Disclaimer: I am own-less. AKA 'I own nothing.'

Chapter 2:

"Please, open the door Mitchie. I know you're upset, but locking yourself in a supply closet isn't going help." Caitlin sighed, banging her head against our barrier from her position on the dirty floor.

I hadn't replied to any of Caitlin's pleas over the past fifteen minutes, and felt my voice cracking as I finally did. "I couldn't find a bathroom. B-besides, there's plenty of tissue in h-here." I couldn't help the tears that rolled gently down my cheeks.

"Oh, Mitch." I heard her sigh sympathetically.

I stood from my place behind the door, "Do you think they'll hate me? Maybe I should just go out there and tell them this was all some kind of a sick joke."

"NO!" Caitlin shouted, causing me to halt my pacing. "Mitchie, your voice is so beautiful, it would be like committing murder to not share it with the world."

"But what if this doesn't work out? I'm going to go crawling back to my parents, and they're going to laugh in my face." I argued, secretly hoping she would convince me otherwise.

"No you won't. I know you. Even if this doesn't work out, which it will, you will never go crawling back to your parents. I have no idea how, considering the parents you have and all the money that comes with them, but you are a strong girl with a good head on your shoulders. You don't need your parents' approval to do this." She spoke sternly.

I smiled slightly. How did I get lucky enough to have such a great best friend? I then realized how much I might be letting her down if I gave up on my dreams, and gave in to my parents'.

I quickly wiped my face, "You know, what? You were right. You told me I deserved a chance to follow my own dreams, and I do. I'm not going to sit in here crying like a little baby, because my parents may never speak to me again. That's their loss, not mine." I put forth my most confident face, and opened the door.

One look at Caitlin, and the tears started to fall again. She encased me in a bear hug, not saying a word, because she knew that's what I needed. We stayed like that for a while, before I pulled from her grasp.

"Thanks, Cait." I whispered.

She smiled brightly, "Stop crying, right now. There are loads of producers and other labels in the room right this second. As best friend of a future pop star, a highly suggest you get your butt out there."

I smiled hesitantly, and started toward the dining room once again, before a hand stopped me.

"Oh but we might want to actually find a bathroom first." She grimaced.

I frowned in confusion, until she thrust her compact mirror in my face.

"Oh my gosh. I should've used waterproof mascara." I groaned sourly.

She giggled, and pulled me around the building in search of a bathroom.

Shane's POV

I glanced around the room nervously, and popped another quiche in my mouth.

"Max, I don't think this is a good idea." I wiped the sweat from my brow.

He grabbed my shoulders, and locked eyes with me. "Shane. Dave Goodman from Torres Productions would like to hear our proposal here, so we don't exactly have a choice. It's going to be fine if you manage to calm down, and stop eating all the food. The label is going to love the idea, okay?"

I nodded my head wearily at my manager. I had recently decided that I wanted to branch out, and produce a whole new album of my music alone. My brothers and I discussed it, and they were totally cool. As a matter a fact, Nick was considering doing the same thing. We would still stay a band, but it was a way to show the world ourselves as individual artists. The only problem was that I wasn't sure the label would feel to hot about the idea. Luckily, I still had a couple of minutes to prepare.

"Mr. Gray! Over here!" I saw Dave beckon me over to the table full of producers and execs.

Or not.

"Don't worry. I'll do all the talking." Max patted my shoulder and led the way.

I felt like I was walking in mud, as I trudged through the crowd, and finally reached my destination.

"Ah, Mr. Gray! Nice to see you. There seems to have been a change in plans. Mr. and Mrs. Torres would like to hear your proposal themselves, over there at that table to the far right." Dave spoke calmly.

My eyes widened, and if I had thought I was nervous before, I sure as heck was now. I follow Dave's line of sight and saw that the Torres' had some how managed to snag an empty table, with two chairs waiting to be sat in.

I swallowed a lump in my throat, and took a quick glance a Max. He looked a little nervous also. I guess he hadn't ever directly spoken with the big wigs himself either.

"Hmm, Shane Gray. I don't believe we've ever formally met. I'm Steve Torres, this is my wife Connie." He introduced as we sat at the table.

I shook their hands in response, "An honor to meet you, sir. You too mam."

Another round of introductions circled the table as I introduced Max.

"So, tell us why we're here." Connie spoke.

I looked at Max. "Right, sorry. I'm not one to beat around the bush, so I'm just going to come out and say it. As we all know, Connect 3 has been doing exceedingly well these past few years, but in order to maintain that success we need to do something a little out of the ordinary. We are proposing that Mr. Gray produce his own album, in order to show the world another side of his music, that is sure to keep all fans on their toes." Max stated in a very business like voice.

