked the Mets.", she answered. Then she looked at her clock on the wall 7:40. She gasped. "Chris, I have to go....I have school. But promise me you'll call me back later!?!" "I promise....you can count on me! Later, babe!", Chris replied and waited for her response and wishing she didn't have to go. He heard her laugh and took that as a good sign. "Okay.......hear from you soon! Bye!", Lana said sadly wishing she didn't have to go. They both didn't realize they were thinking the same exact thing. *************************************************************** Lana put down the phone and sighed. She though of Chris, as she walked to her bathroom. She washed her face and then she heard her doorbell ring. Her parents weren't home because they always left for work early. She dried her face and walked down the stairs. It was Lily. She hadn't seen her since yesterday afternoon. She opened up the door and saw Lily's smiling face. "Hey! How's it going?", she asked to Lily. "I'm okay, I'm still so freaked up that I fainted when Chris called out to me. God, he is SO cute.", Lily replied. Lana felt to tense up. She knew Chris called out to her and not Lily. But she didn't want to upset her friend. "Yeah......",Lana said slowly, "I just woke up and we're going to be late if I don't change soon." "Okay, I'll wait down here.", Lily answered. Lana nodded and ran up the stairs. She quickly washed up and put on some new clothes. She saw yesterday's schedule with Chris's number on it. She smiled and thought happily of the conversation she had with him earlier. But, she didn't want to keep Lily waiting. She ran back down the stairs and the girls headed to school. *************************************************************** "Someone's not exactly into it today...", Claudia said as Chris tripped over himself. Chris ignored her for a minute and thought about Lana. He knew she was younger than him. But he thought to himself,"When you are in love, age is the last thing on your mind." He laughed and started to focus on his dancing. "1...2...3...4... and 1...2...3...4 and 1...2...3...4..."Claudia repeated as the guys danced to their latest single,"It Happens Every Time." Claudia looked at each and every one of them. Claudia smiled and told the guys to take a break. All the guys accepted her offer except for Chris. He knew he was the one that was slacking and holding them back. So he continued to practice. "Don't push yourself too hard, Chris! Go on, take a break," Claudia said to Chris as she walked toward the focused dancer. "Don't worry...I was slacking. I'm going to make up for it," Chris said in return. Claudia just smiled and admired his determination. She gave him a pat on the back and left to get coffee. Chris continued to dance when the guys talked about stuff. Claudia was getting her coffee when she remembered she forgot to tell the guys some good news. She got her coffee and walked back towards the guys. "Guys, if you could stop what you are doing and listen up...I have great news for you all. In the month of August, Dream Street will be VERY busy. Most of it will be in Cali. I hope you're all physched! Beacause I am!" she announced to the guys. Chris had stopped dancing, and rejoiced with the other guys. Then Chris took one look at the picture on the wall from yesterdays signing. He sighed and thought of Lana, then he realized if they did hit it off they would never get to see each other. This thought made Chris's heart ache. He pushed the thought away and thought again that if they did hit it off, Lana has to realize that he won't always be there. The guys looked at him with frowns on their faces. "You're not happy about this...are you, Chris? Greg asked as Chris looked up to Greg. Chris sat down on a stool. "No way! I'm totally physched! I can't wait!" Chris said trying to be convincing even though he did sound like he was forcing the words out of him. Matt, Jesse, and Frankie just nodded and left to call their parents. Greg was still unconvinced. He looked at Chris. "No, you're not...what's wrong?" Greg asked as he sat down next to him. "It's just that I only met Lana yesterday and if we hit it off...I'm always going to be somewhere else than by her side," Chris started but faded away thinking of Lana. "But, what if you don't! Then there's nothing to worry about..."Greg stated. Chris looked at his friend and shook his head. He couldn't believe that he was hearing this from his best bud. Chris did realize that might happen and he knew he would be hurt once again. Greg looked at his friend and patted him on the back. Then he stood up and walked away leaving Chris alone. *************************************************************** "Why does school have to last all day?" Lily asked Lana. "You have no idea," Lana replied to her thinking of the call she knew she was going to get when she got home. The call made by a special someone.She laughed as the bell rang. She gathered her books and walked to her locker. "What are you so happy about?" Lily asked when she realized that Lana had been smiling the whole day. She knew Lana wasn't too giddy about school. "Oh nothing...,"Lana replied smiling even more. Lily looked at her friend in weird disgust. Both girls put their stuff away and gathered what was important. Then they walked through the main halls of their school. They headed to the main doors and walked with the shinging sun beating down on