Behind the Fame- {this is a story I wrote for Creative Writing and amazingly
I got an A on it}
"So Ms. Reed"
Mr. Watkins,one of the publisher of Riley-Watkins Publishing House on 3rd and 16th avenue in D.C. Near China Town said. He
wore a white button up shirt and khaki trousers with brown loafers. She felt kind of under-dressed for this meeting. She was
wearing nice jeans and a floral button up that was unbuttoned to show her blue camisole underneath and she wore Birkenstocks.
Her red hair was twisted into a bun with two pieces hanging down. She had now concluded that she was majorly under-dressed.
He also was really quite tall and fat. He kinda reminded her own of her own father with his balding brown hair and the way
the way he dressed. Oh that brought back sad memories but she couldn't start crying in a business meeting.
"Call me Kari please" She asked softly. "So Kari you want to me to publish the book your writing. What's
it about?" Mr.Watkins asked in his *strictly business* tone. "Its about my life while I was in a band.its like an autobiography"
" Kari said raising her vioce from a whisper to a friendly tone. "Oh well what was your band called?" Mr. Watkins asked sounding
a little bit interested now "We were called The Decision Day" Kari said. "Oh well I believe my daughter used to listen to
your band, Oh my Kelly used to listen to your music a lot and she tried to get me to listen to it too! I really like the song
My Anti-Paradise. It really helped me get through my divorce" Mr.Watkins said sounding more depressed "Oh well I'm sorry about
that" Kari said "Oh its okay, you know what you type the book I will read it and if I like what I read well you get to add
author to your resume" Mr. Watkins "Oh my gosh are you serious?"Kari squealed "Do I look like the kind of guy who lies?" He
asked "Oh no you don't" Kari said "Then go home and get writing and my secratary will call you with the details" Mr. Watkins
said "Okay I will be waiting" Kari said as she walked out the door of the publishing house and looked at her Gucci watch and
relized that it was almost 1:15 and she was 20 mintues late meeting Jake for lunch. So she took out her cell and called him
"Hey Jake its Kari sorry that im late you've proably left already but I am really sorry so call me" she said to his vioce
mail. *Oh well* she thought and sighed *I better go home anyways and get to work* and she got a cab and drove home.
________________________________________________
When she arrived back in New York, She walked up to her apartment and wondered *Did I really deserve
any of this?* but then get herself a Faygo root beer and listened to her messages on her answering machine. "Kari it's Liz
listen we need to talk its very urgent!" said the answering machine. "I guess I'll call her tomorrow" Kari said aloud. the
next message went "Honey its Mom your Dad needs to see the contract for the recording thing before you sign it and oh yeah
if your not to busy come by on Sunday its your brother is throwing a party for my only grandchild Steven...hopefully someday
I'll have more grandkids {sighs} anyway call Charlie to verify if your coming, okay so see you soon bye I Love You" and the
third message was from Jake "Hey Kari its me, I mean its Jake umm so I was at Starbucks waiting for you but I had to get back
to the studio well call me maybe we can reschedule? Bye" "that is the end of your messages" the answering machine said and
went Beep. "Well I'll call Charlie,then Jake,then Mom and Im going to call Liz tomorrow" She thought but as she went to grab
the phone it rang! "Hello" Kari said into it "hey Kari where were you?" "Oh hi Jake and my meeting with a publisher took longer
than expected" "Oh thats okay but you needed to ask me something?" "Oh umm since Im writing a book about the band can I use
your name?" "Uh yeah sure I guess as long as you dont print anything bad!" "I'll try not to and thanks" "Hey Kari?" "Yeah"
"Are you busy tonight?" "Um {I do have to do the laundry and write that book but whatever I'll go she thought} No why do you
want to get together?" "yeah sure how about around 8 I'll pick you up and we can hit a club or something" "Sounds Great!"
