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Rick watched Jade walk into the studio, and chuckled.

"Wow, Jade," he laughed. She glared at him playfully. Mike walked in a few seconds after her and smiled at Rick.

"She really did a number there," he laughed. Rick smiled. He sighed. Mike and Jade looked at him oddly.

"What?" Mike asked. Rick looked at them.

"Well, do you want the good news first?" he asked. Jade's eyes widened.

"Yes," she said. Rick sighed.

"You're tour is all set and ready to do," he smiled. Mike and Jade smiled.

"And the bad news?" Mike asked.

"Who said there was bad news?" Rick laughed, "Just better news." Jade laughed, and sighed with relief.

"You're album is completely and totally finished," Rick told her, "I just finished the mixing." Jade beamed.

"How about we go and have lunch to celebrate?" Mike asked. Jade smiled. Rick sighed.

"I really can't, Mike, sorry," he muttered, "I promised my wife I'd spend some time with her." Mike laughed, shaking his head.

"That's okay," he smiled, "You go and have fun with your wife. Jade and I will have lunch." He smiled over at Jade. She grinned back at him. Rick smiled and the two watched him leave. Mike looked at Jade.

"So, there's this new cafe downtown," he grinned, "You wanna check it out?" She smiled.

"Of course," she laughed. Mike laughed and they took his SUV to the cafe. They were seated outside on the patio. A waiter greeted them.

"Hi, my name is Greg," the guy smiled, "What can I get you to drink?" Jade thought for a moment.

"Iced tea, please," she smiled. Mike grinned.

"I'll have the same," he told Greg, who smiled and walked away to get their drinks. Mike smiled over at Jade.

"So, how's it feel to know that your album is done?" he asked. She sighed and thought for a moment.

"I suppose it won't really FEEL done until I'm holding it in my hand, right?" she laughed. Mike chuckled as Greg brought them their iced teas.

"What can I get you to eat?" he asked. Mike looked over at Jade.

"Uhh," she sat for a moment trying to decide, "A chicken panini, please," she smiled. Greg nodded, smiling and looked at Mike.

"Mmm," he thought, "Make mine a turkey and cheese panini." Greg nodded.

"I'll put your order right in," he turned on his heel and walked away. Jade grabbed some sugar for her tea. Mike watched her. He was starting to notice little things about her that he hadn't before. Her hands were so tiny compared to his massive palms. She seemed to do everything delicately, yet, somewhat messily. He liked that. He caught himself staring and sighed, looking around. Jade glanced up at him.

"Something wrong?" she asked. He looked at her.

"What? Oh no, nothing," he smiled. She shrugged and stirred her drink. Mike scruntched his eyes in thought. God, she was good at knowing when something wasn't right. Maybe a little too good. Jade put down her spoon, and sighed, looking up at him.

"Mike, I wanted to talk to you about the other night," she muttered. He looked at her.

"What?" he asked, "You don't like the pictures I took? Because I can take new ones."

"No," she cut him off. "I mean, about...after you walked out." He looked at her. He'd known what she meant. He just hadn't thought she would say anything.

"I...didn't mean to catch you at such a bad time," she muttered, looking at her hands. Mike looked up at her.

"Oh, no!" he cried, "No, it's fine. I just..." he paused for a moment. He was never able to talk to anyone about the situation with Anna. He felt a little more at ease with Jade. "My wife and I got divorced a few months ago," he muttered. Jade looked up at him.

"I see," she said blandly. She didn't know what else to say, even if it felt too cold to say that. Mike shrugged.

"I don't really know how to feel about it, you know?" he asked. "Things were getting a bit rocky between us before she even file for divorce." He was rambling. He didn't care, though. It felt good to tell someone that would listen. "I suppose I hurt about it...but not as much as I could, you know?" She nodded. He sighed. "Maybe Anna wasn't the person who I was supposed to end up with." Jade looked up at him. He was staring at the ice in his glass. She felt bad for him then. But they were both awoken from their trance by Greg, who sat their plates down.

"Enjoy," he smiled, and sidled away. The two ate in silence. Greg brought them their check soon after. Mike smiled, and muttered a 'thank you,' pulling out his wallet. Jade took out her purse.

"Mm-nuh-uh," Mike said to her, "I'm paying for this." She looked at him.

"I can't let you do that," she said. Mike laughed.

"Too much pride?" he asked. She laughed.

"No," she smiled. She watched him. "If you want to pay for it." She chuckled. Mike grinned and walked over to pay Greg. Jade smirked and waited for him before going back through the cafe to go to his SUV. They drove back to the Laurel House. Mike opened the door for her and she walked in to see the rest of the Linkin Park guys sitting on various chairs near Rick, laughing at something. They looked up when she came in.

"Hey, Jade!" Joe smiled. Jade smiled at him,

"Hey there," she grinned. Rick smiled.

"We were just talking with Mark, the guys' tour manager," he told them. Jade sat down next to Chester. Mike stood behind her.

"Looks like you guys will be opening your tour in Hanover," he said. Mike nodded.

"Cool," he muttered. Jade looked up at him. Her heart was hammering through her chest. Of course, he and the rest of Linkin Park were used to this type of thing. She, on the other hand, was terrified. She'd never done anything like this before. She sighed heavily and looked at Mike again. He was towering over her like some sort of authority figure. It made her feel, somehow, a little more safe. Mike looked down at her, noticed her looking at him, and gave her a reassuring smile. He knew how scary this had to be for her.

"You guys will be taking off from the airport tomorrow afternoon," he explained to them. Jade swallowed hard. That was so soon! She sighed. Her life as a rockstar was about to begin.