𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐭 || 𝐙𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐧 [𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐝]

15- Until Today

Hayden, 18 years & 7 months old

It's been a week. A long one.

A week ago, I sent in my video to Atlantic Records in hopes of scoring a meeting with them to talk about opening for Why Don't We's next tour. Zach got all weird on me and left after the recording and was acted strange ever since. I don't know why, but Jonah talked to him that day and Jonah acted weirdly quiet around me until I left California.

I left California three days ago. Before I left, all the boys gave me their phone numbers so we could contact each other. They've all messaged me since I got back, except for Zach. I never asked any of the others what was going on with him, I just hoped that he wasn't slipping away from me again.

Since it's been I week since I sent in my video to Atlantic Records and have gotten no response, I figured my chances of going on tour and becoming famous were slim. Until today.

It's summer now, I don't have school and I don't want to be stuck in my room all day so I decided that at four p.m that I needed coffee. So I went to my local coffee shop (which has better coffee than any Starbucks) and sat in there for a few hours. I watched ukulele covers on my computer and other various YouTube videos until a notification came up on both my phone and computer with the same email. I took the mousepad on my laptop and clicked the message.

Hayden Green,

Thank you for sending in your video. You are a talented artist and we are considering yours—and the boys of Why Don't We's request to join the band on tour as their opening guest. We would like to meet with you personally at our offices in Los Angeles, California to discuss business options. If you have any questions or concerns, please reply to this email address.

Craig Kallman, CEO
Atlantic Records

It was so hard not to squeal in the middle of the restaurant. The CEO of Atlantic Records wanted to meet with me. I was so excited not only to get noticed by a huge record label but to also possibly go on tour with my friends and make my dreams come true.

I quickly packed my things and left the shop. I couldn't wait to go home and tell my family all about my news.

"Mom!" I shouted as soon as I walked in the door. Mom stepped out of the kitchen with a worried face.

"What? Are you alright?" She grabbed me to check for injuries.

"I'm fine. More than alright." I stretched my lips up and gave the biggest smile than I ever have.

"What happened?" She questioned.

"I got an email today from Atlantic Records—"

"Atlantic Records?"

"They want to meet with me about going on tour with Zach's band."

My mother's eyes went wide. "Hayden," she gasped, "that's amazing!"

"But," I paused her excitement. "I have to meet with them in California first."

"We were in California last week. It's expensive, honey. We can't afford to take our whole family to California every week."

"What if it wasn't our whole family? What if I just went?"

"By yourself?"

"Well, I'm eighteen, I'm old enough right?"

"I'm not sure, Hayden."

"What if I asked to stay with Zach and his friends? He can pick me up at the airport as soon as I get off that plane. Would that make you feel better?"

I watched her process the idea through her head. Then she sighed, then she said, "Fine, but only because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and want you to take it." She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me tight. We hugged for a long time before Mom finally let go. "My baby is going to become a superstar," she cried.

a/n: :)