Hello again! This is, I think, the longest oneshot I have ever written. As usual, it's a Naitlyn and yeah, I guess you have to read it to find out if you like it.
"Morning Cait!" Called Mitchie cheerily, banging hard on Caitlyn's door. Caitlyn grunted in response before rolling over and pulling one of her over stuffed pillows over her head. Mitchie laughed to herself, knowing exactly what was going on. It had happened every morning for the last four months, every morning since the girls had moved in with Connect 3.
It was easy enough to wake everyone else up. Jason was always up at the crack of dawn to watch birds either from the balcony, the flat roof or the back garden, Nate woke himself up to go for a jog at eight each day and Shane would do anything for his fiancée of four months. Shane had proposed to his eighteen year old girlfriend on the day the girls moved in and Mitchie had instantly replied with a yes. They had been planning on holding off on the wedding until Mitchie had finished college but things had changed.
When the girls had moved in it was only for a few weeks, most likely for the summer, until they had chosen an apartment they liked. Two weeks after they had arrived, however, Connect 3 had gone to work determined to give the label a piece of their mind about the music they were singing and come home without a record label. Mitchie had seen the best option immediately and the guys had loved the idea. It was only Caitlyn that took persuading.
So now, three and a half months on, Connect 3 were produced by none other than Caitlyn Gellar. They didn't have to leave the house to record because as soon as their plan had been put into action they had converted one of the many spare rooms downstairs into a recording studio. Caitlyn produced while Mitchie sung all of the backing vocals that would once have been recorded by an up and coming star. Mitchie also recorded several duets and helped to write the material for the band.
The boys enjoyed their job much more now. They weren't being controlled by overpowering record labels, they weren't being forced to sing cookie-cutter-pop-star songs and they were allowed to mess around during the recording because Caitlyn, unlike their old producer, didn't mind if they laughed at each other when they made mistakes. Caitlyn and Mitchie had moved in permanently and cancelled their enrolment at college.
They had a daily routine now. Jason got up as soon as the sun appeared, Nate went out at eight, Mitchie woke at half nine and woke up Shane, bribing him to make breakfast with a few kisses. Then she had to force Caitlyn out of bed, an idea which had once scared her.
Throughout the first month of living with her best friend Mitchie had tried everything she could think of. She had pulled off the covers and then poured cold water on Caitlyn's face; she had pulled Caitlyn herself off of the bed, she had leapt around making loud noises until Caitlyn finally groaned and sat up but then Mitchie had caused herself a headache.
It was entirely by accident that she had found the way to force Caitlyn out of bed almost immediately. She was banging on the door one morning as Nate walked passed with a piece of toast. He asked her what she was doing on after hearing her explanation he promptly grinned to himself and pushed inside. He located the lazy girl under her covers and leant over her head with a smile. She had yet to notice his presence so he raised his voice and yelled right in her ear.
"Morning Caitlyn!" Nate pulled out of the way just in time, narrowly avoiding banging heads with the small girl.
"Nate I am going to kill you!" Nate laughed and left the room hurriedly. Caitlyn knew that she as wide awake now and that there was no point in lying back down as she would not be able to get back to sleep again anyway so she climbed out of bed.
Three things had come out of that morning. First, Nate had discovered that Shane liked to put marmite on his toast and vowed never to eat anything cooked by his older brother again. Secondly, Caitlyn had decided she officially hated Nate, which suited him fine, and last but least, the routine had changed.
Today was the same as any other day. Mitchie had woken up Caitlyn and was waiting for Nate to appear and force her out of bed. Right on cue, just as Caitlyn yelled at her where she could put her early morning energy, Nate strolled around the corner humming a little tune to himself. He grinned at Mitchie before pushing open the door and entering Caitlyn's den. He was the only person brave enough to enter before ten in the morning.
Nate sat down hard on the end of Caitlyn's bed, deliberately crushing her foot in the process.
"How are we today Gellar?" He asked her in the tone a doctor might use when speaking to a patient with mental issues.
"Good until you came and broke my foot." Caitlyn answered him, blinking open her eyes and gesturing to where he was still sitting firmly on her.
"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't see it."
"Fuck off Grey." Caitlyn said sharply. Nate just tutted at her and left the room, knowing from experience that she was awake now. Caitlyn groaned and swung her legs out of the bed and into the fluffy slippers waiting on the floor. She stumbled over t o the door and unhooked her thick dressing gown, shrugging it over her shoulders and then blinking into the mirror.
Caitlyn had eighteen years of practice and knew exactly how to make the mop on the top of her head halfway resemble hair again. Brushes and combs didn't work, none of the so-called detangle sprays worked, the only way to untangle her hair was to get it wet, which was exactly the reason she shoved her head in the sink every morning before she went to breakfast. Nate had once tried to annoy her by locking himself into the bathroom after he had woken her up but Caitlyn had then pointed out that there were four bathrooms in this huge house and he had given up.
