Boy Band

by Jacqueline Smith

  BOY BAND

  JACQUELINE E. SMITH

  Wind Trail Publishing

  Boy Band

  Copyright © 2015 by Jacqueline E. Smith

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form, by any means, or stored in a database without prior written consent of the publisher.

  Wind Trail Publishing

  PO Box 830851

  Richardson, TX 75083-0851

  www.WindTrailPublishing.com

  First Paperback Edition, April 2015

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9896734-4-0

  ISBN-10: 0989673440

  Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

  Smith, Jacqueline E.

  Boy Band / Jacqueline E. Smith

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2015903810

  Cover Photo: Katherine J. Smith

  Cover Design: Wind Trail Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or deceased, is entirely coincidental.

  Printed in the United States of America.

  For everyone who knows what it is to appreciate good music… Especially boy bands. And for my sister.

  CHAPTER 1

  “I hate to see you down

  You know a face so beautiful

  Should never bear a frown

  Now I don’t know what time will bring

  Could be waiting here a while

  But girl I have to tell you

  The world’s a little brighter

  When you smile...”

  Song: “Brighter”

  Artist: The Kind of September

  From the Album:17 Times Over

  “Okay Mel, I’ve got one. Would you rather eat bugs for the rest of your life or endure the zombie apocalypse with no personal hygiene products whatsoever?”

  It’s weird being in love with your best friend. If you’ve never experienced it, let me lay it out for you.

  He’s the guy you grew up with. The one who used to pull your hair and chase you around the playground. The one who would spend hours playing “time travel adventure” in the secret clubhouse you constructed beneath the dining room table. He even gave you your first kiss when you were ten, but now that you’re older, you both pretend it didn’t happen because if you acknowledge it, then things might get awkward.

  He’s the guy that evolved from that weird, hyper kid who wasn’t allowed to eat sugar to the tall, cool, hilarious guy that everyone loves. He has big blue eyes and thick, messy dark blond hair that falls literally everywhere and a smile that could probably knock someone out.

  He’s the guy you didn’t want to fall in love with because you know that if he ever figured it out, things might not ever be the same between you, and you love the way things are. You love that he still teases you and confides in you. You love that you’re his best friend too, and that nothing feels more natural than being with him.

  It was impossible to not fall in love with him, and yet, a part of you still curses the day you did, because in all the years you’ve been friends, you’ve never had a reason to lie to him.

  But for the most part, you love that you love him, because when you go to sleep at night, you actually look forward to waking up in the morning because you know you’ll get to see him. You could be having the worst day imaginable, and just a few words from him will make it tolerable, even enjoyable. You don’t love him because he’s cute or funny or because being close to him makes you weak at the knees.

  You love him because he’shim.

  “Sam, have you noticed that all your ‘Would You Rather’ questions end up going back to the zombie apocalypse?” I ask.

  “That’s because zombies are awesome,” Sam insists, shoveling popcorn into his mouth.

  “No they’re not. Zombies can kill you.”

  “You still haven’t answered the question,” he reminds me.

  “Eating bugs or unhygienic zombies.” Both are lousy options. “Well, I’m pretty much dead either way since I’d starve to death in the first scenario, and I wouldn’t last long enough in the zombie apocalypse to get all that dirty... So I guess I’ll go with eating bugs.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. At least there are no zombies.”

  I’m pretty sure all friends play “Would You Rather,” but for the longest time, Sam was convinced he’d invented it. Like, he was absolutely adamant that no one else in the entire universe had ever sat around and asked each other if they would rather be caught sniffing their fingers or picking their nose. Somehow, we never ask each other positive things, like if we would rather have perfect hair for the rest of our lives or own our own private island. It’s always something miserable, gross, or potentially embarrassing. Usually a combination of the three.

  “Okay, fine. Your turn.”

  It’s sort of hard to come up with good questions that I don’t already know the answer to, but I give it a go nevertheless. “Okay, would you rather watch nothing but chick flicks for the rest of your life or be confined to a room made completely out of sponge?”

  “Eugh. Chick flicks. No question.”

  Sam has this really weird sponge phobia. Apparently it’s a real thing. He gets super grossed out by the idea of sponges, or anything porous, really. He just hates things with a lot of little holes. Empty corn cobs freak him out too. Like, he loves eating corn on the cob, but the minute he’s done with it, he can’t get it off his plate quick enough. Last summer in Australia, he and the guys went scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. I told him, somewhat jokingly, to watch out for sponge coral, and I swear to you, he almost didn’t go. Fortunately for the rest of us, he didn’t see any. We would have been hearing about it for the rest of the trip.

  “That one was too easy,” I grumble.

  “You know me better.” He grins before tossing a handful of popcorn my way. I try to dodge it, but a few pieces still bounce off my head and onto my laptop. I’ve been trying to get some work done for the last two hours, but I think it goes without saying that having Sam around is a bit distracting.

  “Ew, now my keyboard is all buttery,” I pretend to complain.

  “Want me to lick it off?” Sadly, he’s not flirting. He’s just being gross.

  “Not if your tongue’s been where all the tabloids say it’s been,” I remark.

