So I originally posted this story a couple of months ago. However I took it off my page after giving the rights to it to xDaniElleLeiGh3x. She chose not to post it up on this site though, so I am reposting it in preparation for the sequel which I am writing at the moment. The plan is that I will upload 1 - 2 chapters of this story a week and then I will start uploading the sequel once my final exams are over in November. The trailer for the sequel is already posted on my profile page, if you'd like to have a look at it. Be warned though - it may contain spoilers!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading my story. I'm not really much of a writer, but I enjoyed writing it. I should also let you know that some parts of this story are based on real life - some of the things that happen in this story really did happen to myself and a friend of mine. The part about my friend being a popstar though is made up... in case you were wondering. My life is not that interesting!

Here we go... I hope you like it. :)

lovelovelove

-N


The Missing Piece of Me: Chapter 1

It was morning and the sun was streaming through the windows, splashing my walls with golden sunlight. I was in that delicious place between sleeping and waking – the place where you can control your dreams. I didn't ever want to wake up.

"Mitchie!" I could hear a voice calling, then louder, more insistently, "Mitchie!"

I groaned. That voice is not coming from my beautiful dreamland. It's Mom, and it's morning. Time to get up and face another day.

"Alright, alright," I called back, "I'm getting up."

"Almost time for school honey," I could hear Mom outside in the hall. "Breakfast will be ready as soon as you are."

I got up slowly and went over to my dresser. Looking down, I saw a small photo frame. I started to brush my hair absentmindedly, still looking at the photo. In it, two small children, a girl and a boy, are sitting on the porch steps eating popsicles. Their faces are stained with sticky red popsicle juice and they are laughing happily at each other – completely unaware that their picture is being taken.

I sighed. I love that photo. I loved that happy carefree time, where my best friend and neighbor, Shane and I, could laugh and play all day. But things changed. They always do.

Let me explain.

Growing up, Shane and I were neighbors – we loved each other as only kids can. We went to church together and school together. Life was good. We used to go for long walks together – staying out for hours on end. Our mothers never worried though – it was a small town and very safe. We used to talk about the future and what would happen when we were grown up. What would life be like?

It was on one of these walks that he confided in me – "One day," he said, "I want to be a rock star."

I just looked at him.

"I do," he insisted, "I want to get out of this hole, this one horse town. I want to be famous. I want to do something with my life."

"Okay, but why can't you do something with your life here?"

He frowned at me.

"Since when do you hear of famous people living in a place like this?" he said sharply.

I sighed. "I don't want you to leave."

His gaze softened slightly as he looked at me. "I know Mitch. It'll sure be different."

That day we sat on the hill at the end of the street until it got dark. We called it our mountain. We always hated going back down to the "valley" where our houses were.

I don't know how I knew, but I did. That day would be the last time that we would be together. When he walked me home afterwards, I tried to keep myself from crying. At my front door, he held his arms out and hugged me tight. He didn't let go for a long time.

"I'm going to miss you," he whispered in my ear. "You'll always have a special place in my heart."

And with a final squeeze he was gone.

That was five years ago. After that final walk, nothing was the same. Shane started at high school while I was I still at middle school and our age difference of two years was suddenly very noticeable. We stopped hanging out and all of a sudden we didn't talk anymore. Shane wouldn't speak to me when anyone else was around.

I couldn't understand it. Was he ashamed of me? Sure, I had always been quiet, whereas he was loud and popular. Everyone liked him, but I only had a few friends. Perhaps it was just because we had discovered that we wanted different things in life. Shane had always been ambitious, whereas I was quite happy with my small town life.

Either way, we weren't friends anymore.

The summer after that – when I was twelve years old, Shane moved away to the city. He made up a band with his cousin, Nate and old friend, Jason. They called themselves Connect Three.

It surprised me how short a time it took for their band to become popular. They were really good though.

After Shane left, we never kept in touch. Things were different. He was different. I thought I was the only one who stayed the same. Now the only time I saw him was when he was on Hot Tunes, the music news program.

"Mitchie!" Mom's voice interrupted my thoughts. "What are you doing? The bus will be here in five minutes and you haven't eaten yet. "

I jumped, startled from my memories. "Just a minute Mom, I'm getting dressed."

"Well hurry up hon. You don't want to be late."

I quickly pulled on some skinny jeans and a baby doll shirt. I slipped on some flip-flops and grabbed my brown bag. It was a typical Mitchie outfit.

I sighed as I took one last look at the photo. I missed him, the old Shane anyway. I felt torn. I loved the old Shane with all my heart. I didn't realize it until he was gone though. Yet at the same time I hated who he had become. He seemed to have changed so much since he became famous.

I shook my head. I let him go, I thought, it was a long time ago. I really need to get over it. I need to get over him.

I ran down the stairs, pulling my hair into an elastic as I went. I grabbed the toast Mom had made for me and quickly gave her a hug.

"Bye honey," she said, "have a good day at school."

I smiled at her as I ran out to the bus.

"Good morning Miss Torres," the bus driver said sternly, " I almost left without you."

"Sorry!" I said quickly, "I got a bit distracted this morning."

The bus driver frowned at me and I went to the back of the bus to find a seat next to my best friend Sierra.

"Guess what Mitchie?" she said. I had hardly had time to sit down.

I grinned at her. "What?"

"I'm going to China!" she squealed.

"Oh my gosh, really?" I squealed back. The bus driver scowled at us again.

"Yes really," she said happily. "You know that summer exchange program I applied for?"

"Yeah."

"Well I got it! I'm leaving in only a couple of weeks!"

"Yay!" I squealed again, hugging her.

"I'm going to miss you though," she said. "A whole summer without Mitchie!"

"I know. I'll miss you too. When do you leave?"

"As soon as school finishes. What do you plan on doing for the summer?"

"I don't know. I really want to go to that music camp, but mom says we probably won't be able to afford it."

"I'm sorry Mitchie." Sierra's face fell. "I know how much you wanted to go."

"It's okay," I said. "Maybe it's for the best anyway. I guess I can just spend the summer working at the burger store."

Sierra rolled her eyes, "Sounds exciting. You really should try and get to that camp. You have a great voice."

"You think?"

"Yeah," she replied. Her phone went off and she bent down to get it out of her bag.

By the time she was finished reassuring her mom that yes, she did have enough lunch and would be sure to put her cardigan on if it got cold, we were at school.

"Overprotective, much?" I laughed.

She laughed lightly. "Yeah, you know her."

We got off the bus, still laughing.

"Oh," Sierra remembered suddenly, "I have to run and see my AP Mandarin teacher and tell her all about China!"

"Okay, see you in home room," I replied.

I took my books to my locker, putting them in order of what classes I had that day. I know – I'm a neat freak.

As I was taking my music folder out of my bag, I heard a soft noise behind me.

"Mitchie?" a voice queried softly.

"Is that you?"

I dropped the folder I was holding and froze. I knew that voice.

"Mitchie?"

I turned slowly, my eyes on the floor. When I brought my eyes up to meet his own, he was smiling softly.

"Shane," I gasped, my breath suddenly becoming fast. I knew my cheeks were flushed and I was shaking.

"What are you doing here?"

I hope you liked it! Please review!