PD6

Chapter 6

�Kit! Kit! Where are you? Carter, have you seen Kit?� Arizona screamed down the steps.

�Who�s Kit?� he asked, coming to the bottom of the steps.

�My kitten,� Z replied.

�Your what?� Carter asked in confusion.

�My kitten. You know, a furry little animal that meows and purrs. Have you seen her?� Z asked again.

�Can�t say that I have,� Carter said.

�Gee, thanks for your help,� she said and walked back to her room.

When she opened the door she found the little gray kitten curled up on the window seat sleeping peacefully in the sun.

�There you are,� Z exclaimed, spotting the kitten.

Kit looked up at her and started purring. Z walked over and sat down on the window seat and scratched the kitten behind her ears.

�So what do you think of the new house?�

Kit meowed in response. Z laughed as she picked her up and brought her to her chest.

�I know it�s different, but you�ll get used to it. We�ll all get used to it,� Z said, gazing out the window. �We�ll all get used to it.�

*******

�Come in!�

Kevin, AJ, Nick, Howie and Brian all ambled into their manager, Michael Callahan�s, office. They all took a seat, paying no attention to the new face that sat amongst them. They were all exhausted, having partied a little too hard their first night off.

�So how was your first night off from touring?� he asked.

The boys all smiled and made low grumbles in response. Michael laughed slightly and shook his head at their behavior.

�Now, I know that the tour is over, but you still have some work to do.�

Small moans broke out among the group.

�It�s your typical, everyday stuff. You know, interviews, photo shoots, making small appearances, the usual. Unfortunately, I will not be the one booking these appointments, or running things for the time being.�

This caught their attention. They all sat upright and stared at their manager in amazement.

�What do you mean?� Howie asked.

�What I mean,� Michael started, �is that for awhile now you will have a new manager.�

�Why?� the next logical question, was asked by Kevin.

�Because I am taking on a new endeavor. I have decided to take on a new group. Four girls who I believe are very promising.�

�So who is our new manager?� Brian asked.

�That would be this young man to your right,� Michael said, gesturing to the young, blonde man sitting next to them. �His name is Phoenix Davidson. He is very qualified and comes with my highest recommendations.�

�It�s nice to meet you all,� he said in a friendly tone, extending his hand to each of the boys.

They all shook hands, each of the boys sizing him up. He seemed competent enough, but really young.

�How old are you, if you don�t mind me asking?� Kevin questioned.

�I don�t mind. I�m twenty-five,� Phoenix replied.

Kevin�s eyes bulged at the answer. Twenty-five!! he thought. We�re being managed by a baby!

�I assure you that Mr. Davidson is a professional and highly qualified,� Michael stated, noticing the expression on Kevin�s face. �Well I will leave you to your business. Good-day gentlemen,� he said and left the office.

There was an awkward silence as Michael left the office. The boys exchanged a few wary glances before Phoenix spoke.

�I know this may take some adjustment, but I promise to do what needs to be done. I take my job very seriously,� he said.

�So, boss, what�s the first order of business?� AJ asked, putting his feet up on the desk in front of him.

�Well, first, don�t call me boss. Phoenix will work fine. Second, the first thing you have to do is a photo shoot that I scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. It�s at 2:00. We will meet here and then head over to the studio,� Phoenix explained.

�Please tell me it�s not at Johnston�s. I hate that place. The girl that always photographs us is such a teeny-bopper,� Nick complained.

�No, it�s a new studio. They�ve just opened here in Orlando. The photographer is a girl, but her assistant assured me she isn�t a �teeny-bopper�,� Phoenix said.

�Sounds good,� Kevin said. �We�ll meet you here at 1:30 tomorrow then.�

�Alright. I guess that�s it for today then. See you all tomorrow,� Phoenix replied as he showed them out of the office.

The boys gave a chorus of goodbyes and headed outside.

�So what do you think?� Kevin asked as they exited the building.

�I like him,� Brian said.

�Yeah so do I,� Howie said.

�He seems cool,� Nick replied.

�I think he�ll work out fine,� Kevin supplied. �AJ?�

AJ put his sunglasses on as he turned to face them.

�He�s not bad.�

************

The wind rushed through her hair as Arizona sped through the streets to the new studio. The radio was blaring �The One� from the speakers. She glanced at the clock on the dashboard. 1:13 it read.

I am so late it�s not even funny, she thought as she pulled into the parking lot and ran towards the building. She was supposed to meet Carter there at 11:30 to interview some prospective photographers and assistants. Carter had left early to go get breakfast so when Arizona�s alarm didn�t go off no one was there to wake her up. She rushed through her daily routine, throwing on a pair of khaki shorts and a navy halter top and pinning her wavy auburn hair up in a messy bun. Carter is not going to be happy, she thought as she entered the building.

�Well, well, well. Look who decided to drop by,� Carter exclaimed.

�I�m sorry. My alarm decided to be stupid and not go off,� Z explained.

�Right. You�re just lucky only one person�s come in so far and that their portfolio was horrible.�

�Are there actually people coming in to be interviewed?�

�Yeah. About five people called and said they would like to set up an interview. Also some guy called about scheduling a shoot for tomorrow at two, Mr. Davidson, I think. I told him it would be okay.�

�Awesome, our first shoot!� Z exclaimed.

�Yip-ee,� Carter said with mock enthusiasm.

�It�s exciting, Carter, and you know it.�

Carter was about to respond when a tall, attractive, red haired girl walked in.

�Hi, my name is Paige Webber. I�m here for the interview,� she said.

�Come in Paige. My name is Arizona and this is my assistant Carter,� Z said, extending her hand to the girl. �Have a seat.�

Paige took a seat in one of the over-sized pastel chairs while Carter and Z sat at the couch across from her. Paige set her portfolio on the coffee table between them. Carter picked it up and started leafing through it. Z glanced over his shoulder, examining each print. They were remarkable. The composition was good, everything following the rule of thirds. The dynamic balance and contrast was eye catching. The color prints were powerful and exciting, while the black and whites were calming and serene.

�Paige, these are wonderful,� Arizona said, still staring at the prints.

�Wow,� was all Carter could manage.

Paige blushed at the compliments and muttered a small thank you.

�So when can you start?� Z asked once she finished looking over the portfolio.

�You mean I got the job?� Paige questioned, obviously surprised.

�It�s yours if you want it. You are very talented and exactly what we�re looking for,� Z said, handing Paige back her portfolio.

�I can start whenever you need me. I need money so I can start looking for a new apartment,� she admitted.

Arizona looked at Carter. Their eyes met and she knew he was thinking what she thought he was. The sparkle in his eyes told her to go for it.

�Well Paige today is your lucky day. Not only am I giving you a job, I�m giving you a place to live.�

Paige looked at her questioningly.

�We just moved here ourselves and were given a huge house,� Z explained. �We have more rooms then we need. You are more then welcome to one of them, if you�d like.�

Paige didn�t know what to say. This was all so unexpected. After a few seconds she responded, �I�d love to.�

�Then it�s settled. You start tomorrow, we have a shoot at two, and we can help you move in tonight,� Z said.

�Thank you so much,� Paige exclaimed, smiling from ear to ear.

�Not a problem,� Carter said, extending his hand to Paige.

�Welcome aboard Paige,� Z said.

This is going to be fun, Arizona thought as Carter gave Paige their address. This is definitely going to be fun.