Disclaimer: I do not own Camp Rock.
Author's Note: Special thanks to XoxMountainGirlxoX for sending me a PM to motivate me to sit down and write something. I admit that I went and looked over the Camp Rock Second Session books, and Rex and Humphrey are from "For the Record".
With both of the girls in school, Caitlyn decided it was time to try and get back into producing. She loved being home with her girls, but she also loved music; she needed to get back in touch with that part of herself. Somewhere between the loads of laundry, playdates and Princess movies, she had started to lose the girl who had gone to Camp Rock, and she missed her. She missed the passion and drive and total focus involved in producing. She never regretted giving it up to be with Annabelle and Melody, but the mere idea of getting back into the studio filled her with energy.
Peggy and Mitchie were so excited about working with her, that they adapted to her schedule. She only worked on a few songs, but it felt so good to be back in the studio. She could work while the girls were at school, and be there to pick them up at the end of the day. It seemed like the perfect balance of family and work.
Then Rex Riley called.
"Caitlyn, I've heard a rumor that you're back in the studio," Rex said. "Please tell me it's true."
Caitlyn laughed, "Sort of. I've been in the studio working on a few songs for Peggy and Mitchie, but I'm still not full time."
"I'm hurt that you didn't call me and let me know you were back," Rex responded. "After all, who discovered you?"
Caitlyn rolled her eyes. She loved Rex, but he did have a flair for the dramatic and a tendency to rewrite history. She wasn't sure she would call what happening discovering – she worked very hard to get his attention. She still sent Humphrey, Rex's old driver, a gift at Christmas for his support that summer at Camp Rock.
"You know if I ever went back and worked for a label, I would call you first, Rex. This is more like helping out friends," Caitlyn said.
"I'm so glad to hear you say that, Caitlyn," Rex replied. "Because this old friend needs your help."
Caitlyn groaned. She totally walked into that trap. "What do you need?"
Caitlyn could almost hear Rex grinning, "I have an artist who is having a bit of trouble with his latest album. It would only be one or two songs, I promise."
"Who is it?" Caitlyn asked suspiciously.
Rex paused for a moment before speaking, "Adam Daniels."
"Oh, hell no!" Caitlyn spat out. Adam Daniels was one of those "musicians" who was more famous for his personal life than for his music – girls, fights, and lots of partying.
"Tsk, tsk. Such language from a nice soccer mom," Rex said. "Look, I know he has a bad reputation, but he really is talented. I think that you two would be a great team."
When Caitlyn didn't reply, Rex pleaded with her, "Please, Caitlyn. I really need this."
Caitlyn heard an edge of desperation in her mentor's voice. She knew that the last couple of albums the label put out had flopped, but she didn't realize it was getting bad enough for Rex to beg. She sighed, "Okay, I can be at the studio Monday from 9 to 1:30. You get your popstar there, and I'll do my best."
"Thanks, my dear. I will have a runner bring you the songs, so you can look them over this weekend," Rex said before hanging up.
Adam and his friends had arrived an hour late, and had spent the next 45 minutes goofing around and ignoring everything Caitlyn said. They had never made it further than the first eight-count of the first song, and Adam had just suggested a second smoke break.
"That's it!" Caitlyn slammed down her headset and stormed out of the sound booth. Adam and his friends looked up in surprise as Caitlyn approached them with her eyes blazing. "I'm done! I have kids of my own I could be with. I don't need to waste my time babysitting someone else's ill-mannered brat." She turned and started out of the room. As she reached the door, she called out, "And Adam, call me if you ever decide to be a real musician."
Nate and Mitchie stared at her in disbelief. "You actually called him an ill-mannered brat?" Mitchie asked in shock.
Caitlyn nodded. "He is one. Annabelle is more mature than he is. He's lucky I didn't spank him or give him a time out."
Nate grinned at his wife before picking her up and engulfing her in a hug. "God, I love you Caitlyn! I just wish I could have been there to watch you do it."
Mitchie started to laugh. "Me too. So does this mean you have an opening and can come back and work on the last couple of songs on my album now?"
Caitlyn nodded, "I am pretty sure that Rex isn't going to call me again after that." Caitlyn stopped and looked thoughtful. "The sad thing is I bet they just thought it was a big joke – how they made the soccer mom break. If someone could get him to focus and stop being such an idiot, he could probably make some decent music."
Nate and Mitchie were quiet, thinking about what Caitlyn had said. Nate looked over at Mitchie, "Like Shane and Mitchie. I would hate to think of what would've happened to all of us if he hadn't changed. We probably would have been a footnote in some 'Where Are They Now' special on boybands."
Caitlyn smiled at her husband, "Well, fortunately for us, Mitchie tamed the beast, and we all lived happily ever after. Speaking of which, Mitchie why don't you call your beast and have him come over for dinner. I'll order some Chinese when he gets here."
"I'll get it!" Caitlyn called. She grabbed her purse and headed for the door to get dinner. But when she opened the door, she didn't see a delivery guy from Golden Palace. She saw Adam Daniels. Neither of them spoke.
Adam looked at Caitlyn and then down at the ground."I'm sorry," he mumbled.
Caitlyn looked suspicious. "Did Rex make you come apologize?"
Adam looked up in surprise. "What? No, he doesn't know." Adam sighed. "I just… I mean… I wanted to…,"
Caitlyn took pity on the young man and reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, "What is it that you need, Adam?"
"Please come back and help me," he blurted out.
Caitlyn's eyes narrowed as she replied sarcastically, "Right. All it took was my little pep talk and you're ready to work now? "
Adam looked embarrassed. "No, I pretty much laughed off your performance."
"I knew it," Caitlyn said to herself before addressing Adam. "Then what happened?"
Adam ran his hand through the hair on the back of his neck. "I didn't know who you were. I thought you were some hack Rex brought in to babysit me."
"Nice," Caitlyn said. "That's pretty much what you deserve, you know."
Adam winced. "Yeah, well, I was, uh, complaining about you when someone stopped me in the halls and told me about you."
"Really? What did they say?" Caitlyn asked.
"That you're the best. That you sort of retired and that there are big names out there that would kill to work with you. That if I ever wanted to be anything but a wannabe loser, I should beg you to come back," Adam said. He paused for a minute before continuing, 'And it got me thinking. I wanna try."
Caitlyn looked at the singer carefully, thinking about Shane. "I may regret this, but I'll give you one more chance. And we do it my way." Adam nodded. "That means you show up on time without the posse of idiots you call friends; no drinking, smoking or drugs; and you work hard and do what I say." With that Caitlyn stuck out her hand, "Do we have a deal?"
Adam let out the breath he had been holding while Caitlyn was talking and reached out to shake her hand, "I promise. Anything you say."
"I will be in the studio tomorrow at 9 a.m. If you are not there at 9:01, I am going home. Got it?"
Adam nodded, "I'll be there!"
"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow."
As Adam turned to walk towards his car, Caitlyn called out to him, "Adam? Who told you about me?"
Adam turned back towards Caitlyn and said, "Tess Tyler."
Caitlyn shook her head as she closed the door. She heard her husband call out, "Hey, Caity, is the food here yet?"
"Not yet," she called back. She shook her head again and smiled. "Mitchie and Nate, you are never going to believe what just happened!"