  “Oh yeah? Who am I dating this week?”

  “Last time I checked, it was Kelli Barnett, but she may have dumped you already.”

  “Yeah, she wishes she could have that honor.”

  Kelli Barnett is probably the world’s most annoying D-list celebrity. I truly have no idea why she’s famous. To be honest, I don’t think anyone really does. All I know is that she was on some really bad televised contest a few years back and now has her own reality show. It’s the kind of show that everyone loves to hate because all it really shows is Kelli and her equally irritating posse stirring up stupid and unnecessary drama. Last year, she dated this basketball player, cheated on him with one of his teammates, and then tried to sue the first guy after the story broke. The idea that Sam would even consider dating her is, quite frankly, a little hilarious.

  Then again, he’s not dating me, so maybe I shouldn’t be laughing.

  “Alright, it’s my turn. Would you rather – “

  But before he can get the words out, the door to the lounge opens and Joni appears, looking less frazzled than usual, but still a little on the edge.

  “Sam, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Come on, you’re supposed to be in makeup by now.”

  “Mel’s fault. She was distracting me,” he claims. I can only hope we never
end up in any sort of serious trouble. He’d sell me out in a heartbeat.

  “Not interested. You’re a big boy now. You should be able to keep an eye on the time all by yourself,” Joni scolds him as she escorts him out the door. Before she leaves, she turns back to me. “Are you going to watch the interview, Mel?”

  “I’ll be there in a minute. I just have to finish up this assignment.” Most of the time, I enjoy my online college courses. Other times, I have to admit, they can be a bit of a drag.

  “Okay, but just remember, the guys go on at 2, but I’m pretty sure they won’t be letting people in or even backstage after 1:30. Just so you know.”

  “Thanks, Joni,” I tell her. She leaves, shutting the door behind her.

  1:30. That gives me 45 minutes until I have to be down in the studio to watch the guys onThe Happening Now Show with Jim and Kacy. They’re going to be debuting their new single, “This Is Real.” The Internet has been buzzing about it for days.

  Like I said, it’s weird being in love with your best friend.

  It’s even weirder when the rest of the world is in love with him, too.

  ⋯

  The Kind of September is one of the planet’s most popular bands. They have two albums out, both platinum, and they’re about to release their third, which, like the first two, will probably soar right to the top of the charts. The band members include Josh Cahill, Cory Foreman, Oliver Berkley, Jesse Scott, and the one and only Sam Morneau.

  Josh is your stereotypical funny guy. He loves pulling pranks, telling jokes, and just making people laugh in general. He’s zany and hyper and I’m pretty sure if he ever got his hands on an energy drink, the world might actually implode. But he’s also one of the most genuine people I know. He’s super sweet, always has time for fans, loves dogs probably more than anyone else in the known universe, and has a mild obsession with Spiderman. Girls go crazy not only for his cute personality, but his big brown eyes and stylish blond hair.

  Cory is the one who everyone sees as a big brother. Then again, maybe that’s just me. I’ve been friends with Cory and his twin sister, Joni, almost as long as I’ve been friends with Sam. But you know, I really don’t think it’s just me. Cory is really tall, with green eyes and long dark hair that’s always made me think of a Muppet. He’s also very protective of everyone he loves. He’s probably the most conscientious and responsible member of the group. For example, he’s the only one without a tattoo and he’s the only one who’s ever actually on time to anything.

  Oliver is - there is no other way to put it - very British. He and his family moved here while we were all still in high school and all of us girls were instantly smitten. It’s the same way for him now that he’s famous, but now, instead of a few schoolgirls with a crush, it’s the entire female population of Earth. He’s not very tall, but he has big brown eyes, curly brown hair, and probably the best smile of all the guys in the group. He’s very polite and owns more wool sweater vests than anyone I’ve ever met. And yes, he wears them. All the time.

  Then there’s Jesse. Jesse is the sexy, rocker bad boy. Or at least, he’s supposed to be. He might look the part - tall and built, with stylish auburn hair and light blue eyes - but he’s neither a rocker nor a bad boy. He’s not even a little broody. He’s actually really smart, writes a ton of the guys’ music, and he started up his own charity for homeless animals. Even though he’ll never admit it, he has a huge heart and I’ve actually seen him tear up over sad puppies and kittens. Jesse is really kind of a dreamboat. Though technically, I’m not supposed to think that.

  See, Jesse and Joni used to date. They were really cute in high school. They went to Homecoming together and everything. But once the band got big, things kind of fell apart between them. I’m not sure if Joni got jealous of all the attention that he was suddenly receiving or if Jesse wanted a little freedom to go with his newfound fame. Either way, he broke up with her, and the split wasn’t exactly what you’d call amicable. They’re still civil to one another. They kind of have to be since Joni works with them and her brother is one of his bandmates. But I know there’s still some resentment there, at least on Joni’s side.

  Finally, there’s Sam. Wild, crazy, adorable Sam. The guy of everybody’s dreams. He’s not the best singer in the group. He’s not even the best looking. But he’s everyone’s favorite. It might have something to do with his bad jokes or his smile or maybe his charisma. Whatever the reason, everyone loves Sam Morneau.

