Summary: AU: International star and bad boy Four Eaton is sent home to fix his image after an incident with a reporter threatens to tank his career. Returning to a city he never wanted to see again, he is faced by terrors of his past, as well as old broken friendships. But Chicago isn't just a personal nightmare; along the way, he finds something that he didn't even know he was missing.

I am back! After my story Enigmatic took a bad plot turn, I made the decision to delete it from my account and start on something new. I'm sorry if you enjoyed that story! There is a possibility that it will republished in the future if I get the story straight in my head first.

After that whole debacle, I wanted to go in an entirely new direction. My only completed story is a high school AU, and I didn't want to just do the same thing again. I know that there are stories out there where either Four or Tris is famous, but in this story, they are not in high school. Four is age 23 at the start of the story to give you some perspective.

In the end, from floundering ideas and scattered plotlines came Notorious. I hope you all enjoy this first chapter.

Chapter 1: Tobias Eaton

"Look, I don't want to go back to Chicago! Max, what about the contract? What about my new album?"

My manager sighs, and paces across the room. There is the faint tune of my new single Colours playing in the hallway outside the conference room. "Look, it can be put on hold. You need to clear up your public image before we can release any more music from you. Your fan base is shrinking, and we need this album to be a hit."

I groan, and lean back into the black cushioned chair further. One bad paparazzi encounter and I'm labeled as a "bad influence." The smug photographer had it coming for him after he shouted out one too many times. Even though I broke his nose (and his camera), I don't regret it.

And I still don't understand why it's all such a big deal. Celebrities make tons of mistakes all the time. Drugs, cheating, and leaks have corrupted the whole business, making it all seem so unprofessional and ghastly. But I get into a fight with one reporter, and I'm hounded for it.

But I know that Max is right. Fans have reacted worse than we had expected from all of this. Those so seemingly loyal have stopped buying music, and my new song isn't as successful as it could've been. Demand for shows has gone down, I've lost followers, and there is a large cloud of hate surrounding me right now. Something had to be done about it, it's been three weeks, but I'm not very happy with the solution on the table right now.

It's the colors you have

No need to be sad.

It really ain't that bad.

I shut my eyes and try to drown out the music. It really is that bad. Max walks over, and stops when he is standing across from me. "Your hometown will do you well, I am sure of it."

I've never been one for airplanes, or fond of heights in general, but something about this flight has me particularly on edge.

We are listening and we're not blind

This is your life, this is your time

The young girl sitting behind me obviously doesn't understand how to use headphones, and I listen to my own voice sing through the speakers of her phone. I cringe at the words; this isn't me. The songs that I had written when I first came into the music business were immediately dismissed as confusing and off-point. I was forced into a routine of recording and performing songs written by "professional songwriters", all too happy and optimistic and lovey dovey for my taste. That's not what the world really is.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Molly speaking and I am your chief flight attendant. On behalf of Captain Hayes and the entire crew, welcome aboard American Airlines flight 427, non-stop service from Los Angeles to Chicago. At this time, make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position. Make sure your seat belt is correctly and securely fastened. Also, we advise you that as of this moment, any electronic equipment must be turned off. Thank you."

The music behind me is muted, and I lean back in the stiff economy class seat. I may be Four in reality, international pop star worth billions, but right now with my brown colored contacts, black LA Kings hat, and worn leather jacket, I am Fred East. Just your average nobody.

The flight attendant walks down the center aisle closing the overhead compartments, and soon enough we start taxiing and lift off into the air. I clench tightly on the armrests and grit my teeth; this part is the worst, no matter how many times I fly.

At one point on the three and a half hour flight, I fall asleep. Soon enough, though, I am woken abruptly by the wheels hitting the pavement at Chicago O'Hare. I turn my cell phone back on after they make the announcement, and scroll through Twitter for a few minutes. Damn, I am still getting angry tweets from fans about the whole ordeal. I decide to tweet out:

FourE: I'm hoping to learn from this incident and move past it- I'll be back home for a few months to sort things out. Still love my fans.

There. My publicist made an official statement this morning, but that that should confirm things and ease up a bit of the irritation. I get soon get off the plane, get my luggage from the baggage claim, and hail a taxi to take me to my apartment.

I hastily tip the driver, and then hurry into the opulent lobby. I ignore the manager at the desk greeting me and walk straight to the elevator, pushing the button repeatedly until the door opens. Seeing the city in the taxi ride has only brought bad memories, and I want nothing more to be in the safety of my apartment.

