"Man, I wish that they would just make their decision already," Bryan stated rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I just wanna know if I'm in or not," he added.
"Hey, Erik...next time you're with your girl will you find out how close they are to naming the final group," Ashley said when he saw Erik walking in the kitchen door, not realizing that Rachel had ended their relationship before it even began.
"I don't have a girl," Erik said bitterly, grabbing a bowl of cereal to eat quickly before they left for rehearsals that day.
"What? What happened to you and Rach?" Ashley asked, obviously concerned.
"After we had an overheated kiss on New Year's, she decided that there was nothing between us," Erik said, scowling as he remembered what happened that night.
"Well, I'm sure it's for the best. This way you won't be tied down to one girl if you make the cut and get in the group," Trevor said, trying to put a positive spin on the whole situation.
"Yeah, but I want to have a special girl waiting for me all the time," Erik whined.
"Well, then find go out and find someone else to be with," Trevor suggested. "It would probably be better anyway, since Rachel is working with us. It would be really difficult if you and Rachel were dating...and then started to fight or something if you are part of the final group," he added.
"Yeah, I suppose that you're right," Erik agreed, grudgingly. "Who's up for going out with me tonight?"
"We got practice again early in the morning," Jacob started. "Why don't ya wait until this weekend, and we can go out and not worry about when we get back," he suggested.
"But I want a girl to be with right now," Erik whined again.
"Fine. I'll go with ya," Mike agreed, hoping that it wouldn't be too late when they got back.
"Now that that's decided, can we please leave??" Jacob said grabbing the keys for their van as he led the way outside.
"Yes, sir, Jacob, sir!" Erik said, offering a mock-salute before he followed the other six guys outside.
"So, when are they being told that the final five have been selected?" Tyjuan asked Rachel as they waited for the guys to arrive.
"Last time I heard, there were two minor contract details to work out. So, I think they should be announced by the end of the week."
"Cool. Hopefully the ones selected to make the group keep up the hard work after it's announced," he replied as Mark Goff walked up behind the two of them.
"Well, considering that you had a part in selecting who makes the group, I hope you picked well," Rachel joked.
"Of course we did," Mark said, startling Rachel who hadn't noticed him. "Lou asked for the two of you to join us in his office for a few minutes before practices start," he added before walking towards the elevators that would take them to the top floor of the Trans-Con building.
"Nice of you two to join us," Lou said, standing up to greet the two newest arrivals. "I want you to know that the final details on the contracts have been worked out...and I want us to announce the final five tonight at the house."
"Good. I think they're all ready to go crazy if they don't find out who's in and who's not," Rachel said, thinking about how the guys all seemed to be acting lately.
"Let them all know we're going to be having a group meeting tonight...supper at Planet Hollywood first...then back to the house...for the announcement," Lou said, dismissing everyone from his office.
"Hey, Ryan, can I talk to ya for a few," Rach hollared at her friend from the legal department.
"What ya need, hot stuff?" Ryan asked, stopping so Rachel could catch up.
"Well, studly," Rachel joked back. "I wanna know what's up with the contract that the guys are going to be signing. Is it fair to them?"
"Rach, I promised you that I wouldn't let Lou do to them what he's done to his other boybands. It's very reasonable," Ryan assured as they got on the elevator.
"Thanks, Ry. Now, I just hope that Lou and the rest of them chose the correct five guys for this group...or it won't last long no matter what the contract is like."
"Don't worry. What I'd worry more about is what you're gonna be doing with your share of Lou's twenty percent. I can feel it, they're gonna be big, maybe even bigger than the Backstreet Boys," he added before going towards his office.
"No one is gonna be bigger than BSB," Rachel shouted back as she heard the tell-tale sounds of the boys from O-Town walking in the door. "Guys, big announcement tonight. We're all going to Planet Hollywood for supper, then home to let you know who 'Made the Band'!"
After a loud cheer went up, the guys went into the vocal studio with Mark and worked on their two songs. During a break from their singing, Trevor went up to Nicole who was sitting in listening to the guys who had all become her friends. "Ummmm...Nikki, can we talk?"
"Sure, Trev. How about we do this outside though?" Nicole suggested, realizing what he wanted to talk about.
"Yeah, I wouldn't want your brother or Jake to hear this," Trevor agreed.
"So...what is it?" Nicole asked as they sat at one of the picnic tables outside the building.
"Well...that kiss on New Years...did it mean anything to you?" Trevor asked, hopefully.
"Trevor, I'm sorry, but it didn't. I don't know what got into me. Maybe I had had too much champagne to drink at the party, I'm not sure. What I am sure of though, is that the only feelings I have for you are those of friendship. I'm sorry. I really wish that that kiss didn't happen, because it puts both of us in an awkward position. Can you forgive me?" Nicole asked.
"Of course, Nicole. Don't blame yourself. It was as much my fault as it was yours. I understand; I can't say that I'm not disappointed, because I would love to get to know you better...and develop that kind of relationship with you, but if things work right, and Jake, Ash, and I all make the band, it would be really strange, since you and Jake had dated for the past two months. I'm glad this didn't spoil our friendship though," he said, before escorting her back in to the music room, where Mark was waiting impatiently for Trevor's return.
Ty let them out of dance rehearsal early so they could get ready for the big night, since none of them, including Trevor or Jacob seemed to be able to concentrate on their dancing that afternoon. "Just remember, when y'all come back here in two days, for those that make it, I want you all sharp. You've only got two weeks before your first official performance, and you gotta be together."
Everyone was a nervous wreck during supper that night...and Erik was dissappointed that he and Mike weren't going to be going clubbing to help him find a new girl that evening. There was good natured joking going on, but everyone seemed very tense. Everyone quickly ate, and left the restaurant, impatient to find out the results of the two month long audition they had participated in. Once back at the house, Ryan took over, going over the details of the contract with all seven hopefuls, before they were all asked to sign the agreement. Lou and Ryan both reminded them that whomever didn't make the cut, would be given a letter stating that the contract was not binding for them as they weren't selected for the group. Finally, Lou took the boys into the living room where they sat nervously on the couch waiting for the ax to fall on each of them. Trevor, having found out what was happening that evening had started packing his bags after they were sent from rehearsals, because he didn't think he had a shot in the world of making the group. "Guys, we've got all the time in the world to do this," Lou stated. "We can sit here and shoot the breeze, until you're ready to hear the names, or we can get started with naming the group right now. The choice is yours."
"Yeah, and its the last decision five of them will make on their own," Rachel muttered so only Ryan heard her.
"Rachel...hush. Remember, you're working for Lou."
"Yeah...I know," Rachel whispered back as Lou pulled five envelopes from his jacket pocket. "All right, since you're ready. The first person to make the band, is...."