PRESENT DAY: NARRATOR POV

"We should just ask your parents," Mitchie said, thinking it was the obvious answer to all of their problems.

"We can do odd jobs. Wash cars, mow lawns, babysit, all that lame stuff that most people our age do!"

Mitchie wasn't over the moon about the means of getting money that Alex was talking about. She'd rather just not go if it took that much work when they'd only have one week to make the money. It would take a couple thousand dollars just to fly down there, leave aside money for parties and shopping and food and shelter... There was no way in Hell they'd make enough money in time by doing "odd jobs" and Mitchie knew it.

"Let me handle it," Mitchie said after a few minutes of awkward "there's-no-way-in-Hell-we're-doing-that" silence.

Alex knew that it didn't mean anything good was going to happen when Mitchie said she'd "handle" something. It didn't mean good things were going to happen when she said she'd do anything and Alex could only imagine the ways Mitchie would think of getting that much money so fast. While Alex quietly panicked and scrutinized her friend's normally terrible decision making, Mitchie was quick to think of all the places she could hit up for cash. She knew that Alex's parents wouldn't give them the money for plane tickets unless it was to go back home to Texas to visit Mitchie's family and both of their old friends from middle school and the first half of high school.

She began concocting a plan, possibly her best, (and most illegal,) idea ever. Her idea was to convince Alex's parents, who were loaded with cash that they constantly spent on all the wrong things, to give them the money to "visit Mitchie's family" and then somehow get the rest. Mitchie might have been emancipated, but her and her family still got along great. The only reason she'd even removed herself from the family at sixteen was because they were hard-up for cash and it was too difficult for them to pay bills unless Mitchie worked and helped with rent. Instead of getting a job in Austin, Mitchie decided that when Alex's family moved from Texas to California, that she would go with them and get a job and a cheap little studio apartment. That's what she did. For two years she'd paid her own rent, bought her own food, held a job at a hotel, and had even saved up some of her money for concerts, parties, clothes and other little things she wanted. But even "Moderate-spender Mitchie" couldn't afford this trip.

"Okay. You know how your mom and dad asked us if we wanted to go visit my parents for a week before we went off to Stanford?" Mitchie asked, hoping with everything she had that Alex remembered them talking about it and even moreso that Jerry and Theresa remembered the conversation as well.

"Yeah, why?" Alex asked, entirely clueless.

"They said they'd pay for it, right?" Mitch asked, hoping Alex would catch on, but she didn't.

"Yeah, but I don't see how Texas is any fun. I mean, yeah, your family is awesome and they let you do whatever you want, but that seems like a lame vacation if you ask me." Alex still wasn't picking it up.

"Okay, so they'd pay for plane tickets?" Mitchie was getting irritated that Alex, her best friend who could finish her sentences and predict her every move, wasn't getting anything she was trying to point out.

"Yeah. My dad said he'd write us a check for the amount for the plane tickets, but I don't see how that- OH MY GOD, YOU'RE BRILLIANT MITCHIE!"

She finally got it.

"THERE YOU GO. You are finally starting to get it!"

"Okay, so plane tickets are covered... Now we just need a few hundred to pay for a shitty motel and some food. I think American money is worth more down there anyways, so that should cover it. Now we just need-"

"New bikinis," Alex said, excitement and mischief in her voice for the first time since Mitchie had brought up the idea in the first place.

After a long pause, Mitch decided to pipe up.

"Yeah, okay. Sure. We need new bathing suits. Where are your priorities, Lexi?"

Mitchie didn't know it, but Alex's priorities were right where she wanted them. New suits meant that they'd have to go shopping and that meant that Mitchie would want to know what Alex thought of whatever she tried on in the fitting room. That meant that Alex would get to stare at her friend in bathing suits for what would probably be hours. They always took an eternity when they went shopping because they liked to make sure they both looked perfect everywhere they went.

I need to seriously just shut up sometimes, Alex thought to herself.

Bathing suits? Come on! This is almost as awkward as the concert! Alex was just getting used to liking Mitchie as more of a friend and she wanted to push it out of her head.

Flashback 02 : "The Concert Pt. 3" : Chapter 3 Used

Junior Year of High School

They made their way into the venue and held their breath as they waited in the enormous line leading up to the door. There were people everywhere wearing shirts, bracelets, and jackets with Demi's face and name on them, holding posters, cameras, and glow sticks, excited for the night ahead.

"Oh my God, only like... Ten more minutes!" Mitchie practically screeched.

"I know! I don't think I've been more excited in my entire life. This line needs to hurry the heck up!"

At that point, Alex didn't care if her parents caught her, it was worth it.

They neared the door and the usher took their tickets and stamped their hands. They pushed through the door and found the merch booth and bought some Lovato swag then spent a few minutes trying to find their seats, only to find that the general admission tickets they'd paid for put them up front, where there were no seats. The floor in front of the stage was packed with screaming teenagers and the stage lights were completely black until they heard the steady thump of a kick drum.

