A/N: I know, I know, I know. I'm putting off writing Runaway To Find A Home but I can't help it. I keep having this brilliant, at least I think they are, ideas and they won't fit into RTFAH so I have to write them up in a new story and then I want to see what you guys think of them. Sorry.

Anyway this is "This Is My Chance" and it came to me from having Shinedown's "Second Chance" on repeat for the last two days straight. I adore this band and song and I think everyone will eventually relate to the song sometime during their life. This chapter is just an introduction where you meet a Ella and Mitchie and you find out a tiny bit of what previously happened and let up to this point but that's it really. But don't worry; I swear the Grey Brothers will be in the next chapter and Caitlyn and Brown will also be coming in soon so if you're looking for Smitchie or something you'll have to wait for the next chapter but it'll be worth the wait I swear. This story is quite...personal to me so I hope you like reading it and please let me know what you think. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters associated with Camp Rock or "The Little Engine That Could." The song "Second Chance" is by Shinedown as mentioned earlier so it's obviously not mine and neither is Lave Records. Enjoy :)

"Tell my mother, tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realise
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance

Here is my chance
This is my chance..."

I could do this. I mean; I know it's going to be hard as hell, but I can do this. If I was a children's story character I'd be The Little Engine That Could. I am going to do this and I'm going to prove them all wrong; prove that I can make it over that big 'ole hill and that I won't need their help.

I pushed the sealed letter into the tiny gap between the mirror and its frame before hitching my duffel bag further up on my shoulder. I pulled out the handle of my luggage bag and quietly rolled it down the hallway; grateful that my parents had managed to splurge on one thing in our "perfect little world" that was of some use to me.

Once I was outside I pulled my winter coat closer to my body before locking the front door behind me as even though I was leaving I still wanted my family to be safe. I quickly dropped my bags in front of the next door neighbour's house before running back to my own and pushing my keys into the mail slot. With a sad smile I turned one final time away from their house and gathered up my bags before hopping into the taxi that I had called up earlier.

'Where to?' the driver asked grumpily whilst glaring at me in the review mirror.

Can't blame him; I think if I had to work the one in the morning shift then I'd be pretty damn angry too.

'Um…this address,' I said as I leaned forward and handed him the torn bit of paper that held the address to the place I would be calling home from now on; though truthfully I had always felt better off there than I did at my parent's mansion.

'You sure this is the address love?' the man questioned as he pulled away from the curb.

'Yup; that's the address alright,' I confirmed as I began picking at the skin around my nails.

Don't look back. That's the worst thing you can possibly do. If you're gonna do this you want no regrets and we know if you peep then you'll get out. You can do this; you've dreamed of this for four years now – it's your time. It's time to break away from them and start anew. This is the start of your new life; no go backs.

---

'Mitchie!' a teary voice cried out into the night's sky as I got out of the car after paying the cab driver.

'Oh my gosh Ella! I've missed you!' I squealed as the girl's body collided with mine and we hugged each other tightly.

'It's been too long Mitts; I didn't believe you were really going to come when you told me. No offence but I thought it was gonna be like…' she trailed off awkwardly as she untangled herself from me.

'No; I know what you mean. I almost didn't believe I was really going to do this myself – I almost didn't; but the thing is I have and I'm here,' I said as I walked over to the trunk and pulled out my bags.

'That's it? That's all you brought?' Ella asked sceptically whilst eyeing my bags.

'I had to make a quiet escape Ells; I couldn't exactly pack my whole room.'

'But what about all of your stuff? You know; your toys and photos and all the special child-like things I know you love so much.'

'I loved them Ella but they weren't mine – I know what you're going to say,' I said quickly when Ella opened her mouth to object, 'my parents gave them to me I know…but if I'm going to start life the way I want to then I don't want anything to do with them. It's just me and the stuff I managed to buy with the few dollars I slaved for from Barney's.'

'Okay; gosh it's freezing – so didn't notice,' Ella said suddenly noticing the weather as she took my black luggage bag from me, 'let's get inside; the fires going and you can tell me more about what's going on.'

I gave a short nod before pulling my collar closer to my neck as I followed Ella into the building that held her apartment. We rode the elevator in silence and when we finally reached number 34 it felt like all my past, everything that I wanted to forget, washed away from me when the warmth from inside washed over me.

'I don't know how you did it Ells,' I said in awe as we sat on her couch with hot cocoa in our mugs after dumping all my stuff in the spare room which Ella declared as mine.

'What do you mean?' Ella asked; her pretty little porcelain face crinkled with wrinkles of confusion.

'This,' I said whilst gesturing at her amazing apartment, 'I don't know how you managed to drop out of school at fifteen, find a fashion label that loved your work and now you're one of the most sought after designers here. All in five years; it's amazing.'

