I had been waiting to get my license for 16 years of my life, and the day I did, the wonderful state of New Jersey decides to get 3 and a half feet of snow. In one night. I had to wait three weeks before I actually got to drive, but when I did, I knew exactly where to go.

Nickelback's "Photograph" topped the countdown for God knows how many hundreds of times, and I pulled into the parking lot of my heaven on earth: The Wyckoff Mall. My new white 2005 VW Beetle pulled into a parking space as far away from other cars as I possibly could to avoid totaling it.

My Keds hit the concrete, and an enormous crashing noise from a parking space close to mine almost knocked me off my feet.

A maroon van had just been shut off, and a faux-hawked boy was on the ground, his head resting on the yellow line, guitar cases and amps on top of him.

"Oh my God!" I shut my door and jogged around my car, kneeling next to him, peeling the cases off of him. "Are you okay?"

He opened his hazel eyes and rubbed his temples. "No, No...I think I might need CPR." He closed his eyes again and held his breath, sticking his tongue lifelessly out of the side of his mouth.

Two more boys rounded the side of the van, and even in their differences, there was no doubt that they were brothers. The shorter of the two, with a messy bunch of chocolate curls gave a small gap-toothed smile, pressing his index finger to his lips. The taller one, who looked like the oldest turned his head to let out a silent laugh before skidding over to us.

"OH MY GOSH!" He yelped. "Miss, I didn't see what happened! Is he okay?!"

I was confused, and I'm sure my face showed it, because the younger one bounced on the balls of his converse covered feet and mouthed, 'Go along with it.' ...so I did.

"I, I don't know what happened! I rushed over to help, and he just went lifeless!"
The oldest let a sly smile creep across his face as I continued.
"I think he may need CPR!"
"You're right, he does." He ran his finger through his short brown locks, and the 'unconcious' boy on the ground undoubtedly smiled from his coma.
"Well.." I pulled my short blonde hair back into a ponytail. "I never learned CPR. I'm afraid I can't save him."

Our victim's face went confused, and my partner in crime spoke up.
"Good thing I do! Step aside while I save my brother's life!"
The lifeless hazel eyes shot open once more as he seized from underneath the cases, stumbling backwards as he pushed himself away from his brother.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ALMOST MADE OUT WITH ME, DUDE!" He screamed, his chest heaving up and down rapidly.
I turned to face him, taking out my hair again. "And I can't believe you played dead to get me to make out with you!"
His face went pink, and he slid his hands into his black Dragonfly hoodie pockets.
"Yeah. You're right. Sorry about that."

I rolled my eyes and turned towards the other two.
"Well, that was an interesting start to my morning, and I'm sorry you two have to deal with him."
The taller one laughed, the shorter one standing sheepishly behind him, looking at the ground.
I grabbed my keys from the ground and started to walk away when a small voice spoke up.

"Wait!"
I turned to see the smallest, and obviously the shyest now looking at me, then the cases on the ground.
"Do you think you could help us with some of these? I don't think we can carry them all."

I examined their faces, each seemed apologetic and desperate, so with a sigh, I shoved my keys into my back pocket. "Which ones should I grab?"

Making our way into the mall, I had more cases then any of the boys, and I was walking quickly and steadily while they heaved and stumbled. I set the cases down where they had asked me too, in the open space in front of Foley's. A black fauxhawk appeared from behind an amp, staggering like a drunk in my direction. I grabbed both sides of the black box, lifting it from his arms and setting it on the ground. He smiled, but seem to think it was a good idea to keep his words to a minimum after our parking lot encounter.

"What are you guys doing with all this stuff, anyways?"
They exchanged glances, the oldest speaking up. "We're, a uh, we're a band."
"Cool." I said plainly. "I'm in a shopping mood, and since I already got my work out in, I'm going to go do that."

Fauxhawk McGee chimed in. "Our show is in an hour. You should stop by and check it out."
"Tempting." I let my tone stay cold. "Bye."
"We didn't catch your name."
I smiled softly. "That's because I didn't give it."

I hit the escalator, and as my eyes locked with Abercrombie, the boys fled from my thoughts.
___________________

Six bags and nearly two hours later later, the sounds of Hollister were drowned out by guitars and high pitched voices. I peered over the banister, down to the front of Foley's where a small crowd had formed in front of a stage, with the three familiar boys jumping around on it.

