"OK guys, keep a look out for a parking spot"

Look out for a parking spot? Was she kidding? The other five took up the challenge anyway, as they entered the mall parking lot.

"How are we supposed to see a spot Kim, when you're going like, 60mph?"

"Are you criticizing my driving Kyle?"

"Never in a million years babe"

Kyle mumbled something about female drivers, then resumed his efforts to breathe. Six people crammed into a minivan intended for five was not the best way to travel.

"Shane, get your elbow of my side. Amy, tell your brother to get his elbow out of my side."

"Shane, get you're elbow out of Matty's side"

"And exactly where am I supposed to put it? Roll on the day when we can afford to hire TWO cars!!"

"As long as its not trying to puncture my internal organs, I don't care if you shove it up your..."

"OK Matt, there's little enough air in here as it is without you turning it blue" Sara-Jane said, doing her 'mom' impression.

It was true. There wasn't much air. Kim was driving, Kyle was sitting up front next to her, holding on for dear life, Shane was sitting in the back next to Matthew, who was sitting next to Sara-Jane, who was sitting next to Amy. The four of them could hardly breathe. The thick plume of smoke they'd created wasn't helping much either.

"I don't know why the hell we rented this damn thing anyway. I mean, WHO rides in a minivan?" Shane asked while fumbling for his lighter.

"Us"

"It doesn't even have a freakin' cigarette lighter that works!"

"My sincerest apologies your Highness" Sara-Jane said, sounding anything but sincere "but we couldn't quite afford a luxury coach"

"We'll be able to soon though, won't we?"

"Assuming our loving parents don't screw up this whole takeover thing, then yes. All in good time."

"Cool...Damnit Matty would you get your hair outta my face?...Blondie.."

"THERE'S ONE KIM, THERE'S A SPACE"

Kim swung the car in the direction Kyle was pointing, not bothering to slow down. She drove into the space, slammed on the brakes and gave everyone whiplash.

"What the hell kind of a way is that to drive?!" Sara-Jane inquired, rubbing her neck.

They got out of the car, nursing their injuries, and headed toward the mall.

"Alright remember, try not to spend too much money. If the this thing doesn't go through, we only have our allowance to cover this trip OK"

They acknowledged Amy's reminder, then they split up. The three girls headed straight for the first fashion store they saw, while the guys continued along the mall. The place was really big; a couple of stories high, with mirrors everywhere...and a lot of people.

Neither Shane, Kyle or Matthew noticed that, as they were walking, they were attracting the attention of more and more of the younger people in the mall. They were all staring at the three guys, or to put it another way, they were all staring at Matthew. He was quite unaware of this.

"Hey look guys, a music store, lets go see if they've got any keyboards"

Matthew and Shane agreed with Kyle's suggestion, and they entered the store....unaware that there was an increasingly large crowd moving in their direction.

"Oh my god, look at that one, I simply have to have it " Kim declared as her eye was drawn to an expensive-looking black dress. "Or no maybe actually this one"

"Just choose damnit" Amy said getting impatient. Both her and Sara-Jane had already chosen several outfits, tried them on...twice and paid for them. Kim, on the other hand, was still racked with indecision, and, as usual was drawn to the most expensive items in the store.

"Oh hell, I haven't got shoes to match either of these"

The other two rolled their eyes.

"Listen Kim, how about you go ask Matty for some more money, and if he says no, then you'll have to take the black one 'cause you can't afford both." Sara suggested, trying not to strangle Kim.

Kim's reluctant agreement followed, and so the trio left the fashion store and went to look for the boys. Figuring that they'd be in the music store, if there was one, they wondered along the mall. Noticing the music store, and the rather large crowd outside it, they stopped.

"What the hell....?"

They pushed their way through the crowd of mainly teenage girls, who were all whispering and giggling.

Kim heard enough of the whispers to know what they were talking about.

"Oh shit"

"Oooo! I'm so TOTALLY gonna get this one if things work out" Kyle drooled, running his fingers along the keys.

Shane and Matt were similarly attracted to a couple of guitars, so much so that they didn't notice the three girls running up behind them, out of breath. Shane jumped as they bumped into him.

"Damnit! Don't do that, you're gonna give me a coronary"

"We...we...gotta..get..outta...here.." the girls panted.

"What the hell are you talking about? We only just got here"

"Didn't you notice the crowd outside Matty?"

"Uh no Kim, but you tend to get those in malls"

"They're out there cause of you"

"How d'ya figure?"

"DAMNIT MATTHEW THEY THINK YOU'RE TAYLOR FUCKING HANSON!!!"

He looked at her, open mouthed.

"Please tell me you're kidding"

"I'M NOT! Look for yourself. Look AT yourself!!!"

The six of them approached the exit and peered into the mall.

"This could get ugly" Kyle said, staring nervously at the crowd. "Maybe if we just explain to them,...they'll...respond rationally"

"Do they look rational to you Kyle? They're teenage girls remember"

That comment earned Shane a whack from his sister.

"What the hell did you do that for Amy?"

"Cause you're not helping. Let's go see if they've got a back door to this place"

As they approached the counter, the store assistant stared at them. "HEY! It's YOU!" she said to Matthew.

"No it isn't. But those guys out there think it is and if we don't get outta here soon, your stores gonna get trashed by them all coming in here"

"You can use the service entrance in the store room"

They thanked her and made their way to the door she'd pointed to. The store room door led them into the parking lot again, at the side of the building.

"I do NOT believe that just happened!"

Kyle tapped Matt on the shoulder.

"What?"

"Look over there"

"OH DEAR GOD! RUN!!!!!

The crowd from inside the mall was coming out the front entrance as the six of them were walking round the front of the mall to their car.

"WHERE'S THE FREAKIN' CAR??!!

"IT'S OVER HERE, HURRY UP!"

They made it to the car, got it started and pulled away just in time.

"That was INSANE" Sara-Jane panted, trying to catch her breath for the second time in less than 15 minutes.

"Ok, next time we come to somewhere like this, remind me to wear a hat"

"Uh... I think it'll take a lot more than a hat Matty, its not just your hair that looks the same" Amy said, laughing.

"It would've helped a lot if you guys had actually told me about this whole thing"

Kyle grinned "What's the matter, Matthew, they didn't have MTV in rehab?"

"Amusing Kyle, very amusing."

"Hey, relax guys. Maybe in a year or two it'll be US they'll be chasing, instead of who they think Matthew is"

" Yeah that'd be cool, although I'd prefer it if we weren't seen as teenyboppers. I need a cigarette. I'm a devastated nervous wreck" Shane announced, with a hint of sarcasm.

"Good idea" Matthew said fumbling for his lighter.

"I thought you guys were gonna quit!" Sara-Jane protested, as the car started to fill with smoke, again.

"We'll quit for New Years"

"Yeah, sure"

Kim thumped the steering wheel. "DAMNIT! I didn't even get to buy either of those dresses we were looking at"

The other five glared at her.