  Including me.

  ⋯

  “Welcome back toThe Happening Now Show! Our next guests are international pop megastars who have won millions of hearts all across the globe. They rose to fame two years ago with the release of their self-titled debut album, and their second,17 Times Over. Now, they’re preparing for the release of their third album,Meet Me on the Midway. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome The Kind of September!”

  The crowd (mostly girls) goes absolutely wild before Kacy finishes her introduction. It gets even louder when the guys actually appear on stage. By now, I’m sure they’re used to it, but in the beginning, the constant screams and tears and declarations of love used to freak them out. It was actually kind of cute. Now, they’re still cute, but they’re calm and confident and have been instructed on how to smile and wave at the fans, which is just what they do as all five take a seat on Jim and Kacy’s famous purple couch.

  “Welcome, guys! Good to have you on the show!” Kacy greets them.

  “Thanks! It’s great to be here!” Cory replies, acting as the group’s formal spokesperson.

  “I have to tell you, my nieces are huge fans. They love you so much that they both started crying when I told them you were going to be on the show.”

  “Aw. Well, tell them that we say hello!” Sam grins.

  “We’ll get them some autographs after the show. I’m sure it will be no problem,” Oliver offers.

  “That would officially make me the favorite aunt ever,” Kacy exclaims.

  “So clearly, you guys are pretty popular with the ladies,” Jim comments.

  Again, the girls in the audience scream. The guys look pretty bashful. Well, four of them do. Jesse just kind of smirks and relishes it. He was used to girls falling over him even before he was famous. Girls fell all over Sam too, but back then, he just sort of laughed it off. When I asked him why, he said it embarrassed him. I’m not sure if it still does, but he definitely still blushes any time someone calls him cute or dreamy.

  “Are there any special ladies in your lives?” Jim continues. “Sam, I know we’ve been seeing a lot of you in the gossip columns.”

  “Yeah, I don’t really read those,” he answers.

  “Oh really? Why not?”

  “They sort of scare me.”

  The audience responds with a chorus of laughter and more than a few rounds of,

  “Aww...”

  “They scare you?” Kacy asks.

  “Yeah! I don’t want to know what people think I’m doing. Most of it is really weird. If everything on the Internet about me was true... I don’t know, I think I’d actually be dead now.”

  He’s right. Last year, a rumor circulated on Twitter that all the guys except for Josh had been killed in a fiery car crash. Who starts these rumors and why, I’ll never know. Thankfully, I was with them when I heard about their supposed demise, so I got to avoid the meltdown that would have followed had I really believed that they were gone.

  “Fair enough,” Kacy laughs. “So, how about the rest of you? Any special ladies?”

  “Josh’s mom is pretty nice,” Jesse jokes. The crowd laughs again.

  “I have a girlfriend now,” Cory admits.

  A few girls sigh, but most suppress cries of anguish. Next to me, Joni scowls and crosses her arms. She’s not particularly fond of Cory’s new girlfriend, an aspiring model named Tara Meeks. I don’t really feel like I know her well enough to judge one way or the other, but Joni is convinced that Tara is “only dating Cory in order to utilize his fa
me and publicity for her own agenda and self-promotion.” Her words, not mine. I’m not that articulate.

  But Cory is totally into Tara. And why not? She’s tall (much taller than I’ll ever be), slender, and drop-dead gorgeous. Of course she’s gorgeous. She’s a model. She has thick blonde hair (which, granted, is probably colored, or at least chemically enhanced) and big amber eyes, and whenever she’s around, I swear Cory’s IQ drops about sixty points. She’sthatbeautiful.

  The problem is that’s all I really know about her. Well, that and she’s really into tweeting about their relationship.

  @ItsTaraMeeks: Just had best date ever with my boo, #CoryForeman of #TKOS #LoveHimSoMuch #PopStar

  @ItsTaraMeeks: New earrings from #CoryForeman! He spoils me rotten! #LoveOfMyLife #TKOS

  @ItsTaraMeeks: Don’t you just love it when your dreamy boyfriend sings to you? #CoryForeman #Celebrity #TKOS

  Maybe Joni has a point. But I’m still willing to give Tara the benefit of the doubt. Cory is a great guy and I think he’s smart enough to know a good girl when he meets one. At least, I hope he is. I’m afraid I’m still a bit naive when it comes to relationships, especially in this crazy world of fame and fortune.

  By now, the interview is over and Kacy and Jim are in the middle of announcing, “ - the world debut of The Kind of September’s newest single from their new album available next month, ladies and gentlemen, ‘This is Real.’”

  As always, the guys line up with their handheld microphones. I know they’re really excited to share this song. They’ve been working on it forever, and they’re really proud of it. I remember the night they finished writing it, all five came pounding on Joni’s and my door at like, three in the morning and sang it for us. It was cute to see how excited they were, but at the same time, it was the middle of the night and I kind of wanted to punch all of them in the face.

  It is a great song though. I’m looking forward to hearing it again. I’m sure it will be a hit, just like the rest of their singles. Not just because it’s a good song, but because they’re the ones singing it.