The lights came up and in the middle of the stage was Demi, tapping her foot to the drum, waiting for her queue to start the song. The guitars came in and everyone started screaming, going insane. Alex's all time favorite song was blaring in her ears and she began to lose herself in "The Middle." The song played through and the end neared as Alex opened her eyes and looked down to notice herself holding Mitchie's hand tightly, the two of them in complete awe.

"How's everyone doing tonight?" Demi shouted.

Everyone shouted and hollered, putting a large smile on Demi's face.

"Good to hear! This song's called "Catch Me!" Hope you like it!"

Most of the night went about the same. The two girls watched in amazement as their favorite singer belted out all of their favorite songs, as they held hands and waved their hands in the air during the slow songs and jumped up and down to the fast ones.

After the concert ended, they began their walk outside, completely silent, still stewing in the moment.

"Hey, thanks for coming! It means a lot to me!" they heard in the distance to their left.

"Oh my God, is that her?" Alex whispered into Mitchie's ear.

"Holy fucking shit, it is. Okay, we need to haul ass over there now."

Mitchie practically dragged a paralyzed Alex to their left and speed-walked to where Demi was.

"What if we annoy her? I can't talk to her! She doesn't know me. Stop walking, Mitch!"

"Shut up, you big baby. She loves fans. Stop freaking out, Lexi."

"But..."

"Stop it. It's fine."

Mitchie was now holding Alex's face, trying to talk her into shutting up and just talking to Demi.

"But... Okay."

They walked up to Demi after waiting in a line that seemed to last forever and the closer they got to her, the more nervous they both got. Mitchie wouldn't ever admit it, but she was just as nervous as Alex on the inside. Alex was never good at hiding her panic.

"Hi." Alex was rushing to get it over with because she was scared Demi wouldn't like her or that she had something else to do.

"Hey guys! What's up? What are your names?" Demi said.

"Uhm... I'm Mitchie and the one dying on my arm is Alex."

"Well hi Mitchie and Alex! Did you enjoy the show?"

She seemed genuinely interested in talking to her fans.

"Oh my God, yes. It was seriously so perfect. I can't even explain how awesome you are. Like, I'm dying right now because I'm talking to you because this is like a dream come true and I can't even fathom what's-"

"Jesus, Alex, breathe. Shit," Mitchie said.

Demi laughed and reached for her water bottle.

"Sorry," Alex said.

"Don't be sorry. I'd probably do the same thing if I was meeting someone famous," Demi said sincerely.

"But you're famous... How does that work?" Mitchie said, curious.

"Yeah, but I'm still human. Plus, I'm new at this whole "Hollywood" thing, so every time I meet someone famous I get all sweaty and start stuttering. It's really bad, so I totally get it. It's just weird when people are like that with me because I don't really see myself that way."

"Oh, okay. That makes sense. Anyways, we were wondering if you'd take pictures with us? Alex is pretty much in love with you," Mitchie said.

"Oh my God Mitch, don't tell her that!" Alex said in a hushed tone while hitting Mitchie's arm.

"Don't worry about it. Alex, you're hot so y'know, I don't mind."

Demi winked playfully, joking around with them.

"Wait what?" Alex asked.

"Calm down Alex, I think she was just trying to kid around with you. Stop being a bag of nerves, she's just another human."

Mitchie was doing her best to keep Alex relaxed, to no avail.

"You guys are hilarious. So did you want anything signed?" Demi asked, reaching for the Sharpie in her pocket.

"Uhm, Hell yeah we want this shit signed. I mean, how else am I gonna pay my rent?" Mitchie joked.

"Oh man, you're awesome. We're totally besties," Demi said in between little laughs.

"Totes," Mitchie replied, handing Demi the shirt she'd purchased at the booth.

"Your handwriting is perfect," Alex said, handing her shirt to Demi.

"You're seriously adorable Alex"

Demi Lovato just called me adorable. I'm going to die.

Alex was losing it, not able to breathe, just hyperventilating the entire time.

"Okay, well I've got to sign some more things and take some pictures for some more people, but it was so nice meeting you guys. And Alex, remember, I'm still just a person so don't be so nervous next time I meet you, okay?"

"Okay," was all Alex could manage.

Mitchie and Alex both hugged Demi and started walking out to the parking garage.

"That really just happened. Holy shit."

"Alex, did you just cuss? Damn, this must be huge for you, huh?" Mitchie said as she playfully poked Alex's side.

"Uhm, yeah it's a big deal! We just talked to Demi freakin' Lovato and she told me I was adorable. Life is officially perfect."

They got into the car and headed to the motel where they'd reserved a room. They checked into their room, which was a dingy and run down motel in the middle of the city.

"Thanks for being with me through every amazing moment, Mitch. I love you," Alex said as they turned the lights out and got ready for bed.

"Thank you Lexi. I love you too. You're the best friend I've ever had."

"Night Mitch."

"Night Lexi."