A/N: So I hate myself for typing this but I felt like I need to let you guys know why I don't update as quick as I could. Honestly, not to sound conceited or whatever, but I'm waiting for reviews. I only got 4 for the last chapter and that's a lot but considering I got 17 on my first chapter, its a little disappointing. So I don't know if my writing just started to suck or the storyline started to suck (which if either of those happened, someone should've sent me a PM about it or something lol) but...I don't know. Whatever, I just had to vent. NOW TO THE STORY! HAHA :)

Disclaimer: See other chapters.

Arizona

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Chapter Eleven – New Changes & Good Choices

Shane stared at Mitchie with a smile on his face. It was almost entertaining watching her push a meatball around her plate. What wasn't entertaining was the sad frown she had on her face. Shane placed his fork down on his plate and placed his hand on top of her's, which was resting on top of the dinner table.

Mitchie turned her attention from her plate of food to Shane. She saw his dark eyes staring at her, full of concern. She smiled lamely at him and took a sip of her water. She didn't want to bring it up but seeing herself on TV, having people make actual news about what she did that day, was really...uncomfortable. It almost creeped her out to think that people were fully informed about everything she had done that day. The only reason she didn't tell Shane about this was because she was, well, afraid. She knew he'd be totally understanding and tell her all these comforting words but how long could he keep doing that before he got tired of it? Sure he always said that all the things he did for her were no trouble but now that they were in his city, on his turf, would he still feel the same way? Why would he stay with Mitchie, spending all his time catering to her, when he could be with some actress or singer who was much prettier and more custom to his lifestyle? Mitchie just decided she would have to suck it up and try her best to roll with the punches.

"Are you okay?" Shane's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "You've hardly touched your food and you seem...out of it."

"I'm fine, I was just thinking, maybe we should do something fun tomorrow night. Like, go out to a nice little club or something?" Shane's eyebrows furrowed at her suggestion.

"Uh, sure, I guess. I mean, if you really want to-"

"Oh, I want to. It'll be nice to get a little break from being 'mommy'." Mitchie said taking another sip of her water.

Shane stared at her, slowly placing a fork full of pasta in his mouth. Never would he think Mitchie would suggest going out to a club. He had learned that she wasn't like any of the other girls he had dated before. She was more of a 'home-body' which he liked. He was a musician; he would be out and about all day so nothing appealed to him more than having a girlfriend he could just come home to and relax with. But then again, Shane hadn't been to a club in quite some time and he figured once he and Mitchie's week of freedom was up and Hayley was here, there wouldn't be too much clubbing.

The sound of Mitchie's fork crashing down on her plate took him out of his thoughts and he turned his attention to her.

"I'm heading to bed, do you wanna come with?" She asked standing up from the table.

Shane pushed himself away from the table a little bit and leaned back in his chair. "Nah, I think I'll stay here and clean up a little bit."

"Shane," Mitchie called out to him. "That really wasn't a question..."

Shane perked up in his seat finally catching on to what she was hinting at. "Oh, uh, let me just go brush my teeth. Nothing kills a mood like garlic breath." he joked running into the bathroom. Mitchie chuckled at him making her way to his bedroom.

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"Ugh," Shane groaned squinting his already closed eyes shut. He heard his phone ringing and he recognized the special ringtone. It was his dad calling. He was so comfortable in bed, Mitchie resting on his chest, he really had no will to move.

"Shane, answer it." Mitchie muttered as she moved her head from his body to a pillow.

Shane groaned again and sat up, reaching over to his dresser, grabbing the phone and answering it. "Hello?"

"Shane! Why the hell have you not been answering your phone?" Just as he expected, it was his dad and he was, as usual, upset.

"Sorry dad I'm just...tired." Shane said sparing his dad details.

"Please tell me you're tired because you stayed up all night doing something productive." A sly smile crept up onto Shane's face as if he dad could see him. He turned back to look at Mitchie, who was asleep and went back to the conversation.

"Yeah, you could say that."

"I don't even have the time to deal with that. Look, I booked the studio for you today. You need to go work on some stuff, okay?"