Like always, Caitlyn turned on the tap, ran the water and her fingers through her hair and then stood back up, allowing the sopping mass of curls to hang down her back. She rubbed them ferociously with a towel and then left the room, wide awake now.
Shane and Mitchie were alone when she entered the kitchen and they were locked in a passionate kiss.
"Get a room!" She yelled irritably. Shane pulled out of the kiss and narrowed his eyes at her, no longer intimidated by he early morning temper.
"We had one until you barged in."
"I meant one that had a door." Caitlyn gestured to the open arches that lead into the room from either end. "With a lock. And preferably sound proof walls." Shane rolled his eyes and turned back to the bacon he was supposed to be frying. Caitlyn walked passed him with a grin at her best friend and flicked on the coffee machine.
When the boys trailed into the recording studio at eleven, Caitlyn was wide awake. She had showered, pulled on a casual outfit and was happily tapping away at her laptop, adding the finishing touches to yesterdays recording.
"Hey Cait!" Jason said happily, pulling her into a tight hug. Caitlyn was used to this by now and instinctively took a deep breath as he lunged towards her.
"Jase, air is kind of essential you know." She reminded him kindly, using up the last of her oxygen. Jason let her go and hurried into the studio where the others were already waiting.
"What're we doing today?" Shane spoke into his microphone and Caitlyn leaned forwards to press the button that activated her own.
"I think we've all but finished them all to be honest. The only one we really need to work on is Introducing Me." Nate raised his eyebrows.
"So all of Shane's solos are fine but the one song I sing on my own isn't quite right?" Caitlyn pretended to consider.
"Yeah pretty much." Nate rolled his eyes and turned around to pick up his acoustic guitar as Shane and Jason cheered.
"So we get the day off?"
"Yup. I'll call you if there's anything else I remember." Shane immediately left, mumbling something about talking to Mitchie. Jason followed soon after, taking a moment to place his guitar down.
"Do we seriously have to do this?" Nate asked. He was uncomfortable about spending so much time alone with Caitlyn. The two hated each other and he knew that they would spend more time arguing than actually recording.
"Yes. You keep starting off too fast and when it comes to speeding up it's impossible to make out the words. Go from the top and if you do it right we could be out of here in an hour."
"It's my song! How can I do it-?"
"Start!" Nate rolled his eyes but began to play the catchy introduction anyway. He hadn't heard from Dana since the summer he had written this, ever since she had admitted that she was only pretending to be interested in him because her Dad wanted Connect 3 to move to his camp. Dana said that she was sorry but she didn't like him in that way at all and then she had left. It had only taken Nate about an hour to figure out that she was only a summer crush and over the past year he had dated plenty of girls without even thinking about Dana.
Caitlyn kept him working on the song for a good half hour before he gave up trying to be nice.
"Can I please go now? If I record it any more then I'm going to start hating it!" Mitchie, entering the room with a coffee for her friend, raised her eyebrows. She leant towards the microphone.
"Nice to see you're so dithyrambic about your work Nate."
"So what?"
"And they say you're supposed to be the smart one," Caitlyn rolled her eyes again. "It means wildly enthusiastic." Nate placed down his guitar and swung open the door, striding towards Caitlyn to hear the current version of his song. Mitchie chuckled to herself as she left the room, muttering something that sounded like;
"I'll leave you two lovebirds alone."
"What?" Nate and Caitlyn both turned to look at her but she was already gone. She missed the blush that the two of them shared.
"Just show me the song!" Nate snapped angrily. Caitlyn rolled her eyes and pressed play. Nate listened to the whole song before he spoke again. "Why did you want me to record it again?"
"Because it was funny watching your face." Caitlyn admitted with a grin. Nate narrowed his eyes at her and left, mumbling something or other.
"That was cruel." Mitchie told her friend. Caitlyn grinned.
"It served him right. He is always teasing me and winding me up, why not waste a few minutes of his precious life?"
"Someone's got a crush!" Mitchie said in a sing song voice.
"I most definitely do not have a crush on Nate! And that's the truth" Caitlyn yelled, disgusted. She shuddered at the mere thought. Mitchie just laughed.
"Whatever you say Cait. Whatever you say." And she left the room as well.
The remainder of the day passed without incident. Caitlyn curled up on the sofa in the bright living room and fiddled with her laptop, working on mixes, emailing her friends and watching videos online. Nate avoided her for the most part and they managed to make it to dinner with a record low on 'Naitlyn fights' as Shane and Mitchie had taken to calling them.
It was only when the doorbell rang that Nate and Caitlyn laid eyes on each other again. They both dived for the door, desperate for the pizza that had been ordered half an hour ago. Nate made it first, yanking open the door.
