Disclaimer: See prologue chapter

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Chapter 34

Clash of the Bands

The following day Big Rob looked up at the boys' manager stormed into the private side room set up for the band at the Houston arena, a look of curiosity lighting up his eyes.

"You know at some point during this tour we may actually get through it without any problems what so ever." Richard sat down and buried his head in his hands for a moment "And this is only the second show, for goodness sake."

"What's wrong now?" Rob turned from the coffee he was preparing to look at him.

"The support group are objecting to Mitchie singing another song." He looked up, slamming his fist on the table. "According to their manager and I quote this, they did not sign on to play support for a cookie cutter pop group for them to lose a slot from their set and they won't do it."

Richard frowned heavily. "He also said something very uncomplimentary about Mitchie and Caitlyn which I won't repeat."

"Have you told Jason, Nate and Shane?"

"Are you mad, Rob? We'd be getting them out of jail before you know it." Richard stood up, a horrified look on his face. "Haven't you heard what happened at rehearsal this morning when they were all introduced to one another?"

"No, I haven't spoken to Sandy to get an update yet." The big man turned round and brought two cups of coffee to the table, handing one to Richard before pushing him back into his seat. "But does it have anything to do with the decidedly bad mood that all three boys were in when I passed them on my way in and that Megan refuses to let either Caitlyn or Mitchie out of her sight at the moment."

"It has everything to do with it." Richard sighed. "This morning…"

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Flashback

"This is the best we've ever sounded." Nate grinned wildly as he put his Gibson on its stand and then grabbed Mitchie swinging her around in a wild circle as she giggled wildly.

"Shane help!" Mitchie squealed through her helpless laughter as she tried to make Nate free her.

Next to them, Jason had caught Caitlyn up and was currently spinning her round as she hit his arms trying to make him let her go as well, laughing as madly as Mitchie was.

Laughing, Shane put his microphone down and rushed to her side, pulling her out of Nate's arms and into his own, "At your service, my Mitchie."

"Well, well, wouldn't you just know it?" An unfamiliar sarcastic voice could be heard from the side of the stage. "Not only are they cookie cutter pop stars but they're saps as well."

Jason dropped Caitlyn's feet to the ground and they all spun round to look at the group that had just moved out onto the stage. Feeling the sudden tension that had just replaced the good mood, Sandy quickly moved onto the stage to join them, followed by two other members of the increased security crew.

"Someone call the fashion police, the Goths have invaded." Caitlyn said through gritted teeth as she glared at the black clad group of four boys and two girls moving closer to them. "Has anyone told them that individuality is a good thing – even when wearing the same colour?"

"Someone call the police full stop." Mitchie shrank back into Shane's arms, eyes wide with bad memories as she recognised at least two of the band members from her time at junior high.

Feeling her tremble slightly, he tightened his hold on her for a moment and then turned her so that she could put her arms around his waist, burying her face against him. "Mitchie love," He whispered in her hair as he bent down to her. "What is it?"

"Remember what I told you about Junior High." Mitchie looked up at him as he nodded. "You're about to meet two of them."

"Well you won't, not if I have anything to do with it." He gently pulled her away, leading her to Megan. "Caitlyn, come on." Caitlyn turned a reluctant look in her hazel eyes. "Mitchie needs you more than you need to fight people's fashion faux-pas."

In a flash, the curly haired girl was at her side, linking their arms together. "Mitch…" Caitlyn's question was in the name.

"Enemies from junior high," Mitchie replied simply and Caitlyn nodded in acceptance, having been told the story not long after she had joined the Torres household.

Shane drew both girls over to second of Mitchie's favourite bodyguards. "Megan, you really need to keep these two in your sights for the rest of today and tomorrow until after the concert I would think. Make sure none of them…" He threw a look over his shoulder at the supporting band where they now stood exchanging what could only be called veiled verbal insults with Nate and Jason. "Get any where near Mitchie in particular."

Megan looked in the same direction and her blue eyes went literally steel in colour. "No need to tell me why, I remember them too." She put her arm around Mitchie in Shane's place. "Come on Mitchie girl, you can play me these three songs that you are going to be singing tonight. I haven't heard the other two yet."

"Thirty seconds, Megan." Shane caught hold of Mitchie's free hand, "Mitch, which ones?"

"The boy who spoke and the brunette with red streaks," Mitchie replied before tightening her hold on his hand. "Shane, don't try to start a fight with them, they're not worth it."

"I promise to be myself." But the evil grin in his eyes kind of gave away the fact that he meant the Shane Gray pre-Camp Rock.

"Try not to ruin all my good work, Shane. I really so prefer this version of you." Mitchie reached up and touched his cheek. "And I really don't think that Richard will want to bail you out of jail either, so behave yourself."

