Game On: Shane/Mitchie: Truth-or-Dare

Shane Gray, rock star extraordinaire, was sitting on a dock, letting his legs dangle off the edge. He looked at the reflection of the stars in the clear lake water, and marveled at the beauty of it. Before this summer, you would've never caught Shane Gray, bad boy to the press, sitting down on the ground, and enjoying nature.

He himself was shocked when he compared himself at that moment to who he had been 2 months before. He knew he had one person to thank, and that was the one person he was unsure of, the one person he was a little scared of (not that he'd ever admit it), the one person he was waiting for. The one person whose name was Mitchie Torres.

Though he did not know it, Mitchie Torres, normal 17-year-old girl, was behind him. She had started toward him, but stopped. A few hours before, at Final Jam, she had been confident. Excited, even, that she had a second chance with Shane, the boy whom she saw underneath the pop star (not that she'd ever call him that to his face) exterior. Now, she was nervous, and a little nauseous.

Just as Mitchie had decided to turn around and run away, Shane sensed someone behind him. He slowly turned, and, upon seeing it was the girl he was waiting for, smiled. Not the smirk he usually had on his features, but a genuine smile. Mitchie could've sworn her heart stopped.

"Ready for that canoe ride?" he asked as he stood up.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she joked, hiding her fears.

The two teenagers pulled out one of the canoes and slid it out onto the water. After they were both in, they reached for the paddles. Their fingers brushed, and Mitchie blushed. Shane looked up at her, but she was determined to keep her eyes off of his face.

They laughed, giving up on trying to paddle away from shore as all they accomplished was going around in a circle. Shane studied Mitchie carefully as her laughter subsided.

"I have an idea," he proposed as struck by sudden inspiration, "How about we play truth-or-dare?"

"Sure," Mitchie jumped at this chance to save herself from a long, apologetic speech.

"I'll go first," Shane said, "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," Mitchie wanted to clear the air first.

"Why did you lie?" Shane knew she must have been expecting the question.

"I don't think you could understand, Shane," Mitchie sighed, "You told me all about not wanting the spotlight. I have exactly one friend back at home, and, the last time I checked, no one was fighting to change that. When I came here, I saw the chance to reinvent myself. Tess got in the way of that, and, to impress her, I lied. I lied to see what it was like to be part of the In-Crowd, but –"

At that point Shane cut her off, "You answered my question. It's your turn."

She was a little shocked at his abruptness, but she didn't question it aloud, "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," Shane said immediately.

"Do you forgive me?" Mitchie asked softly.

Shane looked at her and met her gaze. When she dropped her gaze, he placed two fingers under her chin and lifted her head up, "Look at me Mitchie," he whispered. She complied, and he saw her eyes were shining with unshed tears. "Of course I do," he dropped his hand with a smile.

She smiled back, and blinked away the tears, "Your turn."

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth," she was interested in his questions.

"Did you realize that you're the girl I've been looking for all summer?" he smiled again. Mitchie was sure he'd be the death of her if he kept smiling like that.

"I figured when you started singing with me," she giggled a little at the memory. He chuckled along with her. "My turn. Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to…" she thought for a moment, "I dare you to tell me exactly what's on your mind at this moment."

"That's not a very good dare," he teased, then grew somber, "I'm thinking that you're beautiful, and that I don't want this summer to end."

Her eyes grew wide with his statement.

"Truth or dare?" he asked her as he watched her eyes sparkle.

"Dare."

"Let me kiss you," he whispered as he leaned forward. Her eyes fluttered shut as he placed his lips on hers. She was flying as her lips moved in response to his, and he felt as if he were swimming in an ocean of her.

He broke away reluctantly, and a blush settled on her cheeks, "Wow… umm… wow."

He laughed, "I know. Your turn."

"Truth or dare?" she was working hard to get her mind functional again.

"Truth."

"Do you consider this to be some fling?" she needed to know.

"No," he looked at her seriously, "Not at all."

She smiled.

"Truth or dare?" he asked.

"Dare," she answered, still smiling.

"I dare you to come back to the kitchen with me, and ask both your parents to come on tour with me," Shane tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

She glared at him, "Like that's going to happen."

He shrugged, and smiled at her, "You never know."

They paddled back to the shore and put the canoe away. She brushed her hand against his as they walked to the kitchen, and he took the hint. Their fingers intertwined as they searched for her parents.

Their answer was, surprisingly, yes, after Shane explained about the schooling he and the other members of Connect 3 were given. Shane swung Mitchie around as she giggled. Mr. and Mrs. Torres exited the kitchen quietly, and Shane took advantage of their absence.

Mitchie was the one who broke away from the kiss this time, "It was my turn. Last one, I promise."

Shane kept his arms wrapped around Mitchie's waist, " Fine."

She laughed at his impatience, "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," he looked at her.

She shook her head with a smile, as she guessed what was on his mind, "Not this time, my dear. I dare you to pour water on your uncle on the last day, in front of everyone."

Shane, who happened to know that it would warrant his death, groaned, "Really?"

Mitchie threw her arms around his neck, "Really."

"Fine," he grumbled with a smile, as he finally pressed his lips to hers once more.

One week later, Shane tiptoed up to his Uncle Brown with a bucket of water. Someone in the crowd called, "Watch out!" and he spun around just in time to see his nephew throw water on him.

Shane ran as fast as he could, but his uncle still caught up with him.

As Shane Gray, sopping wet boyfriend, swam out of the lake fully clothed, Mitchie Torres, scheming girlfriend, laughed. Hearing her laughter, he walked up to her with a grin. Ignoring her protests, he swung her over his shoulder and promptly dumped her in the lake.

As Mitchie Torres, happiness personified, sat wrapped in a blanket in the backseat of her dad's station wagon with Shane Gray, normal person with a completed heart, she couldn't help but feel as if she were on top of the world, and she would never come down. Truth be told, she never did.