"Call me a safe bet - I'm betting I'm not. I'm glad that you can forgive; I'm only hoping as time goes you can forget." The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot – Brand New

Lover Dearest

Prologue

Mitchie

"Promise me you'll come back."

Shane looks at you with surprised eyes before lightly smiling and shaking his head. He pulls you close, kissing your forehead. You whimper against him, but snuggle into his warm body. "I'll come back at the end of summer, Mitchie. I promise." He says the last part mockingly. He looks so beautiful in this moment – his short hair is lost under his knit cap but the wind is blowing against his loose clothes, highlighting his growing muscles.

You smile at him and he scrunches his nose at you. You open your mouth to say something else, but you are suddenly interrupted. "Shane! You still here?" You feel Shane move away from you, his body angled towards the door as he hollers back to the newcomer. Another voice comes into mix as well. "GREY! Come out, come out wherever you are!" Nate and Jason, you realize with a smile. You watch Shane go back inside, going towards the front of the house. You stay on the deck for a couple minutes before following. The three best friends are already horsing around. "What? You think you're gonna become a world class singer or somethin', Shane?" Jason mocks, pulling him into a headlock.

Shane laughs and gets out of it. "It's just a summer camp, guys. I'm not leaving forever." He reminds them, but his eyes are dull. With a new smile, he reaches for you. Bringing you close to his chest, you inhale his sweet scent. "So, my last night in town. What are we gonna do?" he asks, biting his lip. His eyes become bright again.

You watch as Nate and Jason smile, almost wickedly the both of them, and suddenly they are pulling both you and Shane out of the door. Thirty minutes later, you find yourself in Nate's basement, snuggled up into Shane's body as Jason pulls out half a bottle of his parents' vodka. Thirty minutes after that, you are giggling uncontrollably as Nate tries to guess what the hell Jason is trying to act out in a spontaneous game of charades. Shane is softly kissing your cheek and hugging you way too tightly, and you suddenly feel like crying.

"Promise me you'll come back." You whisper in his ear as he slips an arm behind your back to bring you closer to him. He frowns at you and pulls you in for a kiss. You close your eyes at the softness of his lips, the sweetness of his breath, and the kindness of his kiss. He squeezes your hip gently.

"I love you." is his response against your mouth.

You nod into the kiss, causing him to smile at the awkwardness since he was still kissing you. "Let's go upstairs?" you ask hesitantly. He backs away and looks at you with an almost innocent expression.

"Why?" he leans his head against the sofa. Ignoring the laughter from the other two boys, the environment felt almost romantic to you. You have grown up with Shane – this boy who is so unbelievably talented with a guitar and with a voice that could melt hearts. He looks so naively cute and bright that makes your heart go fluttering. He is your boy. He has always been your boy, and now you are both sixteen, and you just want him to know you love him before he leaves. Because you still aren't sure he's coming back.

And maybe this will make him stay.

So you lead him upstairs, ignoring the catcalls from Jason and Nate, and give him everything you can possibly give, because he deserves it and he loves you and he has to come back when he's done with Camp Rock. "Promise me you'll come back." You whisper into his naked shoulder much later, your teeth grazing his skin. He freezes and kisses you again. The kiss is desperate and absolutely breath-taking and painful and harsh. He pushes you into the bed forcibly, but not altogether that roughly. When he breaks the kiss, his eyes are glazed.

"I love you." he repeats. You feel warm and he is heavy on top of you, and the world is spinning. For a second, you feel like screaming.

"Promise me."

"I will come back." He says over you, his eyes fierce. "I don't know why you think I won't." he whispers, squirming a bit. You look at him, your sad eyes never leaving his features. Honestly, you think to yourself, that's a good question. Why do you feel like he's not coming back? He has to finish high school, doesn't he? He has friends here – best friends even – doesn't he? He has you, doesn't he? Yes, yes, and definitely yes.

But at the same time, you remember seeing the same look in your father's eyes last year when he left: the one that says – screams – LET ME OUT OF THIS FUCKING TOWN.

And here he is- getting out town, going to a prestigious music camp where who knows what can happen. "Don't forget, okay?" you tell him fiercely.

Shane smiles and shakes his head. "I'll never forget." He whispers into your skin. "Ever." He promises even more.

"Promise me you'll come back."

..+..

Whoa. What's this? I'm back...

Yeah, I guess I am. It's been a helluva break, huh? Since what? Last summer?

I was having a rough time. I kinda still am, but I have some great friends who help, so yay. This idea came to me the other day and I couldn't shake it off. I decided to give Smitchie another try. Well, really I decided to give Demi another try. I lost my faith in her, in who she was for a long time. I actually started to hate her at one point. For a long while actually. Maybe it's because she reminds me so much of myself sometimes, too much of old ex-best friends. I don't know. All I know is that I'm glad she's getting help. Also, I miss writing. A lot. I haven't done it in forever, and I want to.

I'm going to be reopening my blog(the links on the profile) if people even care. I still have twitter (my screenname is bbggoodd; add me!) and I have a tumblr (also, bbggoodd...wow im so original haha). So hit me up, and we'll be friends. :D I've met some of my bestest friends through here, and I appreciate your imput.

Now on the story.

This will probably be a hell of an emotional ride. Like, Teach Me Tonight ride, because I kinda need to vent and be okay again, and writing's my therapy. I hope that people still care, and I hope you review. I will try to continue you this; like I said, I kinda need it. So if you like it, please review. Thanks so much for all the support. I meant it.

Love ya,

Sandy