Kari said in a high pitched vioce. "Okay well I gotta go" Jake said "Okay bye"Kari said and hung up. Sigh. Kari suddenly felt
lighthearted like she had before when she and Jake would go clubbing but now they were both legally old enough to get in.
* Im gunna go write that book now!* She thought completely forgetting about calling her brother and Mom back. She went into
her office which had lime green walls, a couch, and a desk stocked with office supplies that she had never used and that pink
laptop she bought to play games on when she went on tour! * So how should I start this book?* Kari wondered after she wasted
10 minutes trying to turn the computer on! Then she decided to start with the for the first memory she had of creating the
band.
________________________________________________
It all started in a little town outside of Richmond, Virginia where Amy, Liz and I lived and went to
Richmond High. This school was a dump too! It always smelled of tobacco and vomit. We were freshman and we considered outcasts.
Amy to start with was very into saving the earth. She wore jeans and plain cotton tees with sayings written on them like Save
The Whales 2000 or This is our home dont pollute it! Earth Day 1996. She also loved Birkenstocks, it was Amy who bought me
my first pair but anyways, no one really cared about the planet at our school. For god sake's they used syrofoam almost everywhere
in the cafteria I even think in some of the food. So she never really had anyone to bond with {this is before we became friends}.
She was tan too with long brown hair actually it was long enough to give hair to a Golden Retriever and have enough left over
for her to have thin, short hair and brown eyes. If you saw her in the woods walking around you would have thought she was
an indian. Anyway then there was Liz, she was a perfectonist. She had blonde hair and greenish eyes. Her mother had left for
Europe when her parents had gotten divorced. Liz's dad had refused to let her go too! So Liz took over as her mother and found
a way to cook, clean and get straight A's. Also because her dad worked so much she now had a very disposable income. She most
envied for being so rich and perfect. I mean Amy and I weren't poor, I mean our parents made enough but gosh Liz was like
that girl in Clueless actually she was more like Dion and Cher combined with a hint of Amber's fortune! Where as Amy and I
were just like one of those kids who had dads as lawyers and moms who worked part time! well that actually was my situation
but Amy had a dad who owned his own chain of Delis and her mom worked at the mall as the manager of Oakley. Anyway so then
there is me. At this time I had blonde hair too and blue eyes. I always wore jeans and a tee everyday where as Liz whatever
she had gotten from the mall that night! I was 15 and never had a boyfriend. {well niether had Liz or Amy} It was around January
when we sitting in Lunch when the new kid Mitch walked by and looked at me {or maybe it was Liz or Amy but I think he was
looking at me} when Liz says "Hi Im Liz Anderson and you are?" I immedaitely turned my face toward him and he replied "Mitch
Rampling" "well Mitch Rampling this is Kari Reed and that is Amy Clark, So you have to be new so where ya from?" Liz asked
"Florida" he said "I've never been to Florida what's it like" I asked him as he sat down with us "Its cool, I mainly just
surfed and skated and surfed some more the whole 3 years i lived there" He said "I went to Florida once" Amy piped up "With
a PETA group, we were boycotting Wet Seal for harvesting rabbits for the furry lining of the coats and scarfs and stuff" "Oh
well thats nice" He said "So what do you all do for fun around here?" He asked and then Liz and Mitch started talking and
I got really silent {which was werid because normally I never shut up!} and I just stared at Mitch. I must have gotten into
Day Dream mode because the next thing I knew I was Liz had nudged me in the ribs. "wha?" I asked Liz "Mitch here likes Simple
Plan too!" "Oh really I love that song Shut Up what are your thoughts on it?" I said in one breathe "it was okay but Perfect
had a much more complex message in it" He said. Then we got to talking and he told me that in Florida he was in a band but
broke up because of creative differences. That was soo awesome I immediately told him that I could play an instruments and
when I told him this I was praying to god he wouldn't ask which one! Then he asked it and I had to respond "Bagpipes". He
then gave me the weridest look and said that if I ever wanted to learn to play a real instrument to call him or if I ever
just wanted to hang out. Then we exchanged E-mails, Cell numbers, Home numbers,AIM and MSN messengers. I then went to science
and told Liz everything and she told me that it was his way of asking me out! I MEAN ME, KARI REED!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was soo
happy and after science got into my moms car and ran up to my room and got online. He was on so I Imed him.