them. Lily departed for her house while Lana rushed home the other way. When Lana got home, she saw her answering machine blinking. She squealed at the sight. Then she realized what she was doing and told herself to calm down. She laughed at herself and pressed the receive button. "Hey, hon'!I'm not going to be home-", Lana's mother said through the speaker of the machine. She sighed and knew what she was going to say. She knew she was going to stay at work longer than usual trying to get that raise she had always wnated and deserved. She sighed when she heard that was the only message given. She looked at the clock and saw it was only 6:00 and that he at a rehearsel or something. She groaned and wished she could call him. But she didn't want to waste her time leaving a message on the machine like before. She went to her room and thought of Chris. She thought of all kinds of dates they could go on. Dinner at Russo on the pier, go to a cinema and watch a love story movie, have a moonlit walk on the beach. She stopped when she thought of the moonlit walk on the beach. "Ugh!!!I'm turning into a HOPELESS ROMANTIC," Lana screamed to herself and started to laugh after what she had said. She laid on her bed and thought of more ideas to torture herself with. *************************************************************** "Finally! Home at last!" Chris said as he walked to the phone. He looked at the answering machine and saw the light not blinking. He sighed and picked up the phone. He walked up the stairs to his room. When he got to his room, he saw the picture with him and his ex. He couldn't help the heartache he felt at that moment. But he pushed it aside and dialed Lana's number. As the phone was ringing, he walked over to the picture and flipped it to it's blank side. *************************************************************** The phone rang and Lana rushed to answer it not even looking at the caller ID. "Hello?" Lana asked. She decided to look at the caller ID after she said hello. She saw Chris's number on it and almost shrieked. "Hey,Lan'...it's Chris," Chris spoke through the reciever. Lana laughed. "Hey! What's up?" "Nothing really...you?" "Ditto...so..." "So...," Chris said making him feel uncomfortable. Lana felt the same way. She gave up and asked, "You know when you asked me if I wanted to go to the movies. I say yes..." With this, Chris gave a sigh of relief. He laughed and told her to meet him in FYE at 2:00 pm on Saturday...the day after tomorrow. She smiled and accepted. He laughed once more and they talked throughout the night. *************************************************************** After a while Chris told Lana he had to get off. Lana ok-ed him and they both said good night and hung up. Once they had hung up, Chris dialed Greg's number. When Greg picked up, Chris told him to meet him in front of the mall at 11:00 the next day.Greg was too tired to say why so he told Chris ok. They both then hung up. *************************************************************** "Hey, Greg!Wuz up, man?" Chris called out to Greg as he jogged towards him. "Nothing really...just kinda beat. Last night, Nicole asked my mom if she could go on dates. In front of me too!" Greg answered as he walked to the door of the mall. "So...why did you want me to meet you at the mall?" Greg asked as Chris looked at the bouquet of flowers in the flower shop. "Oh right...I called Lana yesterday and we are going on a date on Saturday and I need your help..." Chris said still looking at all the bouquets of flowers. "With what? I'm no expert at dating!I'll probably ruin your date and with a girl like her...that would be the biggest mistake of my entire life. Especially if I ruined it for you, man," Greg answered as he took Chris's arm and pulled him from going into the Flower shop. Chris laughed and nodded his head. "Maybe I should go ask...Matt?" Chris asked. Greg nodded and laughed as they headed towards back towards the main doors. They joked around for a little bit before they parted. Greg headed home and Chris headed over Matt's house. *************************************************************** "Miss Lana! We are in Dreamland are we? What are we dreaming about today?" Ms. Rodriquez asked as Lana finally snapped out of her daydream. "Sorry...Ms.Rodriquez," Lana replied to her as she nodded. Then she went on to teach as Lana paid more attention to her history Lesson. Then the bell rang and she gathered her stuff and headed towards the door. She felt a hand touch her shoulder. "Hey Lana!What were you dreaming about?" one of the biggest flirts in the school said as she laughed heading towards the doors that led to her freedom. "Oh...you know the usual, Tyler...guys and music!" Lana answered as she thought of the only guy on her mind and the only song she could hear was, Someone To Hold Me Tonight. She smiled as she heard Tyler laugh. "Really? Am I in the 'guys' category?" he said laughing even more than before. Lana just shook her head in disgust. He just laughed and put one arm around her. She froze at the touch and slowly pushed his arm away. He looked at her as she pushed his arm off her shoulder. He just slowed his walking pace and then started to chat her up as he walked her home. When they reached the corner before her house, they stopped. "Um...Thank you for walking home with me. But this is where we are to part. See you tomorrow, Tyler," Lana