After a couple of hours, the plane finally landed. Alex wanted to run and get out of the plane as fast as she could, but sadly enough, she had to wait for first class to exit before she could make her move. Her first flight to California was dreadful. Babies were crying, people kept on bumping into her, and Harper wouldn't stop talking to Shane, confessing her love to his band.

Alex liked Shane, no doubt about it. At first, she thought of him as that guy from that band who blew up on people. But now she actually knew that guy – and she actually knew what that band was called. As the time passed by, she found Shane as a really cool guy. (Minus his annoying, flirty and conceited attitude.) "So really, what brings you guys here to California?" Shane asked the two girls, but really paying attention to Alex.

"Oh, well, I don't know if we should tell you. You'll probably hate us and want us to go back to New York." Harper said nervously. Alex rolled her eyes at her best friend's choice of words. Shane on the other hand, laughed.

"No I won't. How can I hate two beautiful ladies?" He said, handing Harper and Alex their belongings before getting his own. Harper giggled while Alex tried not to roll her eyes again or smile.

"Well actually, we're the winners of the radio contest. You know the winners you said that you didn't want to meet." Alex said pointedly.

"Oh," Shane said. Alex nodded before taking the rest of her stuff and leading the way out of the airplane. "Alex, wait!" Shane called out. Alex smirked and stopped, turning slightly towards Shane and wiping her smile off of her face, giving him a fake annoyed look. "I'm glad that you're the winner of the contest and that you're gonna hang out with me for the next couple days." Alex raised an eyebrow while Harper cleared her throat. "I mean, I'm happy that you're both winners and that you're gonna hang out with us." Shane said. Alex laughed and shook her head.

"Come on, Harper." She said, taking her best friend's arm and dragging her out of the plane. The two froze as they officially entered the airport. They felt the instant heat of the southern California weather and smelled the fresh scent of the city. "Wow, it's hot." Alex said, fanning herself with her hand.

"Yeah, you are." Shane said, winking at Alex before putting his shades on. Alex gave Shane a look before taking Harper's hand and dragging her towards the baggage claim.

"I think Shane Gray likes you." Harper whispered loudly towards Alex.

"No, I think that he just flirts with every girl he sees." Alex said, aggravated. She looked behind her shoulder to find Shane barely trailing behind them. She smiled a little. "But I wouldn't mind having a pop star boyfriend. Especially if he's cute." Harper giggled and they grabbed their luggage.

--

Nate sighed, depressed, as he and Jason were on their way to the airport. As much as he wanted to be happy and put a smiling face on for the two lucky winners, he just couldn't. He missed his girlfriend – ex-girlfriend – so much; he didn't think that he could be able to smile for a while.

Nate suddenly heard his cell phone ringing. He rolled his eyes to see Shane's name pop up on his caller ID. He reluctantly answered it. Shane beat him to the hello before Nate could even open his mouth.

"Dude, I met this amazing girl! And the best part is that she and her friend are the winners of that stupid radio contest that our manager forced us to do! Nate, you have got to meet this girl. She's really not like any other girl out there." Shane said into the phone.

"What do you mean that you met the winner already? Oh and where the hell are you?! I can't believe you just took a freaking plane to New York like that, Shane! Would it kill you to be more responsible next time?!" Nate said.

"Relax, dad, God, you act like a forty-year-old loser who wears pants that are way too tight. I'm at the airport so chill. I'll meet you guys here. But, I'm guessing someone got dumped by his girlfriend." Shane scoffed.

"Ugh, I don't want to talk about it, Shane. Just stay where you are and don't cause any more trouble than you already did." Nate said, snapping his phone shut angrily. He sighed in frustration and leaned back against the seat. Jason looked at him and gave him a cheery smile.

"Hey, don't be sad, Nate. Maybe we'll have fun with these two girls. Maybe you'll find another girl that will love you no matter where she is, who she is, or what she's doing." Jason said, giving his youngest brother a comforting look. Nate sighed.

"Yeah, I'll do anything to have a girl like that." He mumbled, turning towards the other side to stare at the window. Jason patted Nate's arm. The car stopped in front of the airport shortly. Nate sighed. "Let's get this over with." He muttered, putting his sunglasses on and stepping out of the car.

"So, Alex, you're going to love hanging out with me – I mean us. You – and Harper – are going to have the time of your life!" Shane said. Alex smiled and nodded at him before giving Harper a 'help' look.

"So Shane, I get to meet Jason right?!" Harper said, completely cutting Shane off before he could talk. Shane laughed and nodded at Harper. He's never met a girl who couldn't stop talking about Jason and not himself instead. "Oh, my God, Jason is so cute and so adorable! I love him!" Harper squealed, her inner fan girl coming out.

"Oh, gosh." Alex said, shaking her head.