SimplePlanROxs66-Hey Mitch whats Up?
VolcomSk8r101-Hey nm U?
SimplePlanRoxs66-nm Im just got home
VolcomSkater101-OH really and you thought to E-mail
me, Im so flattered *Holds up trophy and cries while thanking
random people!*
Anyway so the rest of our conversation was boring like that until he typed
VolcomSk8r101- Hey ya know if we changed your image a bit you could make a great rock star
SimplePlanRoxs66-uh yea sure whatever and I could bake a cake of rainbows and solve world hunger
VolcomSk8r101-No Im serious, why dont we go to the mall tomorrow and go shopping or whatever then we
can glue pennies to the floor and see how many idiots go and try to pick them up
SimplePlanRoxs66-Okay sure I G2G mom calls
VolcomSk8r101-okay bye C U 2morrow!
and then I signed off and thought* He wants me to change whatever I'll go shopping and see what he
thinks I should wear?* I then did my homework and then my mother later barged in and asked me to go up to the attic and find
her sewing machine. But when I went up there I found my dads old Guitar, My dad had told me when I was little about how he
Rocked the World but I had never believed him and then here before my eyes was proof so I put it back down and brought
my mom her sewing machine. Around midnight as I layed in bed though I remember almost I guess you could say I heard the guitar
calling me. Then at 1:00 am I couldn't take it anymore! I snuck up to the attic and got the guitar and went to my room and
got online to see there was any information on playing the guitar. Then Amy Imed me at 2:30 a.m.
SimplePlan Roxs66-hey whats up you couldnt sleep?
PETAchicky- I am soo bored and what are you doing up?
SimplePlanRoxs66-Im trying to learn to play the guitar
PETAchicky-OMG Kari not again when you liked Zack you took a pottery class
when you liked Tom you joined PETA which I might add you should have stayed with and now you changing
again for a guy. May I ask why you put yourself through this?
SimplePlanRoxs66-Im tired and Im going to bed night
then I signed off. Now I was angery but couldn't help but feel she was right. What if I was changing
just because of a crush? Life was so confusing and so I decided to go to bed.
When I awoke it was 7:50 so I hopped in the shower and then blow dryed my blonde hair and wore a pink
tee and a pink and green striped skirt with green converse. I thought I looked good but the kids at my school have nothing
better to do than to critize. That day at school I also canceled shopping with Mitch and invited him over to teach me to play
the guitar. Then around 4th period Amy and Liz {well actually Liz forced Amy} came up and wanted to learn to play instruments
too! Which I thought was werid considering they already knew how to play instruments? They then gave me a whole speech on
how they wanted to be apart of the girl revolution and take over the world through music and crap like that.
I then was just whatever and went to talk to Mitch,he said that it would be fine but that he doubted
that there was going to be a girl revolution. That night I learned to play 3 chords on my dad's guitar. Liz had put her piano
lessons to work and played the keyboard for a total of 20 minutes and after she had mastered it left to go buy tomorrows outfit.
Amy had already known how to play the bass so she just practiced a little and went home for food. Mitch and I played for a
total 5 hours when then his cell rang and he had to leave. I had never felt like I had before after learning to play the guitar.
It was like playing the guitar gave me this warm fuzzy feeling inside. The next day at school I remember talking to Liz and
Amy in World Cultures and we three came to the conclusion we wanted to form a band. We only had one probelm.......We didn't
have a drummer. So when we had lunch, we ate fast and went to the computer lab to print out wanted signs.
a copy of our sign courtesy of Richmond High's Mr. Baxter
WANTED
Girl drummer for a new band!
