The group trudged by the Palm Woods pool as the sun began to set.

"Five hours of dancing," Logan groaned.

"Seven hours of harmonies," Carlos groaned.

"My hand is cramping from all the writing," Nini groaned, wiggling the fingers on her right hand.

"And I sweated through 14 bandannas," James added with a sigh as they all sat down on the pool chairs.

"Thank goodness we can escape the stresses of Hollywood at the amazing Palm Woods pool," Kendall added.

Nini hummed closing her eyes but they shot open as a loud bell rung and some woman stomped over. "What's this? I didn't order extras."

"Um, we live here," Nini spoke.

"This is our pool," Kendall added.

"No, this is the set for the sexy dog dog food commercial, starring Lightning the TV wonder dog," the woman replied, motioning to Lighting across the pool.

"Hey, Lightning," the group all called.

Lightning barked and waved back.

"Strike the kids," the woman called out.

Before they all knew it, they were picked up by a group of crew members who carried them into the Palm Woods lobby, being dropped on one of the couches.

"Well, at least we can recharge in the stylish Palm Woods lobby," Kendall spoke.

Mr. Bitters walked over to the five with a small laugh. "Ah, the five hockey players from Minnesota."

"I'm not getting a friendly vibe," Logan stated.

"No loitering in the lobby after 9:00," Mr. Bitters told them before looking at his watch. "Oh, look at the time. 9:01."

Reluctantly, the group got up but not before Nini stuck her tongue out at Bitters.

They made it to their apartment, entering through the door.

"Then there's the gracious interior of our very own apartment 2-J," Kendall spoke in a sad tone.

Their apartment was disgusting. Dirty spots on the carpet, holes in the wall...

"This place is horrible," Nini spoke with Carlos and Logan.

They all sat on the couch which wobbled and fell to the side, unstable, knocking Nini into Kendall.

***

The group made it back down to the lobby to which Nini kept hitting the bell over and over again until Mr. Bitters came out.

"What? I'm busy," Mr. Bitters snapped with his hand clutching his sandwich but Nini kept pressing the bell to annoy him.

Until he grabbed the bell from her as Kendall said, "We'd like a nicer apartment, please."

James pointed to the sign with the apartment looking nice. "How come everyone else gets one of those cool apartments?"

"And ours is a big time dump," Carlos added.

"2J, a dump?" Mr. Bitters questioned. "If by 'dump,' you mean 'really cool'."

Nini let out a small exaggerated, "Ha! Good one, Bitters. Tell me another joke."

"That wasn't a joke," Mr. Bitters told her.

"I'm pretty sure it was," Nini replied.

"Don't believe me? All right, fine. I'll show you guys," Mr. Bitters said.

The group followed Mr. Bitters back upstairs, entering 2J.

"As you know, the Palm Woods is home of the future famous," Mr. Bitters began. "Do you know how many showbiz legends have stayed in this very room?"

"Do you know how many stains and smells there are in this very room?" Kendall remarked.

Mr. Bitters points to a stain on the carpet. "If you spill, it's a stain. When Lindsay Lohan throws up chocolate milk, it's history."

"Ew," Nini said, not agreeing.

"And this slight blemish, the result of a Shia LaBeouf indoor soccer game," Mr. Bitters motioned to the wall before telling them, "No soccer in the rooms."

"Cool but still ew," Nini remarked.

Mr. Bitters rolled his eyes but stood by the small TV. "And are you telling me that you're too good for the tv enjoyed by Kanye West when he was known around here as Lil' Kanye West?"

"Can we at least paint the place?" Kendall asked.

"No, 'cause your lease specifically states that there will be no painting..." He saw a picture of Kendall's family hanging on the wall. "No hanging of personal pictures." He pulled down the picture but flinched when he saw a large hole in the wall, putting it back up. "I'll allow this one." He continued, "No construction of any kind. And there is no way I am putting five hockey-playing hooligans into one of my finer apartments."

"So installing an indoor swirly slide is completely out of the question?" Carlos asked with hope.