"Jason is so amazing and funny." Harper sighed, drifting off to her dreamland.

"Aw, that's so sweet." A voice said. The three turned around to meet the two other members of Connect 3. Harper squealed and ran up to Jason, throwing her arms around him, confessing her so-called 'undying passionate love' to him. Jason laughed. "Hi, nice to meet you too." He said, patting her back, amused.

"I'm sorry; it's just that she's in love with you." Alex said, prying Harper off of the poor man. Jason laughed again.

"It's alright. Anyways, your names?"

"Harper Finkle!" Harper yelled, ready to hug Jason again, but Alex strained her. "Oh, and this is Alex." Harper said, finally calming down. Alex smiled at them, but she couldn't help herself at staring Nate. She grinned timidly while he nodded his head at her before looking away. Alex bit her lip, feeling like she did something wrong.

"Harper, what's his name?" Alex whispered, pointing inconspicuously at Nate.

"Oh, that's Nate." Harper whispered back before she continued to gush out her feelings towards Jason. Alex smiled at Nate, liking how quiet and mysterious he was. She snapped out of her thoughts, feeling as if that inner fan girl feeling hidden deep beneath her was starting to reach up. She definitely did not want that.

Shane noticed Alex staring at his little brother. He looked at her in confusion, wondering why she's not looking at him like that, why she's focusing on Nate instead of him. "So, girls, what do you want to do today? For the next five days we will do whatever you want to do." Shane said, smiling at Harper and Alex. Alex snapped out of her trance and looked at Shane.

"Oh, well I want to go to sleep, kick back, and relax. I have jetlag." Alex said, yawning. "It's night time at New York."

"But we could go out to dinner. Have you ever had dinner in front of the Pacific Ocean?" Shane pressed, desperately wanting to spend time with Alex. Alex shook her head and rubbed her eyes.

"Sorry, but I'll pass."

"But-"

"Dude, if she's tired, then let her sleep. God, I've never seen you this desperate for a girl in ages." Nate spoke up, annoyed by Shane. Alex smiled at Nate while Shane glared at him. Jason and Harper chuckled silently at the sight. Nate ignored the stares and turned to Alex. "We could take you to our house if you want to get some rest. The guest room is all ready and set up for you and Harper." He told her, grabbing her bags for her and putting it in the car.

Alex blushed at the act of kindness. She felt giddy and fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. For some reason, she couldn't stop moving or stop looking at Nate. She completely blamed that inner fan girl feeling. "I could take your bags for you." Shane said, grabbing the rest of Alex's bags as he noticed her stare at Nate again. He quickly followed Nate to the car and placed them in there. Alex snapped out of her thoughts again and gave Shane a small smile.

"Thanks, guys." She said. Nate grabbed Harper's luggage and placed them gently in the trunk before closing it.

"Okay, let's go home." Nate said, his voice bored. He opened the car door and sat in the seat. Alex practically ran behind him, desperately wanting to sit next to him. Harper scooted next to Alex without taking her love struck gaze away from Jason. Shane indignantly opened the other door and took the seat in front of the three with Jason trailing behind him.

Harper stares at Jason dreamily, Jason stares at Shane, confused, Shane stares at Alex yearningly, Alex stares at Nate longingly, and Nate stares out of the window, wishing that he could be with someone else.

It was a long and silent car ride.

--

"Wow, your house is amazing!" Alex said, looking around in amazement. She walked backwards in a circle in the living room, staring at the colored glass roof.

"Thanks." "I know, right?" Nate and Shane said simultaneously. Alex smiled at Nate.

"Aw, you're so modest, Nate." She said. Nate gave her a small smile before looking back down. Shane shot another glare at his little brother before smiling back at Alex. He offered her his arm and she awkwardly took it.

"I'll show you your guest room." He said, picking up her bags and leading her to the guest room.

"Uh, okay?" Alex said. She looked behind her shoulder to see Nate, his eyes still fixed to the ground, his expression still lonely. "What's wrong with Nate? He looks really sad." Alex said, her voice turning into a whisper. Shane sighed and glanced at his brother again.

"He and his girlfriend just broke up. He's really down right now, and he definitely isn't over Hannah. They were each other's first loves." Shane said. Alex frowned at the word love. "Anyways, this is your room!" He waved his arm in front of him as if they were staying at a 5-Star hotel.

It was a simple bedroom, no doubt a guest room, yet it still had a cozy and welcoming feeling. The walls were off-white, as was the ceiling. On the far wall opposite them was a large wardrobe, which Alex could probably fit in. Jutting into the middle of the room was a queen-sized bed, with a black iron head board and light blue sheets. Across from the bed was a small dresser and attached mirror.

