"Now that we've signed all the papers, it's time to arrange studio time!" Donna explained.

"Okay..." Alyssa said.

"Now... we've got tomorrow available, what do you know? It's right after the Backstreet Boys session!" Donna smiled at Alyssa. "Is that fine with you?"

"Oh sure!" Alyssa said.

Donna wrote something down on the giant desk calendar. As she did this, Alyssa looked around the room. There were promotional pictures up on the walls of the Backstreet Boys and N Sync. It was all a dream come true for her. She smiled to herself.

"Now...about music for the album...what did you have in mind?" Donna asked.

"Well...I brought some of my work with me..." Alyssa said as she pulled out her notebook. "Basically, I'm looking for an R & B kinda beat!" She handed her notebook over to Donna who flipped through it.

"These will work perfectly!" Donna said. "You're very talented Alyssa!"

Alyssa started blushing. "You think so?"

Donna handed the notebook back to Alyssa and stared deep into her eyes when she said "Yes... I think so!"

Alyssa just smiled. 20 minutes later, she was walking out to her car with Donna at her side. As she got in her Jeep, Donna reminded her to be at the studio around 10 the next morning.

"What exactly will happen?" Alyssa asked as she started her car.

"Well... we'll probably re-record the songs from your demo tape you sent us. We'll use some good background music. Then we'll distribute it as your very first single!" Donna explained smiling the whole time.

"Cool!" Alyssa explained, she pulled out of the parking space and waved to Donna as she drove off. When Alyssa reached the street, her cell phone rang. She picked it up and said "Hello?"

A faint voice on the other end said "Alyssa? It's Laura..."

"Hey! What's up?" Alyssa asked.

"Oh..."Laura started crying "Nick's in the hospital!"

"What?" Alyssa asked

"Yeah! Last night, well... Justin called and wanted me to meet him on the pier, well... I invited Nick...Oh Alyssa it was horrible! Justin not only hurt me, he pummeled Nick!" Laura explained.

"Is Nick okay?" Alyssa asked.

"Well... he's got some cracked and bruised ribs, a broken nose, a dislocated jaw, and outer bruises..." Laura started to cry harder.

"Oh man!" Alyssa replied.

"Yeah...I'm such a nervous wreck! My mom made me come home last night, I wanted to stay at the hospital, but she said no..." Laura managed to explain.

"When will he be released from the hospital?" Alyssa asked.

"Tonight...listen can you tell Brian and the others? I can't seem to get in touch with them!" Laura asked.

"Sure!" Alyssa replied.

"I've gotta go...." Laura said

"Okay, bye!" Alyssa said and then Laura hung up. Alyssa reached her apartments soon after, and parked her car. When she reached her apartment, she unlocked the door, and saw Howie and Mary Jae.

"Hi! You're back!" Alyssa ran over and gave each of them a hug.

"Yeah! Our plane got in early, so we stopped by!" Howie explained.

"So how was Spain and Europe?" Alyssa asked grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge and taking a sip as she walked back to the couch and sat down.

"Beautiful!" Mary Jae exclaimed.

"So... what did we miss?" Howie asked

"Oh well... Laura called....ummmm...I don't know how to tell you guys...." Alyssa said.

"What? Did something happen?" Mary Jae asked.

"Well... Nick got beat up pretty badly in a fight with Laura's ex, Justin" Alyssa explained.

"Is he alright?" Howie asked as Mary Jae took his hand.

"Oh sure... he's got some broken and cracked ribs, a broken nose, a dislocated jaw, and some outter bruises..." Alyssa explained.

"Justin always did have a jealous streak in him!" Mary Jae added "Oh I'm gonna break his neck! He hurt Nick! It's just like him...."

"Was Laura hurt?" Howie asked

"No...Nick pushed her out of Justin's way, he took the beating for her!" Alyssa explained.

"He's a hero!" Mary Jae managed to explain before she started crying. Howie put his arm around her. Brian walked in at that moment, and got a worried look on his face. "What's wrong?" He asked sitting down next to Alyssa.

"Nick got beat up by Laura's ex-boyfriend!" Howie explained.

"Is he okay?" Brian asked.

"Yes, just badly bruised...and some cracked and broken ribs...." Alyssa explained.

"Well...I've got some more bad news..." Brian said.

"What?" Alyssa asked.

"Kev and Theresa broke up..." Brian explained.

"WHAT?!" Alyssa asked looking at him.

"It surprised me too! Kev just said they broke up..." Brian said.

"Poor Kev..." Mary Jae added

The four of them sat around Alyssa's apartment quietly. The next day Alyssa headed to the recording studio. On her way in, she ran into Brian, Howie, Kev and A.J. coming out. They all looked sad, because Nick wasn't there. Brian decided to stay and watch Alyssa's session. She stepped into the little soundproof booth, and waited for instructions from Donna or Johnny.

"Okay... Alyssa...we'll start with I've Been Around first, alright?" Donna said through the speakers. This is the background we chose. She pushed some buttons and moved some levers. Alyssa could hear a slow, ballad through her headphones. "Sound good?" Donna asked. Alyssa gave her the thumbs-up sign. The beat was perfect. "Start singing when you hear the note you want" Donna said. Alyssa waited for awhile and when she heard the right note she started singing "Life....who-oa-oa-oa...oh life......life is full of ups and downs....I should know, because I've been around........" Alyssa was surprised at the power and strength in her voice, she continued singing the song. When she was done she turned to look at Johnny and Donna through the window. "How was that?" She asked. "Perfect!" Johnny said. "Now are you ready to move on?" Alyssa nodded as she said "Bring it on!" Donna laughed. "Okay... now we'll do My Love this is a faster song right?" Alyssa nodded. Then Donna played the sample background, the first one didn't seen right. She finally settled on the seventh sample. Which was pretty fast, but Alyssa knew it was perfect. She nodded to Donna. Johnny played with the controls, and then gave Alyssa the Go Sign. Alyssa waited for the right note and started singing "Do you want my love? Well... you better listen to me...I understand....that you'll be there for me....but that's not all....you need to prove.... yeah! Show me your moves... show me that you want my love!" Alyssa had to re-do the song a couple of times, but Donna and Johnny finally decided the sixth time was perfect. When Alyssa stepped out of the soundproof room Brian came up to her and kissed her "That was awesome!"

"Really?" Alyssa asked.

"Yeah! You've got a great voice!" Brian said putting his arm around her.

"Now Alyssa...tomorrow can you be here for a publicity shoot for the single cover shot?" Donna asked as the group stepped into the hallway.

"Sure!" Alyssa replied. "What time?"

"Oh... around 11?" Donna asked.

"Fine..."

Alyssa and Brian got in her Jeep and drove home. Both of them exhausted from the day's work.