"This matter, like this door, is closed," Mr. Bitters replied, practically slamming the door as he left which made the picture on the wall fall down.

"I'm surprised the pipe didn't burst," Carlos stated.

Until there was a loud crack and water sprayed from the hall in the wall.

"Really, Carlos?" Nini asked him.

"Sorry," he told her.

"Pipe just burst," James stated.

"Yep. We need a new crib," Kendall replied.

"Yeah, right, like that's just gonna fall from the sky," Logan remarked.

***

At Rocque Records, the group sat around a table with Gustavo, Kelly, and Griffin as someone from Griffin's team set down a blueprint.

"We call it the ultimate teen crib," she stated. "Filled with amazing home electronics, arcade games..."

"A swirly slide!" Carlos exclaimed happily.

"Cool, right?" Griffin asked them before turning to his team. "Put a swirly slide in my office."

"Griffin, I don't know what this is, but I need to work with the dogs on harmonies today," Gustavo stated.

"Change your plans. Our ancient Japanese founder, Mr. Fujizaki, wants to dump our music division. But your boys are going to change his mind."

Kendall pointed to the picture. "And we get to live in there?"

"Yes..." Griffin answered. "For two hours while you have to do a promotional video, surrounded by RCM/CBT/ Global Net/Sanyoid products, which will show Fujizaki why our future rock stars are perfect for selling his blenders, plasma TVs, and missile defense systems." He added, "Oh, and do some interviews. You know, why they love to sing, why they wear that helmet, and why they love RCM/CBT/ Global Net/Sanyoid arcade games, industrial-strength playground slides, and the new XZ5 micro laptop. Look how tiny."

"And we could all wear bandannas," James stated suddenly. "It could be our thing. Bandannas."

Nini mouthed pleas to not allow it but stopped when James looked at her to which she only smiled.

"Griffin, you can't keep coming into my studio every day and interrupting my training sessions," Gustavo stated.

"Yes, I can," Griffin replied. "And do the interviews by the water. Fujisaki thinks water is lucky. It's weird."

"But you want a performance in the teen hangout crib thing," Nini stated.

"Exactly," Griffin replied. "And I need it in two days, or the music division will be gone. But have fun with it."

Once he and his team left, Kelly turned to Gustavo. "Okay, we'll build the teenage crib here in studio 'A.' I'll find a nice beach location for the interviews and put in some calls for a hot director."

Gustavo stood up. "I'm a hot director. And we're doing everything here because it's easier, quicker, and cheaper." He pointed to the woman who showed the blueprints. "You, I want to show you where you're gonna build this thing."

***

They all began to form the same idea as Kendall had the blueprint raised up and looked to the apartment.

"No. No way. It's impossible," Logan denied.

"A week ago, we were a hockey team in Minnesota. And today we're a band in L.A. Anything is possible," Kendall stated.

"Okay, you have a point. But how are we gonna get all this in here?"

James held out a handful of bandanas. "Take any color you want."

"We're not wearing bandannas in the video, okay?" Kendall told him.

James frowned. "You know what? You guys never support my risky fashion choices."

Nini patted his shoulder. "Because only you can pull it off," she told him.

"Now, the first step is getting the set designer to build the ultra teen crib here and not Rocque Records," Kendall began.

"Yeah, that's simple. And how are we gonna do that?" Logan asked.

"Logan, are you forgetting that Palm Woods is home of the future famous?" Kendall questioned.

Nini smirked, seeing the light bulb go off in his pretty head. "And there's only one person we know who could act and convince them to build here."

They walked to the lobby, slowing their pace down to which Kendall told them, "Wait for it."

Suddenly, Camille walked up to Kendall and slapped him and yelled, "Trevor, I trusted you with my heart, my soul, my money!"

"Camille," Nini called.

She broke character, her angered expression turning neutral. "What?" she asked.

"We need to borrow your acting," the group all said.

She shrugged. "Sure," she answered.

***

Later the group stood outside the studio waiting for Camille to return.

