Nini Salazar-Roberts stood in front of the girl's hockey field with her 4 best friends: Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan.

She looked at the sprinkler valve, very tempted to turn it as Kendall spoke to the group, "Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime, and when they do, you gotta grab it and turn that thing big time."

"Turn it, and I predict a 90% chance of bodily harm, and I'm talking about us, not them," Logan replied.

Carlos dropped his hockey bag on the floor, remarking, "Wimp."

He pulled on his hockey helmet, giving it a lucky tap twice before rushing up to the sprinkler valve, trying to turn it but it was stuck in place. "It's stuck."

"Maybe it's a good thing," Nini spoke. "Those hockey girls would beat you guys to a pulp."

"And you'd be one of them if you joined the hockey team last year," Kendall stated.

Nini nodded. "Lucky for you, I don't like beating my friends up."

"I had my pop star dream again last night," James spoke up. "This time, I was wearing my lucky white v-neck, and I sang a Smokey Robinson song."

Nini clapped. "Ooh, let me guess."

Together they sang, "Tracks of my tears..."

"You're obsessed with that song," Nini chuckled.

James turned back to Carlos who was still trying to turn the valve. "What are we doing?"

"A janitor left the t-bar in the sprinkler valve, and do you wanna help us soak the girls' field hockey team?" Kendall answered.

"Yeah," James replied before he and Kendall both dropped their hockey bags and went to the sprinkler valve.

Everyone looked to Logan who sighed and dropped his bag too, going up to the sprinkler valve. "I gotta get new friends," he mumbled.

Everyone now turned to Nini who just shrugged. "Yeah, okay," she said before walking over standing between Logan and Carlos as she grabbed the valve. "Same plan as always?" she asked.

"Yep," the boys all answered at the same time before everyone turned the valve, setting off the sprinklers.

The sprinklers started to soak the girls and for living in Minnesota where the weather was pretty much freezing every day was not a good thing.

The group laughed, high-fived in victory until the hockey girls noticed them.

"Uh-oh," Nini mumbled.

"And now we run," Kendall told them before the boys split away from Nini running in different directions.

This was the plan every time. The boys would split away from Nini before they got chased.

"Meet you guys at the house!" Nini called, still running.

***

30 minutes later, the boys returned to Kendall's house, where Nini was waiting, bruises, and scratches all over them except for James because the boys needed to protect 'the face'.

Nini walked over and sat on the couch in between James and Kendall, passing an ice pack to Logan before she scooted closer to Kendall. The boys were watching the Pussycat dolls on TV.

She tried to wipe at the scratches on his arm and cheek but he kept mumbling, "Ow." To intentionally annoy her.

Nini gave him a look after the fifth time. "Say that again and you're gonna really say ow, you big baby."

Kendall frowned at her. "You hurt my feelings," he said in a light tone. "I'm in pain."

"I don't doubt it," she replied. "But now you're just doing it to irritate me."

"It's fun," Carlos added to which Nini reached across from James, slapping his leg where he was bruised. "Ow! You're mean!"

Nini just rolled her eyes and kept wiping Kendall's cheek as he spoke, "Pussycat dolls make the pain go away."

Nini glanced at the TV. "That's how I feel when I see Chad Michael Murray," she stated.

James grinned when someone appeared on the screen. "I'm gonna marry her someday."

Logan chuckled. "You're gonna marry Nicole Scherzinger? How?"

Everyone groaned at Logan as James excitedly jumped on the coffee table. "I'm gonna be famous, sing to sold-out arenas, have, like, 5 houses..." He sang. "Make the girls go crazy." Nini huffed as this was the one-hundredth time James has said that. "And then marry Nicole."

"Are you done, James?" Nini asked, setting her first aid stuff down. "Please be done."

"No, 'cause here's the part where I shake the booty," James replied, jumping on the couch beside her, shaking his butt in her face.

Nini turned her face away. "I don't wanna see that."

"Carlos," Kendall called.

