The address I was given lead to a house just a few blocks from school. The area was kinda woodsy, with houses spread out from each other. I called my mom and told her I was going to be hanging out with friends and might be a little late tonight. She actually sound happy to hear it, instead of me sitting at home alone, I was making friends.

The house I came to stand before was a big, brick house with a white door. I looked up at the front door that loomed before me. Not to late to turn and run, I thought. I shook my head to clear the thoughts. No, this is happening, I am going to do this and not crawl under a rock for once. I readjusted my bag and reached up and hit the doorbell, expecting the floor beneath my feet to give way and the earth to shallow me whole. Yeah., that didn't happen. Instead, I heard someone pound up what sounded like steps and the door gave away to reveal Zack. And he looked so happy so see me, or maybe he just had a serious face, I really didn't know. "Uh, h-hi." I said, clutching my notebook tight against me. It was like a security blanket, always present and had a tendency to calm me down.

"You actually showed up. Impressive."

"W-what, did you think I was joking at lunch?" I asked.

"No, it's just what would you have to gain from a manager for us?" He countered.

Adventure? Friends? A life? The list really goes on and on, but I don't tell him this.

"Something to throw on my resume. Are you going to let me in or not?" Zack smiled at me and opened the door a bit wider.

"Come on in." I walked into the door and stood in the foyer.

"So, is this your house?" The hallway was pretty- white walls with a large mirror hanging to the right with a table underneath. Pictures sat on the table in a line. The one closet to me looked to be off Alex, Jack, Rian, and Zack standing outside of school goofing around. Stairs to the right lead up to the second floor.

"No, it's Jack's. His mom let's us practice in the basement."

"So you're just the welcoming committee?"

"Yeah, that's it." He walked over to behind the stairs. "You coming?" He asked. I followed him and saw that there was a door hiding the stairs the lead to the basement. Zack lead the way down.

"Hey! Look who decided to show up!" Jack shouted. The basement was pretty big. As soon as you made it down the stairs you were facing an huge open area- with a couch and entertainment system set up on the right and all the guys' band stuff on the left. The guys we spread out through the basement. Alex was sitting on the couch, tuning a guitar. Rian was sitting behind a drum kit messing with the sticks. But where was Jack.

"Okay, I know I just heard him, where'd he go?" I asked.

"Where did who go?" Rian said.

"Jack."

"Maybe, that's the test. If you can find Jack you can be our manager." Alex said. Were they serious?

"How is a game of hide and go seek going to prove I'm competent enough to do this?"

"Because if you can handle Jack, you can handle anything we throw at you." Zack explained as his brushed past me to get his bass.

I could feel their eyes on me as I walked into the center of the room and looked around. Fine, they want to play games- bring it on. "He's definitely not behind the couch, too obvious." Alex looked behind the couch and gave me an thumbs up. "And he wouldn't hide in a closet." Zack opened up the closet behind Rian and shook his head. There was really no where else for him to hide, where the hell could he be? Fuck, just going to fail this like everything else. I might as well just leave and pray they just forget about me. Where could he even be? Suddenly it hit me like a brick to the face. I looked up.

"Hi Jack."

Hanging sloth-style onto the rafters that held up the ceiling was Jack.

"Hey Salem!" He said as he dropped down to the floor.

"So that was my test? That's it?" I asked in disbelief.

"Not just that, we want you to read something and give us your opinion." Alex said as he pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and gave it me. I unfolded and began to read.

"Uh, these are lyrics. Why do you want my two cents?"

"You said you write. So from one writer to another I want what you think." He explained. I sat on the floor and pulled a pencil from my bag. I read through the entire song making a few revisions as I go threw.

"There, now try it." I said, handing the paper back to Alex. Alex motioned to the rest of the guys and they grabbed their instruments to try out the song. "I'm sitting here wishing for something that's missing" Alex sang as he played. They played through the entire song and I there and listened. They finished and Zack turned to me.

"So what do you think?"

"I think you guys got something." I told them.

"Something? That's really your answer?" Jack asked.

"Yup. That's my answer and I'm sticking to it." I thought they were really good, the lyrics were creative and relatable, and they all could defiantly write music.

"She thinks we have something." Alex said.

"It's good enough for me." Zack said, shrugging.

"S-so, I'm in?" I asked. They all look up at me. "Yeah. Congratulations Salem, you're our new manager."

Notes

Ugh, seriously chapter titles.