Kendall's phone rang to which he answered, "Arthur Griffin's office. One moment, please." He outstretched the phone to Logan. "Do your Griffin impression now."

Logan was about to object until Nini told him, "Sorry, bub."

Then she stomped on his foot to which he let out an 'ow' before holding the phone to his ear. "Hello?" he spoke in Griffin's voice. "Uh-huh. Yes. Move that set to the Palm Woods, now. Okay, I need to touch my llama now. Bye."

As Logan hung up, Camille returned causing the group to cheer happily.

"I owned them in there," Camille said.

"Yeah, you did," Nini told her before high-fiving her.

"All you've done is set us up for big-time trouble," Logan replied.

"Oh, our little Logey, so pessimistic," Kendall stated.

"So scared of everything," Carlos added.

"And so hot," Camille added.

The boys all looked at her while Nini hummed in semi-agreement. But Logan just wasn't her cup of tea.

"Okay..." Logan spoke before turning to the group. "And I'm not scared. I'm realistic, as in, what are you gonna tell your mom about the crew that'll be invading your apartment tomorrow from 11:00 to 3:00?"

***

As dinner time approached as Mrs. Knight passed out food, she said, "Hey, I almost forgot. I'm gonna go look for a job tomorrow, so I'll be gone from about 11:00 to 3:00."

As she walked out, Kendall and Nini simultaneously gave him a pointed look. "Okay, that happened," Logan stated. "But what now?"

"I have no idea," Kendall answered.

"Frankly, I can't believe we got this far," Nini added, sipping her cup of juice before giving Logan a small smirk.

"Hey, look," James muffled as he tied bandanas around his wrist. "Wrist-dannas."

Nini chuckled. "Only you, James."

"Okay, our next worry is Gustavo," Kendall spoke. "We need to find someone who can think like him. Someone who can get inside his head. Where are we gonna find someone that devious?"

I glance at the little girl who was sitting in the living room. "Looks like we should look a little close to home," Nini stated.

***

The group sat in front of Katie who was presenting a plan.

"First, you're gonna need more future stars from the Palm Woods," she stated.

Nini raised her hand. "I recommend the Jennifers for their lack of fear."

Katie pointed her pointer at the girl. "Nice choice," Katie told her. "Next, you'll need cordless power tools, sawdust, cool code phrases, and-"

"Wait, Katie," Kendall interrupted. "Where did you get the whiteboard?"

Katie didn't answer to which Nini grinned. "Obviously from Mr. Bitters but it was so worth it."

"Speaking of Bitters," Katie added. "You have to keep him in his cage all day. But the key to this whole ultra 2-J makeover is convincing Gustavo to shoot the interviews by the pool like that dog food commercial last night."

"Right. And once our teen dream remodeling is complete, he'll have no time and no choice but to shoot our rock performance right here," Kendall finished.

"And I get the first turn on the swirly slide," Katie said.

"I get first turn on the swirly slide," Carlos told her.

"I do!"

They argued back and forth.

Nini stood on a chair with a sigh and cupped her hands. "Hey!" she yelled, making them both go quiet. "You can go together."

Kendall carried her off the chair and back onto the floor, James stood up wearing his purple bandanas but had a fitful of colorful ones. "Let's do this."

"We're not wearing bandannas," everyone said.

"Bandannas are cool!" James defended.

***

As the group entered the hall of Rocque Records, they saw Gustavo yell, "And I say so!"

"He's in a bad mood. Abort mission," Logan stated.

"Just stay cool," Kendall told him. "If we fail, we fail."

As they approached Gustavo told them, "Heel. Stay. Speak."

They all nudged Nini forward, holding some pictures. "We took some pictures of the pool at the Palm Woods," she stated, handing the pictures to Kelly.

"The greatest pool ever, very lucky water," Kendall added. "It's a great location for the interviews."

"Hot directors shoot there all the time," Carlos added before exclaiming, "Swirly slide!"

James smacked the back of his head as Gustavo said, "Oh, the dogs are directing my video now. Well, let me tell you how it works here. You are the dogs, and I am the trainer. Now, sit." The group didn't move. "Don't sit."

