Prologue

"So… They're from France right?"

"No, Jason. They're called French fries, but they were made in America."

Jason furrowed his brow and cocked his head at his younger band mate. "But they must be from France, because it has the word French in it!" Nate seemed like he was on the verge of a mental breakdown as he tried to instill it in his friend's head that French fries were not from France. Not to mention the fact that Jason's innocently blank expression was unnerving.

"French toast isn't from France, and that has the word in it. The French braid didn't originate in France, and that has the word French in it," he said slowly, and Jason squinted, concentrating. "Just because it says 'French' doesn't necessarily mean that's where it's from. You understand?"

"Are you sure?" he asked suspiciously.

Nate sighed. "Yes, Jason, I'm sure."

"Are you really sure?"

"Yes, Jason, I'm really sure."

"Are you really, really sure?"

"Yes, I'm really, really sure Jason!"

"Guys, please," Shane laughed, tossing a ketchup packet at Nate, who didn't seem too startled. They glanced at each other and smiled sheepishly as they settled back into their cushy seats in the McDonald's booth. Jason picked at his fries some more, muttering, "American French fries," under his breath as if he still didn't believe it.

Mitchie smiled brightly and shook her head. "You know, you two seem to be at such odds with each other a lot. I don't understand how you can keep a band together at all. Except for the fact that Shane seems to be able to bridge the gap between you guys."

Jason nodded fervently, pointing dramatically at their lead singer. "He's the reason Connect Three connected!"

For once, Nate agreed. "Yeah, Jason's right."

"I am?" he said excitedly. Nate held in a sigh and nodded, causing Jason to yell out in victory. For a moment, Nathan pressed his forehead against the plastic table in exasperation, taking deep breaths, before sitting up as if nothing happened. Jason didn't notice, too excited to find that he was right for once.

Mitchie turned to look at her boyfriend with wide eyes. "You brought Connect Three together?"

He rolled his eyes. "They like to exaggerate a little bit, Mitchie, I promise. I didn't really do much of anything, it was a group effort." He stressed the last two words and Nate shook his head in disbelief. Mitchie knitted her eyebrows together, looking between Nate and Shane, trying to figure out who was telling the truth.

Laughing, Jason said, "You're being modest Shane! That's cute!" He grabbed the youngest member's arm and shook it with anticipation, "Nate, Nate! I think we should tell Mitchie how we met at Camp Rock!" Shane's expression dropped into a scowl as Mitchie's burst into one of curiosity.

"Shane's never told me that before," she said, completely oblivious to Shane's deepening glare directed at his two closest friends.

Jason grinned. "I'll start!"

Shane grimaced. "Jason, I wouldn't trust you to tell the story of Cinderella correctly, much less how we met. I'll tell it, since Mitchie is so interested to hear." She shrugged and gave him an innocent smile. Jason pouted, crossing his arms over his chest and slouching in his seat.

"Fine," he muttered, obviously disappointed. Nate and Mitchie gave him sympathetic smiles as Shane began to speak.