The Torres' looked at each other, "What about Connect 3? Do we leave that behind now that Mr. Gray has suddenly had a change of heart in his career choice?" Connie spoke rigidly, her face masked of all emotion.

"Not at all, Shane will continue on as lead singer of Connect 3, but he may not appear at all Connect 3 events. It will mainly be interviews and such. Not a real problem though." Max replied as if he were waiting for them to ask that.

"But it is a problem Mr. Max Tyler. Shane Gray is the face of Connect 3. Don't you find it a little odd that he won't be at Connect 3 events? Perhaps it would make more since, if Nate Gray developed his own album." Connie said icily.

I swallowed hard, this wasn't going too well.

"It'll definitely be something to consider in the near future, but with the bad press currently circulating around Mr. Gray, it would be more ideal for him to venture out and not one of his band mates." Max spoke, and I was surprised he handled it so well.

Steve Torres looked thoughtful and turned to me. Wait, turned to me?

"How badly do you want this?" He peered at me curiously.

I took a deep breath, "More than anything in this world. I love my brothers, and its fun performing with them all the time, but the idea of being able to show my fans another more personal side of me and my music is thrilling."

Steve grimaced, "You do understand that if this doesn't work, you may not only destroy your career, but your brothers' careers also?"

I nodded firmly, but inside I felt sick at thought of my brothers paying for my mistakes.

"Well, then. I guess there is a new album to make. I'll put Dave right on it." Steve proclaimed.

I almost grabbed him and hugged right there. "Oh thank you, so much!"

"On one measly condition." Connie said.

I was beginning to not like her one bit. I frowned, "Um, sure. Anything."

She smiled, "Come to my office tomorrow morning at nine, and we'll all have a discussion."

Max nodded, "We'll be there." We then started to rise from our seats.

"My deepest apologies Mr. Tyler, but I'd much rather Shane comes alone. Is that alright?" Her smile was forced, as her eyes met his challengingly.

He hesitated for a minute until I nudged him, "That'll be fine. Once again nice meeting you two."

I smiled also, as we walked away. I quickly grabbed my phone to tell my brother's the good news.

Today was a good day after all.

Mitchie's POV

"Really?" I smiled excitedly. I was back in the dining hall after a quick fix-up in the bathroom. As Caitlin had suggested, I was discussing my music with some of the producers from other labels that had attended the party.

He smiled genuinely, "Absolutely. We'd be honored. Just stop by the studio tomorrow at around three. We can look at a few of the songs you've written and hear you sing them."

I was about to reply, when someone beat me to it, "She will do no such thing. Thank you, but your assistance is not needed."

I whipped around to find my mother standing behind me. The man I had been talking to shuffled away uncomfortably.

"Mother, I understand you don't agree with my career choice, but I will not let you sabotage it." I hissed angrily, my jaw clenched.

The look in her eyes told me she wanted to scold me, but surprisingly she simply ignored my protest.

"Your father and I have been talking. We have decided that we will support you in this decision, on one condition." She spoke slowly, as if she didn't want to.

I couldn't help the smile that graced my lips, and I hugged her tightly, before I remembered there was a condition. "Wait, on what condition?"

She smiled, "Come to my office tomorrow morning at nine, we'll discuss it then."

I frowned as she walked off, stopping to greet other people on the way.

In no way at all could this be good. I had to find Caitlin.

I gulped and stared at the door handle, as if it could possibly hold some sort of disease. The suspense was eating me alive, but I just couldn't open the door to my mother's office. I was terrified of what was to come.

"Okay. Just open the door Mitchie. You can do it." I coaxed myself, before hesitantly pulling it open.

I walked inside five minutes prior to the time I was meant to be here, hoping my mother would be pleased. Instead she scolded me. "Michelle. Must I constantly remind you to knock before entering?"

I saw her sitting in a chair away from her desk, next to my father who looked my outfit up and down, slightly nodding in approval.

I rolled my eyes. Here we go.

I sat on the couch opposite them, "Sorry."

We sat in silence, until I broke it before I burst from all the tension.

"Okay, pardon me for asking, but are we waiting for something." I questioned.

Just then, the boy from that video on Hot Tunes TV walked in. Shane Gray. And boy did he look gorgeous. The new haircut he had suited him well, and unlike every other girl in America, I liked it better like that than when it was long. He wore a black leather jacket, with a white button down and red tie underneath. His black skinny jeans fit his body perfectly. Not tight enough for him to appear gay or rock-ish, but not loose enough to display his underwear. The white Vans on his feet padded softly across the carpet, as he stood before us.

