"Dude, you're being forced to date a girl you don't even know?!"
Never would Nate Johnson believe that Shane Gray would willingly be set up for a publicity relationship. Nate knew from being Shane's best friend that Shane cringed at the mere word, whether it be fake or not. But now, Nate sat in their hotel room, literally laughing his ass off at the news that Shane would indeed be in a publicity relationship.
Shane scowled deeply at his best friend and bandmate.
Shane and the rest of Connect 3 were sitting in their suite at the hotel, having gotten the day off for once, and not having to worry about some concert or signing or anything else for one night.
"It was either that or get dropped." Shane snarled.
Nate's laughter stopped immediately, and his expression became serious at Shane's words. Well that was one hell of an ultimatum.
"Seriously? He threatened to drop us if you didn't do the relationship?" Shane nodded stiffly, after grimacing at the word.
"Nigel said I needed some good PR for once." Shane grumbled moodily.
"Well, he's right." Shane's other best friend and bandmate, Jason Alexander, spoke up. "You're not exactly the happiest camper in the world."
Shane just glared at him in response.
"See what I mean?" Jason grinned while grabbing his Dr. Pepper he had sitting in front of him.
"It's not like I want to do this. If anything, I'm just in it for the sex. "
Jason managed to choke on his Dr. Pepper mid-sip. Nate was just gaping at the words that had just fallen from Shane's unregretful mouth.
"What?" Shane demanded after he noticed the shocked looks he was getting.
"What makes you think this girl would want to have sex with you?" Nate asked, caught off guard by his friends bluntness.
Shane scoffed and smirked cockily, and looked at Nate as if it were obvious.
"Because I'm Shane Gray." He scoffed again and rolled his eyes. Nate just frowned as shook his head at Shane's giant ego.
"Who is this girl anyway?" Nate mumbled, still disappointed at how much Shane's ego had grown from the second they got famous.
"Some chick named…Mitchie Torres or something."
Once again, Jason choked on his drink and Nate's eyes widened.
"You get to date Mitchie Torres?!" Jason shouted desperately, a pout forming on his face at the mere thought of Shane dating one of Jason's favorite singers.
"Yeah, so?" Shane questioned, slightly confused at why Jason would care so much.
"Dude, that's awesome. She's awesome! Her voice is awesome! She's completely awesome!"
"Jason, please find another word!" Nate shouted.
Shane scowled. "Jase, what the hell are you talking about?" Though, he'd probably regret asking.
But thankfully before Jason could respond, Nate cut in.
"Mitchie Torres is the next big thing, man. Her first single is doing outrageously well on the charts. So far, all of her concerts have sold out in minutes.
Shane frowned. If she was so damn big, how come he had never heard of her then? He shrugged, not really caring either way.
"Whatever, I don't give a shit. As long as she just doesn't get in my way." Shane grumbled.
Nate frowned deeply. Why did he hang out with Shane again? Oh yeah, because he knew the real Shane was in there somewhere. Just buried deep down. He and Shane had been like brothers once, they used to do everything together. They used to stay up all night and just write songs because they liked to. But then the band got discovered, and the more attention Shane got, the more he yearned for it. And it turned him into the egotistical jackass he was today.
"I don't even know when I'm gonna meet her anyway."
Nate and Jason shared a look.
"Uh, Shane, we've already met her before. Don't you remember?"
Shane sighed, fed up with talking about this chick. But just so it would end faster, he shook his head at Nate.
"Her mom catered a benefit concert we played nearly a year ago."
"Like I'd even try to remember some lame benefit concert, let alone the losers I met."
Nate sighed, annoyed with Shane. "Well you should, it was right before she got signed, Nigel introduced her to us."
Shane scoffed. "Look Nate, I really don't care, so just shut up already, will ya?"
Nate glared slightly at him, and decided against snapping. It would just lead to a stupid and unnecessary argument.
Instead, he took a few deep breathes before going to answer the phone as it rang.
Shane on the other hand just blocked out all the other noises that were around him and picked up a magazine which of course he was on the cover of, and smirked, ignoring the title which read 'Shane Gray Costs Label Thousands of Dollars.' Instead, he focused on how good of a picture it was of him. Not that he ever had bad pictures or anything.
"Shane!" Nate called after hanging up the phone that he had been talking into.
"What?!" he snapped, pissed that he was interrupted. Nate just responded with a glare.
