When Annelisse Lombardi was sixteen years old her entire life changed. Unlike other sixteen year olds who got super bashes and cars for their birthday, Annelisse got the chance of a lifetime. She got a record deal. Annelisse had never wanted to be a pop star. All she wanted to do was write music that made her feel something and dance until she couldn’t dance anymore. Life sometimes had a way of changing your plans. What had begun as a simple interest in music and drama at age nine had turned into a career for her at age sixteen.

She wasn’t alone, not by a long shot. She was joined by her two best friends Erica Romero and Hannah Garcia. The three girls had grown up together in a small city in Dade County, Florida. Their mothers, Julia Rodriquez Lombardi, Ana Gonzalez Romero and Maria Lopez Garcia had grown up together in Puerto Rico, following a long tradition of friendship in their families. The mothers, after they’d married and relocated to Aventura, Florida, continued the tradition with their three girls.

When Hannah graduated from high school in 2007, the girls decided to take a shot and audition for a record deal. It was a fluke decision really and none of them expected anything to come from it. Lo and behold, however, when the executives at Colombia wanted to sign them. Erica and Annelisse continued their studies through tutors while the three girls packed up and moved to New York City. Eight months later, their album was released and they were a success. Fast forward almost two years later and they were still going strong.

Erica had always been the flamboyant one. She was the life of the party; the one who never took life too seriously. Her life motto had always been, “we’re only young once, so let’s fuck this up the right way.” She’d taken after mother in looks. Her hair was dark, her eyes darker and her skin (according to one of her high school sweethearts) was always so lickable. The only thing Erica loved more than boys and partying was music. She’d been in band since middle school and loved every second of it.

Hannah on the other hand was more reserved. She loved staying home in sweats with a book and a CD, always available to bail Erica out of trouble on a regular basis. She was tan on a regular basis due to her love of nature and undeniable green thumb. She was also the most sporty. She loved sports and had been crushed that her high school football team wouldn’t let her try out. She’d gotten over it though when she joined the literary magazine instead. She always had a way with words and used that talent to her advantage.

Annelisse, however, has never been able to label herself. She always associated partying and music with Erica and literature to Hannah, or even sports or gardening to Hannah. She was shy and until she was nine, didn’t realize she had any talent. She loved music. She loved everything that left the speakers in Hannah’s car and would always sing along the loudest (even though she was stuck in the back seat since she was the youngest).

She thought that finally she’d found her calling and that her life on a track that she could control. Perhaps self-actualization was right around the corner. That was, until everything changed in a way that Annelisse couldn’t control at all.

Annelisse

“Annie? Annie?”

“Annelisse!”

Annelisse was shocked out of her comatose state when Erica shouted in her face. Staring at the brunette moodily, Annelisse then turned to Hannah who was staring at her with an expectant look on her face.

“Say something, Annie,” Hannah begged, blue eyes shining.

What was she supposed to say to her best friend of almost 18 years? Was she supposed to scream and rage and pout because Hannah had ruined everything by getting married two months ago? Was she supposed to congratulate her on her impending pregnancy even though it came at the most inconvenient time?

“Uh,” Annelisse began. “Congratulations?”

Hannah’s face fell. “You’re angry.”

No, she wasn’t angry. She more resigned than anything. Subconsciously she was jumping for joy. She was going to be an aunt, and she did love Hannah so. Yet on the surface she couldn’t bring herself to show any emotion.

“I feel so selfish,” she murmured.

Hannah shook her head vigorously. “Of course not, Annie. You’re the least selfish person I know.”

“Then why do I suck so badly?” Annelisse asked herself. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy for Hannah. How could she be; she adored babies. But, they’d just released their second album just last week and how on earth were they supposed to-. Stop it, she told herself.

“I’m really happy for you,” Annelisse said sincerely. “I just can’t stop thinking…”

Hannah nodded. “I understand.”

“I’m sorry,” Annelisse shook her head and smiled brightly. “This is awesome. What did Brice say when you told him?”

Brice Blair was Hannah’s husband. Not surprisingly, Brice was a football player and played for the New York Giants. They’d met only a year ago, a week before Hannah’s nineteenth birthday at a party and the rest, as they say, was history. Despite Brice being five years older than Hannah, the two were sickeningly in love.

Hannah began to gush about how Brice’s reaction to her pregnancy and Annelisse’s mind began to wander. How exactly did this work? Did they pull a Britney and just stay away from the industry for a couple of years or did they pull a Destiny’s Child and break up? Annelisse frowned. She didn’t want to break up. These were her sisters.

“Oh my God, Annelisse Mayra Lombardi, if you don’t stop zoning out,” Erica exclaimed. She wrinkled her pert nose. “You’re so weird.”

Annelisse was unaffected by that statement. She relished in being slightly offbeat. “You’re a slut,” she shrugged uncaringly.

Hannah smirked. “Erica totally needs some ointment for that burn.”

“Puh-lease,” Erica shrugged and exposed her shoulders in her too large sweatshirt. “That wasn’t even a first degree burn.”

“Some ice instead?” Hannah suggested.

Erica nodded. “I think some ice will do.”

“I’m sorry,” Annelisse blurted out. “But what happens now?”

Hannah’s grin faded. “I don’t know.”

“That’s why we have PR agents and a manager, ladies,” Erica snorted. “Really, you two are so dumb sometimes.”

A week later, it was final. The group would simply go on hiatus. Erica had been really excited and decided she wanted to try something new while Hannah blew up like a whale and suggested Annelisse do the same. With that thought in mind, Annelisse entered the office of Pete Michaels.

Pete Michaels was the director of the movie Bet starring Ryan Sharpe that was to begin filming four months from now in June. According to her manager, Shelly Sparks, Pete was still looking for a leading lady. Annelisse, with the blessings of her family and Hannah and Erica, decided to audition for the part.