Smirking, I stepped back onto the escalator, and made my way to the back of the crowd. From above the scene, the people seemed to be smiling, and enjoying the music. But, as I mingled with them, I realized it was anything but that.

The murmer was nothing but a mix of "This is horrible", "These guys suck", and "They're really bad...but the one with the tambourine is cute."

The one with the tambourine, turned out to be the one who enjoyed playing dead, and I rolled my eyes at him again as he winked in my direction. He leaned into the mic. "Thank you guys for comin and checkin us out today. This will be our last song."

The small crowd cheered pretty loudly, and it was sad that they were cheering mostly out of happiness that it was almost over.
I anticipated some of the worst sounding music I had ever heard, but as they started playing, I liked it.

I am what I am
I can't help myself
And if you don't like it
Get with somebody else
I'll never change my ways
It's not a phase
This is how it is and this is how it's gonna stay
Because
I am what I am I know what I'm not
I'm not the type of guy
That doesn't know how good he's got it
And I won't back down
Won't come around
Saying that I changed cause
That's not how it's going down

And I know (I know, I know)
Wherever I go (I go, I go)
I know where I stand
I am what I am
Hey! Hey!
I am what I am
Hey! Hey!

I am what I am
What can I say?
I'm gonna be this way
Right up until my dying day
Because that's how it goes head to my toes
And if it doesn't show well I just had to let you know
Because

I am what I am
And nobody else
And if you've got a problem
Better take it somewhere else
Because I can't turn back
I'm right on track
And if you think you know
Well then you better check your facts
Because

I know (I know, I know)
Wherever I go (I go, I go)
I know where I stand
I am what I am
Hey! Hey!
I am what I am
Hey! Hey!

Oh can't you see
I'm just being me
I can't be you
And I don't want to be
Don't try to get
Inside my head
Cause what you see is what you get

I am what I am
I can't help myself
And if you don't like it
Get with somebody else
I'll never change my ways
It's not a phase
This is how it is right up until my dying day

And I know (I know, I know)
Wherever I go (I go, I go)
I know where I stand
I am what I am

By the end of the song, I was unconciously dancing. They were amazing, and I had no idea what everyone else in the crowd was saying. But, by the end of the song, I was one of the only people left in the crowd. The final guitar chord finished, and I jumped onto the stage, wearing a smile.

"You guys are so good!"

All of their faces were less than amused as they began to immediately pack up their things.
"You're funny." The oldest muttered.
"What?" I asked, setting down my bags to help them. "I really liked you guys."

Tambourine boy examined my face, and took advantage of his opportunity. "Enough to tell us your name?"
I crossed my arms across my chest. "You first."
"Well played." He smiled. "I'm Joseph. The curly headed one over there is Nicholas. And that's Kevin."
"So, Joe, Nick and Kevin." I stuck my hand out. "I'm Brenna."

"Well, Brenna." Kevin said. "Thanks for trying to make us feel better. By you know, saying we were good."
"Oh, Nuh uh." I shook my head. "Brenna rule number one. I'm the worst liar in the world."
Nick paced towards me, his little hands in his jean pockets. "You mean..you actuslly liked us?"
I *CENSORED*ed my eyebrows down at him. "Why do you sound so surprised?"
"Well.." He started, looking a little disappointed in himself. "You heard the crowd."
I put my hand on his shoulder, and bent my 5'3" frame to be eye level with him. "I thought you guys were amazing."

"Yeah, well." Kevin threw a guitar case over his shoulder. "Unfortunately, that doesn't sell CDs."
Joe motioned towards the cases that weren't in their hands. "Can you grab those?"

I stacked my shopping bags on top of their loads before responding.
"On two conditions."
They peered at me from behind their stacks of equipment.
"One," I started. "You buy me McDonald's."
Joe nodded his head.
"And two.." I smiled, hoping to lift their spirits. "You promise not to forget about me when you're big and famous."

They all laughed, undoubtely believing that would never happen, but nodded in agreement instead.
"If that ever happens, I'll do you one better." Joe smiled. "Backstage pas.ses."
"Every show." Nick added.
"You'll be on our tour bus WITH us." Kevin smirked. "But until that happens in two thousand and never...lets get some cheese burgers."

I smiled along with them, my stomach ready for greasy burgers and fries, but no where near prepared for how my life was about to change.

----

now i can ask..should i continue posting this?

-krista