"Wow." Was all Alex could say as she stepped into the quiet room. "It's so…" She struggled for an adjective. "Pretty." She mentally slapped her self. Pretty? She thought. Shane chuckled.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that. This is one of my mom's favorite rooms. Besides hers and my dad's." He smiled, looking at the walls. Alex's eyes fell on something.

"No way!" She cried, excitement filling her blood. She ran towards the wardrobe and next to it pulled back floor-length curtains. Behind them it revealed a sliding glass door. "I get a balcony?!" She exclaimed.

"Yup. You can go outside if you want." Shane helped her open the door and they stepped outside. A huge in-ground pool took up half the backyard. "If you want, we could go swimming sometime." Shane suggested.

"Possibly." Alex mumbled. At the other end of the balcony she saw another door. "Hey, whose room is that?" She asked pointing towards it.

"Oh, that's Nate's room. He hardly ever comes out here though. I keep telling him if he doesn't use it then I should have his room." He scoffed. Alex smiled to herself. The idea that Nate's room was right next to hers made her feel happy inside. Ugh, Harper's Obsessive Connect 3 Disorder is rubbing off on me. Alex thought shamefully. Suddenly a high pitched screech was heard.

"Harper." Alex said simply. Shane laughed.

"Should we go see what's up?" He asked. Alex shrugged.

"Sure, why not?" They stepped back into Alex's temporary room and into the hallway. Alex stopped and glanced at Nate's door.

"The other guest room is down here." Shane said, getting Alex to follow him. They walked down the rest of the long hallway and found Nate and Jason trying to calm Harper down.

"Oh gosh, Harper, what did you break?" Alex asked. Jason began laughing and she even saw Nate crack a little smile.

"Nothing. But Alex guess what?! My guest room is right next to Jason's bedroom! Isn't that so cool?" Harper said excitedly.

"Definitely." Alex smiled and turned to Nate. "And mine is next to Nate's I think, right Nate?" Looking up through his curls, Nate for the first time actually looked at Alex. Before he was just glancing at her and giving her small smiles, but this time Alex and Nate's eyes locked. It felt as if there weren't three other people standing around them, and a little jolt ran through Nate's body that made him think Hannah Montana was the most stupid name in the world. Catching on that two certain fifteen-year olds weren't breaking eye contact anytime soon, Shane coughed a little loudly, making both Nate and Alex unfortunately glance towards him. Or, more like glare.

"So, what do you guys want to do first? We can be like Alex and sleep," He gave her a playful smile that she didn't catch, because she was timidly stealing looks at Nate, "or we can watch a movie, or eat some food…" Shane continued, trying to make conversation.

"Oh! Is it true that you guys have like, a recording room right here in your house?!" Harper blurted out. All three brothers smiled.

"Yeah, actually, we do!" Jason said enthusiastically.

"You want to see it?" Shane asked. Harper nodded like a mad woman and they led her to it. Nate followed them and Alex matched her pace with his.

"We haven't really officially met, have we?" She asked. Nate looked up into her shimmering brown eyes. He couldn't help but smile.

"Not exactly, but I think we know each others' names." He said with one eye brow raised. Alex giggled-wait, giggled?! Okay, something was definitely up. She knew she rarely ever acted like this in front of boys.

"Uh, uhm, y-yeah. I'm Alex." She smiled, feeling embarrassed, but Nate found it very cute how she was stumbling on her words.

"And I'm Nate. Nice to…meet you." They laughed and he stuck his hand out. Alex looked down at it for a second and trying to stay calm, fit her hand in his own. Both felt a shock run through their bodies, like nothing they ever felt before. Realizing they had been shaking hands for longer than a minute, they pulled away, blushing and embarrassed.

"Alex, Nate?" They heard Shane call from downstairs. His head popped out and his body followed. "There you guys are, c'mon!" He called up to them.

"After you." Nate said, gesturing for Alex to walk in front of him.

"Thanks." As she walked down the steps, Alex couldn't help but think how much of a gentlemen Nate was.

The three of them walked into the small recording studio, to see Jason showing Harper the instruments. "I found them!" Shane announced, while placing an arm around Alex's shoulder. He lowered his mouth to her ear. "What were you two doing?" He whispered.

"Oh you know, just talking, getting to know each other." She quietly said back.

"Do you girls want to hear us play some of a song we're working on?" Nate asked, almost shocking everyone that he spoke up. Alex smiled and so did Harper.

"Sure!" They said simultaneously. They then looked at each other and started laughing. As the boys entered the studio, Harper nudged Alex.

"Hey Alex, do you…ya know, like Nate?" She asked. This caught Alex by surprise. She hadn't really thought about it, but she didn't want Nate to think she was like all the other crazed fan girls that just liked his looks.

"What? Psh, not me. That's crazy." She replied, acting cool. Harper bought it, but Alex knew the truth. She was secretly falling for Nate.

Wow that was long. Haha.