chapter2: riding high
july 9, 2009

 It’s now evening, and 8STARz were still out and about. The girls were out shopping, but the boys stayed at the coffee-shop. Greg was going through his Twitter app, seeing if the nations outside North America were talking about the 8. 

 Alec asked, “What are you doing on your phone?”

 He replied, “Trying to see if the entire world is talking about us. Apparently, very few people in Europe are. We just not international enough for them.”

 Ryan said, “Well, we are releasing our music to Latin America. That’s something.”

 Greg said, “Yeah, but that’s not the entire world. That’s only part of it. No, we need to do something…really reckless and stupid. So much so, we get the entire world’s attentions.”

  Ryan scoffed and asked skeptically, “And how do we do that?”

 “I don’t know. You’re the dumbass. You come up with something stupid.”

 “Why does it have to be me? You’re the first person to join the band, and you’re the lead singer. You think of something.”

 “Exactly! I’m the lead singer and the first person to join the band. You, on the other hand, joined a few days later! You’re really just the dancer of the group.”

 Just as the two boys were about to fight each other, Alec stepped in between them, and said, “Guys! We’ll come up with a solution, okay? No need to fight!”

 With that, Ryan gave a smug grin. Then Greg said, “But you gotta have some ideas!”

 Ryan thought for a moment, and then said, “Okay, I got an idea.”

  Outside a clothing store, Maddie was making a phone call on her iPhone. She was talking to her boyfriend, Josh Emery, who was living in Brooklyn.

 Maddie said gushingly, “I miss you so much, Josh!”

 Josh said, “I miss you too, Mads.”

 “So you still have one more year of high school?”

 “Of course! Senior year! Then next year, NYU.”

 Maddie smiled, “I’m so excited for you! I can wait to watch your documentaries.”

 Josh laughed as he said, “One thing at a time, Maddie.”

 “You know, since school is out, maybe you could come to LA? You know, we could go on date, show you around. It would be great!”

 For a moment, there was some silence. Then Josh said, “I can’t. I’m in the middle of a film project.”

 With that, Maddie frowned. She asked, ‘What film project?”

 “It’s for Greenpeace. You know I volunteer for them.”

 “Yes, how can I forget that…” she said absently.

 “Maddie, you okay?”

 “Yes, it’s just…I haven’t seen you since I went to the 8STARz callbacks. I know we live two opposite sides of the US. I know I was busy with the band, while you were busy with school and volunteer work. But it’s summer now. The only big things my band is doing are promotions for our music. I got more time on my hands. I just want to see my boyfriend.”

 Once again, there was silence. Then he said, “Look, Madison, I can’t just drop everything, and fly over to LA. I have things to do. Maybe some other time. But right now…I can’t okay?”

 Maddie nodded her head sadly, even though she knew he couldn’t see her. Then Josh said, “Look, I gotta go. Don’t turn Hollywood on me, okay?”

 With that, Maddie grimaced at that comment. Then she said, somewhat coldly, “Bye, Joshua.” Then she hung up. 

 Josh had been asking her that ever since she auditioned for 8STARz. Apparently, both her boyfriend and her family didn’t approve of her trying out for a Disney Channel band. But she always wanted to do music and theatre. So if it meant becoming one of the Disney Channel Princesses, then it was worth the risk.

 Maddie leaned against the wall, visibly annoyed. Sarah, who just walked out the store, saw her on the wall. She walked up to Maddie, and asking, “Hey, you okay?”

 Maddie just shrugged. Sarah asked as she pointed at the phone, “Who were you calling?”

 She replied with a frustrated sigh, “I was calling my Josh, my boyfriend.”

 “Really? Then why do you look upset?”

 Then Maddie said, somewhat bitterly, “I asked him if he could come to LA so we can go out on a date. But he said he’s in the middle of a film project for Greenpeace. Oh, and get this: As we were about to hang up, he told me to not go all Hollywood.”

 Sarah asked, “Okay, that’s just weird. About the Hollywood part, that is.”

 Maddie scoffed, “It’s not the first time. He’s been saying that to me ever since I auditioned for 8STARz. He never liked me auditioning for a Disney band.”

 “But you seem to enjoy being in the band.”

 “I do! He, and my parents, don’t understand my dream. I always wanted to become a singer, a dancer, and an actress. Being in this band gave me the opportunity to do all three. But they’re hipsters. They wouldn’t understand…or support me.”

 Then there was silence for a moment…until Maddie asked, “This sound really stupid, but…do you think I like Ryan?”

 Sarah was surprised by that question. She replied, “Well, it’s kind of obvious that you do. You just don’t know it, or you do, but you’re in denial.”

 With that, Maddie gave a frustrated groan. Sarah wasn’t sure what was going on, so she asked, “What’s wrong?”

 Maddie asked, “Why does everyone keep saying I like Ryan? Can’t anyone see I don’t like him?”

 Sarah gave an amused smile, and asked, “Why does it bother you so much to have a crush on Ryan?”

 Maddie shot a glare, and said, “Like, everything? He’s a fucking annoying, vain, dumb prick!”

 With that, Sarah laughed. Maddie asked, ‘What’s so funny?”