I step inside, and head up to the penthouse. When the elevator dings again, I walk into the apartment. I immediately abandon my luggage at the door, and lazily plop myself onto the stiff sofa, exhausted from the day's travels. I close my eyes for a few moments, enjoying the peace.

I eventually look around, taking in the scenery and décor of the apartment. My manager insisted that I should keep an apartment here in Chicago because it is my hometown, but I've never actually seen the place before.

The place as a whole is very nice, much nicer than the apartment I used to have here. The walls are all a neutral light grey color, with white trim along the ceilings and baseboards. A dark stain covers the wood floors that run through the entire apartment. There are large glass windows spread from the living room to the kitchen, leading to a balcony as well as providing an extraordinary view of the city. The latest technology and the finest luxuries are found behind every corner.

I pick up the remote off of the sleek espresso coffee table, and turn on the flat screen TV to be met with nasally, high-pitched voice of Nita DeRoss, host of Celebrity Central.

"It seems that our favorite pop bad boy will be stepping off the scene for a while to clean up his act. After an announcement this morning and a tweet from the singer Four earlier today, it has been confirmed that he will be returning home to Chicago for at least a month or two. Our reporters will keep us updated with news to come."

I click the off button after she finishes. Great, the paparazzi will be here in Chicago soon enough. Just another thing to worry about. I take a deep breath, then turn the TV back on and quickly change the channel to hockey reruns before I have to hear any more "celebrity news."

I am awoken by the cheering of the crowd after Sykora's winning triple overtime goal of Stanley Cup game 5 in 2008. I can't help but smile every time I see it; I never liked the Red Wings.

A few moments later, the phone rings and I internally groan. I get up, and dig through the couch for my cell phone, only to realize that it is in my pocket. The caller I.D. on the finger-marked screen reads Zeke Pedrad. I answer:

"Hey Zeke."

"Hey old friend, I didn't expect you to answer," he teased. I can imagine the idiotic smirk plastered on his face at the other end of the line.

"Shut up, I've been busy," I grumble.

"Not anymore, word is that you're back in town."

"Yeah, after that incident with the media, my manager thought this would be best for me. I just got in a few hours ago."

"Well, Shauna would kill me if we didn't have you for dinner for one night. She hasn't seen you since the wedding."

Zeke proposed to Shauna on her 21st birthday, and they got married last April. I was best man at the wedding, but after a tour and with a new album in the makings, I haven't been able to see either of them since then.

"Yeah, I'm sure I'll be over. This Friday sound good?"

"Great. We can eat in, old-fashioned lasagna." Zeke's mom made the best lasagna when we were in high school, and apparently she had passed the recipe on to Shauna when the two got married. I haven't had it for almost five years, but I can still remember the layered cheese and homemade sauce that made the masterpiece so mouthwatering.

"I'll be there at five, so we can catch up a bit."

"Cool. So, how long are you going to be in town?"

"Three months at least. I'm supposed to be taking time to sort things out."

"Sounds like a vacation to me."

"Yeah, but I'm stuck here," I say, "No offense."

"No, I get why you don't like it here. It's alright."

"Yeah…"

There is a long pause while both of us try to find something, anything to say. It's been so long, too long, but it's almost like we've forgotten how to be friends. Even at Zeke's wedding our interactions felt forced. Now, it's like I barely even know him anymore. His life is so different from mine. He has a wife; he'll have a family someday. All I have is my music.

Finally, Zeke says, "So, what are you even going to do in Chicago for three months?"

I blink, and pause for a moment before answering. "I have no idea."

Songs from this chapter:

Colours by Grouplove

Called Out In The Dark by Snow Patrol

And that's all for this chapter! Let me know if this is something that should continue. I really hope you all enjoyed, I have a really clear picture for Tris and I want you all to meet her and give this story a chance before you dismiss it. Pretty please?

I'm trying to learn from some mistakes, so I generally know how I want this story to go in my mind, but suggestions are always welcome. Leaving me a REVIEW will seriously make my day. I read every single one of them, and honestly take any comments, criticism, and suggestions into full account when writing.

And of course, if you want to read more FOLLOW and FAVORITE this story! You'll know as soon as a new chapter is posted, and will be the first to know what comes next.

Unfortunately, I can't update incredibly frequently, but my goal is once every two to three weeks (that's about how long it took me to thoroughly think out and write this chapter). I'd rather take longer to give you a quality chapter than throw something awful together at the last second just to have something new up. I hope you all agree.

Again, I hope you enjoyed and are excited for this new story!