If you have had experience in playing the drums in front of crowds
call Kari Reed at 555-1234 for more information
If Kari is unavailble through phone E-mail her at
SimplePlanRoxs66@yahoo.com. Thank you!
Note: You must be a freshman!
So we spent about 20 minutes hanging them all up and that day when I went to check my E-mail I had
6 people who wanted the job. 1 was a guy, 3 school band nerds and 1 prep and the last one was Arizona Marsh. She had black
hair and wore clothes similar to that of Mitch's. She was perfect so I E-mailed her back and told her she got the job! She
later Imed me:
PoserSlayer-Are you serious?
SimplePlanRoxs66- Yeah completely
PoserSlayer- okay so you guys can come to my house tomorrow after school and we can practice
SimplePlanRoxs66-Okay cool G2G
PoserSlayer-Okay Bye
Then I E-mailed Liz and Amy the news. They were excited but were doubtful if she could play. I wondered
too but would find out the next day. When that day came I went to school as usual but there was something diffrent. Everyone
was asking about Decision Day and then that lunch period Mitch and Arizona came up to me and said that they had put the word
out about our band. "WHAT!" I screamed and the next thing I remember is that the day ended with all these people who had once
considered me a normal outkast were now shooting huge spitballs at my head and drawing pictures of me with a guitar and singing.
Now I was the biggest outkast in the school. Mitch said that they really thought I was cool but didnt want to admit it. I
didnt believe Mitch because he was new to this school! Anyways so that afternoon I went to Arizona's house. When we got to
her room, I was in awe! Her room had a stage and drums already prepared and everything looked so cool! Then I Amy, Liz and
I set up and we all practiced. It wasn't until about 5 o'clock when Arizona asked if we had any lyrics. I had completely forgot
about Lyrics but apparently Arizona had a drawer full. We spent the next 2 hours picking out songs we liked. We practiced
about 6 of them. Also Liz ,Amy and I now felt bad that we ever doubted if she could play because we came to relize that she
was the best drummer EVER!!!! I especially liked her song My Star because it was about her boyfriend at the time and how he
made her complete. Though sadly after writing the song they broke up a week later. We all sang and then they elected me to
be the lead singer! I was honored and horrored at the same time if thats even possible? What really amazes me is that I agreed
and the next thing I knew I was agreeing to things left and right. For example about 3 monthes later, when we had gotten really
good, I agreed to play not 1 but 3 gigs. One was at our schools dance, the others were people's sweet 16's! The best part
about the sweet 16's were we got paid like $5.oo a song. When we played at the school dance when we were about to leave we
got asked to do 3 more parties. The parties were fun because we got paid, didnt have to bring a gift and got to eat some cake
too! Though one party was the best out of all of them. That party was Jenny Harris' birthday, this was because her dad worked
at MTV and he asked us if we had ever considered to try and get a record label? We really hadn't but he seemed as if he could
get us one so we were like "Yeah totally". Arizona was the one who got Mr.Harris to agree to try and get a recording guy at
our next gig! I was soo siked and so were the others and that night I called my dad and he told me that he didn't want me
to get my hopes up and stuff like that.When I hung up with him I was utterly depressed but after like 2 minutes of sulking
I remembered that I was in this for the music and the music alon. If money came with it that was fine but I was in it because
of the music! The next gig we had was at another school function about 2 monthes later. It was the Spring Carnival. When we
took the stage I knew that Arizona had called Mr. Harris and tried to look for the record label guy. I could tell Liz, Amy
and Arizona were too! I dont know if they saw him I surely couldnt because of all the parents in the audience. Also apparently
we had developed a fan club of 8th graders who had heard of us. That was nice and their cheering helped me rock out harder!