"Hi. I would have knocked, but your assistant told me to just walk in." He spoke nervously.

I tried my best to hold it in, but before I knew what was happening, I was rolling in a fit of laughter.

My parents looked furious, and Shane confused, but I couldn't stop.

"MICHELLE!" My dad shouted.

I clutched my stomach, desperately attempting to suck in my laughter. "I'm s-so s-sorry! He…j-just…I s-saw the video o-on Hot Tunes. H-he screamed like a girl."

Shane's whole face turned bright red, and my parents narrowed their eyes.

"Michelle! Pull yourself together right this instant. We don't have time for this." My mother spoke angrily.

I let out on last laugh, and thought of stale bread to calm myself down. I know, weird. But what's more boring and un-laughable then stale bread.

"Now, please. Take a seat next to Michelle, Mr. Gray." My father instructed.

He did as they said and I then began to wonder what exactly he was doing here.

"I don't like stalling, so I will say what I plan to say immediately. You two are to pose as a fake couple for the next month." My mother said in a no-nonsense tone.

"WHAT?" We shouted simultaneously.

"Michelle, you seem to think you are so ready to be a professional singer, we decided we'd let you see the negative side of it before you made any hasty decisions. This way you'll see what paparazzi and publicity is really like. If you refuse, we will do everything in our power to make sure no other company signs you on. Understood?" My mother spoke icily, and extremely un-parent like. How could they do this to me? I was their daughter! You don't blackmail your daughter!

"As for you Mr. Gray, if you want to stay on this label and pursue your dreams as a solo artist, I suggest you agree." My father looked at Shane pointedly.

I was too shocked to speak.

"You can't do that! My brothers and I have a contract." He growled angrily.

My mother smirked, "Yes, you do. But trust me darling, my name is Connie Torres and I have my ways."

He looked flabbergasted.

"That is all. Now when you head out the studio I suggest you smile." My father chuckled, as did my mother.

We remained seated though. Suddenly all the pent up anger from years of their crap spilt out of me.

"How DARE YOU? I am your DAUGHTER! I can not believe you are doing this to me! I want to sing, not become a professional stripper! I have done everything you have asked of me since I was born. You didn't like what I wore, I changed my clothes. You didn't approve of a boy I liked, I never spoke to him again. I wanted to attend Julliard with Caitlin, but you wanted me to go to UCLA. Guess where I went? UCLA! I am ashamed to share the same blood as you right now. I'll do as you ask, but when this is over and I become a professional singer you never speak to me again, got it?" I screamed boiling in anger.

"IF you become a professional singer, dear. This is a tough business, and after you go through this, you might change your mind." My mother appeared unfazed.

So, this is what this was about. They thought they could change my mind, and convince me to do as they wanted. Well they can just kiss that idea goodbye.

I shook my head in disbelief, "You don't even care that I just disowned you as my parents. All you want is someone trustworthy to take care of this label when you die and rot in helll." I spat.

I looked at Shane, he looked surprised and furious. "You don't even know this guy and you're bringing him into this. Gosh, you suck."

He frowned, "I don't even know what to say. Just know that you will be hearing from my manager."

He then stalked off, and I followed right behind him. I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry, but I felt bad for this Shane guy more, so I sped up grabbed his arm.

"WHAT?" He shouted.

I shrunk back, "I just wanted to see if you were okay."

He laughed dryly, "Oh don't worry I'm peachy. You know, this is all your fault! I honestly can't even stand to see your face, so get lost."

My eyes burned in fury, "Excuse me? You're not the only one upset here, buddy boy! Those are my parents! I get that your angry, but you could at least act like a decent human being."

We didn't even notice the people poking their heads out of their offices as we fought.

"You're kidding right? I have to break up with my girlfriend, and go out with you. Tell me what's decent about that." He spat as if the mere thought disgusted him.

Despite how p-issed off I was, I felt tears gather in my eyes, "You freaking jerk. When my parents rot in helll , they'll be taking you with them."

I then ran into the elevator and out the building, as fast as I could manage. But when I opened the doors to exit the studio, I was immediately blinded by all the flashes.

There was tons of paparazzi, screaming and yelling various things.

Now when you exit the building I suggest you smile. I recalled my father's words.

Those mother…

I then remembered I was crying and looked a mess, in front of all these cameras.

Crap.

A/N: Grr… don't you just hate Mitchie's parents right now? Talk about a quick update! I'm not to sure if I liked this chapter, but review and let me know what you think. It would really mean a lot!

-LizzyBeth(: