Chapter Four: First stop on Skinner box's world domination tour.

Disclaimer 1: I do not own the Empress Ballroom; it's an actual club in Connecticut. I also don't own "You're So Damn Hot" by OK Go. Skinner Box is just borrowing it for the chapter to sing, and on behalf of Skinner Box, we promise to return it...soon. Damian Kulash, however, will remain in my custody until the end of time.

Disclaimer 2: Just read the previous ones, but if you MUST know, I don't own, and I just write for the hell of it. Much love.

Special shout-outs: - robtaymattlouned (my buddy after the Rooney boards go down.) Haha, we are nerds, and thanks so much for reading my chapters! You are powerful!! Mwahaha. Also, all the Rooney fans out there who read my story. You guys are all amazing!!

Shameless plug for my favorite band: If you like EXCELLENT music, buy Rooney's album – you won't be disappointed.

"Wait, so let me recap." I said, getting up from where I was standing. "You went on tour with my band without telling your parents?"

"Well, I left them a note." Mia answered, sheepishly.

"Mia, do you realize that your grandmother can have the entire Genovian army on my ass in a mili-second?"

"Yes, I do realize that Michael." Mia said, sternly. "But you need to realize that I could not not go with you."

"Yes, you could! Your mother told you not to!"

"Oh, and you listen to everything your mother tells you??"

I stopped. I was beat, Mia was right. Luckily enough, Matt cut in.

"Alright everybody, welcome to the Empress Ballroom: first stop of the Skinner Box World Domination Tour," Matt chuckled from behind the steering wheel.

I turned to follow the guys as they began shuffling out into the bright Connecticut sunlight, after all -- we had been on the bus for 6 hours.

"Wait, Michael." Mia said, grabbing my arm, and pulling me into the last room on our bus.

I groaned. "What, Mia?"

"Look, you have a reason to be upset with me, but listen, okay?" She sat me down.

"I love you, Michael. More than anything in the world, and when my parents said I couldn't go with you, I was heartbroken."

"So was I, Mia, bu ---"

She cut me off; "Just let me talk, okay?"

I shut up.

"So, I did what I had to do. Late Sunday night, I packed my bags, and early Monday morning I left. I had to; I wouldn't be able to stand not being with you for 3 months. I mean, 3 days is hard enough. I left them a note, plain and simple, stating that I loved them, I was going to be safe and that I would be back in August. I guess they got your number from your mom or something...." she said, her voice trailing off. "Can we please just enjoy your first show and worry about the stupid Genovian royal family later?" she asked.

I agreed. Only Mia could get me from furious to loving. I don't know how she did it, her eyes, and her voice, her lips....

"MICHAEL!!" I heard from the front of the bus. "YO, MOSCOVITZ!!" Andrew shouted.

"WHAT?" I yelled back.

"They need you to set up! Stop macking out on your girlfriend and get your ass out here, bro!" Andrew yelled again.

I turned to Mia. "Gotta go..."

She grabbed my hand before I could leave. "So, are we okay?"

"Of course." I said, grinning. She quickly kissed me before walking out of the tour bus.

I glared as we stepped off of the bus. "Welcome to Connecticut!!" Taylor yelled, motioning us to come inside.

I was shocked as I stepped through the glass doors. "This place is huge!" And it was. I mean, it was bigger than Doc Motors at least.

"Hey you guys, come on in we're doing sound check." Chris mentioned, handing me my guitar.

"Testing...one...two...three" I whispered into the mic, amused at my voice being projected a hundred times louder. I chuckled, and saw Mia standing at the back of the house laughing too. I smiled to myself, she understood me so well, and I couldn't believe how lucky I was, at that minute I knew what song we were opening with at our first stop.

"Okay, let's get this show on the road. Let's start off with 'You're So Damn Hot." I said, eyeing Mia in the back. She smiled.

"I saw you sliding out the bar.

I saw you slipping out the back door, baby.

Don't even try and find a line this time, it's fine. Darling, you're still divine."

"You don't love me at all, but don't think that it bothers me at all.

You're a bad-hearted boy-trap, baby doll, but you're... You're so damn hot." Chris and Andrew joined in on backup.

"So now you're headed to your car.

You say it's dinner with your sister, sweetie.

But darling look at how you're dressed. Your best suggests another kind of guest." I sang, eyeing Mia in the back, I nodded a bit and she laughed and smiled...I had never seen her so happy.

I continued again with Chris and Andrew. "You don't love me at all, but don't think that it bothers me at all. You're a bad-hearted boy-trap, baby doll, but you're...

You're so damn hot."

"So who's this other guy you've got? Which other rubes are riding hot-shot, sugar?

I could have swore you said before, "No more, for sure." What'd I believe you for?"

"You don't love me at all, but don't think that it bothers me at all. You're a bad-hearted boy-trap, baby doll, but you're... You're so damn hot." I ended the song, with a loud bam, and turned to face the guys.

"You guys that was fantastic!" I shouted, incredibly hyped up. "That energy is exactly what we need for this evening!"

Chris and Andrew agreed. "Yea, it was pretty good."

"What songs are we going to play tonight?" Taylor answered.

"I don't know. You're So Damn Hot, Sorry Sorry, California...um, what do you think, Chris?" I asked, turning to him and setting my guitar down.

"Lets also do Media Life and…"

"Stay Away would be good." Andrew joined in.

"How about If It Were Up To Me, too?" I heard from the back of the house, it was Mia.

"Yea, that'll work." I said, smiling and motioning for her to come up to the front.

The manager of the club then came on stage.

"It's excellent, you guys - sound check went well, we won't need you back for a couple of hours so feel free to check out Connecticut.," he replied, slapped me on the back and then left.

"That's cool." We all mumbled, setting our instruments down, and walking off stage. I grabbed Mia's hand.

"I loved that song you played." She said, pushing me up against a wall and kissing me. Hard.

"Well, I hope I get a response like that after all of my songs." I mumbled in between kisses. "Come on, let's get out of here." I whispered in her ear and walking out the door.