"Fine," Shane said with a long sigh.

"Oh and, don't bring Mitchie. After the scene you guys caused yesterday, I don't want you going out with her just yet, okay? See you in a few days, son."

Shane was about to protest his dad's request but he just didn't have the strength to. He was already tired and he'd have to spend all day in a studio, without Mitchie. He might have been twenty-four but his dad still treated him like he was sixteen. Shane pressed the 'End' button on his phone and rested it back on the dresser. All his sighing must have been pretty loud because he could feel Mitchie moving.

Mitchie, not being able to fall back asleep due to hearing Shane's conversation, reached down beside Shane's bed and grabbed the t-shirt he was wearing last night. She slipped the shirt over her head and crawled over to beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"We're not spending the day together are we?" She asked blatantly. Shane shook his head. "Well that sucks."

"Tell me about it. And the worst part is, my dad doesn't even want us going out in public together which ruins the plans we had for tonight. I was going to take you to my favorite club and everything..." Shane trailed off.

"Shane you have got to stop letting your dad control you like this. You're way too old to let him have this much rule over your life." Mitchie's words took Shane by surprise. "You shouldn't have to do anything you don't want to and it seems like everything your dad wants you to do is something you don't want to do."

She was right and Shane knew it. If even she could see it, it must have been pretty obvious. Shane would have to start taking some control over his own life. "You know what Mitchie? You're absolutely right. Forget what my dad says, tonight you and I are going out!"

"Wait, what about today? Are you still going to the studio?" Mitchie asked watching as Shane stood, walking over to his closet to grab a shirt since she was wearing his old one.

"Your whole speech kinda inspired me so I wanna go and write a quick song while I'm still inspired." Shane saw Mitchie's lips form a frown. "But while I'm gone, you take my credit card and you go get your nails and hair done and get yourself a new outfit it you want one."

Shane handed Mitchie the black plastic card, kissed her on the forehead and disappeared into the bathroom. Just as she was in the midst of some serious pouting, she remembered her thoughts at dinner last night. She had to "adapt". And everyone knows that "adapting" is ninety percent looking the part. Maybe she could use tonight to show Shane a "New Mitchie".

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Shane stood in front of the full-length mirror that was inside of his walk in closet and examined his outfit: red button-down dress-shirt paired with a black skinny tie and black blazer, dark straight-legged jeans and his favorite pair of his Steve Madden boots. He never usually dressed this nice to go out to a club but considering it'd be his first night out since he got back to L.A. he decided to dress for the occasion.

"Hey Mitchie are you almost ready? You've been in the bathroom for an hour and half. I'm sure whatever you think isn't perfect is..." Shane's sentenced trailed off as he turned around and saw her standing at the doorway of his closet.

"So, what do you think?" Shane muttered some incoherent phrases as he looked her up and down. Literally everything about her was perfect. Her dress, her heels, her hair and makeup: perfect. "Its not too much is it?"

"Oh no," Shane said quickly shaking his head. "You look amazing."

"Good. I was worried you wouldn't like it."

"How could I not like it? Like I said," He walked up to her and pushed some of her newly cut bangs out of her eyes. "You look amazing." With one more look he took her by the hands and took her from inside the closet into the living room.

"I called us a cab because I just assumed we'd both have a drink or two and I don't want us driving." Shane said grabbing his wallet and placing it in his back pocket. "I think its outside now. So we should probably get going–"

"Shane are you nervous?" Mitchie asked interrupting him. "You're starting to sound like me when I get nervous."

Shane's lips curled up into a small smile. "We're going out to a club against my dad's wishes, to say I'm nervous is a bit of an understatement. But don't worry. Once I get a drink in me, I'll relax and we'll have a good time, promise."

"Well then I guess we should get going so we can get you that drink ASAP." Mitchie said, pulling Shane toward the door by his skinny tie.

Within twenty minutes the couple had arrived at Parvenue, one of Shane's favorite clubs. He wasn't sure but he knew that there was a good chance he'd see some of his friends from the industry here. Back before the tour, they all used to hang out at this club.