"Got it," Carlos replied, pulling on his helmet, giving it two lucky taps before pushing James off the couch behind them and jumping after him so they can wrestle.

Nini leaned back on the couch. "I need new friends," she said to herself before turning back to the TV.

A reporter spoke, "Do you wanna be a pop star?"

James's head shot up from behind the couch. "Yes."

The reporter continued, "Well, today's your chance If you're in Minnesota. Are you ready?"

"I'm in Minnesota," James stated.

"We know, bubba," Nini told him. "Now shush."

Jenny Tinkler from school appeared on TV excitedly, holding a sign and cheered, "I'm gonna be the next Gwen Stefani!"

"That's Jenny Tinkler From homeroom," Kendall stated as Nini turned up the TV volume.

"Gustavo Rocque, nineties Mega-producer of bands like Boyquake, Boyz In The Attic, and Boyzcity..."

"Jeez, he uses the word 'boys' a lot," Nini mumbled.

"...Is lookin' for his next pop superstar, but he's even more famous for his quote in 'Rolling Stone,' when he said, 'I could turn a dog into a pop star'."

"I sing better than a dog," James pointed out.

"Sign-ups are until 5 pm..." Everyone's head turned to the clock which read 4:30.

"Call all moms now," Kendall told everyone who pulled out their cell phones and dialed their moms.

"Mom, call me when you get this message. We need a ride real bad," the group spoke all together on their own phones.

They all hung up, putting their phones on the table in front of them before sitting back on the couch, watching their phones.

Their phones were just silent and pitch black.

"Ring!" James yelled impatiently.

Carlos's phone rung causing everyone to get up and scramble for it but Carlos grabbed it, answering it, "Hello. Yeah. Uh-huh." He stood on the couch, still talking. "Okay, great. Get here as fast as you can."

"Los, your mom coming?" Nini asked.

"No, but this nice lady's sending her crew over to give us a free estimate on aluminum siding," Carlos stated excitedly with a grin.

James's face fell before angrily pushing Carlos off the couch and jumping after him to wrestle again.

"Kendall," Logan called, hoping he'd get them to stop.

"Logan has a learner's permit," Kendall stated making Carlos and James freeze.

"But I need an adult in the car with me and a car."

Nini shook his shoulder. "Kendall, do something."

"What are you lookin' at me for? Logan's the genius," Kendall replied.

Logan began to panic. "What? I panic under pressure and then you always come up with the answer."

"What? That is so not true, And..." Kendall then stated. "I know how to get there."

5 minutes later, the group stood at their neighbor's porch as Nini spoke, "Ma'am, all you have to do is sit in the car, my pal Logan will drive, and we'll shovel your walkway for free all winter long."

***

After carrying the neighbor to her car, Logan drove to the place where the auditions were taking place and barely made it there by 4:55.

Once Logan parked, everyone rushed into the Paramount Theatre. James is the first to enter and rush up to a woman with a clipboard. "My name is James Diamond, And I...I wanna be famous." He tried to sing but the woman basically slapped a sticker on his chest that said 810. "Ow."

The woman handed him her clipboard. "Fill out the rest of this sheet and wait for your number to be called."

Everyone else came in.

Nini grabbed James's arm. "Did you get in?" she asked.

"Yes!"

Everyone cheered for him until Jenny from homeroom had to be carried out. "This is madness! I'm a star! I'm gonna be the next Gwen Stefani!" She noticed the group, her voice going back to normal. "Oh, hey, guys."

"Hey, Jenny," everyone mumbled.

He's evil," she told them before turning dramatic again. "I'm a star! A star!"

The woman approached Logan. "You, name."

"Me?" Logan questioned. "Oh, no, thank you. I'm gonna be a doctor."

"Yeah, well, I'm a desperate talent scout, and you have a cute smile, and Justin Timberlake made $44 million dollars last year."

Logan pointed to his chest. "Hit me."

She slapped on a sticker that said 811.

Nini hid behind Kendall so the woman wouldn't point her out. She had massive stage fright and didn't plan on confronting it today.