While we were on stage I did my usual routine with Amy of jumping around like we were insane and singing into the mic. and
laughing through a lot of it. When we had left the stage a man approached us wearing a tee and shorts and flip flops. He actually
looked like an Abercrombie and Fitch model only like in his early 30's. He introduced himself and told us he was from Zap
Records. Thsi made me feel stupid because I guess I had expected a very businessy guy in an Armani suit or something. He said
that he had heard great things about us and asked if we would be interested in recording a demo. We all agreed and he gave
us papers that were like parental permission slips. I immediately when I got home had my dad look over it and sign it. He
did after using his lawyer skills to read the fine print. For a rocker my dad was completely not that guy anymore. Then he
gave me the lecture about not getting my hopes up again and I just nodded the whole time and when I went to school the next
day we all had gotten the forms signed. We then skipped lunch and faked sick to go home and practice. I hadn't even told Mitch
the news but didn't care because the next day was Spring Break and we went to record tomorrow. Around 3 we all met at Arizona's
house and practiced.
_______________________________________________
That day when we went to record, Leon asked us what songs we were going to sing. We got to record 6
songs, we ended up with My Anti-Paradise, My Star, Fuze, Rodeo Clowm, Classroom love and Ashlee Simpson's Undiscovered. When
we were recording, we were placed in seperate boothes and were told to play and I was to sing into this giant circle thing.
It was a mic. Leon told me but I doubted to him. It was werid when I was singing I had these headphones on and I could hear
myself. I mean I could hear myself with the music as if I was listening to a CD. It was kinda freaky. When we were finished
{after about 7 hours} we got to here it. It sounded so werid, but werid in a good way! I loved the feeling of recording and
then Mr. Harris came in and told us that Leon was going to be our manager because Zap Records had signed us!!!!!!!!!! I was
soo happy! Amy and I started to sing "We're gunna be famous" over and over again and Liz was jumoing up and down with Arizona.
Mr. Harris later called our parents and then our parents came and they discussed everything and signed contracts. Well everyone
else's did at least. My father wanted to take it home and read it some more. They tried to assure him it was a very fair contract
but he wouldn't listen and then we all went home. Later I went online and Imed Mitch:
VolcomS8r101-hey haven't heared from you in a while whats new?
SimplePlanRoxs66-We have a record contract!
VolcomSk8r101-R U serious? Thats awesome! Hey listen Im me later I have a date tonight and I have to
go pick her up
SimplePlanRoxs66- Oh with who?
VolcomSk8r101-Jenny Harris and bye
I then signed off and called Liz. "Hello?"Liz said into the phone "Hey Liz can you believe that we
are going to be superstars!" I said into the phone "I know right!" she said "Hey why don't we go celebrate?" I said "Okay
I'll call Arizona and Amy and you come pick us up since you have your brother to drive us" Liz said "okay" I said .Then I
hung up. That night we went to an Italian restaurant and then went shopping. I spent a total of $202.43 and when I got home
my mom screamed at me. I then prmised her that when I became famous I would pay her back. She then made my dad sign the contract,
He made it that so that I could leave after 1 tour and 2 years if I wanted too. That night I slept the best I had in monthes
and the best I would for the next 2 years. The next day we went and worte songs and rehearsed them. That was fun but we skipped
lunch and left at around 10 that night. I was starving! Then the next day we wrote somemore. Then the next 3 days were spent
as Leon said Putting our names out there. We went to Malls, other schools and we even went to the Pentagon Mall and Performed
there outside of Macy's and Aeropostale. We got a huge audience and these little 7th grade girls came up and asked for our
autographs and if we had a CD out yet? I responded not yet. then with the permission of our parents we flew to Florida to
go to a stylist and get a kinda style makeover. My stylists name was Marsha, she did not like how I dressed not one bit! She
had my hair dyed red and then she put me in a tanner and then told me to wear the colors pink, red, blue, turoquoise, black,
brown and green only and purple only for accessories. I agreed and then when Amy, Liz, Arizona and I went out to dinner, we
revealed how we look now. Arizona had short, choppy, black hair and was wearing a purple velvet dress with combat boots. Liz
had barbie blonde hair was tanned too! and wore a pink with black and white sleeved minidress and Amy wore her hair short
like shoulder length and it looked so werid. Again werid in a good way. and she was wearing a green tankish dress with pumps.