 Sarah said, “Maddie, it’s so obvious you like Ryan that you’re willing to insult him. Look, you always act strange around him. He’s never done anything to you, and yet, you keep pushing him away. Then when he’s not looking, I catch you checking out his ass. Or I would see you stare at his Hollister photo-shoots. Why can’t you admit you like him?”

 With that, Maddie exclaimed, “Because I can’t like him! He’s a player! And he’s arrogant! He’s…he’s…”

 “Maddie! Stop!”

 Maddie cover her face with her hands, and muffled, “I need a pillow so I can scream.”

 With that, Sarah sighed, and said, “Maddie…you’re in love with Ryan, but you’re too afraid to admit it. Look…just take your time. Okay? And I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

 Maddie nodded her head. Soon, the other girls met up with Sarah and Maddie. Rylie, seeing Maddie obviously upset, asked, “Maddie, what’s wrong?”

 Sarah said, “She’s just going through boy trouble. That’s all.”

 With that, Hayley and Emily shared a smirk, knowing full-well this “boy-trouble” involved Ryan.

 Just then, Ryan’s car pulled up in front of them. He got out of the car, and said with a smirk, “Hey, we came up with a way to become worldwide famous.”

 Then Ryan eyed Maddie, who still looked upset. So he approached her, and asked, “Maddie, are you okay? You look like you want to scream.”

 She glared at him, and said sharply, “I’m fine, Anderson. Now butt off!”

 Ryan gave a small laugh, and then faced the other bandmates. He said, “Anyway, I came up with an idea on how to shock the entire world. So much so, we might get a world tour.”

 Rylie asked nervously, “What is it?”

 Greg said smugly, “Ryan’s gonna drive us, speed through Hollywood, and go clubbing at one of the most elite nightclubs in all of LA.”

 With that, everyone, including Ryan, stared at Greg. Ryan told him, “I didn’t agree with that. I just said we crash a party at a nightclub.”

 Greg said, “Well, this plan is much better.”

 Then Maddie asked, “Okay, but how are all eight of us gonna fit in that…car?”

 Ryan said, “Madison has a point. Besides, I just got this sweet ride a few hours ago as a birthday present. Oh, and it’s my sister’s company car. What am I going to do if I wreak this car?”

 Greg smirked, “Not my problem, dumbass.”

 Ryan sighed, and asked, “When are you going to stop calling me that? I may look like a dumb blonde, but you know what they say, ‘looks can be deceiving.’”

 With that, Maddie was impressed. She allowed herself to smile. Ryan glanced, and saw her smiling at him. He was slightly confused by this change in attitude, but went back to facing the others. 

 Greg then taunted Ryan, “What’s wrong, Anderson? Too pretty and dumb to drive fast?”

 With that, Ryan glared at Greg. Then he faced the others, and asked, “Is there a way all eight of us can be in my car?”

 They all looked at each other, but then Maddie suggested, “Why don’t we take my car? Ryan just got his for his birthday today. I had my car since March. Ryan can drive my car.”

 Everyone was surprised by this. One moment ago, she was pushing Ryan away, and now she’s trying to help him. Even Ryan and Maddie were shocked. Then Maddie said, “If he wants to. That’s his choice.”

 With that, Ryan gave a small smile…until Greg said, “Fine. Let’s take Maddie’s car…unless you’re too chicken.”

 Ryan turned, and glared at Greg. Then he said, “Fine. Let’s go.”

 So Maddie handed Ryan her car keys. Then all squeezed into the car. Once everyone was in, Ryan called one of the band’s bodyguards to take his car to their house. 

 Soon, he started driving. At first, he was slow and hesitant. It didn’t help thins when Greg kept taunting him. Sarah, who was sitting on Greg’s lap, said to him, “Greg, stop it! Let Ryan do what he needs to do.”

 Ryan glanced at the two, and then started speeding up. He sped through the streets of Hollywood. Then they stopped at a nightclub after an hour of driving around.

 When they arrived, everyone was shaken up by Ryan’s speeding. Even Ryan himself was trying to calm down. But Rylie said excitedly, “Oh my god! That was so much fun!”

 Emily told her, “No it wasn’t! That freaked me out!”

 Ryan chimed in, “You’re not the only one. I can’t believe I drove so fast.”

 Greg said flatly, “Whatever. Let’s just go crash the club.”

 As the 8 were about to enter the club, a bouncer stopped them. He told them roughly, “You can’t come in.”

 Greg asked, “What do you mean? We’re famous, and two of us are 17.”

 “Exactly. Now leave.”

 Emily then stood in front of Greg, and said in a snobby tone, “Look, we just went through Hollywood by speeding in a car. It was the most terrifying ride ever. Now. You let us in! We, like, so deserve to be in a club!”

 The bouncer glared at Emily. Then Maddie told her, “Let’s just go. We’re not even dressed for a club.”

 Emily turned to her, and said sharply, “Look, Greg made Ryan drive like he was running from the police. He says it’s too make the world be shocked at us. Now! We are going to crash the club so we can make the world love us!”

 So Emily went under the velvet rope, and tried to get in. But the security guards grabbed her. The bouncer then called the police. With that, the 8 ran. But they didn’t get very far. They were all caught. They were soon taken to a holding cell, and had their mugshots taken.