Carlos spoke up, "I wanna be famous, too." He tried to sing like James but the woman just gave him a sticker that said 812. "Yes."

The woman went up to Kendall to which Nini basically shrunk behind him. "You, tall, blond, and eyebrows, you want your dreams to come true today?"

Kendall smiled. "Sorry. My dream is to play center for the Minnesota Wild, but I'll also consider the Maple Leafs."

The woman said, "Ah." She gave him an 813 sticker before looking to James. "810 is next."

James gulped as Kendall pulled Nini back up to stand. "It's okay, Nins. She's gone," he told her.

"Thanks for being my shield," Nini told him. "I don't know what'd do if she told me to go next."

"You'd freeze up," Carlos stated causing everyone to give her a look. "What? It's happened before."

"Don't worry about it, Nini. One day you're going to get over your stage fright," Logan comforted her.

"Hey, it's not about me right now," Nini told them, patting James's arm excitedly. "It's about our soon-to-be-famous friend."

James laughed nervously before switching stickers with Logan. "Oh, look. You're next."

"Dude, you don't sing," Carlos stated.

"Carlos, that was the worst pep talk in history. Luckily I'm a genius. I'll think of something," Logan stated before saying, "Kendall."

"Beatbox," Kendall stated.

"Got it."

Logan went in with confidence as everyone but Nini plopped down into some chairs.

She walked up to the doors Logan went through and cracked them open.

"Nini, what are you doing?" Carlos asked.

"Seeing how my best friend is doing," she replied. "Now shush."

She peeked through the open crack to see Logan beatboxing at the microphone until the man, Gustavo Rocque looked very unimpressed and say, "Wakka-chicka, wakka-chicka, Wakka-chicka...Stop!" Logan did so. "Stop it forever."

Logan replied, "Uh, I just started."

"And now you're finished, but I'm not, because I wanna tell you what else you are!" Gustavo yelled.

Nini pulled away from the door, hearing the yelling go muffled.

"Well, happened in there?" James asked her.

"Well..." she began, not wanting James to get nervous.

A traumatized Logan exited out of the theater as Nini still heard the man yell, "Get back here! I have bad words, And I wanna use them on you! I wanna make fun of you..."

It fell quiet as the doors closed.

Nini wrapped her arms caringly around Logan. "It's okay, bubba, just down," she spoke calmly, gently pushing him in a chair.

"Don't go in there," Logan told the group. "He...He...He's satan. He's satan With bug-eyed sunglasses."

Nini rubbed his arms, trying to comfort him as he pulled his knees up to his chest. "It's okay, bud. It's okay..."

The woman from earlier came out to call, "811. 811's up."

Once she was gone, James looked to Logan who was still hugging his legs to him. Letting nervousness take over him, he switched stickers with Carlos. "All you, buddy. Go get 'em."

Carlos stood, pulling his helmet on, giving it two taps as Nini said, "Go luck, Los."

He gave Nini finger guns in response before going into the theater.

"Are you going to be okay?" Nini asked Logan softly to which he nodded in response.

Nini gave his shoulder a squeeze before cracking the door open to see Carlos stride up to the microphone with confidence.

Carlos pulled the microphone out of its stand before lightly tossing it in his hands back and forth.

Once...twice...a third time and then-

Carlos pulled the microphone towards the back of him and farted, making the noise echo throughout the area.

Nini bit down on her lip to contain her laugh while Carlos was still confident as he bowed.

Nini opened the door widely for him as he walked back, He bragged, "Not goin' to Hollywood."

The woman came back out and called, "812. 812's up."

As the woman walked back in, James tried to switch his sticker with Kendall's but the blond stopped him.

"James," Kendall began. "This is your dream, not mine." He stood up with James. "Remember, opportunities like this come once in a lifetime. Now grab on to that dream with both hands and go big time."

Kendall turned James towards the doors and pushed him in that direction.

James took a deep breath before going in.

