Disclaimer: see prologue chapter

*****/////*****/////*****

Chapter 13

The Barracuda

"Hi, this is Diana Edwards on Hot Tunes Hot Entertainment Hour. Today, my special guests are some of the hottest young stars in the business, Shane Gray, Nate Howard and Jason Richmond otherwise known as CONNECT 3!!!"

Crossing her legs, the blonde interviewer turned to the three men sitting opposite them. Back stage, Mitchie leaned over to Caitlyn and murmured. "Is it me or does she look a little like a certain person we really don't like?"

Caitlyn looked back at her, then at the interviewer before pulling her laptop. "You may have something there, Mitch. Methinks it's time to google."

Back out on stage, the interview had begun and Diana Edwards was smiling falsely at the boys. "So Shane, it looks like your forced hiatus at Camp Rock this summer has done you and the group the world of good."

"Yes, it did, and as much as I may have disliked the idea originally, I have to thank the label and the guys for sending me there." Shane replied, surprisingly calmly.

"There's a rumour that you spent most of your time looking for 'The Girl with the Voice'?" She looked down at her notepad, then back up at Shane. "How did that come about?"

"I heard someone singing in the mess hall my first day there. There was something about her voice and her song that I just connected with." Shane replied, looking over her shoulder at Mitchie for a moment (she promptly gave him a small wave).

"And Mitchie, Jason's new found sister is this 'Girl with the Voice'."

"Yes, that's what we discovered at Final Jam." Shane smiled. "We were all a little shocked when Mitchie turned out to be the girl I had been looking for all camp."

"Yes, I'm sure you were." There was something about the way she said that had the three of them looking at each other, wondering what exactly she was trying to say. "I also heard that you were seen kissing her at an earlier Jam as well."

"That's true too." Shane raised an eyebrow. "We'd just performed 'Play My Music' for the first time and it just happened."

"Yes, I'm sure." There was definitely a note of disbelief in Diana Edwards' voice this time, and she looked back down at her notes again.

"So was this before or after you had discovered that Ms Torres was actually Michelle Richmond, Jason's missing sister."

"We knew at the time that Mitchie was Jason's sister. Jason and Mitchie had chosen not to let it be publicly known at that point." Nate quickly spoke up. "They wanted the chance to get to know each other again after being separated for the past six years."

"Yes, I suppose that would be a sensible thing to do." There was a reluctant note in her voice that was quite clear, "Quite laudable actually when you think about it."

"On that note then, let's take a quick break here and I look forward to hearing more about what happening in the life of Connect 3."

*****/////

Backstage, Mitchie and Caitlyn were looking at each other, horrified.

"What is going on with this woman?" Caitlyn growled. "If she keeps making insinuations like that, one of them is going to forget themselves and say something."

"What did you find on google?" Mitchie asked as she turned back to watching her three boys. They were now talking urgently with Brown, Shane and Jason looking over to where the two girls were standing in their corner out of the way but where they could still be seen.

Nate was pacing up and down behind them while the woman who was causing all this uproar was across the studio, talking swiftly to someone on the phone.

When Mitchie was answered by silence, she moved to Caitlyn's side and looked over her shoulder. At seeing what was on the screen in front of them, Mitchie covered her mouth to stop her shocked gasp. "Oh no, you have to be kidding me."

"Nope." Caitlyn looked up as she popped the 'p'. "You better let them know that Diana Edwards is Tess Tyler's aunt."

Mitchie shot across the stage, grabbing hold of Jason to pull herself to a stop. He immediately put his arm around her waist, steadying her but it was Brown that asked the question that was on their minds. "Mitchie love, what is it?"

"She's Tess's aunt." Mitchie said quietly from where she now stood between Jason and Shane.

"She's what?" Nate snapped as he came to a halt behind her.

"Diana Edwards is T.J. Tyler's younger sister." Mitchie replied, looking at him over her shoulder, "Cait just googled her to see why she looked so familiar."

"Well that explains something." Shane murmured as he looked over his shoulder at the reporter. She was now waving her hand in the air as she continued to speak on her phone. "Are you alright love, there's… well, a little strangeness in her voice every time she mentions you in any form?"

"That's her problem." Mitchie replied as she straightened her brother's collar. "Jake, how on earth can you get so crumpled just sitting here."

"A gift," He replied as he caught hold of her hand. "Are you staying with us for the rest of the interview?"

"No, not just yet," Freeing her hand, she absently reached out and straightened Shane's tie, then over to pull something off Nate's jacket. "I'll come out if she calls me out to ask questions but until then I'd rather be backstage with Caitlyn this time."

"Come on Mitchie, time to go back." Brown said quietly, taking her hand and leading her away. He looked back over his shoulder at the boys. "Just be careful, boys."

