United Five

Chapter One / Winter

"Come ON, Soph!"

After checking in at LAX, I wanted to go straight to our gate, but Soph protested that she wanted to stop at a M.A.C. store to try on some makeup. I didn't want to miss our flight. That happened to me once—I lost track of time in a bookstore, and by the time I checked the clock on the wall, it was already too late. So embarrassing. Since my parents got divorced and my dad moved to Florida, I've had to travel every New Year's Eve, and also alternate holidays, to spend time with him. I've learned my lesson: no stops.

"Oh please, Lil? I just want to try a new lipstick!" She begged me with pleading eyes.

"Didn't you hear what your mom told us in the car? 'Don't stop anywhere. Don't talk to strangers. Go straight to your gate, and do everything the flight attendant tells you to do,'" I recited.

"We still have time. It'll be quick, I promise." She grabbed my hand and dragged me into the store. I impatiently waited for her while she tried on different colors of lipstick.

"We've been here for half an hour. It's already time for us to board the plane!" I said, exasperated.

"Ugh, fine," She huffed. "I'm just going to pay for my lipstick, OK?"

"OK, but hurry up!" I frantically checked my watch. If we missed the flight, I would die and take her with me. Only a few more hours and we would be in NYC to see the best concert of our lives, and after that we would meet the United Five.

I mean, in flesh and bone. 

Sophia had been my best friend for the past four years, and I loved her to death. I had been staying at her house for a few months because my mom had to go to Brazil, where she's from, to take care of my sick grandma. It was mid-November and I was still in school, so moving to Florida for a few months was out of the question. Soph's mom, Jules, and my mom had agreed we could go to New York together—after a little convincing. And now here we were, about to go on the trip of our lives—I mean for real. I couldn't believe it had only been a month since Soph woke me up that Sunday morning to tell me about the contest.

"Lilly, wake up! Lil? LILLIAN!" A euphoric Sophia was jumping up and down in my bed. Ever since I had moved into her house, she'd been waking me up in the early morning to ask me if her outfit was OK for her audition that day (yes, Soph is an actress). What time was it? How long had I been asleep? I'd been up late watching a rerun of Sabrina the Teenage Witch until 3 AM and was not in the mood to play What Not to Wear that morning. "C'mon Soph, let me sleep. It's Sunday!"

Even half-asleep, I could see the glimmer of excitement in Soph's eyes. "What would be the best thing that could ever happen to us?"

"Are you kidding me?" I groaned. "You woke me up to ask me that?"

My grumpiness didn't faze her. "Just answer the freaking question, Lilly."

I didn't even need a second to think. The answer was obvious. "Meeting United Five."

Soph's wild smile became wider, so much that her dimples appeared. I bolted up, wide-awake like I'd just drunk one of those crappy 5-hour Energy drinks. "Are you saying . . . You have got to be kidding me!"

Soph couldn't contain her excitement. "They're coming to the US in December for a special show in NYC, invite only, and It Girl magazine is having a contest. They're giving away two tickets, one for you and one for a friend"-she pointed at me-"a round-trip flight to New York, a three-night stay at a hotel, and a meet and greet with the boys. Whoever wins the contest gets to interview them. Isn't that awesome? It's just perfect."