Nervously Kristy embraced her manager. "Thank's for 
everything Alyssa" Kristy stammered nervously. Alyssa smiled 
reassuringly. 

"Relax Kristy. You're here because they heard the demo, you made 
the first three cuts, and for the final cut they need a live 
audition. So, once again I'm telling you to relax." ALyssa 
encouraged in a calm voice. A large rolly-polly man stepped into 
the room, and looked at the occupants. Along with Kristy was two 
other girls, and a couple of groups. The man examined a sheet of 
paper, and cleared his throat.

"First live audition will be eXtacy, followed by Deliah, vibe, 
Kristy Royal, and MacKenzie Donalds" the man grunted as though 
talking was hard sweaty work. The man waddled out of the room. 
Kristy sqeezed Alyssa's hand affectionately. 

"I'm so ready to do this" Kristy repeated in her mind over and 
over again. Alyssa glanced at her watch, then at Kristy. 

"Girl, I've gotta go to an appointment to go to, so I'll phone 
ya later" They embraced again, and Kristy smiled thinly. For her 
own good (as Alyssa had put it) she was not told who she was 
auditioning to open for. But the suspense was killing her. The 
girls from eXtacy giggled, and sqealed nervously. Kristy stood 
up, and smiled at them. 

"Good Luck" Kristy called to the girls. eXtacy ran over and 
hugged her, which surprised her.

"Thanks so much" a giggly brunette cried. "Same to you" and with 
that they disappeared into the room. Kristy sighed and picked up 
a magazine to soothe her nerves. When her turn came, she 
straighend her strappy little sundress and walked into a long 
hallway. The man from before gestured at a door, and inhaling 
deeply, Kristy pushed open the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nick grabbed Brians hat, and laughed at his friends terrible 
hair. Brian clasped his hands over his head, and glared at Nick. 
Kevin's voice cut into their fun.

"Guys, I don't think we want that group opening for us" Kevin 
said with an evil grin. "They shouldn't have even made first 
cut" Because this was the final cut, and it is their tour, they 
had been called in for the final cut. And the group they had 
just seen, vibe, was terrible. No harmonies, no timing, and no 
talent, was what the guys thought. There was unanimous nodding 
around the table, and one of the other evaluaters spoke up.

"Next act is ready" the scrawny guy called, and the guys stared 
at the window expectantly. There was a pretty blonde girl 
staring nervously. It felt like she could see them, even though 
the window was a mirror on her side. 

"It feels like I'm in a police line up" her voice crackled 
nervously through the speakers. "So when do I start?" she asked. 
The evaluaters handed the guys earphones, and he turned on the 
intercom. 

"Anytime you're ready" he spoke, and shut the intercom off 
again. 

"I'm singing a song that was originally sung by Mariah Carey" 
the girl said "But it is scheduled for my debut album. It's 
called Long Ago" Background music started, and she closed her 
eyes and stepped up to the input mike. Her voice was rich and 
sweet. Nick stared at her intently. She had shoulder length 
blonde hair, with a pretty face, and slim, muscular body. She 
was about 120 lbs, and maybe 5'7". He had to guess at her 
height, cos she was wearing heels, so he had to subtract the 
heel height. "She's beautiful" Nick confirmed, and listened to 
her sing. His papers told him she was Kristy Royal, entertainer 
extrordinaire. The song ended, and he looked at the other guys. 

"Wow" Howie breathed. "She's good" Brian stared at Howie as if 
he was stupid.

"Uh, she's more than good" Brian declared "She's fabulous. I 
think she's the one, like the opener" Kevin nodded.

"I agree with Brian" AJ piped up. All heads turned towards Nick, 
but he was too busy daydreaming. 

"Nick" a voice said faintly in the back of his mind, but he 
ignored it. "Nick" it called again, more forcefully this time, 
but he again ignored it. Suddenly he felt a sharp pinch on he 
arm. 

"Ow!" he cried, and the guys looked at him inquizativly. He 
blushed, and lowered his head. "What??" he asked defensively.

"Nicky's got a crush" Howie called in a sing-song voice, and the 
guys burst out laughing. Nick's face was getting redder by the 
minute, and he stared at his papers which were VERY interesting 
now. Brian poked his stomache.

"She's about your age too" Brian informed him. Nick glared at 
him. 

"Shut up" he whined.