Paper Towns (A 5H Fanfic)

T h i r t y

Day 4: The End

The MTV crew and the girls filed out of the room once the interview was done. They needed serious hair and make up time to be ready for the meet and greet, soundcheck then the actual show.

"Lauren." John said before she stepped out of the room.

She turned around and walked back over towards him, sitting down on the couch next to him. She knew where this conversation was going to go. Contracts about a solo deal that she didn't want to take.

"I don't know how to say this but Republic Records-"

"Want me as a solo. I know." she cut in, rolling her eyes. "I'm not taking the deal."

"You haven't even heard the deal." he explained but she wasn't listening. Lauren stood up and headed for the door. "The offer is double what you get paid as a Fifth Harmony member and that's just to get you to sign with them and get rid of your contract with the group." Lauren paused before walking out.

Double the pay just to get her to sign with them? That wasn't even what her yearly salary would be. That was just the bribe.

"Are you kidding me?" she turned around. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't thinking about that money.

"They really want you." he reaffirmed. "They sent contracts here and I read them over. They look good Lauren. I don't know if you'd want to pass them up."

"I-"

"I know those are your girls. Your best friends, your everything. But you have to think about what you want as an artist. We all know pop music isn't what you want and isn't doing your voice justice. I love you in the group but think about the sacrifice you make to be part of it. You sacrifice your individuality in your artistry for the group. All of you do. But Republic is a big company offering you big bucks and big promising albums." John laid out a folder and pulled out stacks of papers.

"I don't know if you can pass this up." he continued. Something in his tone was hoping Lauren would say no to the contracts.

Lauren stepped closer to the table the contracts laid on. Was this how Justin Timberlake felt before he left his group? What about Beyonce? Did she ever feel like her group was holding back her individual artistry?

She picked up a few of the pages and scanned over them. The deal was double the pay, a new management, a team just for her, creative freedom, writing rights, production rights, all the freedom a musician would want. All the music freedom Fifth Harmony never allowed her.

Lauren shook her head at the paper. "No." she quietly said.

John's head looked up at her, meeting her green eyes. "No?" he repeated, making sure he heard her right.

"I told the girls this and I'll tell you and Republic Records this too. I will not leave the group. No amount of money or contract could make me." Lauren put the contract down on the table and looked back at John.

He let out a long sigh. "Thank god." he said as he tilted his head upwards. "You've just seemed so fed up with some of the songs you girls sing and the whole album wasn't exactly the lyrics you hopped for and your amount of solos-I was afraid you'd seriously consider leaving since you've been so under appreciated by every producer the group has worked with."

"Yeah, can we fix that next album?" Lauren asked jokingly.

"Sure. I'll talk to some people. Get you girls some more creative freedom on the next project." he smiled at her.

Lauren finished up her conversation with John the headed out the door. She made her way to girls shared dressing room, assuming everyone was in there as they waited to go to the meet and greet. She opened the door and took a step in. The door shut behind her and Camila popped out from behind the door screaming.

"Holy shit!" Lauren said as she jumped. "What was that for?" she shoved Camila slightly.

"For old times sake. I can scare you whenever I want." Camila raised her eyebrows up and down at Lauren. "Wait!" her facial expression changed to panic in less than a second. "I have to give you something!" she excitedly said.

Camila skipped over to her suitcase that laid on the floor of the dressing room. It looked like it had exploded on the floor with her clothes. Camila picked through a few clothing items, tossing the items that weren't what she was looking for to the side. When she found what she was looking for, she smiled.

Camila stood back up and faced Lauren. "I remembered I had this with me this time. It's been like three years but I figured you'd want this back." she held up the black beanie that was part of the start of their friendship.

"You're the best." Lauren said as she took the beanie into her hands. "Thanks." she smiled.

"Question; was this really your favorite beanie? Because if this really was your favorite beanie, I'd think you'd be more careful as to where you put it but who am I to judge." Camila sarcastically said as she walked by Lauren and over to the couch that had Dinah and Ally siting on it.

Lauren followed behind Camila and saw Normani's head behind the couch. She knew what was about to happen.

"Hey Camz, have you seen Normani?" Lauren said.

"Um.. No, I think she's over with-" Camila was cut off by Normani jumping up behind the couch and screaming in Camila's ear.

All the girls but Camila broke out into laughter.

"I hate you guys." Camila shook her head.

A/N:
Ayyyy that was it! That was the whole story! I'm honestly surprised that I completed a whole story. This is not only my first time writing a story start to finish but my first time writing with the 5h girls. They're actually so much fun to write that I may have started writing some other stuff with them in mind. Thank you for reading! If you started from the beginning and made it to the end I seriously appreciate you so much. Thank you. I'll be posting and writing more very soon!