"Wow! You mean you actually get to go to Camp Rock with Connect 3?" asked my best friend, Sierra.
"Well, I'm not going with Connect 3, they're just going to be there," I tried, and failed, to explain to my very excited best friend.
"You promise you'll call and let me know all the details as soon as you get there, right?" she asked with one brow raised.
"If I get reception there, it'll be the first thing I do," I replied with a laugh. We exchanged a quick but hearty farewell as I got in the taxi, and with one final wave headed off to my home for the summer. Camp Rock.
Before we get further in to the story, I should probably tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Michelle Ava Torres, but I go by the name of Mitchie. I'm fairly short and have long brown hair. I'm 19 and have just moved to sunny California from Sydney, Australia where I grew up. Why the move, you ask? Well, sometimes it's good just to take a break and see other countries, meet you people, open yourself up to new opportunities. So here I am, in a taxi heading in the direction of the famous Camp Rock where I'll be spending the summer as an instructor. This never could have happened if it hadn't been for my mother who was good friends with the camp coordinator. She pulled a few strings with him for me and ended up getting me a summer job being paid to do what I loved best.
It seemed like forever in the taxi with no one to talk to except the driver, who in my opinion looked a little seedy. I popped my iPod headphones in and closed my eyes, resting my head on the seat behind me, quietly humming along to the music only I could hear. I felt the car slowing down and opened one eye to get a bearing on my surroundings. We drove up a rocky dirt path passing under a sign that stated we were finally at Camp Rock. Sighing, I took out my headphones and paid the driver his fare which had come to a shocking amount for the trip. I walked to the trunk and pulled out my two suitcases, struggling under the weight. All of a sudden, one suitcase was pulled out of my grasp by a middle-aged blonde man grinning at me.
"Hi, you must be Michelle Torres," the blonde man greeted me, "I'm Brown Cesario, director of this camp."
"Lovely to finally meet you Mr. Cesario," I greeted him trying to juggle my iPod between his hands to free one up to shake his hand.
"Oh please darlin', don't call me that, it makes me sound old," he laughed, "Call me Brown," Kindness sparkled in his eyes as he grabbed both my suitcases and placed them on the ground.
"Well in that case, please, call me Mitchie," I replied laughing.
"So, I'm sure you're just itching to get settled in and unpack, so I'll show you the way to your cabin, and don't worry about these, I've got them," he said as I went to pick up my bags. I smiled thanks and let him lead the way to my cute little wooden cabin I'd be living in for the next couple of weeks. After a quick tour, he left to greet the other counsellors while I settled in and unpacked my suitcases. Checking my phone, I realised there was no reception. Sierra was just going to have to wait, though finding reception would put something on my 'to do' list. I changed into some denim shorts, a simple black v-neck tshirt and some converse sneakers. After putting my hair up into a simple ponytail, I decided it was time to go look around and maybe meet some fellow instructors before all the campers got there.
It didn't take long before I ran into a pretty blonde girl of about my age struggling to drag her bag up the steps to her cabin.
"Do you need some help there?" I smiled at the girl.
She laughed, "Would you? I knew I was stupid for bringing so many clothes that now it's come back to bite me."
I grabbed her other two bags from the bottom of the steps and helped drag them up.
"Shoot, these are heavy, what on earth do you have in them?" I asked, shocked.
"Just clothes and shoes," she replied with a sheepish look on her face.
As we finally got the bags up the steps she extended her hand to me.
"Hi, I'm Ruby," she said, "and you are…"
"Mitchie. Hi." I smiled and shook her hand.
"Well, I'm glad I have at least one friend here already. It's scary coming here and not knowing anybody," she admitted.
"Don't worry; I'm in the same boat as you. You're the first person I've met here," I stated, "But I'm going to continue looking around, are you can handle your bags by yourself now?" I half smirked.
"Real funny, doll. But yeah, I've got it now, thanks;" she replied with a laugh, "See you later?"
I nodded in the affirmative and decided to head over to the other side of the camp where there were a few more cabins. I could hear two people having a heated argument in one of the cabins, but I thought it was best not to be an eavesdropper, and walked towards the mess hall.
"Why should I spend my summer at this stupid camp?" I heard a boy yell loudly.
"Because, I've asked you here as a favour, that's not too hard is it?" I heard Brown yell back. 'Whoa,' I thought, 'it looks like one of his counsellors is already being a nuisance, who would want to give up an opportunity like this though'? My internal question was soon answered as I heard a door slam behind me and a boy quickly storm his way past me. Well, almost past me. In his haste to get away from the argument, he knocked into me and sent me to the ground.
"Ow," I muttered, holding my knee where I'm sure a nice big bruise would pop up tomorrow. "Thanks a lot buddy," I spat at him while patting the dust out of my shorts. I heard him make a noise in the back of his throat that caused me to look up at him. 'Holy crap! It's Shane freaking Gray,' my inner voice squealed excitedly. I was no more immune to the charm of Shane Gray than any other girl. I tried to ignore my inner voice as I held my angry demeanour.
"Whatever," he replied scathingly, "Next time, just don't get in my way, got it?"
I stood up and looked at him defiantly with my arms crossed across my chest. "Well maybe next time you should watch where you're going? And an apology would go down nicely right about now, too," I raised an eyebrow and looked at him expectantly.
"I'm sorry," he replied, although, not very convincingly. But I had a feeling this was going to be the best one I get in his current mood. I nodded curtly and decided to forgo my idea of looking around and simply head back to my cabin. He sighed and continued walking, still somewhat angrily, to the front of the camp. I looked over my shoulder once to get another look at him. It looked like he was angry with himself now as he seemed to be smacking himself in the forehead for some reason. I turned back and made a beeline for my cabin.
I unlocked the door and flopped straight onto my bed. 'Why does he have to be such an ass? He's just so hot.' I mentally slapped myself for thinking such a thing after the way he just treated me. I rolled over and looked at the time. It was ten to three, signalling I had ten minutes to get to the front lawn to meet my campers. Sighing, I pushed myself up from the bed and trudged out. On my way I managed to catch up with giddy Ruby who greeted me with a smile before telling my excitedly she'd just seen Jason from Connect Three and he'd struck up a conversation somewhat nervously. I giggled at her story and was genuinely happy for her. At least she had a meeting with a member of Connect 3 that didn't end up with yelling and bruises.