At that, the group sat on the edge of the couch.

"This pool looks great," Kelly told Gustavo. "And it's close enough that we could be back here by 3:00 to shoot the performance at the ultra teen hangout place."

Everyone loudly agreed with Kelly until Gustavo said, "No yeah! You do what I say, and I say no, no, no!"

Suddenly the fake beach setting fell and a lot of things broke.

"So Gustavo..." Nini spoke. "Any ideas?"

"Hey, let's do the interviews at the Palm Woods," he stated.

"Good idea."

***

An hour later, they were back at the Palm Woods, the boys getting ready by the poolside as Nini sat in a pool chair nearby, waiting for them to finish.

As Mr. Bitters walked by and into the lobby, Katie appeared out of nowhere and said, "The bird is in the cage, and the Jennifers are in place."

They all stood up as Kendall said, Okay, team, remember your missions. James, you stall Gustavo. Carlos, Katie, and Camille, you head to Rocque Records and fake build the ultra teen crib while Logan, Nini, and I install the swirly slide and all those other electronic goodies."

"Yay," Nini said excitedly.

"Okay, James is up first," Gustavo spoke. "I'll shoot the rest of you dogs later.

"Move out," Kendall told them.

Everyone went different directions except for Logan who stood in place until Nini walked back over, pulling him by the hand. "Come on."

***

Later, Kendall, Nini, and Logan were hiding behind some bushes.

"Was the eye black really necessary?" Logan asked as they were all wearing it under their eyes.

"No but it looks cool," Nini told him.

Kendall raised up a small stereo that was playing spy-themed music. "The music really sets the tone, don't you think?"

They hurried into the lobby as they saw the building team carrying stuff off their truck.

Nini approached brunette Jennifer. "Jennifer, you're up," she said.

"Just to be clear, we get to be in the video, which will be seen by a lot of people, right?" she asked Kendall.

"Are you kidding?" Kendall asked with a small laugh. "It's gonna be seen in Japan."

The three of them hid as Nini asked Kendall, "Will it be seen in Japan?"

"I don't know," he answered.

The Jennifer spoke to the building team. "Welcome to the Palm Woods. Elevators are that way. And please do your best to remain quiet. We wouldn't want to disturb our other residents."

As the building team walked to the elevator, Logan said, "I still say this is a bad idea."

"Hey, a life without risk is a life unlived, my friend," Kendall told him. "Now off to apartment 2-J."

Kendall and Nini went to leave but Logan was still hiding so she walked back over, pulling him by the hand. "Come on."

"Okay, okay," Logan said.

They made it to the elevators and back to their apartment as the building team went inside.

They stayed outside the door and listened.

"So far, so good," Nini told them.

"Look, I told you there was nothing to worry about," Kendall said to Logan.

***

After about 10 minutes of waiting, Kendall's phone ring to which Logan saw and said, "It's the set designer. I'm worried."

"Uh, Griffin?" the voice on the other end spoke.

Kendall held the phone out to Logan who quietly objected, "No."

"Again, sorry, Logie," Nini said before stomping on his foot.

"Ow!" Logan exclaimed before grabbing the phone and going into his Griffin impression. "Hello?"

"Yeah, the room's too small. So if you want that swirly slide to fit, we're gonna have to bust into the ceiling. Is that okay?" The woman asked.

Logan held a hand over the phone as Logan said, "Break through the ceiling? No, no. We'll be arrested."

"Uh, sir, can we demolish the ceiling?" The woman questioned.

With a sad sigh, Kendall motioned for him to call it off. "Go ahead, Logan," Nini added quietly.

Logan held the phone to his ear and said, "Yes."

Nini and Kendall gaped at that as the woman on the other end called out, "Rip it up, boys."

"Logan, I'm so proud of you," Nini told him, giving a side-hug.

"You better be right about this taking risks thing," Logan told them.

"Fire in the hole!" someone yelled out as there was a loud thud in the apartment making Nini jump into Kendall's arms who held her bridal style.

