Hi guys! It's about time I made my foray into the wonderfully unexplored (sort of) world of Camp Rock, and more specifically, Jason :) Because who doesn't love a loveable airheaded goof who might have deeper feelings than anyone thought? And I have a sudden fixation with Hannah Montana songs, explaining the title.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT as much as i would love to, own Camp Rock, or any of the characters in it. I do however own the character Arundhati Roy, who's name is borrowed from one of the most famous Indian authors in the modern world.

Read on!

Chapter One: "Call me Ari, everyone else does."

Jason Woode's eyes took in the sights in the well lit corridors he and his band mates, Nate Livingston and Shane Grey, continued walking down the endless hallway. They were otherwise known as Connect 3, only the hottest teen band around. Except for the fact that Jason Woode wasn't a teen anymore. In fact, he was 21. But you wouldn't guess that from his personality. You could say that Jason was a little…out there. But that's what made him so adorable. His deep brown eyes darted from picture to picture of famous people shaking hands with someone or the other from Heat Records. He thought he recognised a slightly younger Kevin Jay, the man leading the small group, in one of the pictures. But then again, he could be wrong, he normally always was. They were going to meet the new opening act for their 'Play My Music' tour. None of them knew what to expect, Kevin had kept it all under wraps. Obviously, that had annoyed Nate just a little bit. Nate was the goal oriented one, and Jason often thought even though he was the youngest out of the lot, he seemed to be the oldest.

"You realise, Kevin, that this is very important. Our opening has to match the Connect 3 sound! Our audience is expecting so much because of last year's 'Just Friends' tour! What is this act has nothing on last year's? We can't leave our fans disappointed!" Nate was arguing with Kevin again. Jason wasn't surprised really. Nate always seemed to argue with everyone, except his girlfriend Caitlyn. That was sort of the reason Nate was annoyed right now, Caitlyn had some family emergency in Nevada and couldn't be here in Los Angeles with them, like Mitchie was. Mitchie was Shane's girlfriend, the 'Camp Rock girl' as she was known to the tabloids and press. Jason thought Mitchie was really pretty, but wasn't attracted to her. Shane would probably kill him if he was. He just wanted someone like her, someone who didn't talk to him like he was a small child, like he was stupid. People thought he didn't see the sympathetic glances they hurled his way when he walked past. They were wrong. He saw everything, he felt everything. He just wished, for once, someone would listen to him. Personally, he thought the fans wouldn't care how good or bad the opening act was. Sure, last year Lights and Fire had been excellent, and went on their own headlining tour soon after. But so what if this year's wasn't as good? The fans had come to see Connect 3, not some random opening act. But when he tried to reason with Nate, Nate just glared at him and told him to shut up. Shane and Mitchie had shared glances filled with pity, and Jason had just looked away. He didn't really want to cry in front of them.

"We're here!" Kevin's voice knocked Jason out of his thoughts. They had arrived at the room. Their prospective opening act was sitting in there. Mitchie grabbed his hand and pulled him in. That's when Jason realised he had just been standing outside the door. His eyes darted again, much like in the corridor, around the room. And fell upon a girl sitting on a table, strumming a blue acoustic guitar. She had giant headphones covering her ears and didn't look up when they entered. Shane, Jason, Kevin and Mitchie shared one quick glance at each other. If there was something Nate didn't like, it was being ignored. He blew up at Kevin.

"This is our opening act!? She doesn't look like she gives a damn about who she might be opening for! This is two days before we release our tour dates, and this is the opening act you give me!? Are you insane?!" Kevin shrank back a little, and everyone stepped back. No one liked a raging Nate.

"Actually, he's Kevin Jay, and I wouldn't talk to him like that if I were you." A calm, melodic voice cut through the tension settling in the room. All heads snapped up to stare at the girl with earphones over her ears. They had assumed that she couldn't hear them. Kevin straightened up and smiled at the girl, who looked up and smiled back.

"Guys, I want you to meet your next opening act Aru...Arun –"

"Arundhati. Arundhati Roy. You never manage to get that right do you Kevin?" She turned her attention back to the small group standing by the door. "But y'all can call me Ari, everyone else does." She lifted the earphones off her ears and put her guitar on the table. She walked up to Jason first, who couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from her dark chocolate ones.
"You must be Jason." She held out her hand for Jason to shake, and he didn't realise until Mitchie nudged him. He took it and gave it a firm shake, alongside a smile. It wasn't his fault he was being a little bit slow, he was just completely and totally mystified with her kohl lined eyes. Next she walked over to Shane.

"Aah, the very infamous Shane Grey. Nice to meet you in person." Shane shook her hand and flashed her a cheeky grin. She ignored Mitchie, getting strange stares from the men in the room and walked over to Nate.

