Chapter Five: don't forget about your past

---

MusicWorld Exclusive Interview with MISSION FOR RECOGNITION

They're sitting across from me, clad in dark, ripped clothing. Mission for Recognition's self-titled debut album was released in October, and two months later, it's still going strong at number one on the charts. Michael Z, frontman of the five-person band, pauses between answers to sit a glass of white wine. At ten o' clock in the morning. The other members sit on both sides of him, looking moody, Shayne Osborn (lead bass) and David Richards (keyboards), guzzling down soy lattes. I apologize for such an early interview but Michael is the first to insist that it's no problem, they didn't have a show the previous night, so they're well rested. I smile and Michael grins back, exposing his bright, straight teeth. The smile on the man that launched a thousand fan sites declaring their love for the twenty-three year old, whom celebrates his birthday in early January.

Thank you all so much for coming today.

Michael Z: It's great of you to have us.

Shayne Osborn: Yeah, thanks.

Kristen Taylor: That's a nice sweater you have on. Where'd you get it?

I smile at Kristen, the band's drummer, and tell her that I bought it at Chanel. She says that she wishes she could get one for her younger sister, Anna.

Your debut album came out recently and it's been very successful. How have you all been dealing with this newfound fame?

MZ: Everything's been good, I guess. More people recognize us on the streets and we certainly have more stalkers than we used to. (Laughs)

Max Conor: I think it's amazing how much success we've had in the last two months, ever since the album came out. My mom just called me the other day and my old dentist was actually asking her if he could get my autograph for his teenage daughter. Apparently, she 'worships the gum I chew on…the ground I grace my size-ten feet with.'

David Richards: (Laughs) I think it's great how many fans come to our shows, guy and girls alike, to listen to our music. That's why we started this band in the first place: to play music for other people's enjoyment. And the groupies aren't too bad either.

(The band laughs)

So, how did you all meet and form the group?

MZ: David, Kristen, and I all actually attended Columbia [University]. We met through our biology class, I think it was. I had a band in high school, mostly just a little outfit for kicks. We were having a discussion one day about music and I told them that I could play instruments really well and I had actually had a band before. It turns out that David knew how to play the keyboard and Kristen was totally kicking at the drums. So, I was like, 'Hey, guys! Let's start a band!'

And how did Shayne and Max join?

SO: I've actually known David since I was four or five. We used to live next door to each other. He visited home one weekend and we started talking. I've been playing the bass for about ten years and then David asked me to join his band. And, obviously, I said yes.

MC: Actually, I was working at this Chinese take-out place in Manhattan called Number One Noodle Son and Michael was a regular customer there. He wore these 'band shirts' and a lot of those bands were ones that I like. I commented on them every time he came by and we eventually got started talking about music in general. Then, I let slip that I'm a pretty good guitarist and he was happy to hear that. He told me that he had a band going and all they needed was a guitarist to be complete. So, I joined.

And did you have any idea that just a couple of years later, you would have a number-one album?

KT: No, definitely not! We all didn't take it too seriously at first. Being in a band was just something to do on Saturday nights. I guess we never really took it too seriously until we got out of college.

MZ: Yeah. Exactly. With my other band, we didn't even think about getting a record deal. But, with Mission for Recognition, I guess you could say that we started it as something to, well, do but then it evolved into something more than gigs at friends' parties and small performances at local clubs. Apparently, word got around that we were, believe it or not, actually kind of good. (Laughs) Then, some record company executives started coming to our gigs and we got our record deal early this year.

Well, that's certainly an interesting start. I understand that you went through a few different band names before finally settling on Mission for Recognition. How did you come up with this name and what were your previous names?

MZ: I used to take the subway a lot when I was in high school. So, there was this homeless man that was always there, usually nibbling on these little bits of cheese. Whenever someone would offer him some money, he would always scream, "I'M ON A MISSION FOR RECOGNITION! I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!" This, of course, scared away everyone but I found him rather fascinating.

Really? That's an odd story. But isn't part of a line from a Rooney song, "I'm on a mission for recognition…?"

MZ: Oh. Yeah. That too. Our first name was…

SO: The Bathtub Cuffers.

Wow. And how did you think up of that name?

KT: Uh…it's actually pretty self-explanatory. Michael here is notorious for finding random girls off the street, making them swoon over his boyish charm, taking them to his apartment, and cuffing them to his bathtub. It's all very sickening, really.

(The band laughs)

DR: Oh, there was also the Blender Brigade. I went through a rather sketchy phase when I was obsessed with putting just about everything into a blender, wondering what would happen.

Really? What did you…blend?

DR: Little rats, usually. Occasionally some wheat grass to freshen things up.

MZ: And before settling on Mission for Recognition, we were called Get in My Pants. Basically just a ploy to get girls into our pants.

And did that work?

MZ: No.