Once the doors closed, Nini turned to the boys. "Let's go inside," she stated.

"We can't. There's security by the stage," Carlos replied.

"Yes but there's another way through the back," Logan added.

"And we technically can't get in trouble for supporting a friend," Nini spoke.

"Well, actually..." Logan began before pausing. "Okay, let's go."

The group all snuck into the auditorium, hiding behind a row of chairs a few rows behind Gustavo Rocque as James was singing at the microphone. "I tell a joke or two..."

"Not bad," someone spoke beside Nini making her jump.

It was the neighbor that they brought. Nini felt bad because she completely forgot about her due to trying to support her friends.

"Although I might be
Laughin' loud and hearty,
Deep inside, I know..." James's voice cracked at the end causing him cough to clear his throat.

"Stop. Stop," Gustavo told him.

"I'm sorry. I got a little nervous there. Can I start over?" James asked.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Start over," Gustavo replied. "Why don't you, uh, go outside and then just don't come back in. Okay. Next!"

That was his way of rejection that made Nini narrow her eyes at the man.

Logan made the motion of horns on his head as he mouthed the word Satan.

"But I'm good," James stated.

"I don't need good. I need the fire, okay? I need someone to knock me out of my seat, and as you can tell, I'm still in it because you have no talent!" Gustavo yelled.

That's it!

Kendall stood up from his spot, outraged, "No talent?! No talent?! You're the one with no talent. You haven't had a hit in 10 years."

"Get him, Kendall," Nini nearly yelled if Logan didn't shush her.

"Hey, 'Girl To My Heart' by Boyquake was a hit 9 years ago," Gustavo said, pointedly.

Yeah because a year away from 10 is such a difference, pal...

Kendall hummed. "'Girl To My Heart'. Let me see if I can remember that rock classic." He sang, "Girl, my eyes, And, girl, my mind," he jumped up on Gustavo's table. "It never stops after it starts, 'cause you're a girl,
A girl, a girl to my..." He made heart beating motion closer to Gustavo at each word. "Heart, heart, heart!"

Unknown to Nini, she stared at Kendall the way she stared at Chad Michael Murray: eyes shining in admiration and a small smile was on her lips.

Gustavo fell back in his chair causing the woman to say, "Whoa! Whoa! Security!"

"Hey, here's a new hit for you," Kendall said before kicking over the popcorn on the table as he sang,
"Oh, you're such a turd,
Oh, yeah, a giant turd,
And you look like a turd,
And you smell like a turd."

Nini snapped out of her gaze as security grabbed onto Kendall, getting him off the table but he kept trying to push them off.

Carlos turned to Logan. "Quick. What's the worst that could happen if I try and break him free?"

"Uh, juvenile, one prior for mooning. 20 hours community service," Logan answered.

"I can live with that," Carlos replied before standing on one of the security guards holding Kendall.

James placed the microphone back in its hold before jumping off the stage and onto another security guard.

"Oh, vamos a estar en muchos problemas," Nini spoke in Spanish to which Logan nodded in agreement.

"I gotta get new friends," Logan stated.

"You and me both, pal," Nini replied, standing up. "Looks like we go down together."

Logan ran towards the security guard while Nini climbed across rows of chairs to jump on the other guard holding James.

Just like Nini predicted. They got in trouble.

***

Before they knew it, they were back at Kendall's house with the neighbor and cops who had to bring them.

As the neighbor rang the doorbell, Kendall's mom, Jennifer Knight answered the door.

"Mom," Kendall spoke. "Remember that time I saved you from choking? Wow, that was close. And I love you."

The neighbor spoke, "I feel so alive."

The cops had let the group go while the group went inside and the neighbor walked back to her home.

The group walked to stand in front of the fireplace as Mrs. Knight talked to the cops.

"At least it wasn't that bad," Nini spoke.

"Define bad, Nini. The part where we brought back here by the cops or-" Logan began.

"She means at least we're not in juvie," Kendall replied, coming to Nini's defense.

