I muttered a "Hello" to Bug as he sat down next to me. I started to listen carefully now to what my uncle and his friend were saying.

"Well, Brandon, you expressed an interest in music to us, so we're willing to give you a try" my uncle said all formally. I almost giggled seeing my uncle act all serious. This was the man I remembered used to jump out of closets screaming to scare me.

They talked about formalities and stuff like that. They decided to hold auditions for a backup band. Bug was having trouble deciding if he just wanted to be a lead singer or he wanted to play an instrument.

"Well Brandon, think it over. Now Dani, there's a reason your uncle brought you hear today" Mr. Smith said turning his attention to me.

"What reason?" I asked sighing. I knew there was a catch to me being there. I wasn't surprised much; my uncle always did put work before family.

"Your uncle here tells me you have an amazing voice. He has a tape of you singing "What A Girl Wants" with some friends of yours. We were thinking of starting a girl group and we want you to join. Of course we would love it if you gave us the name and numbers of the girls who sang with you. You girls seemed to have a good chemistry together" Nick, Mr. Smith, explained.

I was shocked. I didn't know that this was the reason why my uncle brought me to the office this morning. I was flattered really as Nick put the tape on and I heard my voice fill the room. I had always dreamed of being a music artist. When the tape finished I saw a look of admiration on Bug's face, I had forgot he was in the room.

"Dani, sweetie, put the names of the girls on this sheet of paper, we would like it if you kept it to a small number of girls" Kevin said handing me a piece of paper and a pen.

I wrote down the names and numbers of my friends Candi, Lauren, and Frances. Nick and Kevin thanked me and left the room to call them.

My uncle explained to me that he had talked to my parents before I even came to California abut it and that that was why my cousin was helping with the baby-sitting.

I got up form my chair when they left and looked round the room at the pictures on the wall.

"Your voice is nice," Bug said surprising me.

"Thank you" I said turning around sitting back down next to him. We both swiveled our chairs so we were facing each other.

"We weren't formally introduced. My name is Brandon Hall, but you might know me better as Bug" He said smiling. I felt a little flutter in my stomach as I looked into his eyes. I smiled back at him and shook his outreached hand.

"I'm Danielle McDermott. You can call me Dani though, Danielle is too formal" I replied. I realized I was staring and blushed and started to draw on the paper that was on the desk. I smiled at the thought of how nice his eyes were. I rarely ever liked blue eyes, I had them myself. I tended to prefer brown but I liked his blue eyes. They almost seemed alive.

"So, how old are you?" he asked. I was surprised. I thought he was listening downstairs and heard my age.

"16, 17 in a couple of months. And you?" I answered. I knew how old he was but it was almost automatic me asking him how old he was.

"Seventeen. You live in Cali?" He asked me as he himself got up to look around the room.

"No, I live in NY" I answered watching him.

"Ah ha. I'd love to live in NY. I live in Tampa, it's alight, but NY is so cool" He replied. He jumped as the door to the office opened.

"Well Dani, it looks like all 3 of your friends can be flown out here to audition to be part of the group. It's almost a guarantee that they'll be picked for the group," Nick said smiling at me.

"Cool!" I replied excitedly. I was happy at the prospect of being in a group with my best friends.

Bug and I were asked to leave the room as my uncle and Nick talked about what details would be included in both Bug and my contracts.

"I'll be down in like an hour or so Dani. If you want you can grab a cab," my uncle said handing me some money. I took it giving him a glare.

"Hey, why don't' I drive her home?" Bug piped up and I gave my uncle a pleading look.

"Sure, go ahead. If you want, you can grab a movie or something, Shannon won't be needing your help tonight or anything" my uncle said. I think he was just trying to get rid of me but I took him up on his offer and taking the money he handed me.

I followed Bug to the elevator and we rode it in silence. He led me over to his car and opened my door for me. I smiled up at him and thanked him.

"So, you wanna get diner and go to a movie?" Bug asked me as he started the car and pulled out of his spot.

"Sure. What would you like to see?" I asked him. I hoped he wouldn't ask me what I wanted to see, I hated making decisions.

"Well, how about 'Signs'?" he asked looking over at me quickly, trying to keep an eye on the road.

"Sure, I wanted to see that but never knew when I'd be able to because of babysitting" I replied.

"Who are you babysitting?" he asked curiously.

"My uncle's two sons. TJ is 6 and Andrew is 4" I answered him.

"So they're young," he said. I knew he was making small talk as he drove to the theater.

"Uh huh. Ok, this is going to be uncomfortable unless I know what to call you. Which do you like better? Brandon or Bug? Or better yet, which one would you rather me call you?" I asked.

He laughed and I smiled. Even his laugh made my knees feel weak. "Well, Bug is a nickname form when I was younger. I don't mind it much. I guess it's up to you what you want to call me" he answered as he pulled up in front of the theater.

I half giggled and half sighed. "I hate having to make decisions, even small ones."

"It's not life or death, It's just a name" he laughed.

"Yeah I know, but still" I laughed with him.

"Ok, let's check the times and then you can decide what to call me. I really don't care as long as it's not something vulgar" he joked.

"Alright" I said following him. The movie didn't start for another hour.

"Alright, I've decided I'll call you whatever I'm in the mood to call you" I said confidently.

"Hey, that works. Ok so now where do you want to go for dinner? We might as well eat before we see the movie," He said leaning up against his car. It was a 2002 Elentra. It was a nice car, small, but nice. It was black with tan interior.

'Something I can answer" I replied laughing. "There's a McDonalds right over there" I said pointing behind him.

"Perfect, fast food is always good," he said grabbing my hand and leading me across the street.

We ate our dinner and saw the movie. We didn't really see much of the movie; we talked and tried to get to know each other better. By the time we got to the hotel we were both tired and knew pretty much everything about each other.

We stepped off the elevator laughing after I told him the story of Candi and me in the Chinese restaurant. We happened to be staying in the same hotel, and on the same floor so he walked me to my door.

"Well, goodnight. Tonight was fun" I said my hand on the doorknob.

"Goodnight" Bug said leaning in and kissing me softly and gently.

"I'll call you tomorrow" He whispered and he turned and walked down the hall. I watched as he took out his card and swiped it entering his room.

I entered the room to find a note form my cousin saying that she took my cousins to see "Lilo And Stitch" and then to diner. She also said she heard about the record company deciding to use me in the new girl group and congratulations.

I smiled and showered. I changed into my pajamas and went to sleep early knowing my friends would be flying in early the next morning. I was asleep within 5 minutes happily dreaming.