"That was Nigel. He said he was on his way with Mitchie. So get ready." Nate snapped, his demeanor quickly turning cranky after just a few minutes with Shane and his temper.
Shane just scowled. He didn't really want to meet her. Especially if Nate was right about her not wanting to have sex with him. That was his silver lining. Not that he was worried or anything, every girl lusted after him anyways, why should this Mitchie Torres be any different?
Plastering his signature smirk onto his face once more, he ran his hand through his already disheveled hair, he made sure to make himself look sexier than he usually did, which wasn't an easy thing to do if you asked him.
It took about 20 minute before Nigel knocked on their door. And when it was heard, Shane stood from the chair that he was slumped in, and instead leaned against the arm of it, crossing his arms over his chest as Nate went to answer the door.
Jason stood not far behind Nate, practically bouncing on his toes from excitement. Nate opened the door only to reveal Nigel, and the girl that Shane wasn't prepared for.
He expected some sort of trampy, fake bleach blonde girl, who got lucky with her looks and nasally, whining voice and wore pink and glittery, barely there clothing.
He never expected Mitchie Torres.
She had long, straight brown hair, slightly sun streaked, soft brown eyes that shone with hesitance and nervousness. Her skin was perfectly tan, but in the natural way, not like she had just stepped out of a tanning bed. And she wore a simple blue t-shirt, and light faded jeans with a pair of Converse covering he feet.
To anyone else, there was nothing extraordinary about her.
But Shane was left breathless as he watched her fidget nervously. And that damn near pissed him off.
"Shane…" Nigel started, plastering a big smile on his face. "Meet Mitchie Torres. Mitchie, meet Shane Gray."
Neither of them said a word. Instead, Shane started at her intently, while she avoided his gaze at all costs and bit her lip.
He smirked, feeling an overwhelming desire to do that for her.
Nigel cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Well, you guys catch up, get to know each other, I'll just be on my way." He said and slid out of the suite.
Mitchie just stood there, blushing slightly as did everything in her power to look anywhere but the three boys.
Jason was the first one to break the awkward silence.
"Hi Mitchie!" He shouted gleefully. "I'm Jason, I'm a huge fan!"
Her head shot up at his words, and she looked as if no one had ever said those words to her before. Shane just rolled his eyes at her 'modesty.'
"Well, I'd say someone's a little...modest."
Shane's smirk broadened as he scoffed and shook his head. Please, she was obviously rather popular if she was being set up with the Shane Gray.
"It's more than I can say for you." She mumbled, glaring slightly at Shane.
Shane's smirk turned into a scowl. He thought she was a 'nice girl.' Nice girls don't insult the guys they they're being set up with. "Excuse me?"
She blushed a little more. "Nothing. S-Sorry." She stuttered, avoiding eye contact once again.
Shane scoffed and started her down. Someone had a big mouth. And Shane didn't like people who had big mouths. And now he was going to be stuck with this girl for God knows how long. That put him in a seriously bad mood. His silver lining instantly disappearing. Especially after noticing she had yet to be lusting after him, or even drooling over him. In fact, she didn't seem like the kind of girl who would lust after a guy.
Well, if that was the case, Shane didn't need to be wasting his time with her.
He glared dangerously after he noticed her talking shyly to Nate and Jason, the blush still tinting her cheeks. She was supposed to be talking to him! He was the one she was set up with. Not that he cared, he didn't want to get to know her or any of that shit. He already hated her for the mere fact that she didn't seem to care for him in any way.
He shook his head, he wasn't gonna waste his time. He needed to get laid, and that was obviously not going to happen with shy, and more than likely innocent, Mitchie Torres. He knew exactly where to go to fulfill his need, and he wasn't going to waste anymore of his time with these three.
"I'm going out. Be back whenever."
He ignored all the protests that Nate was calling out as he stalked out of the suite.
Nate glared fiercely at Shane was he watched him stalk out the doorway. Nate knew the look that Shane had on his face. He knew that Shane was about to go to some girl's place and not come back until the morning. He was supposed to be getting acquainted with Mitchie, not off fucking another girl for the hell of it.
Nate sighed and glanced down at Mitchie, who was biting her lip nervously.
"You'll have to ignore him, he's always like that."
She shrugged. "I figured. I didn't want to spend too much time with him anyways.
Nate's eyebrows scrunched together. "Why not?
