6

6

**6** is the sixty-sixth chapter of Push to the Limit and the four hundred and forty first chapter of the series overall. It is 17,733 words long and told entirely in third person.

Luke, Kayli, and Jeremy attend the same convention as Travis, Charlie and Sarah. Dan makes a final plea to Harmony. Santana and Shana move forward with their plan to expand their family. Jake makes a bold move

## Plot

While getting ready for Jake's album release party, Amity struggles to reach Dan on the phone. She worries that he's still trying to convince Harmony to leave Theo. Morgan is upset that Tyler isn't coming back for two more days but she's looking forward to his return anyway.

Julie is still in L.A. and arriving at a sketchy destination that turns out to be a storage facility. She is meeting Francesca in one of the storage units to discuss how they will handle their public fallout. Julie gives Francesca a confidentiality agreement indicating that she can never hold any interviews or speak publicly about her or Alex again. Francesca does not think this is possible so Julie instead offers her half a million dollars to quit her career and leave the country, completely disappearing from the spotlight. When Francesca rejects her offer, Julie threatens to take her for all she's worth and completely destroy any chance she has at a normal life, telling her she can go live in Norway. Knowing Francesca will ultimately agree, Julie leaves satisfied.

Jake gets a call from Julie saying that much like the Crystal Army guys she won't be able to make it to the party. He is already there with Leila and enjoying the event, though he feels pressure for the album to be a huge success. He then talks to Ryder, who points out that he and Leila are on great terms and Jake seems to be head over heels in love with her. As they are about to go talk to other people, Sarah gets on stage to publicly congratulate Jake with a performance of a song from her upcoming album. While singing Bartender to Jake and Ryder, Brooke arrives and, just as Sarah had planned, assumed there was more going on with Sarah and Ryder than there actually was. Sarah wants a successful career *and* to date Ryder now that Jeremy is out of the picture.

The next morning Jake goes to the label to discuss his promotion schedule. He runs into Travis, who congratulates him and empathizes in Jake's feeling that he wasn't being treated like a person. Then at the meeting, he is concerned that there won't be any room for free time with Leila. He expresses the desire to match more of his free dates with hers to Sebastian, who laughs it off and tells him to become more successful or get married in order for the label to care.

Sarah goes to see Ryder and offer her help cleaning up after the party. She also reveals that she had tried to convince Brooke to attend the party and talk to Ryder, though she leaves out the fact that Brooke *did* show up and left when she saw her singing to him. This leads Ryder to believe that Brooke has no intention of getting back together with him and he should get over her now.

The next day Alex, Sam and John arrive at Julie's house, done with the tour for good. After bickering for a while, Kitty offers to make food for the guys, but before she can finish, Lyric arrives after having discussed the details of her contract with Julie's new label at a meeting. John decides to leave with her, warning Kitty that Alex has been in a bad mood lately.

Sarah wakes up the next day to the new charts, checking where her new single has debuted. She is disappointed when I Got The Boy debuts at 92 but decides to place all the blame on the label and is consoled by the fact that Love Me Like You Mean It is still doing well on the country charts.

Travis celebrates that Ride has reached a new peak of 5, making it his first top 5 hit ever. The label has a mini-celebration, after which Sebastian says he will be sending him out for more promo to keep his music charting. He reminds him that he is set to attend the Scranton Convention, where Luke will also be attending as a YouTuber. Travis assures him that he is ready for that.

Luke is more concerned about what he will wear than the fact that he may run into Travis at the event, but tells Albany that he will be fine because he is taking Kayli with him. Albany then raises the concern that Sarah will be going, too, and that this may cause more conflict than less. Luke jokes that he will ditch Kayli at the first sign of drama.

Shana helps Kayli pack and asks whether she's concerned that Sarah will be there. Kayli says that she can handle Sarah and that even if it's her turf with the people famous on social media, she still has more power due to having more fame and success.

Julie is in L.A. performing Inside Out on Unsung Hits. While her friends clean up the house after her daughters have made a mess and Blackbird Records prepare to launch a single she is featured on, she is concerned about her contestants, as she is going to have to eliminate one more later that night. She looks forward to next week, when she will have time off from the show and get to go home to relax with her daughters and Kitty.

Kitty, Alex, Sam and the twins sit down to watch Starmaker together. After discussing their favorite contestants, Kitty takes a second to ask Sam who his favorite is between Julie love interests—Alex or Caleb. Julie eliminates fan favorite Annie from the competition. Alex asks Sam to stick around after the show, as he has no one else to hang out with, so Sam agrees to let Gaby stay with him.