*****/////

"Welcome back to Hot Tunes Hot Entertainment Hour. This is Diane Edwards talking to Connect 3's Shane Gray, Nate Howard and Jason Richmond."

Expecting another a question along the line she had previously been taking, they were a little stunned when she continued along more familiar lines when being interviewed by someone from Hot Tunes.

"So boys, putting all other things that happened this summer aside for the moment; what is happening about the summer tour that had to be cancelled? I am sure that all your fans out there are dying to know?"

Nate leant forward. "We're in the process of reorganising it at the moment. As soon as dates are finalised, we'll be letting everyone know by our web pages and a press release. As always, Diana, we'll be delighted to let you know as well."

"Always good to hear, Nate, thank you," Diane really smiled falsely at him, brilliant white teeth gleaming between red lips before she turned her attention back to Shane again. "And Shane, will you still be making the music video that you walked off the set before Camp Rock?"

Shane raised an eyebrow. "We will be making a music video but it will be for one of the new songs that we have been writing – at least that's the plan."

"We mean go on with it now that we've started with our new sound." Nate agreed.

"And will you be recording the song that you sung at Final Jam with Mitchie? After your performance of Oprah last night, I am sure everyone will be dying to know." Diana looked over her shoulder as she asked that question, "In fact, why don't we ask her to join us. Mitchie, why don't you come out and join us."

As she had had her back to the stage at that point, Mitchie was able to scowl at Caitlyn and Brown making them laugh. She then turned, a brilliant smile on her face and walked out onto the stage, saying shyly. "Hi!"

"Welcome to Hot Entertainment, Mitchie." Diana smiled, something flashing in her eyes. "You've made quite an entrance into the entertainment world, congratulations."

"Thank you." Mitchie said shyly as she took a seat between Jason and Shane.

"So tell me, will you be recording your Final Jam song with Shane?" Diana leant forward, projecting faux interest. "You already have quite an army of fans asking for it, I'm told."

"Really, that's just, well, wow." Mitchie looked at Nate for a moment, who nodded back at her in agreement. She leant back in her seat and turned to look at Shane. "If Shane's willing, I am."

"Definitely willing," Shane replied, the smile that was hers alone appearing and lighting up his face in a way that even had Diana Edwards noting the difference in him. "With Mitchie's beautiful voice and words, it's sure to be a hit."

"Mitchie wrote the song!" Diane unprofessionally exclaimed, "But I thought that… I heard that someone else had written it."

"No, Mitchie wrote most of the song," Jason replied for his sister as she was looking at Diana Edwards in shock at her strange response to even reply to the strange question. "Shane wrote the parts that he sung. He just combined the chorus of his song with Mitchie's for their impromptu duet at Final Jam."

"Well, that's just, well fascinating." Something about their answer had clearly derailed her train of thoughts, as she desperately looked down at her notepad again. "So what is the current plan for all four of you?"

A little bemused at the question, Nate returned to point as spokesman. "Well, like we've said, there's the new video and of course, the rearranged tour. We also plan to spend some time writing more songs in our new sound."

"And will Mitchie be joining you on tour." She suddenly seemed to find herself again.

"Most definitely." Jason replied, nudging his sister in her side. "We may even get her up on stage with us."

"One last question for Mitchie before we finish," The glint was back in her eyes again. "So Mitchie, now that everyone knows that you are indeed Jason Richmond's long lost sister, the apparent girlfriend of Shane Gray and clearly a good friend of Nate Howard, what do you plan on doing with your life? Do you see a music career for yourself as well or perhaps something else?"

Mitchie took a deep breath. "Like most sixteen year olds, my first thought is of course to finish school. If the music happens, then it happens but for now, I just intend to spend time with Jason, Nate and most definitely Shane…" As she said his name, she entwined her fingers in his and they smiled at each other. "And of course if means I get to tour America and the world potentially, well who wouldn't take up that opportunity."

"How delightful," Diana faked smiled again and turned to face the camera. "Well that was Mitchie Torres and Connect 3 on Hot Tunes Hot Entertainment Hour with yours truly, Diana Edwards. Keep tuned for future news."

As the cameras went off, Brown and Caitlyn quickly moved out onto the stage to join them. "Nice interview, boys and well done Mitchie." Brown pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Can we go now?" Mitchie asked a pleading tone in her voice.

"Definitely," Nate replied, not all surprised to see that Shane's arm was once more around Mitchie's waist. "Let's get back to Texas."

They started to walk away but the imp of Caitlyn's shoulder had her stopping for a moment to look back at the Barracuda. "Send Tess our best won't you."

They left her scowling as they left the studio, managing to hold their laughter until they were once more in the car heading for the airport.

*****/////*****/////*****

I never expected this chapter to be the longest of the interview chapters, so still a little stunned here.

And definitely needed the chocolate to get through it, thanks Ranger and hey Riley, finally got your question in ;0p

As always looking forward to seeing what you have to say