I wore a red dress that had a guitar on it and had black manolo's on. Surprisingly I could walk in them. I thought I was going
to twist my ankle but I didnt! Anyway so we ate dinner and when I got home that next morning, My brother was all whoa nice
outfit and told me not to bug him and his friend Jake. I agreed and went upstairs to take a shower. Then when I was in there,
I started to hear the door open and I grabbed the shower curtain and screamed! I did not know who this guy was but he was
in my bathroom! Then he was all "IM sorry and Im not looking I had to get my brush! Dont flatter yourself" I didnt care so
I yelled "Get Out if here" and he did. When I did get out I found that guy and my brother raiding my suitcase filled with
new clothes. Some of these clothes were very slinky clothes and clothes I was going to hang in my closet then after a year
give to Goodwill. "What are you doing in my room!" I screamed at my brother "Nothing just looking at your clothes and what
is this underwear?" he asked "Its an ickky Lindsay Lohan style shirt!" I screamed back and "GET OUT BEFORE I TELL MOM!" Then
finally they left and I put on some jeans and a tee. I didnt even bother with hair and make-up. Though at 4 I still had to
go record because thanks to people liking our sound Mr.Harris agreed to produce us! I went down to the kitchen grabbed the
box of Fruit Loops and watched T.V.! Jake later came down and we started talking and he was actually pretty cool. Dark mind
you but cool. He was in envy of our deal but was happy for my band. He then asked me when our next gig was when I told him
he said that he would be there. I was sooo happy! Then my idiot brother had to come and ruin it and be all " Jake beware she'll
blow up at you at random times!" "I WILL NOT!"I screamed "see!" and then they left and 30 minutes later so did I. We that
day decided to call our CD *Greatest Song to listen in your car while honking at children in a school bus*. We recorded 2
songs that day and then Leon told us that we would be doing TRL next week for their annual Spankin New Presents:Week! I was
so excited, I mean TRL, that was huge! Leon also said that we would have to film a video for a song later and wanted us to
pick the single. I chose My Star and Arizona and Liz agreed with me so I won. Amy wanted to do Rodeo Clown but that would
be a werid {in a bad way this time} first video.
_____________________________________________________________
The day we shot the video for my star was 3 days before our TRL debut. When I arrived on the set of
it, I remember thinking *OMG THIS IS FOR REAL!*. The set was black with strobe lights and then there was another part with
a coffee shop and another with a bookstore and one that looked like the movies and the other was supposed to look like a school's
hallway. They had 4 guys to pretend to be our boyfriends and 2 of them looked familair and they turned out to be Mitch and
Jake. Arizona had Mitch for her boyfriend and I had Jake in the bookstore scene. Leon told us in our scene that we had to
kiss at least once and then just be all cuddley and stuff. I liked to have died. I had to kiss my brother's best friend but
at least I didnt have to kiss this one ickky zitty guy name Howie like Amy did and she had to do the coffeeshop scene and
they had to act all lovey-dovey! I laughed the whole time she kissed him. When my scene came I did it and never looked back.
Then we filmed the scene where we're all playing the song and like dissing our exs! Though I had never had an Ex-boyfriend
I just started smashing stuff and playing the guitar and singing while looking all mad and pouty! It was fun too!. I loved
smashing the lamps. but afterward when they redid Liz's scene, Jake came over and he asked me out! I said yes and was soo
thrilled that I ran on the scene while they were filming and told Liz and she said that she was happy for me. Aww that was
a good day because I got my first boyfriend!
______________________________________________________________
3 days later we went on TRL. Vanessa introduced us and and we talked to her.
interview courtesy of MTV
Vanessa: So Decision Day what made you decide to form a band?