On Thursday everyone seems to be busy as Alex, now without Gaby, tries to find someone other than Kitty to spend time with. He calls Amity, who reveals that she plans on spending the day with Christopher.

Kayli and Luke sign autographs and take pictures with fans at the Scranton convention until they see Sarah has brought Charlie with her. Kayli isn't worried, as Jeremy's arrival reveals that she has come prepared for this. The three decide to walk around together and show their exes that they are unbothered by them.

Dan and Zoe meet up in New York and talk about whether they prefer Ohio or not. Then, Dan reveals his real motives for being there to be that they are in front of the building where Harmony works. After they see Theo show up, Dan insists on following him.

Santana surprises Shana by taking her to a secret destination in blindfolds. She then reveals that they are at an adoption agency, to which Shana responds with surprise that they are moving in so quickly. Santana senses Shana's hesitation but Shana assures her that it will take a year to actually get a baby so she is ready.

Leila and Jake discuss Jake's concerns about how they won't get to see each other very often. He complains that Santana gets to impact Rhythmix's promo schedule and Sebastian told him it's because she's married and more famous. Leila tells him that's just the way it is and that instead of complaining, they should make use of the time that they do have together.

Sarah is complaining about Kayli and Jeremy when she is interrupted by Isaac Prescott, a Scottish YouTuber who she has been friends with a long time. He tells her that he will be spending time in America again and she offers her home to him to stay in while he's there.

Zoe and Dan sneak into the theater where Harmony is rehearsing and witness a passionate performance of Feeling Good. It becomes clear that Harmony is happy to have Theo around, so Zoe convinces Dan to leave.

Santana and Shana sit through an interview during which they are asked about their motivations for adoption. The interviewer doesn't seem to like them and Santana suspects that it has to do with their sexuality. Angry and offended, Santana uses this as a reason to reject this agency and leaves.

Jake and Leila are watching *Starmaker* but Jake is more distracted staring at Leila. When she asks him what's going on, he gets up and tells her he will be back in a few hours. After giving her a kiss goodbye, he heads out and leaves her alone.

Travis prepares for his performance, anxious that the fans will rally behind their own, Luke, and reject him. However as soon as he steps out on stage, they welcome him with crazed cheer and he is able to perform No Promises for them. During the performance, Luke is visibly uncomfortable and Sarah tries to appeal to the fans by pretending to be a great friend of Travis's.

Zoe and Dan are walking down the streets of New York eating *churros* when they run across Theo and Harmony. They are surprised to see them and while Zoe tries convincing Dan to walk away from it, Dan can't help confronting Theo. The girls try to break it up but a fight breaks out and the guys are arrested.

After Travis leaves the stage, Sarah gets a picture with him backstage and, annoyed, Sarah confronts her about being fake. Charlie tries to keep them from fighting but Luke eggs them on, entertained. Travis tells him it's immature of him to do that and Luke gets angry, resenting that Travis has always found him too immature for him. Jeremy tells everyone to calm down, but they are all too upset to listen. Charlie tells him it's just like him to act innocent and good when he's just as bad as everyone else in the room. When Kayli defends Jeremy, they break into a performance of Perfect Illusion before heading their separate ways.

Shana is upset and accuses Santana of sabotaging the meeting because she doesn't want kids yet. Santana, however, feels guilty about her behavior and apologizes, but tells Shana that she's wrong about why she left. She was protecting them from hate, wrongfully so, but she *is* ready for kids and wouldn't have set up six different meetings if that wasn't the case. Shana is pleased by this number and forgives her as Santana says it's time to make the drive to the next one, promising not to act like a such a jerk regardless of what is said.

Travis meets Luke out in the parking lot and apologizes for calling him immature. Luke tells him it's ok; he *is* immature but he's trying to grow up a little. Travis tells him it's clear he already has, as he's just attended this huge event in celebration of the work he does every day on YouTube. Luke says it's nothing compared to being a famous popstar but Travis disagrees, telling him his job deserves credit, too. Luke is smitten and asks him if he's returning to Lima but Travis says he can't because he has to do promo for his new single now. Luke asks him if he'll be by next week for Alex's birthday celebration. Travis gives him a hug, kissing his cheek and saying he'll see him around.