“Hi, I’m here to meet with Mr. Michaels,” Annelisse told the receptionist.

The young lady looked up and smiled brightly. “Of course, Ms. Lombardi. Go ahead in.”

Annelisse took a deep breath and walked into the conference room. The long table was horizontal and on one side, Pete Michaels sat with two men. One she recognized as Roger Edwards, one of the films producers.

Pete stood and shook her hand and motioned for her to take a seat on the opposite side of him.

“Annelisse, darling. How are you doing?” Pete asked in his Australian accent.

“I’m fine; thank you. And you?” Annelisse responded automatically.

“Just fine, doll. Shelly tells me you’re interested in a part in my movie,” Pete continued.

Annelisse nodded.

“Exactly what part are you looking for?” the man that Annelisse did not know asked.

Annelisse shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter. I could be an extra for all I care.”

“An extra?” Roger snorted. “The studio would have our heads.”

Annelisse blushed. “Really, I don’t want a part only because of who I am. I want one because I know that I can play Tara.”

“Ah, so you want the lead role,” the man said.

Uh, duh. But Annelisse refrained from saying anything.

“Ryan gets first billing,” Pete informed her as he lit a cigarette.

Annelisse nodded. “That’s not a big deal.”

“Amateur,” the man snorted.

“I’m sorry, but do you have a problem with me?” Annelisse snapped at the man. She covered her mouth and flushed. “I’m sorry.”

Pete and Roger were too busy laughing.

“I like you, kitten,” Pete said once he stopped laughing. “I think you’d be a great Tara.”

“I don’t think so. Can you even act, love?” the man asked. ‘Love’, a term Annelisse usually relished in being referred as was said condescendingly and if there was one thing Annelisse hated, it was superciliousness.

“Can you produce?” Annelisse shot back before she could help herself. She refrained from covering her mouth again but she still blushed. “I played Ophelia in a production of Hamlet in high school. I also played Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. And I’m acting as though I would like to continue talking to you when really, I’d prefer to do anything but.”

“Have you read the script, doll?” Pete asked.

Annelisse nodded. “It’s wonderful.” She reached inside her large Louis Vuitton bag and produced the script. It was covered in her markings. It was something she’d acquired in high school, marginal writing. “I think that if the right people are casted, then people would be able see the underlining tone of the script and it’d be so wonderful on screen. I’ve seen Ryan Sharpe in a few films and he should be great. Kate Maxwell is like, the perfect Bridget.”

Roger took her copy of the script and read her notes. “You’ve studied.”

Annelisse flushed. “Sorry. I tend to overanalyze everything and-.”

“You’ve got the part, love,” Pete interrupted her.

Annelisse froze. “But, I didn’t even-.”

Pete shook his head. “I have faith in you, love. You’re perfect.”

Annelisse turned to the man.

The man sighed. “I wrote the script, Ms. Lombardi, and Pete’s right: you’re Tara.”

Annelisse waited until she was in a taxi heading back to the apartment she shared with Erica to squeal with joy.

Michelle Sharpe stood in the hallway of her Hollywood Hills home as she listened to the argument between her brother and his off/on girlfriend of three years. She was standing outside her brother’s bedroom where Alana, Ryan’s girlfriend, was trying to justify her cheating on him by stating he never paid any attention to her.

“You’re joking, right?” Ryan snapped back at Alana. “I talk to you daily. I let you drag me to club after club even when I’m supposed to be working the next morning. What do you mean I don’t pay attention to you?”

“You were gone!” Alana cried.

“I was in Arizona, Alana,” Ryan said. “Arizona. I came back every weekend. Try your next excuse. Better yet, don’t try one at all and just get out. I’m sure you know the way.”

Alana wouldn’t let go so easily. She never did. She shimmied to Ryan in full pout mode. “Darling, don’t be angry. You know I only care about you.”

“Cheating is the best way to show affection,” Ryan said sarcastically as he willed his body not to respond to her.

“Ryan,” she purred. “You know you still want me.”

Damn it, Ryan thought right before he succumbed.

Michelle recoiled in horror as she heard kissing. What a fucking pussy, she thought outraged of her brother. Michelle ran downstairs as she heard the phone ring.

“Hello?” she greeted.

“Michelle, love, where’s Ryan?” Pete Michaels’ voice came out.

“Uh, trust me, you don’t want to know,” Michelle assured him.

Pete laughed. “Okay, doll. Just let him know we have a leading lady, huh?”

“No prob.”

“That’s a good girl. Have him call my secretary so the contracts could be set up.”

“Sure.”

“Alright, then. I’ll see later.”

“Bye, Pete.”

Michelle hung up the phone and winced when she heard something crash. “Gross,” she muttered.

She grabbed her book bag and “borrowed” Ryan’s Beamer keys and headed out to the library. She had midterms coming up and could not afford to be distracted. Who cared that she still only had her permit?

Is It The End?

It’s been confirmed. Pop group Hadassah has announced their hiatus. What could have caused the group to suddenly take this break? Industry insiders are as baffled as we are. The group just released their sophomore album titled Love Today just two weeks ago and it’s selling out of stores everywhere. The next logical step would be a tour, no? Instead, the group has decided to pursue other dreams. Hannah Garcia, recently married says she wishes to focus on her new family. Erica Romero is working on a fashion line that she wishes to have released for winter and Annelisse Lombardi has just signed on to the movie Bet alongside Ryan Sharpe. Will this be the final time we see the shining faces of those three girls again? We hope not, and they assure us that they’ll be back. “We need to live a bit before we can head back into the studio,” Erica Romero stated.

Live all you want, Hadassah. We’re all waiting!