Nini was lowered back down as the three Jennifers raced upstairs.

"Code red, code red!" Brunette Jennifer spoke. "Bitters is on his way-" There was another loud boom. "What is going on up here?"

"Please tell me you guys are good at teen scream horror flicks," Kendall pleaded.

"They're desperate," Curly Haired Jennifer stated.

"We want talking parts in your next three videos," blond Jennifer spoke. "You do all our ironing for the next month. And we sing backup on your next track."

"Done,"  Nini agreed.

"Where's the ketchup?" she asked to which Kendall gave them it.

Nini, Kendall, and Logan all hid in a supply closet while the Jennifers screamed loudly, running up to Mr. Bitters covered in ketchup. 

"The refrigerator you installed fell on us!" Blond Jennifer exclaimed.

"Do you know how bad blood stains?" Brunette Jennifer questioned.

"And now we're gonna run to our lawyers and sue the Palm Woods," Curly Haired Jennifer stated.

"No, no, no. Please don't sue," Mr. Bitters pleaded as the girls ran towards the stairs screaming. "Don't sue!"

Once they heard they were gone, the trio walked out of the closet and stated, "They're good."

***

An hour later, Kendall, Nini, and Logan took the elevator down.

"Okay," Kendall began. "Bitters is gone, and we just have to keep Gustavo occupied for one more hour."

"You are a genius, Kendall," Nini told him as he wrapped an arm around her.

"I can't believe it," Logan stated. "I think we're actually gonna make it. I'm not even scared."

The elevator doors opened making them all scream loudly as they were met with Mr. Bitters and Gustavo.

"Why are the Jennifers dripping ketchup all over my Palm Woods?" Mr. Bitters asked to which Nini shrugged at, trying to stay calm.

"Dogs, interviews now!" Gustavo told them, grabbing Kendall and Logan and dragging them to the pool with Nini reluctantly trailing behind in time to see he was going upstairs in the elevator.

As they all passed by James, he spoke, "All done with my long interview."

Nini grabbed James's arm. "Bitters. Code red, code red!" she urged James.

"Nina!" Gustavo called.

"Code red," she repeated before walking back to where Gustavo was so she keeps an eye on the boys to make sure they read the stuff on the card.

An hour later, Logan had done his interview which was very short before moving onto Kendall who sat at a pool chair and read with a smile into the camera, "I love all RCM/CBT/ Global Netsanyoid products. And I hope to fill my room with them someday..." He gave a thumbs up. "Soon."

"And cut," Gustavo spoke as everyone including Nini clapped. "That was amazing." His phone rang causing him to answer, "What?" He was silent for a moment before he yelled, "What?!"

Nini grabbed Kendall by the hand. "Let's go."

***

Gustavo stood in the middle of apartment to 2-J with an angered expression but with Kelly and half of the construction team.

Logan was spinning on the chair near the counter, Carlos stood at the top of the swirly slide with Katie, James was jumping on the couch with Nini and Kendall was at the hockey game.

"Yeah, it came out really good, huh?" the woman asked Gustavo, mistaking his expression for amazement.

"It came out amazing," Kendall stated.

"Swirly slide!" Carlos exclaimed before going down the slide with Katie.

Gustavo looked to Kelly who told him, "There's no time to move the set back to the studio. And the video has to be great for Fujizaki, or we are out of a job."

Nini jumped off the couch to play a small table hockey game with Kendall.

Gustavo walked over to Kendall growling in anger, grabbing him by the shoulders. "LIGHT IT AND SHOOT IT!"

***

An hour later, the boys shot the video at the apartment finishing with, "Gotta live it big time."

"Cut!" Gustavo exclaimed. "Print! And strike the set."

The group all asked questions as people took apart the couches and cool paintings off the wall.

"No, where are they going with that?" Kendall asked.

"Back to the warehouse," The woman responded as the group kept pleading not to take the stuff away.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Gustavo spoke. "Did you dogs think you were gonna get to keep this stuff?" He laughed.

They took apart the swirly slide causing Carlos to yell out, "Swirly!"
While Nini held him in place.