"Nate Livingston, the band member with a stick up is-" She stopped when she saw the dark look gracing his features. She grinned charmingly. "Just kidding dude, lighten up."

Nate tentatively took her extended hand and shook it. He was pleasantly surprised by the firm grip she held his hand in. She meant business, and he could see…uh…feel it. She gave Kevin a quick hug, and then finally turned to Mitchie.

"Michaela."

"Arundhati."

With that the Ari turned and walked away from Micthie. However, she only got two feet before she turned around, ran and jumped into Mitchie's open arms. All the boys could do was look on and stare. Noticing they had attracted some attention, the two girls separated and turned onto their onlookers.

"Mitchie was –"

"Ari was –"

They both spoke at the same time and Ari turned to Mitchie and started laughing.

"Things really haven't changed. Mitchie, do you want to explain?"

Mitchie nodded and turned to the boys, more specifically Shane.

"Shay, you remember when I was telling you about one of my best friends who lived next to me for like…eight years before she moved to California two years ago?"

Shane nodded back at Mitchie.

"Yeah, that Indian chick who could sing – OOOH! This is her…?"

Mitchie and Ari laughed at Shane's sudden recognition. Jason and Nate listened intently to the conversation that took place next. Arundhati, or Ari, which she was called because nobody could pronounce her name, was 100 Indian, but was brought up in the States. Which explained her nose piercing and the slim little anklets she wore on her feet. It also explained her strong American accent with an Indian lilt to it. She had moved in next to Mitchie when she was eleven, and Mitchie was eight. They met in Mitchie's backyard when Connie had held an open BBQ for the neighbours, and became best friends. Ari had moved to California after her school graduation, and was currently attending UCB for chemical engineering. She'd spoken to the university and was putting off her last two years to pursue music for a year. She'd been playing guitar and singing at an open mic in a local bar which was where Kevin had heard her. And now she was here, sitting in the offices of Heat Records –

" – and the only thing stopping me going on tour with you is…well, you." She shrugged and sat down on the table and picked up her guitar.

"Sorry I couldn't tell you earlier Mitchie, Kevin told me not too."

Mitchie grinned.

"It's 'kay, Kevin likes to keep us all in suspense." Jason and Shane nodded, Jason's eyes fixed on Ari's ankles, where plaited ropes of shining silver were dangling. Ari's eyes followed Jason's down to her feet. She looked back up, an amused grin sliding onto her face. You could get used to staring at his face. He was attractive in a way Shane and Nate weren't. His eyes, deeply immersed in concentration, were a beautiful, regal shade of brown, and his shaggy hair was like very, very milky hot chocolate. There was just something about Jason, his sweetness, his almost naivety that appealed to Ari like the soothingaroma of roses to a girl in love. It was no secret to Mitchie that Ari had had a thing for Jason since the very beginning of Connect 3. Back when they had released Please Be Mine, Ari had her ears trained for any bits of Jason's voice, at which point she would swoon. She may not be swooning now, but the light red tint only Mitchie could notice gave Ari away. Mitchie glanced knowingly at the flushed girl, who glared back.

Jason finally looked up from his inspection of Ari's anklets.

"They're beautiful." Just like you, he thought in his mind. Of course, he wouldn't say that out loud. Ari's blush now became evident to all in the room but for Jason. She lowered her eyes and looked up at him through her lashes.

"Thanks."

She gave him one second of direct eye contact before looking away. Jumping off the table, she grabbed her guitar, her beloved, and sat on a chair. The red tint was fading slowly from her caramel skin.

"So, I assume you want to hear me, right?"

Nate smiled at her and nodded. At Nate's smile, all others in the room looked at each other. He had definitely warmed up fast. Jason prayed that she played and sang as good as she looked, because Nate would surely kill Kevin if things didn't go right. At the strum of the guitar, Jason turned his focus onto Ari. She looked amazing sitting there, the evening light placing shadows on her features and highlighting her face. And then she started to sing. And Jason stopped thinking altogether.

Got the news today

They said I had to stay

A little bit longer

And I'll be fine

When I thought it'd all been done

When I thought it'd all been said

A little bit longer

And I'll be fine

Cuz you don't know what you've got

Till it's gone

And you don't know what its like

To feel so low

And everytime you smile or laugh you glow

And you don't even know

Know, know

You don't even know

She didn't have to sing anymore. She opened her eyes, watched Mitchie and Jason's eyes bright with tears. Watched Shane with his jaw dropped open. And watched Nate with a shocked grin on his face. And then she knew that she would be living out her dream.

Ari was going on tour with Connect 3. And that was that.


Please guys, leave me a review, it really motivates me to write. Tell me what you want to see more of in the upcoming chapters :)

but please dont flame me, thats just inconsiderate.

love

sur