Kari:Well I liked this guy and he offered to teach me to play, so I took to chance
Vanessa:Oh a guy? who?
Kari: Im not telling you his name cuz my boyfriend will get jealous
Vanessa:Oh okay, So next question. What is your new single My Star about
Arizona:Its about how when you think your in love and you feel complete but when you break up your
still complete and that your a star
Amy:Or something like that *giggles*
Liz: This was personally my favorite song along with kari too I think?
Kari: Oh ya I loved this song since I first just read the lyrics
Vanessa: Oh well thats cool, So when does your album come out?
Amy: September 18th
Kari: and its going to blow you away or at least it should becaus eit took a lot of our summer away!
Liz: Yeah but it'll be worth it
Vanessa: It sure will and I understand you have the video for My Star ready and you want to show it
today
Arizona:Yep
Kari:Hope you all like it
That was the interview then we showed the video and the audience had appeared to like it.
___________________________________________________
On September 18th we went back to school and were like the new popular kids. we had so many people
following us and people who used to hate us now were all "Oh wow you guys are my best friends". Leon told us to just nod our
heads and say "Yea thats nice". Even some of the teachers were acting really nice and sugar coating things for us. To say
the least that day we didnt get much learning done. Sadly the next day of school was worse because people wanted us to sign
their CDs and were singing the songs over and over again in the hallways. Ackk it was soo annoying. That day I also remember
having double chemistry and thankfully since I am so gifted in science that I take Senior science classes and have them with
Jake. He was so cool because he didnt mention anyhting about our CD or anything. When Jenny wanted an autograph he snatched
her CD and forged my signature. Though as funny as that was I had to buy her another copy. Oh the look on her face was priceless!
Then Leon that night said that we were going to go on tour in 2 monthes. That was the worst 2 monthes of waiting. People kept
asking for tickets and the press was swarming my school now. It was Horrid! what made that 2 monthes worse was Jake and I
broke up. He couldnt handle the press at his house. The only good thing about the that two monthes was our CD went Platinum,
and we got to go to a bunch of parties!
________________________________________________
When that 2 monthes of waiting ended, I was so happy. We went across the U.S. and even to Canada. Canada
has an ickky price system because its too high but other than that it very beautiful. I remember most about being on tour
is how I longed for things to be the way they used to before the screaming fans and fame. We had gotten a new publicist and
Vickie now had our band known everywhere. Liz and I werent talking for half the tour because she wanted to change my songs
and she kept telling me that I was a loser and junk like that. Then when we finally made up Amy and Arizona got into a huge
fight about some guy named Austin. I also noticed that at nights when we would go to the clubs after shows that Arizona wouls
sneak off but when she came back she was drunk. I hated it when she got drunk but neither I, nor Amy or Liz ever told anyone
about Arizona. We couldn't affored for them to drop the tour to put her in rehab. I know that sounds selfish but we wabted
to be able to gain some money form this experience. Since most of it was divided to all these other people as a total we all
4 had enough to go to Harvard twice. But as the tour progressed Arizona got worse and worse until one night when she got drunk
I asked her why she does this and she told me that it eased the pain and when I asked the pain of what. She never told me
but 2 weeks later Arizona was arrested for the murder of Austion Williams. The tour wasn't cancelled but it was put on hold.
Now the press were everywhere. I couldn't leave my house for weeks then one day, November 14th, I was called to the stand.