"You got to admit, watching Kendall do all that was kind of fun to watch," Nini added.

The boys mumbled in agreement while Kendall just shrugged.

The door closed to which meant Mrs. Knight was done talking with the cops, it also meant it was time for a lecture and maybe yelling.

"Dude, how did you know those songs?" Carlos asked.

"They play Boyquake on the nineties channel all day at work," Kendall answered. "And I made up the giant turd song."

"That was catchy," Logan added.

"Yeah," Nini agreed.

Mrs. Knight walked in front of the group with Kendall's little sister, Katie by her side. "What happened?" she asked. The truth. "Now."

"Mrs. Majkowski helped us try to make James famous," Logan spoke.

"So we went down to the theater and the boys performed," Nini said.

"But this producer guy was super mean to everyone," Carlos added.

"So I sang him the giant turd song, and there was a tiny fight, but nobody got hurt," Kendall spoke.

James frowned. "And now I'm really sad."

Mrs. Knight nodded. "Okay. Who wants a sandwich?"

The five people raised their hand in response about to walk into the kitchen with Mrs. Knight until Katie spoke, "Wait. That's it? That's your interrogation? You didn't put the screws to 'em or slap 'em with the hard cheese."

"The what? And the what?" Nini questioned.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but you are not allowed to watch Fox anymore," Mrs. Knight replied.

Mrs. Knight walked into the kitchen but Katie asked the group, "Well, can I least hear the giant turd song?"

"Oh, you're such a turd," Kendall began until James, Carlos and Logan joined. "Oh, yeah, a giant turd and you look like a turd." Carlos nudged Nini to sing with them to which she did with an eye roll and a small smile. "And you smell like a turd." The doorbell rang but that didn't stop the group from going to answer as they sang. "Oh, you're such a turd, Oh, yeah, a giant turd, and you look like a turd-"

As Kendall pulled the door open, everyone screamed once they saw who it was.

It was the man, Gustavo Rocque, along with the woman that Nini learned earlier was Kelly.

"Yes!" James exclaimed before running down to Gustavo, throwing his arms around him in a hug. "I knew you'd come back for me."

Gustavo pushed him away. "I'm not here for you." He pointed to Kendall. "I'm here for him."

"What?!" James yelled.

"What?!" Kendall, Nini, Carlos, and Logan exclaimed.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Knight called out, "I'll make some tea."

Seconds later, Gustavo and Kelly sat across from the group of friends and the Knight family.

"Mrs. Knight," Gustavo began, removing his sunglasses. "I wanna take your family to Los Angeles and produce some demo tracks with Kendall."

Kendall chuckled. "You can't be serious."

"It'll take 3 months," Kelly spoke. "We'll take care of all of your expenses."

Gustavo picked up his cup of tea. "Kendall, you have a gift. You have the fire. You also have anger management issues. Some people say I have anger management issues..."

Nini made a face at that pretty much said 'You do' but James nudged her to stop.

"But I also have 5 houses!" Gustavo exclaimed.

James tried to sing again, "People say
I'm the life
Of the party, because..."

"Stop it," Gustavo cut off. "Please. Don't ever do that again. Thank you."

Kelly added, "Kendall, we've traveled to 22 cities. We've auditioned over 20,000 people, and Gustavo's picked you."

"But I'm not a singer," Kendall replied.

"You sing all the time..." Katie stated.
"In the car, at the table. You sing to me when I can't sleep at night."

"No, I don't," Kendall replied.

Mrs. Knight placed a hand on his shoulder. "Yes, you do, honey."

Katie continued, "When you shovel the driveway. When you answered the door 2 minutes ago."

Kendall sighed."But that's not singing."

Nini placed her hand on Kendall's other shoulder. "Yes, it is, honey," she stated in a tone similar to Mrs. Knight's. "And he's always singing along to the nineties channel," Nini added again to Gustavo.

"Nini!" Kendall called.