Dan and Theo wait in a jail cell for Zoe and Harmony to bail them out. Dan tells Theo that this is all his fault but Theo says it was Dan who initiated the fight. Dan says Harmony shouldn't be with him in the first place and Theo asks him when he's going to accept that Harmony would rather be with him. Dan says that's not his intentions at all—his concern for Harmony is purely platonic and she deserves better. Theo says that may be so but he'll never change Harmony's mind. He's got her wrapped around her finger and no matter what he says or does, she will always listen to him. Dan gets angry and is about to charge at him when the police arrives to let them know Zoe has gotten his bail. As Zoe and Dan leave the station, Zoe asks him whether she should expect to see his mugshot all over the news tomorrow morning. Dan says they didn't take one but either way news will spread and the world will find out, as though he didn't collect enough bad press when his text messages to Tatum Goode leaked. Zoe tells him she's sorry that it played out like this but if it's any consolation, she talked to Harmony outside while she waited for them to let them out. Harmony seems fine. But Dan shakes his head and tells her he knows she's in trouble now more than ever. Theo basically confirmed it himself. He is determined to break them up.

Leila is sitting alone on her couch, watching the TV, when she starts hearing music. She turns down the TV and can definitely hear it, so she goes to the window to find that out in the darkness, Jake (along with Stefan, Ryder, Blaine, Rory and Sam) is singing I Want You, serenading her. Leila is shocked and pleased, stepping outside to the cold to enjoy the song. However, when the song ends and Jake gets down on one knee to propose matrimony, she is less content. After a romantic speech from Jake, Leila tells him that she has to go and reaches into her coat pocket for her keys, rushing into her car and leaving Jake without an answer.

## Songs

 I Want You | *Luke James* | Jake Puckerman with Stefan Montgomery, Ryder Lynn, Blaine Anderson, Rory Flanagan, and Sam Evans.

### Billboard 200

* "Who I've Been" - Crystal Army
	+ Number 6
	+ Last Week: 7
	+ Peak Position: 1
	+ Weeks on Chart: 36

* "Don't Look Back" - Travis Hilton
	+ Number 7
	+ Last Week: 8
	+ Peak Position: 1
	+ Weeks on Chart: 10
* "Black Roses" - Juliet Vasquez
	+ Number 11
	+ Last Week: 9
	+ Peak Position: 1
	+ Weeks on Chart: 25
* "Stand Down" - Rhythmix
	+ Number 54
	+ Last Week: 46
	+ Peak Position: 4
	+ Weeks on Chart: 23
* "Amity Hills" - Amity Hills
	+ Number 115
	+ Last Week: 105
	+ Peak Position: 3
	+ Weeks on Chart: 26

### Billboard Hot 100

* "Ride" - Travis Hilton
	+ Number 5
	+ Last Week: 6
	+ Peak Position: 5 (NEW)
	+ Weeks on Chart: 24
* "Here" - Amity Hills
	+ Number 8
	+ Last Week: 7
	+ Peak Position: 7
	+ Weeks on Chart: 22
* "Jet Black Heart" - Crystal Army
	+ Number 15
	+ Last Week: 16
	+ Peak Position: 15 (NEW)
	+ Weeks on Chart: 4

* "Chains" - Nick Jonas
	+ Number 16
	+ Last Week: 25
	+ Peak Position: 16 (NEW)
	+ Weeks on Chart: 3

* "He Could Be The One" - Juliet Vasquez
	+ Number 18
	+ Last Week: 19
	+ Peak Position: 10
	+ Weeks on Chart: 8

* "Me and My Broken Heart" - Jake P.
	+ Number 24
	+ Last Week: 29
	+ Peak Position: 24 (NEW)
	+ Weeks on Chart: 6

* "Don't Put Dirt On My Grave Just Yet" - Juliet Vasquez
	+ Number 28
	+ Last Week: 23
	+ Peak Position: 2
	+ Weeks on Chart: 22
* "Hide Away" - Lyric Heron
	+ Number 37
	+ Last Week: 30
	+ Peak Position: 30
	+ Weeks on Chart: 18
* "Photograph" - Crystal Army
	+ Number 46
	+ Last Week: 37
	+ Peak Position: 10
	+ Weeks on Chart: 27
* "Competition" - "Rhythmix"
	+ Number 61
	+ Last Week: 51
	+ Peak Position: 22
	+ Weeks on Chart: 16
* "Always Summer" - Crystal Army
	+ Number 67
	+ Last Week: 65
	+ Peak Position: 16
	+ Weeks on Chart: 19
* "Love Me Like You Mean It" - Sarah Linley
	+ Number 72
	+ Last Week: 62
	+ Peak Position: 45
	+ Weeks on Chart: 16
* "Hollow" - Lyric Heron featuring Travis Hilton
	+ Number 90
	+ Last Week: 88
	+ Peak Position: 80
	+ Weeks on Chart: 5
* "I Got The Boy" - Sarah Linley
	+ Number 92
	+ Last Week: --
	+ Peak Position: 92 (DEBUT)
	+ Weeks on Chart: 1