It's like a dream...one day, your schedule revolves around standardized tests, college prep, and Saturday night sleepovers. The next, you're singing for sold-out crowds and signing a record deal with a major music mogul. For Melissa, Holly, Diana, and Ashley, also aliased as the dynamic quartet Dream, this is no daytrip to cloud nine. Lives in a whirlwind since their first single "He Loves U Not" made top forty radio listen up, the ladies of Dream feel that fate was on their side: "It all just kind of fell into place perfectly," states fifteen-year old Holly Blake.

    That place was the Beverly Hills Hotel, where Bad Boy Records executive and rap king Sean "P. Diddy" Combs obtained his first glimpse of the Dream girls -- and he was wide awake when he signed the group on the spot. "We were just so ecstatic, especially being on Bad Boy's label," exclaims vibrant sixteen-year old Melissa Schuman. "It was like we had finally made it!" Ashley Poole, the fifteen-year old that on a whim called 1-800-BE-A-STAR for group auditions, tells a tale of tolerance: "The first couple of months we came together, we were living at Holly's house, in the same room. That three-month process was like a big, sisterly bond."

    If confidence is what you seek, then you've already begun Dream-ing. The girls first hit, "He Loves U Not," became an anthem for teenage girls everywhere. "You have to be like, 'This guy's going to like me for who I am. I'm not going to try hard to make this guy like me,'" states soft-spoken fifteen-year old Diana Ortiz. "I'm just going to be who I am, and he's going to like me in the end, because I'm myself."

    And, it's hard not to like this bubbly bunch -- after a conversation with the four, you realize that it's like chatting mid-class with the girls that sit behind you in Algebra. Except these girls are counting the number of full-house concerts, not radicals. Here, gt magazine wants you to wake up to a new sound and meet the lovely ladies of Dream!

people would be shocked to learn that...In a Drew Barrymore-esque moment, Melissa and Holly reveal mirrored-responses, "I've never been kissed." Ashley also adds in with a personal approach: "I have a very sensitive side," while staying in the same field, Diana admits, "I'm shy!"

the cheesiest thing I dig is..."I know I'm weird," states Diana, "Little boxes!" Holly shares that some moving movies make her teary-eyed: "Titanic and Romeo & Juliet!" Not only does Melissa sing ballads, but she adores them, as well: "I love love ballads!" If only Hanson knew that Ashley publicly admires them.

people tell me I look like...She didn't wear the green Grammy dress, but Diana has been declared to be identical to a certain Ms. Lopez. No need to turn the beat around -- Holly could be Gloria Estefan's little sister. Ashley may not have an attraction to actor Russell Crowe, but her counterpart, Meg Ryan, sure has. As for Melissa? "Everyone who has ever been blonde," she laughs.

if I were given an award in high school, I'd want it to be..."Most Likely to Succeed," says the ambitious Melissa, or Missa, as her friends dub her. "I always wanted 'Best Dressed,' because I worked so hard for that," insists Ashley. Although we'd nominate her for "Best Hair," Holly chose one that was just as fitting, "Best Personality." Diana travels down that same road, choosing "Most Friendliest" as her Dream nomination.

when I have spare change, I buy...While Ashley and Holly chose wearable items, ("Shoes," shares Ashley, "Clothes," answers Holly), Melissa and Diana went for edible. "Beef jerky," Melissa states. Diana adds something of the cocoa bean kind: "Kit-Kats!"

britney spears or christina aguilera? The girls decide on a tie. "Going to have to go equal there," Melissa says. "Christina can sing her butt off, but Britney can perform her butt off!" No worries, Lucky -- both teen queens are what a girl wants!

early bird or night hawk? "We call ourselves 'night crawlers,'" explains Diana. "But, I don't know why, when I get up in the morning, I'm so happy!" Melissa stayed defensive to the dark: "I'm cranky." Holly agrees, "I'm not a morning person at all!"

reality or fiction tv? While networks are fighting the Friends vs. Survivor battle, so are the Dream-ers. Ashley and Melissa would take their break to tune into reality tee-vee, while Holly and Diana prefer scripts. "It's much more fun that way," guards Diana.

summer or winter? Melissa prefers the sandy life: "Summer, because I'm one for the beach!" Holly contrasts that statement with her response, "I like winter, because you can get cozy." Vacations in Florida and Colorado coming up?

books or magazines? Ashley lives for the page-turners: "I like books, because you can get into [them]." She cites Norton Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth as a favorite rainy-day read. "Magazines are a lot more fun," opposes Melissa, who is an avid reader of Teen People.

has the biggest celebrity crush? Melissa was 'N Sync with her feelings -- and attraction -- towards her tourmates. "I like Justin Timberlake, but then again, I like JC! But, they're both too old for me," she grudgingly admits. This time around, Ashley chooses a Hanson: "Melissa does not compare to me! I have a huge crush on Taylor Hanson!"

is the biggest flirt? The girls decide on Diana. "She's the biggest flirt in the group," Melissa accuses. Diana responds defensively, "I'm not a big flirt! I'm just friendly." Settling the score, Holly shares, "None of us are big flirts like that."

is the most spontaneous? Ashley gets the nod for most unpredictable. "She'll run out in the middle of the crowd during a show," says Holly. Melissa adds, "Then again, we're all crazy!"

is the best dancer? Winning the votes of the group, Diana shares her secret: "I never took dance lessons, but my sister did, so I learned from her." Quotes Holly, "It's ironic, because we weren't dancers when we got into this group!" Practice made perfect!

is the internet junkie? Diana accuses her groupmates Melissa and Holly, which both girls heatedly deny. Ashley finally admits that she'll take the title of WWWoman. "I'm always online, checking e-mail and stuff." Answering to that, Melissa states, "We always love to surf our fan sites. We really love to see what are fans are saying!"

    The girls realize that rumors will regulate and critics will croak: "I think the hardest part is that people are going to judge us," Holly says matter-of-factly. "I don't know how to make it more clear to people that all I want to do is sing. I'm not here to be a model, we're not here to be anything except singers." Melissa agrees entirely, "Even in our music, we're real. We want to be relatable for everybody." Being in their mid-teens themselves, the group bears the same teenage angst and drama. States Diana, "Everyone out there, you're not alone. We're feelin' you, and we know what's going on."

    Teens to television stars -- well, somewhat. "We were on Say What? Karaoke! Holly and Ashley were judging accuracy on an episode, and Diana and I were accuracy on another," explains Melissa. "When [Diana and I] were judging, a guy pulled down his pants. We're like, 'Ohmygosh! Virgin eyes!'" The girls giggle, recalling the day. "We were trying not to laugh," Diana says between snickers. Adds Holly, "We were watching backstage, and Melissa's jaw dropped!" Since then, Dream has made several appearances on the telly, including Jenny Jones, The Hi-Fi Room, and the infamous Total Request Live. "Jenny Jones was actually our first televised performance ever, so we were really confused and nervous," Ashley admits. "In the end, you have to think about it as just a performance, and you're doing what you love," Diana offers.

    Besides having a supportive family, ("They take off work for us, drive us places, do everything for us," lists Ashley.), supportive crew, ("They would hand out hundreds of flyers in the heat and rain at concerts for us," Holly gushes.), the girls have an emotional support system: "But, the cake on the side is that all of us are best friends...sisters," Diana shares. "I hope that'll last a very long time." And, not just until the end of the Algebra semester.

How Dream-y! Tour dates, updates, news, and
sound clips of the fab four at www.thedreamsite.com!