Gustavo smiled. "So, what do you say, kiddo, huh? You wanna go out to LA and be molded and shaped Into a big old star by the Gustavo Rocque?"

Everyone turned to Kendall, waiting to hear an answer.

Kendall looked at everyone's faces from the boys to Katie's to Nini's.

If he did leave, Nini would miss him as would the other guys but-

He finally looked back to Gustavo. "No," Kendall answered.

The teacup in Gustavo's hand shattered as did the smile from his face.

Carlos burst out laughing at the reaction and Nini nearly did too but the look from everyone made him fall silent.

Gustavo stood up. "I'm gonna need to take a minute. I'm gonna need to take a minute right now."

As he left the house, Kelly stood up to and reached into her purse, pulling out cash. "It's for the teacup."

There was a loud crash and-

"I'm gonna destroy this state!"

Kelly threw down more money on the table. "And the planter outside."

And another crash with a car alarm going off and-

"This state owes me a latte!"

Kelly just threw down her whole wad of cash before handing Kendall something. "Here's my card. If you change your mind, call. You should think about this, Kendall. We leave tomorrow at 2."

As Kelly left, Katie smacked the back of Kendall's head. "Idiot." She stood up and grabbed a twenty-dollar bill. "I'm taking a 20."

***

The next day, the group stood outside the Sherwood grocery store which was where Kendall's job was.

"So I, uh, did the math last night on this whole singing thing, and Katie was right. You're an idiot," Logan spoke before shoving the shopping cart he had forward in the direction of the return shopping cart area but it turned right and hit a car, making the alarm go off. "It's breaking right."

"Guys, I don't wanna go to LA with that jerk," Kendall replied. "I wanna be here with you jerks and play hockey for our team."

"But this is just like hockey. Only, instead of crashing the boards and rushing the net, you're singing and dancing," Carlos stated.

Kendall looked to Nini who was staring down at the handle of the shopping cart she was holding.

"A little help here, Nins?" Kendall asked.

This earned her attention. "With your decision?" she asked to which he nodded. "It's simple-go."

"See?" Logan said, pointing to her.

"Why?" Kendall questioned. "You were ready to attack him last night when he was awful to James."

"Because I stick up for my friends but Logan and Carlos are right. California has so many things that Minnesota doesn't. Like right now, the weather would be warm down there instead we're stuck down here freezing our butts...on and off the ice."

"What have you got to lose?" Logan added.

"Dude, California...the girls, the beach, the stars. The girls," Carlos emphasized.

"The fame, recognition, the passion of learning something new you like to do," Nini added. "You'd be a somebody, K."

"Yeah, but none of that matters if it's minus my best friends," Kendall told her before turning to Logan. "Add those numbers up, Professor."

Logan pulled out his calculator as Nini pushed her shopping cart forward, like Logan's cart, it turned right and hit the same car but it hit the front, smashing the headlights.

"Oops," Nini muttered.

Logan was still on his calculator. "Okay, carry the 2." He looked to Kendall. "Ah, nope. Still an idiot."

Kendall turned to James who was preparing to push his cart. "What about you?" Kendall asked James. "You haven't said anything to me all day."

"I'm not talkin' to you," James spoke.

"You just did," Nini, Carlos, and Logan replied.

"You know what? All right, dude." He stepped up to Kendall. "Part of me hates you right now. No, all of me hates you. But call that guy back."

"That guy said you have no talent," Kendall replied before pointing to Logan. "Made you cry, and broke my mom's teacup."

"But he wants to make you famous," James replied before shoving his cart forward but it hit and knocked down a man who was carrying groceries. "Sorry," James called out.

"Okay," Carlos spoke, putting on his helmet. "If I make a hole in one, you have to call that guy back." He gave his helmet two lucky taps before reeling a shopping cart back, letting out a wild yell and jumped in the cart, letting it fly forward.

"Carlos, watch out!" Nini called but an oncoming car had tried to slow down but bumped his shopping cart, knocking him over.

Nini went to help Carlos while Logan turned to Kendall. "You should still call him."