I am not allowed to legally write what went on inside the court so Ill just say that Arizona was found as an accomplis in
the act but because she was drunk, she was put in juvenile center for 6 monthes. Now the tour was cancelled. I wanted to quit
so badly but my contract said that I had to remain until the a complete tour was fufilled. Liz told me she wanted to go solo
and I thought that she was kidding but no she had been secretly been going to another record label and had signed a contract
that when her contract with Zap ran out she would go to Sparkling Records. Amy and I were so mad at her that we sued her for
the money she earned on the tour. We got half of it. Now she wasn't speaking to us. I didn't care anymore, I just wanted to
leave the band and get a proper job. That was all I ever wanted. What stunned me the more and more I thought about it was
I just wanted to be the way I was. I never wanted fame, I had wanted to be able to sit at lunch with my friends and complain
about allowance and stuff like that so I came up with a plan and if it got me sued i didnt care. First I dyed my hair blonde
again and went home and stayed there and got my dad to renogiate my contract. Sadlt that didn't work so instead I went to
E! and did an interview with them:
courtesy of the friendlt people at E!
Maria- Now in other news Kari Reed of the Girl Band Decision Day has held a press confernce saying
that she is leaving the band in order to pursue a normal life
E! has the story
Kari- Hello I have asked to have this press confernce to announce that I am leaving Decision Day due
to the recent events with my band members we had come to the conclusion that Arizona wouldn't be able to come back because
she will have to fufill certain engagements and Liz is going to go Solo. Thank you and have a nice evening.
Maria- Well you heard it first. We tried to get in touch with Liz and her manager says that her album
will be out in February 2006 and to Arizona if your out there I hope you are doing better. Im Maria Menedoes and this was
E! on MTV. Good Night
Well that was how it all ended and that was not the way I envisioned our band to be. If I could change
it I would. But now my life is better. I am dating Jake again. I am going to Marshall University in West Virginia and I am
going to star in a movie staring in December its a Brady Bunch Movie and I starring as Jane. I always felt that I could relate
to Jane. I am perfectly content with my life right now. Also Arizona is out of rehab and working a lyrics writer and Amy is
in Africa supporting the AIDS fund. Im going to go visit her soon. But who knows where life will go from there.
_______________________________________________________________
"RING RING RING"the phone went
"hello" Kari said as she picked up the phone
"Hey Kari where were you?"Jake said
"what do you mean?"Kari asked
"Its been 3 days"Jake said
"Oh my gosh it has I have been writing the book and I compltely forgot"Kari said
"Yeah I thought you had been killed or something" Jake said
"Aww you cared" Kari said in a preppy tone
"Hey Kari I really need to ask you something and I don't want to ask it over the phone" Jake said
"Okay come on over and we can talk" Kair said
"Okay I will. So see you in 10" Jake said
"Bye" Kari said and hung up
~~~~~~~~~~~10 minutes later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"BUZZ" went the door system
"who is it?" Kari said into the speaker
"Hey Kari let me up" Jake said
"OKay" and kari then buzzed him in. When he finally got to Kari's apartment, she opened the door and
saw Jake standing there with Roses. "Omg Jake their beautiful..wait they are gor me right?" Kari asked him "DUH!" Jake said
chuckling "Oh well I love them but what's the occasion?" Kari asked him. "Well do I need an occasion to give my girlfriend
flowers?" Jake asked. "No you dont!" and went and hugged Jake. "well actually there is an occasion" Jake said. "Oh what is
it" Kari said as she put the roses in a vase. "Um Kari will you come here?" Jake said from the living room. "yeah sure." she
said walked to the living room herself. "Okay so umm Kari well we have been dating for a while now.." Jake started "Since
I quit Decision Day uh huh" Kari said "well and I love you and all" Jake said "Oh so you want to break up?" Kari said with
tears already swelling in her eyes. "No I actually I wanted to ask you to.." he said as he got down one knee "Oh my god" Kari
said "Kari will you marry me?" Jake asked "Umm..all I can say is Duh of course" Kari said. That was the day Kari Reed's life
changed. She remained engaged for 2 years so that she could finish school and filmed her movie which won 4 oscars out of it
5 oscar nominations. Life was good and she eventually made up with Liz and now she, Arizona, Liz and Amy get together once
a month and hang out. And to this day Kari regrets nothing because she believes that everything happens for a reason.
THE END