DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the Camp Rock characters. No profit has been made in the creation of this story.

WARNING: This story explores female-female relationships. Please do not read any further if that offends you.

Burn Brightly

AN: I'm not the first one to write a Mitchie/Tess story. I believe the one who did wants it to be called Mess so I guess I should go with that.

CHAPTER ONE: Clipped Wings

Tess stared at her. Time seemed to slow down just shy of a stand still. In the back of her mind, she could feel the questioning and surprised gazes of everyone in the crowd.

Why did she fell?

Tess Tyler doesn't owe anyone any answers and she definitely wasn't going to satisfy them with one. But the woman she was staring at definitely owed her one.

What could be more important than watching her perform at Final Jam? T.J. Tyler never did realize what this meant to her. The blonde diva chastised herself for being so naive.

She shouldn't have been surprised that her mother didn't chose her. But every time her mother left her behind for something else, Tess was very surprised.

She was also deeply wounded. Her very own mother wounds her like no other can. What hurts the most to Tess is that her mother doesn't even realize it.

Cold eyes finally met her own watery ones. The blonde wasn't surprised that there was no concern in those orbs. No, she wasn't. She expected to see the disbelief and braced herself. Somehow, it still burned her when she did see the disbelief.

You can't believe YOUR daughter could be anything less than perfect you!!

She narrowed her eyes at her attempting to telegraph hatred across to her mother but the tears that finally slid down across her face rendered it ineffective.

Her shield has cracked right in front of everyone. Those questioning gazes are no longer at the back of her mind, she can feel all of it and it makes her skin cringe.

They've seen enough.

She gave one last look at her mother. I'm not going to stay weak.

Tess quickly turned and ran right past the blurs of Ella and Peggy. As she passed Mitchie Torres' blur, she caught her eye for a split second. Looking into those eyes, Tess Tyler forgot all the worries of the world just for that split second. Of course, it was just for a split-second and all chaotic feelings came rushing back in.

- - -

Everyone except her is doing well it seems. She was the only one that couldn't go through her performance without making a fool of herself.

Then Mitchie Torres sang. Tess had to admit to herself that the brunette had a beautiful voice. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the song. Then she heard Shane Gray's voice join in harmony with Mitchie's.

You found your voice Shane.

The blonde let out a sigh. They both make a wonderful pair but it was Mitchie that captivated her. Even though she couldn't see Mitchie as she was hidden away from everyone to see, Tess felt like she was seeing her for the first time through this song.

The crowd roared into frenzy as the duo concluded their song. A complete polar opposite to how she ended her performance.

It was time for the traditional closing number. It was time to leave for Tess. She wasn't interested in joining in on all the fun. Awkward wouldn't even begun to cover it.

- - -

"That was the greatest! Keep in touch!" Mitchie squealed at Caitlyn.

Caitlyn, inside her mom's vehicle, smiled at Mitchie and mouthed "I'll see you soon!" She waved at Mitchie as her transportation cruised away from Camp Rock.

Mitchie sighed. Everything had turned out okay. At first, everything crushed her. The pressure to fit in folded her like paper. Before she knew it, she was lying and deceiving everyone around her and stumbled into Tess' circle.

Tess wasted no time lauding her superiority over Mitchie. Now that she looked back on it, she was in awe and horror at how Tess dragged her into the ground below her. The blonde exploited her need to conform to the norm to crush any sense of identity she had.

Then she saw Tess Tyler fall. Literally. It was very much unexpected and Mitchie chalked it up to the universe's way of making things right. Tess made sure that she had no chance at Final Jam so it was only right that she shouldn't win it. Still, curiosity swirled inside her mind. Mitchie has always seen Tess as a strong woman but at that Final Jam . . .

She started well and then it's like something knocked the wind out of her and kicked her to the curb.

"Hello Torres," a soft voice nudged her out of her musing.

It was the blonde herself. Instinctively, Mitchie braced herself inwardly. Even after she's broken free from Tess, she still felt nervous around her.

"Umm . . . Hey Tess," she eeked out.

Tess' lips curled into a smirk at her meekness. "Chill out Mitchie. I just want to say some things to you."

Mitchie deflated at Tess' assurance though she had no-good reason to trust her. Finally feeling comfortable in her own skin, Mitchie got a good look at Tess.

She was uncharacteristically not wearing any make-up. In fact, everything about Tess was slightly less royalty-like.

Huh

"I just wanted to tell you that you were great in Final Jam."

It was effortless and smooth. Just like the normal Tess Tyler. And yet, Mitchie couldn't help but smile inside a little.

"And to apologize. I'm sorry."

This one wasn't as graceful. It was a nervous whisper. Mitchie never thought that you could associate Tess Tyler and nervous together. It was so surprising.

Mitchie nodded and whispered back "It's okay. Everything turned out all right."

Tess let out a soft chuckled and the mocking tone Mitchie expected was absent. The blonde took two steps forward into Mitchie's bubble. The nervousness she felt a while ago threatened to return but she pushed it down.

"Yeah, I guess. I had no idea that Peggy had some talent in her," she looked at Mitchie intently.

Some talent. Mitchie wanted to roll her eyes but it wouldn't have been the best idea.

"But I don't mind saying that you were the best one out there. If Connect 3 had the option of choosing you, I'm sure they would pick you. I definitely would have chosen you. You were great Mitchie."

Nervousness returned like a flood that's broken through the barrier. Tess' stare was making her weirdly warm. She could only let out a deep breath as she saw a fancy car pull toward them. Tess turned for a quick look and let out a sigh herself.

"I'll see you here next time around, right Torres?"

Mitchie was definitely not hearing a hopeful tone in that question. Or at least she didn't want to. She had no idea on what to make of everything. Mitchie could only answer 'Yes'.

Tess gave her a smile. "Good. I look forward to next time."

The sound of a car horn cued Tess that it was time to leave Camp Rock. Mitchie was relieved. She really had no idea on what to make of Tess Tyler.