James pulled out a magazine cover with Gustavo on it. "He's been on the cover of 'Rolling Stone'."

Kendall laughed, grabbing the paper. "What other odd things do you carry in your pockets?"

James pulled an object out of his jacket pocket. "My lucky comb and 8x10 Personalized headshots..." He pulled out two of his own headshots. "One boy next door, one bad boy."

Carlos stumbled forward, leaning all of his weight on Nini. "We just want what's best for you, man," Carlos slurred, patting Logan's cheek.

"I'm Logan," Logan stated.

"Oh," Carlos said as Nini pointed his hand in Kendall's direction. "You."

Carlos fell onto the ground, Nini made no effort to catch him this time but she looked to the blond. "He got hit by a car for you, Ken." She walked up to Kendall, grabbing the front of his red apron to bring him down to her 5'5" height. "And aren't you the one that said opportunities like this come once in a lifetime?"

"He was," James stated.

Kendall pried Nini's hands off him as he said, "Now let me get this straight. You're saying if you all had a chance to go to LA with a giant turd producer to record demos, you'd go."

"Yes," everyone answered, holding out all their cell phones for him including Carlos who was still on the floor.

Kendall grabbed onto his cart with determination and shoved it forward, the cart going straight into its destination in the cart return area.

Kendall grabbed Nini's phone and the card Kelly gave him, then dialed it.

10 minutes later, a white limousine pulled up right in front of the supermarket.

"That was fast," Nini noted as Gustavo got out with Kelly.

The group approached them.

"Don't think about him. Think millions of dollars," Logan told Kendall.

"Think millions of girls," Carlos added.

"Think millions of fans who know your name," Nini added.

"Think of me as the backup singer who could spin off in his own solo career, you know, after your second album," James added.

"Well?" Gustavo questioned.

Kendall nodded. "Okay, I'll go to LA with you and record some demos..." Kelly and Gustavo looked relieved until Kendall added, "If...you take my buds and make us a singing group."

Nini gasped in shock while Logan choked on his soda and Carlos exclaimed: "Dude!"

"Well, you guys said you would go," Kendall replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I-I'm sorry. Are you trying to make a deal with me?" Gustavo questioned. "I make the deals."

"If you want me, you have to take all of us," Kendall replied.

"Um, Kendall," Nini spoke up. "There's four guys and one girl in this group. I'm pretty sure that'd make you a boy band so..."

"And my for my best friend, Nini," Kendall began, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "She has to go to LA as an assistant."

"Huh?!" Nini questioned before latching onto Kendall's arm. "No, no, no, no..."

"Kendall, in case you haven't noticed, I already have an assistant, I don't need another one," Gustavo said, motioning to Kelly.

"Fine. Then, an intern," Kendall replied. "A paid intern. Nini's smart, she knows music and can put up with us longer than anyone else can. Again: you take all of us or I don't go."

Kelly turned to Gustavo. "She could be helpful. She can keep an eye on them when we can't."

"Have you even heard your friends sing?" Gustavo questioned, motioning to them all. "Oh, that's right. They can't."

Kendall raised the Rolling Stone cover he got from James. "Well, I'm no mega-producer like you, but I know they sing better than dogs, and you can turn them into stars. Right?"

Gustavo snatched it, throwing the paper behind him. "Is this supposed to sway me?" he questioned. "I'm Gustavo Rocque. I'm amazing." He emphasized, "I'm amazing. And if you think for one second that I'm so desperate because of 2 or 22 cities that I haven't been able to find anybody, you can think again, because there is no way, no way Gustavo Rocque is takin' the 5 dogs from Minnesota to Los Angeles to make 4 of them stars and 1 into an intern. It's never gonna happen. Never!"

Kendall smirked. "So, we have a deal."

Gustavo didn't hesitate to answer with a:

"Yep."

***

Part 2 coming up! Hope you all liked the first chapter! I'm always terrible at the first chapter but it'll get better from here on out now that I have experience with them.