CHAPTER 1

James slammed down the receiver and crossed off another name from his list. A lock of blonde hair fell in his blue eyes and he pushed it back irritably.

"No luck?" Charlie asked, continuing to strum on his guitar.

"I give up." James crumpled up the list with a scowl, just as Matt wondered in. The easy going lad raised an eyebrow inquiringly at James' dark face.

"What's up mateage?"

James rolled his eyes with a snort, and stormed into the kitchen. Mattie stared after him puzzled and turned back to Charlie for an explanation. The tall, model-like lad looked half amused, half annoyed.

"Remember how Jo broke his arm? We're still looking for a guitarist to fill in for tomorrow night's gig. JB has been calling everyone; and it's just not working."

"Hey, all we need to do is spiff you up a tad, and we got ourselves some eye candy to feed the crowd," Matt suggested, eyeing his bandmate. Charlie just rolled his eyes and was about to make a rude retort when the doorbell rang suddenly. Both boys cast apprehensive looks at each other and Matt rose to answer it.

"Better not be that stalker chick," he muttered worriedly. Instead, he was greeted with an extremely good looking young man.

"Good news," the lad said shortly, before pushing into the apartment and surveying the ruin. Clothes were lying sloppily in piles large enough to bury a crowd; empty food wrappers lay strewn across the floor and guitar parts and drum kits were stacked across the barely visible floor. Josh sighed. He was an extremely handsome Irish lad, who went from modelling to managing Busted after becoming close friends with James. The boys constantly teased him about how he "managed to pull more chicks than the three of us combined," and as a result, he was nicknamed 'Casanova'.

"I've got some good news," Josh announced when the three boys had managed to clear a small space and gathered around him. "I've found the perfect guitarist for you rowdy lot."

The boys exchanged sly looks. The last fill-in guitarist Josh had found for the band had been less than incompetent. He saw their faces and grimaced slightly.

"I found one that could probably play better than you three." This was greeted with a stony silence. "Ok, at least as good as you three," he hastily amended. Silence again. Then all three Busted lads burst out laughing.

"Ok, Ok!" Matt said. "We'll give 'im a go."

"It's only a one off anyway for our last show this season; we can go searching for a new one after our break," Charlie added.

"But he'd better be good," James added grimly under his breath.

Josh leaped up. "Excellent. Then I'll hook you guys up with her tonight so you can practice before tomorrow night." He had reached the door before he realised that a thick silence had enveloped the apartment.

"Her?"

"She?"

"Chick?" That last one was from Matt, and was almost instantly followed by a "Is she fit?"

Josh gave Mattie a dirty look and with a patient sigh, turned back to the other two.

"Look she's really good, and I know you don't like the thought-"

"Gee, whatever gave you that idea?" James' voice was flat.

"It's out of the question," Charlie started strumming again with an air of finality.

"C'mon guys, just meet her. She's incredible- and yes, fit. I bet she could give you all a run for your money-"

James interrupted Josh's reasoning with his own. "We won't get any money if we have a chick guitarist. You know the fans hate seeing us even near any other girls. Having a girl on the band would drive them crazy. Plus," he cast an arrogant little smile and a knowing look at the other two, "Everyone knows girls can't play guitar decently." Charlie nodded in agreement.

"Well I'm ok with it." Matt grinned. "If she's fit, maybe we can all have a snog." The other two threw him a look of mild disgust. Josh watched the three of them with growing anger. They weren't even taking this seriously. If they didn't perform well tomorrow night, they'd need to make it up to their fans, considering it was the last performance for a month or so. James saw his frustration and shook his head sympathetically.

"Don't worry, we'll cope. Worse come to worse, Charlie can take off his clothes and do a dance." The other two cacked up at this, but Josh just stomped out of the building.

"Well?" Matt asked, raising an eyebrow at the others. James shook his head firmly.

"Fit or not, we are not having a chick on the band and that's final."