*Benji*

I played with my salad boredly. I wasn't really hungry... and all I could think about was Mike. And the show tonight. I was kinda nervous about the show tonight... it would be the first one of the tour. The tour itself wasn't very long... I think it would last through maybe six shows.

"You okay?" Joel asked me softly when he noticed how quiet I'd been.

"Yeah," I nodded, "Just got a lot on my mind is all."

"Care to share?" Joel offered, "Or... share when there's not so many people around to hear."

I nodded, deciding to stop keeping things from him and to just tell him what was on my mind... which was Mike. "After dinner," I told him. Joel nodded, squeezing my shoulder gently. "I'm here for you Benj... don't forget that."

I nodded, thanking god as the rest of the band was getting ready to leave. "When does the show start?" I asked as we left.

"At... six," Billy replied, looking at his watch, "And we have a half hour to get back there."

*~*~*~*

*Mike*

"Ready for the show Noda?" Chester grinned at me as we waited backstage for the crew to tell us it was our time to go on. I nodded with a smile, hoping that Benji would be back in enough time to see our set.

"Can't wait," I smiled, slapping a high-five with him as the rest of Linkin Park joined us at the side stage to wait for our signal to go on.

We got our signal and ran onstage, the darkened stage keeping us hidden from the crowd's view. "Hello New York!" Chester yelled out to the crowd through his mic, "Are you ready to make noise?!"

I chuckled as the crowd screamed loudly in response. Rob counted off on his drumsticks and we broke into our first song.

*~*~*~*

*Benji*

I ran into the backstage area, eager not to miss a minute of Linkin Park's set. That, and I wanted to see Mike again. I grinned as I spotted them onstage, Mike singing along with Chester, to one of their songs that I'd never heard before.

He was amazing onstage... it was like he lived there... like it was where he belonged. And he probably did. As the song ended, Mike looked my way and caught my gaze, grinning at me. I smiled back and winked at him, giving him a thumbs up to let him know that he was doing an awesome job.

"Well New York, have you enjoyed the show so far?" Chester called out to the crowd. They screamed in response and Mike said, "This is our last song before Good Charlotte comes onstage to rock this place!"

I chuckled as the crowd screamed even more, before Chester said, "Hey guys, don't go too insane in the pitt now! We don't need anyone killed in there!"

I watched intently, or more like, watched Mike intently as they performed their last song. I really thought I was falling for him... when I'd only met him last night. There was just something different about him.

They ran offstage and I was caught off guard as Mike hugged me tightly. "Oh man... that was such a rush!" he exclaimed, a huge grin on his face. I laughed and hugged him back, and it was then that we heard the crowd cheering for them again.

"They want an encore!" I grinned at Mike as his bandmates ran back onstage, "Go give them what they want!"

My eyes widened in shock as Mike kissed me roughly, before grinning and running back onstage with his bandmates. He'd kissed me... Mike kissed me. That thought alone was enough to make me grin from ear to ear. I couldn't believe he'd kissed me... maybe he did it just from the after-show adrenaline rush. Or maybe... maybe he meant it.

*~*~*~*

*Mike*

I kissed Benji. I didn't know why I did it... but I did. And it felt... right. I watched their set in awe, amazed at how Benji and Joel's harmonies seemed to blend together perfectly. It was obvious that they were twins; if not by looks, then by the way their harmonies were perfectly in sync.

I felt a grin spreading on my lips as Good Charlotte's set ended, and they thanked the crowd and ran offstage. I laughed as Benji hugged me tightly, before saying, "I love performing live!"

I giggled and nodded as he let me go. "Oh man... I'm too wired for my own good," he laughed, "Wanna go back to the hotel with me and blow off some steam? Maybe a horror movie?"

"Sounds good," I grinned, blushing as he took my hand in his.

He may have done it from the adrenaline rush he was feeling, or because he wanted to, but at that moment I couldn't really care either way. "We can hail a cab," Benji told me, "I'll pay."

I smiled and nodded, still aware of the fact that he was still holding my hand tightly. I felt like I was walking on Cloud 9 as we climbed into the yellow cab and headed towards the hotel.

Everything after that seemed to be a blur until we were sitting in the living room of his band's room and watching the movie Jason X. I couldn't believe how dazed and lost in Benji I got when I was around him. It was like nothing else existed but him and me.

I really didn't like horror movies, but I didn't wanna make Benji think I was some kinda wuss or anything, so I tried to watch it and pay attention, but when Jason killed one of the characters in a really gruesome way, I couldn't help but grimace and look away.

"Not a big fan of horror movies?" Benji asked me, giggling slightly, "Aww, c'mere."

I pouted playfully but allowed him to pull me into his arms, so I was leaning back against his chest. "I won't let Jason get you, I promise," Benji teased me, wrapping his arms around my waist protectively, "Mike? Can I ask you something?"

I turned enough to look up at him and nodded. Benji licked his lips before saying, "Mike... would you... be my boyfriend?"

Hearing him say that was like hearing that Linkin Park was bigger than The Beatles. I smiled widely and nodded, kissing him roughly. "I'd love to!"

*~*~*~*