March 13 came very fast and Renee was packed and ready to go. She had most of her clothes in two bags, a backpack full of the bare essentials (*make- up, girl stuff, her CD player, and best of all Skittles!), and her guitar. She was waiting for Christopher to pick her up.

Suddenly, Chrisso’s car pulled up in her driveway.

"He’s here!" Renee’s mom yelled. "And there’s another car behind his. Come here and give me a hug before you go!"

"Oh mom!" Renee sighed embarrassed. She gave her mom a hug, and left, "I’ll try to call you!"

As Renee got into Christopher’s car she saw two women in their mid- thirties in the other car. She waved at them, not even knowing who they are. They waved back.

"Who are they?" Renee asked Christopher as she put her stuff in his trunk and sat down.

"The tutors, Melanie Martin and Pam Weber. Just call them Ms. Martin, and Ms. Weber. it’s easier." He replied.

Renee nodded.

"Ok, we’ll pick Katey up next, then your Aunt, and Ali and Annie last." Chrisso planned as he started the car.

When the music came on Renee heard a really cool song. It went something like, "Mmmbop, duba dop ba du bop duba dop b du!" Renee loved it, and almost started dancing.

"Who’s this?" she asked curiously.

"Oh! They’re a band named Hanson. They are all boy brothers that are 16, 13, and 11 (*remember this was in 1997, not today) They’re pretty cute! Oh yeah! You’ll probably get to meet them. I mean because you both are signed to Mercury Records, and they’re recording their album right now in LA too. They’re releasing it in May, and guess what?" Christopher told her.

"What?" Renee wondered anxiously.

"I’m their manager too. This is their demo tape." Christopher replied, " I just like to listen to it all the time!"

"Cool! They sound so young, even tough they’re my age."

"Well, that’s because this demo tape was made amateurly in 1996. The song we’re listening to right now is called, ‘MMMBop’. It’s on their new cd, but they redid it, of course, with the Dust Brothers just the other day. They also shot the video for it at the Dust Brother’s house! MMMBop will be their first single. We hope it will hit big."

"That’s sooo awesome! They sound so good, for a pop group." Renee complemented.

"They are!" replied Chrisso.

Renee, Christopher, and Ms. Martin and Ms Weber picked up Katey. She went with Ms Martin and Ms Weber in the other car.

Then they drove to pick up Renee’s Aunt. They pulled into the driveway, and Renee got out, as did Christopher.

Julie walked out of the house and locked the door behind her. She had red hair and freckles just like Renee. She was wearing a black sweatshirt and jeans, and she was in her mid twenties. Renee and Julie looked a lot alike. They were both pretty and thin.

"Julie!" Renee hugged her.

"Hey, Renee!" Julie said walking up to Christopher and Renee.

Christopher stuck his hand out to shake hers.

"I’m Christopher Sabec Renee’s and the girl’s manager."

"Hi, I’m Julie, Renee’s Aunt."

Katey got out of the car, along with Ms Martin and Ms Weber, and introductions were made as Julie put her luggage into Christopher’s trunk. They got back into their cars, Julie with Chrisso and Renee, and they drove to get Annie and Ali. They picked them up. Annie rode with Katei and the tutors, and Ali rode with Renee, Julie, and Chrisso. Ali put her stuff in the trunk, as did Annie, and she got into the car to say (Ali did), "Hey Chrisso! How’s it going?"

Chrisso blushing replied, "Just fine Ali!" Then he turned to Julie who was in the front seat with him, and added,

" Ali and Renee call me Chrisso, don’t ask!"

Julie smiled.

Now they were on their way to the airport, which was about a 20-minute drive. The car turned on, and Renee started singing that Mmmbop song.

Ali asked, "What are you singing?"

"It’s Hanson! Isn’t this a cool song, I mean for pop music? It’s called ‘MMMBop’, and the band is all boys, let me repeat boys, and they are 16, 13, and 11. Chrisso is their manager too, and this is their demo tape."

"Wow! They sound kick ass for a pop band! I think we should meet these dudes! Don’t ya think Chrisso? I mean they literally kick ass!"

" They are really good! Believe me, they can kick ass, in the pop group, you guys, in my opinion, will rule the alternative charts. Maybe we’ll meet them." Chrisso grinned.

Renee and Ali had excitement in their eyes.

~ * ~

They soon arrived at the airport, and had to rush to the plane. They all gave their tickets to the person at the gate terminal and walked onto the plane. Renee sat by Ali and Julie because there was seats of 3 on both sides of the plane. So Katey and Annie sat by Chrisso and Ms Martin and Ms Weber sat behind them together. Chrisso, Ms Martin, Ms Weber, and Julie all decided to take naps. Annie and Katei were just talking, and Renee was listening to Green Day’s ‘Dookie’ cd on her Discman, while Ali was listening to Bush’s ‘Sixteen Stone’.

The flight was laid back and they finally arrived in LA at about 6:30 P.M. They all got off the plane and got their luggage and stuff. Outside, a large white limo pulled up.

"Is this for us?" Ali asked.

Christopher smiled and replied, "Yep! Only the best for my gals!"

"Oh! Chrisso!" Ali said acting all wild and wacky as she grabbed Christopher’s head and kissed him on the cheek.

Christopher blushed, and said, " Ok, girls, lets get into the car!"

Some airport personnel put their luggage and stuff in the trunk of the limo, and everyone got in.

As they rode to the hotel in a fancy limo, everyone was looking at all of the shops and stores. Ali and Renee spotted a really cool store that was called Pacific Summer, turned to each other, and smiled.

"Lets go shopping! It’s shopping time!" they giggled together, jokingly.

"This definitly kicks!" Annie said as they pulled up to the hotel lobby entrance. Everyone got out of the car and Chrisso said,

" Ok, we’ll get into our rooms, you guys can change, unpack, do whatever, but all of you, except Ms Martin and Ms Weber, need to meet back here in the lobby at 7:30. Got it?" He handed Renee a key, and Annie a key. "You guys have adjoining rooms. Renee, Ali, And Julie in one, and Annie and Katey in the other."

Then he turned to Ms Martin and Ms Weber, "Here you two go. You don’t mind sharing a room, do you? You are a floor above them, and right beside me."

"No, not at all. We know each other pretty well." Ms Weber reassured him.

"Ok then I get this other key. All right everyone go find your rooms! I’ll have someone get your luggage up to you soon, and don’t forget to be back down here at 7:30 so we can tour the recording studio!"

Christopher yelled.

Renee, Ali, Annie, Katey, and Julie ran for their rooms. Renee, Ali, and Julie found theirs and Annie and Katey found theirs. Everyone flopped down on a bed exhaustedly.