said to him as he looked into her eyes. "I never told you this but, you have beautiful eyes. I just can't MY eyes off of them. Ok...well...I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Bye." Tyler said as he started to walk away. Lana amazed at what he had just said, stood there like a grinning idiot."No wait! I am a grinning idiot!" Lana thought to herself as she giggled and walked to her house. *************************************************************** Chris was awaken by his driver when he finally arrived at Matt's house. "Thanks George!" Chris said to his driver as the limo drove away. Chris walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. The door was opened by Matt's mother, Mrs. Ballinger. Oh hey, Chris! Matt's right upstairs. You know where to go, right?" Mrs. Ballinger said as Chris nodded and headed up the stairs. He heard music blaring from Matt's room and walked right in. Matt was looking at some of the new lyrics that the rest of the guys had been given. Matt looked up at Chris as he turned down the volume on his stereo. "Hey Matt! What's up?" Chris asked as Matt put away the lyrics in a folder. Matt just looked up at him and said, "Same old stuff...and you?" "I'm okay...I need some help." Chris asked as Matt and him headed to the living room. "Okay...shoot!" Matt asked as he went to the kitchen, "Hey!Do you want a drink?" Chris shook his head as Matt shrugged his shoulders. "Um...okay...so I called Lana the other night and we are going on a date on Saturday. I need your help with this date to make it the best night ever. No flaws, no mistakes, just one perfect night with the girl who could make my dreams come true," Chris said to Matt. Matt had just been nodding and "uh-yuh-ing" since Chris had started talking. He hadn't heard anything he had said until he said the word, "date." Matt looked at Chris and wondered wha he was thinking. "You're asking for MY help? What makes you think I could make your date 'flawless'?" Matt asked as he tried to remember what Chris had said before the word, "date." Chris looked at him and searched through his mind to find the answer. "Well...you are the only one in the group that brings homework to rehearsals."Chris said searching for something more. Matt shook his head confused with what that had to do with his date Lana. "Oh! You're the only with a girlfriend now. Since, my girlfriend decided to just becomes friends with me, and nothing more." Chris answered once more deciding that was the reason. Matt just laughed. Chris didn't get it and was confused. So he forced a laugh, too. "I haven't been with Stephanie in a LONH time... I don't even know if she still wants to be my girlfriend. But if you really think I can do this, no wait! If you really think I SHOULD do this...then I will."Matt answered happily as he started to explain to Chris all the "basics." Matt tried to remember everything that he did to make his first date with Stephanie 'flawless'. They decided to go to Chris's house to talk there. *************************************************************** "Hi! Is Chris there?" Lana spoke through the reciever of the phone. Lana had come home still happy and the comment Tyler had made. But she didn't want to think of Tyler. All she wanted to do was talk to Chris. "Um, hold on let me check..." Chris's mother replied as she heard the phone being put down. Lana waited and then she heard a door open through the speaker. She heard Chris's and Matt's voices through the phone. She strained to hear what they were saying. She sat there listening without saying a word, amazed and flattered at what Chris and Matt were saying. *************************************************************** "Okay, Matt...thanks for the 'advice.' I'll see you tomorrow. Later." Chris whispered to Matt as he saw the phone off the charger. Matt nodded and left. Chris picked it up. "Uh? Hello? Who is this?" Chris asked as Lana jumped from her seat and tried to find her voice. She waited a moment then answered. "It's Lana..." she answered wishing she didn't call before. Chris almost shocked because he had just talked to Matt about the date and then she was right there listening on. Chris stumbled for words and didn't find any. "Um....what's up? I'm bored right now, so I decided to call you."Lana asked before he asked the question she knew he was going to ask. "Nothing really. Oh! Um...did you hear a conversation that wasn't supposed to be heard. Or you accidently heard a conversation?" Chris answered then asked while wishing she would honestly say no. "No...I - um...went to the kitchen to get a snack while your mom went to look for you." Lana told him knowing that answer would do. She was still flatterd at all she heard adding up from the compliment she had gotten from Tyler. She smiled as she thought of all the things that were going to happen on their date. She heard Chris laugh and she laughed along with him. They both stopped when they heard a glass break. "Oh no! Um...Chris? Can you wait a sec'? My sister must have been playing with her dolls and I guess she broke her porcelain one. Ugh!" Lana spoke through the speaker frustrated. She heard chris laugh and he said ok. She put down the phone near the counter by her sister's room. She went up to her sister's room and saw all her vases smashed and little drops of blood everywhere. There was only a mess. And no little