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chapter6: from 9 to 8
january 5, 2009

 It’s now January of 2009. 9STARz’ music was finalized, and the dance rehearsals are still ongoing. Now it was time to start filming season four of The Disney Channel’s hit TV series, popSTARz. 

 As for the members themselves, they’re slowly warming to each other, more or less. Everybody hates Vaughn. Greg doesn’t like Ryan, but Alec has become friends with both guys. As for the girls, Maddie, Sarah, and Rylie have become best friends. Hayley and Emily still dislike the three girls, but they’re getting used to them. Maddie and Ryan still hate each other, whereas Sarah and Greg are getting along well.

 As for 7STARz, this week was going to be the last week they film their TV series. It was theirs since 2006, but they’re forced to hand it over to 9STARz. All because they got caught having bad behavior.

 When the 7 met with the 9 for the first time, the 7 had to act nice to their spin-off band. Now they have to film their last episode with the teen band. 

 They were at a nearby 24-hour coffee-shop, waiting to start filming. They were in their blue-and-white uniforms, as their characters are students at the fictional Jefferson Academy. Breanna complained, “How long do we have to wait to start filming? Do those kids need extra attention or what?”

 Molly said, “Well, for most of them, this is their first time acting for a TV series. Besides, it’s their show now. We’re just handing it over to them.”

 Breanna scoffed, “I can’t believe you’re on their side.”

 Stacey chimed in, “Bree’s right! This kiddy spin-off will take everything away from us. They’ve already gone viral on YouTube. They’re labeled as ‘the band that has Hollister boy and Haddie Moran!’”

 Matt said, “Look, we’re all over TMZ and Perez Hilton. We’re always caught doing shit. It’s better to have a spin-off. They can be as squeaky-clean as they want, and we can do whatever the hell we want.”

 Breanna argued, “Well, those kids act like they’re in high school. I swear, that blonde guy with glasses acts like an asshole. I get the feeling Hollister boy is gay. That Brooklyn girl is a slut. The Latino guy seems emo. Hannah Montana Junior is too innocent for her own good. Two other girls act like bitches, and the Nashville guy seems awkward. Don’t get me started on that so-called Nickelodeon star.” 

 Molly said, “Well, here’s a logical answer. They’re teenagers! Of course they would act like they’re in high school. We’re almost 20, but you act no different than they do.”

 Sarah Hartsfield added, “Here’s the thing, I’m not crazy about us having a spin-off band, but what’s the worst that could happen? They’ll just be stuck on Radio Disney, while we top the charts with Lady Gaga and Katy Perry.”

 Breanna said, “I guess so. But if that so-called ‘band’ has a hit single, shit is going to go down. Hard.”

 It’s about an hour later, and filming was under way. 7STARz had yet to film their scenes, but 9STARz still had to get used to acting with a camera in their faces.

 Vaughn, on the other hand, was bored. So he started arguments with the other “students.” It was the only way that would entertain himself. So far, he’s managed to get everyone to hate him! At this point, the 9STARz members were done with him.

 After filming a scene together, Greg took Sarah Fitzgerald aside. She asked, “What is it?”

 He told her, “We need to get Vaughn kicked out. He’s caused nothing but trouble since the band was formed.”

 She said, “How are we going to do that? We just started filming our first episode, and we finished recording our album. We’re already popular in YouTube, and we haven’t released anything yet.”

 “Exactly. If we kick him out now, we won’t have to worry about him hurting our career.”

 Sarah F. thought for a moment, and then she said, “Shouldn’t we tell the others about this?”

 “We will once we’re all on break.”

 Sarah F. agreed.

 It’s now break time for the 9. Greg and Sarah F. gathered the members, but they excluded Vaughn. They all went to a restaurant to talk.

 Maddie asked, “So, are we going to eat, or what?”

 Greg said, “We’ll order in a moment. But first we have to talk about the Vaughn Thing.”

 Ryan asked, “What about him?”

 Sarah F. said, “Greg and I want him kicked out of the band.”

 That didn’t surprise the members. None of them liked Vaughn, and they were thinking about whether or not to have him removed from the band. He wasn’t serious at all about being in a band. It’s like he wanted to get kicked out.

 Then Maddie asked, “How are we going to kick him out?”

 Sarah F. replied, “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”

 Ryan asked, “Does that mean we’ll become 8STARz?”

 That made the members think. They would continue as an 8-piece. They knew Vaughn didn’t have many singing parts on the songs they recorded. In fact, Ryan, who’s more of a dancer than a singer, had more parts than Vaughn. So wouldn’t hurt the band too much if Vaughn is removed.

 So Maddie asked, “When should we kick him out?”

 With that, Greg and Sarah F. smiled. Greg replied, “I’ll set up a meeting with Seth so we can tell him everything that Vaughn’s doing.”

 The members agreed.

 It’s now late afternoon, and filming was done for the day. The 9 arrived at Seth’s office. All the members knew what they were doing, except for Vaughn. He was in the dark.

 After the entered the office, Seth asked, “What brings you in today?”

 Greg said, “We want Vaughn Robb out of the band.”

 With that, Vaughn’s eyes widen. He asked Greg, “Wait, what?”

 Seth asked, “Why do you want him out of the band?”

 Sarah F. explained, “Vaughn has been starting fights between band members, and now he’s arguing with the cast of popSTARz. He just won’t stop trying to create chaos.”

 Vaughn rolled his eyes, and said, “Look, life is more interesting when there’s a fight happening.”

 Greg said, “Vaughn, it’s stupid! We’re a pop band. If we’re going to get off the ground, we can’t be having constant infighting.”

 Seth thought for a moment, while Vaughn tries to justify what he’s doing. Then the manager asked, “Does Vaughn have any significant singing parts?”

 “Not really.”

 “Then Vaughn, I’m removing you from the band. As for the rest of you, you will either go back to juniorSTARz, or become 8STARz.”

 Sarah F. said, “We’ll become 8STARz.”

 Seth said, “Okay, you’ll be 8STARz. As for Vaughn’s time on popSTARz, he’s role will be reduced to ‘normal student.’”

 The members were satisfied. As for Vaughn, he stormed out of the office. He was mad he got kicked out of the band. As for the spin-off band, 8STARz are now ready to move on without him. Now the only thing they’ll have to worry about is getting their lines and dance routines down. But should they be worried about 7STARz?

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IN THE PIC IS VAUGHN (Chord Overstreet)>>>