After he paid the cab driver, Shane led Mitchie out of the cab and subsequently into a large crowd of flashing bulbs. Almost instinctively Shane tried to wrap a protective arm around Mitchie but was thrown off when she shrugged his gesture off. She instead turned to face them and gave cute little waves and smiles. Shane walked behind her slightly dumbfounded. Just twenty-four hours ago she hid from the paparazzi and now she was waving and smiling? It wasn't a bad thing but it definitely seemed slightly suspicious to him.

When they gained entrance into the club, the whole scene took Mitchie aback. Sure she had worked as a bartender but the bar she worked in was a sleepy little pub at best. This place was anything but sleepy. She felt Shane's breath on her ear, whispering words to her, but due to the sheer loudness of the earthshaking music which sounded like some remix of whatever popular dance song out now, she couldn't hear a thing. The flashing lights, which changed from blue to purple and different variations of those colors, nearly blinded her and the amount of people in the building was insane.

She snapped out of her thoughts when she felt Shane tugging at her hand, leading her to a small table away from the DJ's booth, near the bar. Upon sitting, she discovered this corner of the club was somewhat quieter than the rest. At least now she could partially hear Shane.

"What would you like to drink?" He yelled to her trying to amplify his voice. Mitchie shrugged and smiled. "I'll get you something with peach in it. You like peach don't you?"

Not being able to fully understand what he was saying, Mitchie just smiled and nodded. Shane flashed her a toothy grin of his own and stood up, walking over to the bar. He leaned over the green illuminated counter waiting for a bartender to take his order. He had to admit, being in that position brought back some interesting memories of his time in Arizona.

"Shane Gray is that you?" Shane turned to see who had spoke those words. He looked around for a second before spotting a familiar face.

"Ashley? Oh wow," The tall brunette ran up to Shane, throwing her arms around him, embracing him a hug. "Nice to see you!"

"Nice to see you, too? What are you doing here? Partying with Luke and the boys?" She asked referring to Shane's label mate Luke Williams.

Shane shook his head, his hair slightly moving as well. He hadn't had a decent haircut since his stay in Arizona so his hair had grown a bit. "No I'm here with my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend? You and Tess worked things out?"

"Not exactly..."

"Oh so you gave Peggy a chance?"

"You don't know her. I mean, if you want to meet her..."

"Of course! Any girl lucky enough to be dating my best friend Shane is deserving of my friendship."

"Cool, let me just get us some drinks first."

While Shane was away ordering drinks, Mitchie had taken the liberty of pulling out her cellphone and texting Nate to check up on Hayley. The younger Gray brother responded to her text with a silly picture of he and Hayley dressed up as a prince and princess. She giggled to herself before noticing Shane walking back to the table with their drinks...and an insanely tall, insanely gorgeous brunette. She stood up to greet Shane (and maybe this girl as well).

"Look who I found while I was getting drinks?" Shane asked with a huge grin on his face. "Mitchie, this is Ashley. She's a model who filmed a music video with Connect Three a while back. She's kinda a family friend. And Ashley, this is Mitchie, my girlfriend."

Ashley extended her hand which Mitchie grasped lightly and shook. There was something about the dumb grin on Shane's face when he was talking about this girl that didn't sit right with her. But she was a 'family friend' so it was probably best to play nice.

"Really nice to meet you Mitchie!" Ashley said ever so chipper.

"Likewise," Mitchie said, attempting to match her tone of voice.

Shane stood between the two girls with a smile on his face. This was great, he thought. Sure he had never mentioned Ashley to Mitchie before but he thought mentioning another woman to the one he was trying to win the affection of wasn't such a good idea. Now that they had met, however, Shane's head was filled with pretty little images of the two of them becoming best friends and all the amazing press that would come with that. Okay, maybe he was starting to think like his dad now but what better to way to help Mitchie adjust to his lifestyle with the press and paparazzi and everything than with the help from someone like Ashley who Shane trusted? Shane had full confidence that introducing the two was not only a good idea, but was one his dad would approve of. Mitchie wasn't the jealous type so what could possibly go wrong?

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Hope everyone liked this chapter! Thanks for reading! (Please Review!)