There you have it! An exclusive interview with Mission for Recognition. It turns out that Michael has some interesting secrets (like his little bathtub cuffing fetish) and David went through a blending phase. They're the kings and queens of the music world and they're coming to eat your children. Or, rather, devour you whole with their amazing lyrics, consistent beats and rhythm, and just plain amazing style and music. They're a band that may very well be around forever. Or, at least, until Michael decides to take up cuffing girls to his bathtub again.

---

"Michael!" Elaine Moscovitz exclaimed, throwing her arms around her twenty-three year old son. "It's so great to see you, honey!" Michael hugged his mom back, taking her face in. He hadn't seen her in well over two months, since before the record had come out, and he had missed her and his dad so much. Lilly? He wasn't feeling the least bit affectionate toward the thought of his younger sister.

"Michael," Landon Moscovitz said in his warm, booming voice. He gave Michael a small hug as soon as Elaine managed to pry her arms off from around Michael's body. It felt good to be back home, to say the least. He looked around the apartment, breathing in its familiar, comforting scent. There was a strong cinnamon scent in the air and Michael only guessed that Maya, the housekeeper, had made her amazing gingerbread.

"We've been waiting for you," Elaine said, brushing a strand of hair behind Michael's ear. "We just read your band's interview in MusicWorld. It was…interesting. And Maya made her gingerbread cookies for you." Michael grinned, not opening his mouth to speak. He was simply speechless. He was neither nervous nor angry. He was too happy to speak. Too happy for words. He hadn't been this way since the first television performance Mission for Recognition had done.

Elaine led Michael to the kitchen where a plateful of gingerbread and a mug of hot cocoa awaited him. He had forgotten how much he loved having gingerbread and cocoa. Michael slowly started to reminiscence about his childhood, about the last night he had spent at home before leaving for Columbia.

"So, when does the tour start, son?" Landon said, entering the kitchen. Michael picked up some gingerbread and took a small bite. He turned to his father and finally spoke.

"We kick off the tour in three weeks," Michael said, taking another bite. He sat down and slowly stirred his hot cocoa, which had more than a hint of cinnamon. Elaine was just about to open her mouth to speak when Lilly entered the kitchen, dressed casually. She didn't try to hide the look that she had when she saw Michael sitting at the table, eating Maya's gingerbread cookies.

"Oh, look who it is!" Lilly said with mock amazement. "Mr. Rich and Famous Michael 'Z' himself!" Lilly exclaimed, an extra emphasis on the 'Z.' Michael rolled his eyes, setting the remaining leg of the gingerbread man down.

"It's great to see you too, Lil," Michael drawled, mustering up as much sarcasm as he could manage. Lilly reached out for a gingerbread man and roughly bit off its head, in what Michael thought she may have felt was an intimidating manner, but he felt more like laughing. Over the last few years especially, Lilly had developed from a bitchy teenager into a slightly less but somehow bitchier woman.

"I'm surprised that you took time out of your oh so busy schedule to come visit your family," Lilly said, her voice in a harsh whisper. Elaine looked absolutely outraged at her children's behavior.

"Lilly," Elaine said in a strained voice. But, unfortunately, Lilly chose to ignore her mother, who looked rather pained. With a last testy look at Lilly, she left the kitchen, Landon following confusingly after her.

"Oh, wait," Lilly said, her eyes widening. "Oh, yes, that's why you didn't come to visit mom and dad. Because you were too busy fucking Gwen Brody!" Her words didn't sting him as much as the thought of Gwen. For the most part, he had successfully avoided thinking or talking about her. Michael chose not such harsh language as Lilly did.

"For your information," Michael hissed, his dark brown eyes narrowed. "Gwen and I broke up two weeks ago. If you hadn't been living under a rock, you would've known that." Lilly didn't seem the least bit intimidated by Michael's seemingly threatening voice. She knew he was too soft for his own good.

"Oh, I've heard, all right. I heard that she was cheating on you with Julian Casablancas," Lilly said nastily. "Figures she would go for someone with more class." Lilly took the last gingerbread man off of the painted ceramic plate and left the kitchen, a certain spring to her step. At least she got gotten in the last word.

---

The sun softly hit the roof of the limo, peeking through the thick clouds. The limo had that new car smell, Mia noticed dejectedly. She had always hated that scent. "I'm sorry," Mia said, her eyes downcast. The first few minutes of the ride to the Plaza had been spent in silence between Mia and Adam. He had taken her hand, gently tracing the patterns, the tiny markings, of her knuckles.

"What for?" Adam said, sounding slightly bemused. He kept his eyes on Mia's hand, his warm hand enveloping Mia's smaller, cooler hand. Mia felt small shivers running up her spine as the warmth of his fingers slowly warmed her own hand. She watched Adam's face as he gazed down at her hand. He slowly looked up, a slow smile creeping onto his face. His green eyes were as bright as ever, like a glistening emerald or freshly cut grass.

"Uh, you know," Mia said. "Dragging you along to see Grandmere." Adam laughed.

"No, no, it's okay," Adam said, smiling brightly. "Clarisse isn't so bad." If you only knew, Mia thought, chewing on her bottom lip. They looked at each other in the eye for a few moments before Mia turned away, her cheeks pink. She still felt it hard to believe that Adam was her boyfriend. The same guy she had met in her literature class a little over a year before. The same guy who shared a love for Adam Green and Ben Kweller (he for the music, her for the music and the fact that both were acceptably attractive). The guy she had liked since the moment she had laid eyes on him.

The limo pulled up at the front of the Plaza. Cole, the driver, quickly got out of the driver's seat to open the doors for Mia and Adam. "Thanks, Cole," Mia said as she started to get out of her seat. Her hand dropped out of Adam's as she got out of the limo. Adam came out after her, looking up at the Plaza. He whistled, obviously impressed.

"I haven't been here for awhile," Mia said, more to herself than to Adam.

They walked side-by-side along the path, Lars several feet behind them.

Adam took Mia's hand in his and they smiled at each other before entering the Plaza.

---

"Where is the car?" Max Conor mumbled grumpily, looking around the lobby of the Plaza. The members of Mission for Recognition had been waiting for the car to come so they could go to sound check, but so far, there was no sign of it. Michael was impatient, of course, but he had other things on his mind. His visit home hadn't gone exactly as planned, though his mother did smother him with hugs and kisses before he left. And he swore that he saw a tear or two in his father's eyes, but he figured it might've just been the light.

Shayne had her cellphone pressed hard against her ear, babbling away to the person on the other end. Kristen rolled her eyes at this, casually tapping on her legs with her drumsticks. The random guests at the Plaza passed by the group, some sneering, others walking up to the members and asking them to sign random body parts.

Michael lazily gazed out of the doors of the Plaza, when they opened and in walked…

Mia? Michael immediately perked up as that familiar blond-headed woman entered the hotel. Then he noticed the guy coming in after her and almost immediately, he thought, That must be Adam. So, it really had been Mia at Penguin the previous week. He had really spoken to her so casually after not speaking for six years. Adam was walking behind Mia when he suddenly seemed to choke on air.

"Mia," Adam whispered to her.

"What?" Mia said, turning around to face Adam.

"It's them…Mission for Recognition," Adam said, his eyes never looking away from the band. "Do you think I should go up and ask them for their autographs? I do have their CD in my pock—"

"Yeah, definitely," Mia said encouragingly, interrupting him. Michael's throat tightened when he noticed Mia and Adam walking up toward him and his bandmates. Think of something smart to say…just think of something to say, Michael thought, feeling oddly nervous, which was very unlike him.

"H-Hey, Michael," Adam said, his eyes wide. Mia looked at him oddly. He was usually confident, not so nervous. Mia turned back to face Michael and was immediately startled by his dark brown, almost black, eyes. His peat bog eyes she had obsessed about so often back in her freshman year of high school.

"Oh, hey," Michael said breezily, a small smile on his face. Michael slowly scanned Mia's face, absorbing her soft features. "Wait…weren't you at Penguin last week?" Adam looked completely ecstatic that Michael remembered him when they had barely even looked at each other. But he didn't know the truth. No…how could he?

Adam nodded his head enthusiastically, the broadest of grins lighting up his face. "Yeah! You bumped into my friend, Mia, here. After the performance, she asked to listen to your guys' CD and she liked it." Well, you certainly like to talk for other people, Michael thought to himself.

"Oh, really? What did you think, Mia?" Michael said, such ease to his voice. Mia wondered how he could be so calm after their history together, the not speaking for so long. But he seemed perfectly calm and happy, which Mia envied. She felt her heart beating considerably faster, Michael's eyes frequently looking into her own gray ones. There were a few awkward moments of silence. Adam looked nervously to Mia, gently prodding her. But she just continued on staring at her size ten feet.

"Uh…Y-Yeah…I really like the one that goes…" And she proceeded to attempt to imitate the chorus of "Darkest Rose" which caused Michael and David, who had been standing by Michael the entire time, to laugh. Mia turned the brightest shade of crimson imaginable.

"Well, thanks," Michael said, never looking away from Mia's eyes.

"Can I have your autograph?" Adam inquired, holding out his Mission for Recognition CD. Michael finally broke his gaze and smiled at Adam. He took the permanent marker that he always kept in his inner-coat pocket for signings. He scrawled his signature and handed it to David, along with the pen. After a few minutes, all of the band members had signed the CD, which made Adam deliriously happy.

"Thanks," Adam said gratefully, slipping the CD back into his coat pocket.

"No problem," Michael said.

"Oh, well, look who finally showed up," Max said, pointing to a black van outside.

"Uh, that's our ride," Michael said. "We're heading off to soundcheck for the performance at Arienette in the Upper West Side at ten. You should come. The tour starts in about three weeks. We kick it off at…Raydan, I think." With one last look at Mia, he and the rest of the band headed out the door. Adam stood in shock, not really taking in the fact that he had just spoken to Michael Z and gotten his autograph.

"Uh…" Mia said, cocking her head. "We're late. Grandmere's probably angry."

"Yeah…okay."

---

A/N: Okay, that chapter was kind of long. Sorry if it got boring at parts. Please review! =)