"Oh, that's really, really good," Gustavo spoke.

Nini saw two men taking out the hockey table to which she yelled, "No!" And jumped on top of the game, wrapping her arms around it protectively.

"The little dogs thought they outsmarted the big dog," Gustavo said with a bark before turning to the people. "Take down that cool thing."

The boys tried to pry Nini off the game by pulling on her legs and arms but she kept kicking, flailing, and yelling, "No, I'm in love with this! You can't talk my true love away from me! We belong together!"

The men picked up the game anyways with Nini on it, going into the hall as apartment 2-J began to shape into how it was before.

"And bring the girl back!" Gustavo yelled to one of the guys as Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan all sat on the old couch. "But I do have to admit, we did get some pretty great stuff today," Gustavo told them. "Let's just hope Fujizaki thinks so tomorrow."

Nini was carried back into the room with a sad expression, being placed down as Gustavo left.

She squeezed onto the old couch between Kendall and James to which the couch wobbled and made the group to fall to the side.

***

The next day at Rocque Records, everyone sat the business table, showing the video Gustavo made of the boys with Fujizaki on a computer monitor coughing harshly but watching.

Once the video finished, everyone turned their heads to Fujisaki said, "...I like the boys."

Everyone in the room cheered, Nini high fiving and hugging the boys to which Kendall picked her up in the hug, spinning her in his arms making her giggle.

As Fujisaki ended the call, Griffin stated, "I've never seen Fujizaki so excited. Frankly, I think it's the first time I've seen him move." He patted Gustavo's head. "You were a good boy today, Gustavo. Good boy."

Once Griffin and his team left, Kendall spoke to Gustavo, "So we learned a lot here today, didn't we? You did some things. We did some things."

"Ten hours of harmonies and songwriting! No breaks! Move out!" Gustavo told the five making them all slouch and go into the studio.

***

The five trudged into the Palm Woods lobby before taking the elevator up to the apartment opening the door and entering to which they all slowly looked up.

The apartment was painted with cool paintings on the wall, the orange couch was back, the swirly slide and hockey table game was back.

Katie came down the slide. "Hey!" she greeted them.

"Well, I love what you've done with the place," Katie told the group.

Nini rushed up to the hockey table, hugging it tightly, resting her cheek on the dome at the top. "I missed you," she said to it before the boys rushed over to play with her.

"Uh..." Gustavo spoke walking in with Kelly. "Good job today."

"This is awesome," Kendall stated.

"This is a bone."

"Come again?" Logan questioned.

"I realized today, sort of, that if you really want to train dogs properly, you need to throw them a treat now and then. So enjoy your treat. You're not getting any more."

"And we lost a day of rehearsal because of the shoot, so it's at the studio, 7:30 AM," Kelly added.

"We'll be there. No problem," Kendall stated.

"We promise, no more surprises," Carlos said.

There was banging on the wall in the apartment before Bitters burst through the wall, falling over before standing up, looking the place over. "You've altered this room," he stated in shock. "You've completely devastated this apartment."

Nini slapped James's arm. "You locked him in the supply closet?" she asked.

"No. Bandanna man did," James replied, earning a shove from Nini.

"This is a total lease violation," Mr. Bitter said before glancing at the swirly slide. "Man, cool swirly slide." But turned back to the group. "I want all of you out of here tomorrow."

As Kelly wrote a check, she spoke, "What if I add another grand to your 'making it happen' fee?"

Mr. Bitters grabbed the check and smiled. "Have a Palm Woods day, everyone. Enjoy your stay."

As he left, the five rushed over to the game table, Kendall and Nini on one team while Logan plopped on the couch as James and Carlos were on a team.

"You like them," Kelly told Gustavo as they were busy. "They're not like other bands you've produced, are they?"

"They're dogs, and I'm training them," Gustavo told her and said as he walked out, "I don't like them!"

This made Kelly laugh as they both left.

***

So question: would you guys read the chapters in this book that are written around Nini being in the Big Time Movie?

Please comment and let me know.