sister. "Caity! Caity! Caity!" Lana screamed as she ran all over the house. She started to cry out her name. Then she fell to her knees sobbing. Chris had been waiting by the phone listening on. He was shocked and called her name through the speaker. Lana did not answer. All he heard was her crying. *************************************************************** Lana slowly picked up the phone with what was left o her strength. She didn't stop crying. "Chris...can...you please...come...to my house..." Lana tried to say with sobs in between words. Chris quickly said yes. Lana kept on crying. She slowly said her address and then put down the phone. After she hung up, Chris panicked and called the only one he thought could help. He dialed Frankie's number. "Hey Frankie! I really need your help! Meet me in 61-87 Shrylet Avenue.That's in Queens...I really need you to be there...right now!Lana's in trouble! I am going there right now. Hurry Frankie!" Chris Frankie and he heard him say yes. He hung up the phone and told his mom he needed to go to Lana's house and that it was urgent. Mrs.Trousdale hesitated and then Chris almost got on hands and knees before she realized that it really was urgent. She nodded and grabbed her car keys. They both ran out the door. *************************************************************** "Mom! Chris needs me at THIS address now!" Frankie yelled at his mother for going so slow. Frankie groaned and looked out the window. "Hold your horses!I'm going as fast as I can Frankie...hon? Um...why does Chris need you at this address?" Mrs.Galasso asked her worried son. "He says that Lana, his new 'friend', is in trouble and since I met Lana... well...she seems really nice and I don't want Chris to get hurt again." Frankie said as they turned onto Shrylet Avenue. He searched for 61-87. "61-85...61-86...yes! 61-87! Finally! Ok, mom...you can drop me off here!" "Ok...I hope your friend is ok. I'll be right around the corner if it is serious, Frankie. Later, hon'!" Mrs.Galasso said to her son as he got from his seat and sprang to the door. When Frankie got to the door he rang the bell. He pushed the door slightly and the door opened. Chris was their holding the sobbing Lana in his arms. Frankie looked around and saw little pieces of vases an blood scattered. He stood there shocked. *************************************************************** Chris had arrived to the same horror as Frankie had. Chris held Lana as she cried, still silently whispering her sister's name. He saw tear by tear roll down her cheek and he suddenly felt her pain. Frankie still stood there shocked at the horror that was around him. Then Jesse came running through the open door. Jesse almost crashed into the little coffee table when he saw what lay before him. Jesse opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. Chris had managed to call Jesse with his cell on his way to Lana's house. The three boys looked around and then slowly turned to look at Lana. Jesse grabbed his cell and dialed 911. *************************************************************** The police came and questioned Lana as the three boys stood there looking at the now empty house. When the police had finished questioning Lana, she collasped. They ran to her and Chris gently picked her up. They brought her to the ambulence that had come only a few minutes ago. The trianed nurse said that she had just fainted. The three boys just stood there at what seemed to be the once happy girl now lifeless. Chriss walked away as Jesse called Matt and Greg. About a hour later, both boys came. Lana had regained her strength to get up and start walking. She realized she had to call her parents, but she spotted Lily and almost the rest of her class by the boys talking sadly. She walked over to them. Chris was the first one who saw her and hugged her as she felt tears coming back to her eyes. Chris held her as he whispered in her ear that everything was going to be alright. Lana cried silently as she tried to believe everything WAS going to be alright. Everyone put their arms around Chris and Lana. Lana was happy that everyone cared but wished her sister didn't have to be the one they were caring about. *************************************************************** "Then she explained that her sister was gone! Now all I want to do is make her happy." Greg said to his mom as she drove right into the driveway. "Oh My God! I am going to talk to her mom tomorrow, Greg. She must feel terrible! And the poor father, OH!"Mrs.Raposo said to her son. She watched him as he walked over to his three screaming sisters. Greg put his arms around each of them and hugged them. Mrs.Raposo smiled as she headed for the kitchen. *************************************************************** "So are you going to be okay? Do you want me to stay with you until your parents come back from the police station?" Chris asked to Lana as she sat on the stairs of her porch. The wind blew on them, making Lana's hair swirl around her head. Chris just put one arm around her as she sat there. Then Chris started to sing to her. "I just want someone to hold me tonight, oh-oh, yeah-eah," Chris sand as she felt her tears come back once again. Lana thought to herself as he heard Chris's voice in the back of her mind singing. Then she spoke up wiping away her tears,"No! You can go home now, Chris! Okay, alright, I'm going to be fine...."