'I don't know Mitchie; when your parents kick you out for getting pregnant and for not being the perfect little princess they thought you were, you kinda have to move on – you can't afford to mope around and have breakdowns every three days and start beating yourself up over how unlucky you are,' Ella said with a small shrug and my mouth dropped open in shock.

'You were pregnant? Since when?' I demanded as I set my cup on the glass table before waiting for my friend's answer.

'I thought you knew; I was pregnant when my parent kicked me out – didn't your parents tell you?' Ella asked as she scratched her head and tried to remember all that happened five years ago.

'No; why would they – oh my gosh they knew. They knew? How dare they not tell me!' I cried whilst standing up from the couch. 'You're my friend and they knew and didn't even bother telling me. All they ever said was that you were going to boarding school and that you didn't want to be associated with my family after some crappy business deal between our Fathers.'

'Wow; your parents are better liars than mine – didn't even know that was possible,' Ella muttered as she placed her cup next to mine. 'I thought your parents knew Mitts; that's why I never bothered calling you until you found me. I guess my parents had brainwashed me into thinking that you'd never want to be associated with me after what happened so that's why you never called or tried to get in contact with me.'

'Don't apologise for how stupid they were Ells; I can't believe you were pregnant – wait. Where's the baby? I want to see this little kid that I have years of doting over to make up for,' I said as I looked around the room; expecting a five year old girl with long, black hair to come running out and greet me.

'She's not here,' Ella said quietly and it was my turn to be confused.

'Isn't she a bit young to be doing the whole sleepover thing?'

'No; that's not what I mean. She's not here because she was a stillborn; she didn't make it,' Ella explained and as I watched my friend's face age suddenly with sadness I quickly sat next to her and pulled her into a hug.

'I'm so sorry Ella; I never would have brought it up if I knew that – damn I hate my parents! I should have been there for you! You shouldn't have had to go through all that by yourself; you should've had someone,' I said whilst soothingly running my hand up and down Ella's back.

'It's okay Mitchie; it was almost five years ago…I've gotten over it,' Ella said and I gently hit my friend's back.

'I may not have seen you in a while but I still know when you're lying Miss Montez,' I reminded her as she pulled away with a smile on her face; reminding me once again that this inspirational girl was still nineteen.

'I'm sure you do Miss Torres but don't you have an interview today?' Ella questioned with a perfectly raised brow as she resumed drinking her cocoa.

'Yup; but not 'till, like, one so I'll have plenty of time to sleep later,' I answered with a wave of my hand.

'On a happier note: how'd you land an interview with Lava so fast anyway?' Ella asked; quickly changing the topic and pushing the attention back onto me.

'I'm not sure how that's a happier not but I sent in a CD that I managed to make a month or so ago before my parents went on a rampage and I guess they finally listened to it; you have no idea how thankful I am...not just for them giving me a chance but for you too. I swear the moment I get a job I'll start paying you back,' I promised as I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and kept it there with a elastic from around my wrist.

'Don't even think about it Mitts – actually you know what? You can pay me back when with how happy you're gonna be once you've scored the deal alright?' Ella said as she stood up and stretched her back. 'Anyway I should probably get some shut eye before I go into work in a couple hours; the bathroom, if you want a shower or something, is down the hall to the left and if you need anything just wake me alright Mitts?' Ella told me before giving me a tight hug.

'Got it and thanks again Ells; there's no way I could've done this without you,' I said with a laugh as she ruffled my fringe before walking out of the room.

I stood up from the couch once I heard her bedroom door shut and walked over to the glass sliding doors that led out to a small balcony. With a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach I pulled my baggy sweatshirt closer to my body before sliding the door open and walking out into the brisk, early morning air. As I breathed a deep sigh I noted that the air smelt funny and whilst I made my way out to the end of the balcony I could have sworn that I saw white flecks.

I waited a few more minutes and was thankful that I had as the white flecks that I had thought I must have imagined turned out to be snowflakes. I began giggling like a little child as I raised my hands to the sky and allowed the frozen droplets to land on my skin; causing goose bumps to erupt due to the sudden coldness.

Oh if only Mum could see me right now; wearing tracksuit pants, a sweatshirt and standing outside whilst it's snowing with my hair looking atrocious. I think she would have an aneurysm.

'I can do this; I'm sure I can. I can show my parents that I do know what's best for me and that I don't need them controlling my future jobs and husbands. That I may be nineteen but I'm going to shine…yeah…I'm going to shine,' I quietly promised myself as a few stray tears rolled down my cheeks and the hot liquid mixed with the frozen droplets on my face; oddly making me feel satisfied in some twisted way.