"Yes ma'am." Shane took her hand in his and pressed a kiss in her palm before letting her go. "Now go with Megan, one of us will come and find you later."

"I mean it, Shane." Mitchie called over her shoulder and Megan's arm. "And tell Nate and Jake that as well."

Shane waited until they had left stage side and rejoined his band mates. "So you're Black Rock. Original name I don't think."

"Like you can talk, right," The tall black haired spokesman of the group stepped forward. "I mean like Connect 3 ain't that like original either."

"At least we speak a recognised dialect of English." Jason murmured noticing that Sandy and their other bodyguards had drawn closer.

"Jason!" Nate said warningly as he stepped in front of his two friends. He had not missed the almost feral look in Shane's eyes when he had returned from sending Mitchie and Caitlyn away with Megan and was feeling slightly worried.

He turned back to their current supporting act. "You must be Dalton, thanks for coming down early like we asked."

"I'd say it was no problem but it is." Dalton snapped.

Nate raised an eyebrow at that. "Fine, be that way if you want. I just wanted to tell you that we need you to cut one of your songs from your set. We have an extra one we're singing and need the time."

"You can't do that." The brunette with red streaks stepped forward. "Why should we cut one of our songs for a cookie cutter pop star?"

"You know I'm really getting tired of the phrase." Shane growled under his breath before stepping to stand shoulder by shoulder with Nate, "Because we have a new song that we are going to be trying out tonight and the contract you signed allows for it."

"I don't care." The girl moved to Dalton's side. "Dalt, you can't let it happen, especially if it means that girl from junior high gets a bigger spotlight than us."

"What girl from junior high?" Dalton looked at her, "Miranda?"

"Oh come on, Dalton, surely you remember Mitchie No Past." Miranda literally purred.

"That was MNP!" Dalton exclaimed. "Wow, has she grown up into one foxy chick."

That earned a growl from Jason and he stepped forward, only being stopped by Sandy's hand on his shoulder. "Jason…"

"He has no right talking about MY sister like that!" Jason growled fiercely.

"Or my girlfriend," Shane growled equally as fiercely.

"Right that's enough." Sandy pushed himself in front of them. "You three, you're needed backstage in your dressing rooms. Go." He held up his hand as he caught the argument in their eyes. "This is one of those times when I'm in charge. Mick, Tom, go with them."

When he was sure that the three of them had left the stage, Sandy turned to Black Rock and the look on his face had them all taking a step backwards. "You heard what the band said, do it and stay away from them. You are not to come within their vicinity at any time and that includes the two girls you saw. Do I make myself clear?"

Black Rock nodded.

"Then get out of here. I'll see you tomorrow when you're due for your rehearsal and sound check."

Following to make sure that they left, Sandy then searched put Richard.

End Flashback

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"And this is the result." Richard picked up the water bottle he had just got out of the small icebox and turned back to Big Rob. "Black Rock is refusing to drop a song, Mitchie and Caitlyn are being kept from interacting with them and the boys want to kill their Houston supporting act."

"But you just said it yourself, the contract they signed mean they have no choice." Rob pointed out. "Connect 3 have a new song they want to try out, alright in this case, it's Mitchie but it's the boys' decision to put it in. Black Rock must drop a song."

He leant forward, "In fact, why don't you threaten them with being dropped from the show altogether if they keep being awkward. I know the group we had in Dallas would be willing to get down here if we needed them. I overheard them tell Nate that."

"It would solve the problem." Richard considered it. "I'll do just that."

"And emphasise everything that Sandy told them as well." Rob added, as he rose to put his cup in the sink (something they were becoming used to doing under Connie's and Mitchie's influence). "In fact make it a further condition of their employment. Mitchie especially has enough to deal with at the moment without past problems raising their heads."

"Talking of Mitchie…" Sandy walked into the room, hands in plastic gloves as he brought in a recognisable slender box with a black ribbon. "Theo has just raised his head and sent her these, no card I checked."

"You better send them straight to Steve." Rob shook his head. "Richard, you may be right. This tour does look like being more interesting off stage than on it."

"Something I really think we could have done without." Richard stood up, stretching, "Time to put some pretentious people into their places."

An evil grin much like they were growing used to seeing on Connect 3 and the two girls' faces appeared on his face. "This is going to be fun."

Sandy and Rob looked at each other, simultaneously rolled their eyes.

"This is going to be trouble." The latter drawled.

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Thank you all for your comments and correcting me on the name of the song.

I was going to put a slight rant in here but changed my mind. Actually changed it again. Yes, I know that is the real title but I chose to refer to it in my AN with the title I use in my own head. My equation: In story = Real titles, In AN = my titles

I hope I haven't put off anyone from reviewing because they make my day

As always looking forward to seeing what you have to say