Once in a lifetime {h.s.} ON HOLD

Prologue

Here is Skylar's L.A. apartment :)

Money. More often than not, it was the key to success. I knew from the time I was 14 that I wanted more than my small town, and the only way to get out of there was success. I worked hard in school, got straight A+ report cards almost all the time, wrote songs, learned new instruments, listened to music 24/7, and planned my future constantly. I had it all planned out. And now, I was living it. We were never poor, but we definitely weren't rich. We were basic, middle class white people. My mom was about 5'4, blonde, taught 2nd grade, drove a Jeep Cherokee, and loved Facebook and wine. It doesn't get much whiter than that. Picture perfect on the outside, big white farmhouse, mom and dad, brother and sister, sweet tea, all that. How depressing. No, not the lifestyle, the repetitiveness. But it made my family happy. It seemed like everyone else in my life was perfectly happy with what they had. Maybe that's why I planned how to get out from such a young age.

I went to college in Texas on a few different scholarships. I got my business degree and started a small online cosmetic shop. I ran my business out of L.A. and lived in a tiny apartment with a ridiculously high rent. I made enough money to eat and buy things I wanted. I was a business owner. I worked from home and had a pet frog. This was the successful future I needed. But something else was missing. I wrote songs. I needed to do something with them. I wanted more than this. When I went out with my friends, had one night stands, all I could think about was how I wanted more. None of the people around me were very memorable or important to me. I had no close friends, no boyfriend. All I had was my frog Jeremiah and myself. I liked the company. I could blast one direction in the shower, eat all the ice cream, stay up late, do whatever I wanted. But it was lonely. I hate to be that way, but it wasn't because I was single and had no friends. Okay, maybe that was a part of it. But still, something in me wanted more.

I stopped spending money on shoes and makeup that I didn't need, only buying the things I truly needed. I ate out less, drank less, saved money. Every penny I saved went towards my demo. At the end of April, I had saved $600, and I was ready. This is how I planned it. Go to college. Start a business. Save money. Write songs. Pay for a demo. Record some songs. Get a manager. Sign with a record, anyone but syco. Success.

Simple enough.

I wrote songs, recorded, and finally made a meeting with potential management group. This is how it was supposed to go. This was my future. I was at brunch with a girl I had met at the club the night before, she seemed like she could be a genuine friend, when I got a call from the group.

"You are very talented, and a hard worker, but we are afraid you are a bit young."

Take a deep breath, there is plenty of other options.

"Okay! I totally understand-," don't cry. "Thank you for the opportunity!" I smile. I was grateful, and this was just the beginning.

"While we will not be able to manage you, we all agreed that your work is too good to go unnoticed. We sent your record to 3 other groups, so be expecting some calls soon." I feel butterflies in my chest.

"What groups," I say, trying to hide my excitement, and my nerves.

"CAA, ICM, and LTT."

I inhale sharply. Holy shit. CAA managed people like Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, and Jennifer Lopez. ICM had names like Nicki Minaj and H.E.R. under their management. This was big. It was the last group that made my heart jump into my throat. LTT. Louis Tomlinson Talents. It was highly unlikely that I would have to work under that name, but given the opportunity, I would take it. It was just the fact that I knew Louis's blood type that concerned me. It's okay, I tell myself. He'll probably have someone listen to it, they'll reject it, and it will be over. Even if they do like it, it's not like I'll have to actually see Louis.