She scoffed. "Because I met him last year. And he's one of the biggest jerks I've ever met. I figured he hadn't changed, especially after Connect 3 got even bigger."
Nate nodded in understanding, and took note of the slight flash of disappointment that was evident in her eyes for a split second. He was aware that she had been a fan before she met them. It must've sucked to like someone so much and then meet them, only for them to be the biggest jackass in the world. Shane did that to a lot of people, and he didn't even care that he did.
"Hey, guys!" Jason suddenly exclaimed, breaking the slightly tense silence. "Why don't we go out to eat, I'm starving!" He complained, dropping the toy dinosaur that he been playing with during Nate and Mitchie's exchange.
Nate shrugged and looked at Mitchie questioningly for her answer.
She shrugged in response. "Sure, it's fine with me."
"Sweet! We'll go to that cool place that lets me color!" He shout excitedly before hopping up out of his chair to grab his jacket.
Nate rolled his eyes before looking at Mitchie, noting her short sleeved t-shirt.
"It's gonna be kind of cold out tonight, you want a jacket?"
She blushed a little more, but shook her head. But Nate merely ignored her and already to started to head for the coat closet.
"No, I'll be fine-" But before she could continue protesting, she felt a jacket drape over her shoulders, and blushed a deeper shade of red when she realized it was a jacket that she had seen Nate in countless time in tabloids and even photoshoots.
"Thanks." She mumbled, slightly embarrassed as she watched him slide on a faded black leather jacket. Jason came back a second later, clad in a black denim jacket.
"Let's go, guys!" He shouted loudly, practically dragging Nate and Mitchie out the front door of the suite.
Upon entering the lobby, Nate noticed the few camera flashes coming from out front. He sighed, not pleased with the appearance of paparazzi.
"They must've stuck around after they saw Shane leave." He shook his head. At least Nigel's plan would start panning out for the publicity stunt he had thrown Shane and Mitchie into.
They walked hesitantly out the front door, and as soon as all three of them were seen, the questions started flying.
All of which were bluntly ignored as Nate, Jason, and Mitchie tried to push through them towards Jason's car. They managed to reach his silver Nissan Xterra, with no help from the paparazzi whatsoever. Once that were able to get of the reach of paparazzi and their nosey questions, Jason started his car and headed out of the hotel parking lot.
The restaurant they had in mind was fairly secluded, so they knew they wouldn't have to deal with anymore cameras, or any interruptions. When they pulled up, there was thankfully hardly anyone there. It wasn't a fancy restaurant, it was an old fashioned American diner. Very subtle, and very low key.
As soon as they were in the building, they instantly found a booth.
"This place is awesome." Mitchie exclaimed. "How'd you find it in LA?" She asked curiously, gazing around the calm little diner.
"We played a show down the street at this small venue before we got signed, and afterwards we went walking and found this place."
"They have the best chocolate milkshakes ever!" Jason said excitedly, making Mitchie giggle.
"So you guys come her often?"
Nate shrugged softly, giving her a half hearted smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Jase and I do. Shane prefers fancy, where everyone waits on him hand and foot."
Mitchie frowned at that. Why did Shane have to be like that? And why was he the only member of Connect 3 who was like that? She didn't ask, not really wanting to know anyways. Whatever was his problem was his problem, and she didn't want to have to deal with him. Even though she was basically stuck with him anyways.
Shaking her head, she tossed away all thoughts of Shane Gray and focused on getting to know the two sweet boys in front of her.
About three hours later Nate, Jason, and Mitchie walked out of the restaurant, laughing at something Jason had said about birdhouses.
Mitchie never expected to like Nate and Jason so much. They were so nice, and such gentlemen, it was kind of weird to even think they associated with Shane. She really got to know them in three hours they were there, and after all she even forgot that they were two thirds of the biggest band in America.
"So, Mitch, you wanna come back to the hotel and hang out? We can watch movies!" Jason pleaded, a hopeful look in his eyes.
Mitchie just laughed and nodded her head. "I would love to."
The boys just smiled at her before they headed back to Jason's car. They talked the entire ride back to the hotel.
Mitchie thought to herself, as Nate put in a DVD into the player, that maybe this whole experience wouldn't be so bad, well despite having to spend some of her time with Shane. But as long as Nate and Jason were nearby, maybe the whole thing wouldn't be too terrible.
Little did she know, that it would turn out completely different than what she ever imagined.