Chapter 2~ Introductions
"Hey, mom, have you seen my silver Karma bracelets?" I asked, walking out of our hotel bathroom a week later. I was going to MTV Studios for a quick interview on TRL. "Yes, I think they are on the night table," she said, not looking up from her briefcase. Maybe I should explain something. My mom is my manager and my lawyer. She was a partner in a law firm back in Nebraska, but quit her job when I got signed so she could help me. She's the biggest supporter I have, and I don't know where I would be without her. "Okay, thanks," I said, walking towards the table. Just then the phone rang, making me jump. I picked up the reciever and said, "Hello?" "Yes may I please speak with Ms. Cassie Sands?" a woman asked. "Speaking," I replied, slipping my bracelets on my left wrist. "Hello, Cassie. This is Donna Wright," the woman said. I covered the reciever and whispered to my mom who it was. She immediately put down her legal pad and stared at me. "Yes, Mrs. Wright. Nice to hear from you," I said. "I am glad I got a hold of you. I have some good news. After our last audition this morning, Johnny and I made our decision. We weighed out all of the possibilities, and when it came down to it, we decided that you were the girl we want," she said. "I am? Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. You don't understand what a dream come true this is!" I said, calmly, so I would seem professional. "Well, we are glad that you are interested, and if you would like to accept our offer, we would like for you to come down to the offices today to sign a contract," she explained. "Well, Mrs. Wright, I think you would like to talk to my mother about that, because she is my legal counsel," I answered. "Okay, Cassie, that would be great. Is she available?" "Yes, hold on just a moment," I answered. I handed the phone to my mom. "Virginia Sands," my mother said. "Oh yes, hello, Donna...yes, I understand! This is wonderful...Well, she has a visit to the MTV Studios today for an appearance on TRL, but I think if we leave in the next ten minutes we can be down there before she needs to be at MTV...Yes, of course...Yes. Oky, thank you very much, Donna...You, too, Good-bye," my mom said, handing the phone back to me. "Well?" I asked, setting the phone back in the cradle. "Well, she wants you to come down and sign a contract, mostly saying that yes, you agree to do this project, rehearse in the alotted time made for you, and not to take on any other projects as long as you are on board with them," my mom explained to me. I started screaming and jumping up and down. Just then my cell phone rang. "Hello?" I said, out of breath from jumping up and down. "Cassie?" a voice asked. "Marianne! I got it! I GOT IT!" I screamed. Marianne is my best friend, and one of my back-up singers. "AAAHHH!!! Cassie! That's great!" she screamed back. "I am going to JIVE to sign a preliminary contract, do you want to go?" I asked. "Yes! Then aren't you going to MTV?" she asked. "Yep. You can go there, too." "Okay! I'll be down at your hotel room in five minutes!" She answered. We hung up our phones, and I finished getting ready. Right now, and for the past two months, my mom, dad, band, back-up singers and I have been living in a hotel here in New York City. Next weekend I am moving into a two story apartment in Manhattan that's owned by RCA. I'll be living there until my album is finished and I go on the road. KNOCK KNOCK. "Hey!" I greeted Marianne, opening my door. "Hi! I hope I look okay!" she said. I scanned her over. "Girl, you do, don't worry!" I reassured her, closing the door. I was more nervous about my appearance than she was, though. "Oh my gosh, what if, like, famous people happen to be at JIVE today?" Marianne asked. I laughed and said, "Well, act like you're one of them!" I answered. We both laughed. My mom came into my room to tell me we had to go, and we headed off towards JIVE New York. ________________________________________________________________________________
"Alright, Cassie, if you could sign here, I think we'll be all set," Donna said, sliding the paper towards me. I inhaled deeply, took the pen from my mom's hand, and signed my name. I set the pen down, exhaled, and scooted the paper back to Donna. "Welcome to JIVE New York!" Johnny said, standing up. We all stood and exchanged hand shakes. "Mrs. Wright?" Donna's speakerphone on her phone buzzed her. "Yes?" she said. "Your one o'clock is here," the receptionist said. "Thank you. Please send them in," she aswered. "Cassie, I am so pleased you are doing this. It's going to boost your career, and I think you will have the time of your life!" Johnny said. "Thank you, so much. This is a dream come true for me!" I said, smiling. Then there was a knock at the door. "Come in!" Donna called. My back was to the door, so I couldn't see who it was, but Marianne turned around. "Oh my God," she whispered. I looked at her and almost busted up laughing because her mouth was gaping open, but I turned around and found myself ten feet away from the Backstreet Boys. "Hi, guys. This is Cassie Sands, her mother, Virginia, and one of Cassie's singers, Marianne," Donna said when the guys were all in the office. "Hi, nice to meet you," Brian said, his accent breaking through. He extended his hand to me, and I shook it, speechless. "Uhh, umm, nice to meet you too!" I said. He smiled and I about died. I was shaking Brian Littrell's hand! Then AJ stepped forward. "Hi, I'm AJ. Aren't you our new opening act?" he asked, extending his hand. "Yes, I am!" I answered, shaking his hand. "We've heard so much about you. We've seen you perform, and I think Donna and Johnny made a great choice," Nick said, stepping forward. "Really? You've seen me?" I squeaked out. "Yeah. We saw a tape of you when you opened for LFO at Disney World. And one day a few weeks ago you were recording at the studios and we were there mixing a track, and we watched you for a few minutes," Nick explained. "You did? Oh my gosh. That's so funny!" I said. "Why?" AJ asked. "Well, I didn't know the Backstreet Boys knew who I was!" I said, laughing. Howie smiled. "Well, we think Johnny and Donna did a great job picking our act for us. We're glad you're here," he said, shaking my hand. "Thank you, so much! But," I said, looking at my waych, "we need to be going. I have an interview at MTV in an hour," I said. I noticed Nick looking at me, so I smiled. He smiled back. "It was great to meet you. We'll be seeing you soon," Brian said, patting me on the back. I said good-bye to all the guys, Johnny and Donna, and Marianne about passed out because AJ shook her hand. "Oh my gosh!" Marianne said as we stepped into the elevator. I puched the Lobby button and we descended. "Well, Marianne, how did you like that?" my mom asked, laughing. "That was so unreal!" she answered. "Well, it was the best introductions I've gone through in my life!" I said. Marianna and my mom laughed as we stepped into the lobby of JIVE New York, and we headed towards the limo.
Chapter 3
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Time Of Your Life
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