"Pizza delivery," Announced the young boy, not even attempting to sound enthusiastic. Nate held out his hand impatiently and Caitlyn glared at him.
"Thank you for taking the time to come out here," She said politely as the boy handed the five boxes to the irritated pop star. Nate handed over the money and Caitlyn elbowed him. "Give the boy a tip."
"No!"
"Give him a tip Nate!"
"You give him a tip since you're so sure that he should get one."
"I don't have my purse on me!"
"Then don't tell me to give him a tip!"
"Nate just give him a tip!"
Shane and Mitchie could hear their bickering from where they were sat at the far end of the wide hallway and they both hurried towards the front door. Shane handed the boy twice as much as they had already paid for the pizza and then slammed the door shut in his excited face. Caitlyn and Nate were now arguing about whether or not it was rude not to give the boy extra money.
"He came all the way out here to give you your dinner, he deserves something!"
"That's his job! He's paid to deliver my dinner!"
"Not much. Delivery boys are never paid enough. It's not like you're short of money!"
"Shut up!" Roared Shane. Both of them turned to him with startled expressions. "I am sick of you two arguing! Hell, we're all sick of it! You never quit the fighting, you've always got a fault to pick with each other. You've lived and worked together for four months now, get over it already!"
Caitlyn felt hot tears of anger spring to her eyes. Without speaking another word, she grabbed the top box of pizza out of Nate's arms and sprinted up the stairs and to her room. She wasn't even that upset, she just didn't want to cry and have people think she cared. She didn't understand where the tears had come from and she didn't want to give any easy options for Nate to tease her with in the morning.
Caitlyn passed an easy evening watching the movies she had stored under her bed on the flat screen TV that the boys had provided in what had once been a guest room. Mitchie came to check on her around eight but she pretended to be asleep. She wasn't in the mood for talking.
Darkness fell outside and Caitlyn closed the thick curtains before changing into her pyjamas and lying back on the bed with the last piece of pizza which was now cold. She chewed it slowly and then heard a knock at the door.
"Cait I know you're awake, I can hear you chewing."
"You can hear me chewing?" Mitchie laughed and stepped through the door, closing it behind her.
"No, I couldn't hear you chewing but you always eat and it was a sure-fire way of getting a response out of you so I thought I would try it." Caitlyn shrugged and swallowed the last of the pizza as Mitchie clambered onto her bed, crossing her legs.
"So how long have you actually had a crush on Nate?"
"I don't have a crush on Nate!"
"So why do you keep spending time alone with him?"
"Because it annoys him so much! The only time I can talk to him without wanting to punch him is when I'm winding him up!"
"Did you know that fighting is the first sign of love?" If Caitlyn had been drinking she would have spat it all over her friend but she wasn't drinking so she settled for dropping her jaw.
"Where did you get that from?"
"Think about it Cait, it's true. Shane and I met when I told him off for being a jerk, all of the good stories have characters who fight and then fall in love."
"Oh yeah? Name some."
"Hermione and Ron, Bella and Edward, Christopher and Jessica-."
"I got the first one but Bella and Edward didn't fight and who the hell are Christopher and Jessica?"
"Edward ignored Bella, she didn't like him, remember? Christopher and Jessica are from Starstruck. She hated him at first. Then there's Garion and Ce'Nedra."
"Excuse me?"
"You never did read David Eddings did you? It's in the Belgariad, the princess and the boy who didn't know he was a king, they hate each other at first but once they're forced to get married they realise that they are in love and live happily ever after."
"So what's your plan? Are you going to force Nate and I to get married?" Caitlyn shuddered at the thought and Mitchie looked curiously excited.
"That's not a bad idea actually…"
"Mitchie! Don't you dare! I do not like Nate, not at all. I promise you that is true, I don't like Nate, especially not in that way." Mitchie shrugged and clambered off of the bed.
"Okay then. I'm going to bed. See you in the morning!" She reached the door and was about to leave when she turned. "I forgot to tell you; there's going to be a thunderstorm tonight." Then she left, closing the door softly behind her as Caitlyn began to groan.
She had an irrational fear of thunderstorms. She always had, for as long as she could remember. Nothing had happened to her, she hadn't had a bad experience and nor hand anybody she knew but ever since she was born she had cowered at the sight of lightning and she was no closer to getting over it. Mitchie knew this and for some unknown reason she was choosing to taunt Caitlyn with her fear instead of help her overcome it.
Now that she knew a storm was on its way, Caitlyn had no hope of sleeping. She curled up under her covers and flicked through the channels on the TV until she found a channel showing Lilo and Stitch. It was a childish movie but it wasn't something that would frighten her if it was on while the thunder roared.
The movie was only just beginning and Caitlyn had just settled back to watch it in peace when there was an ominous growl from outside. She felt her body tense up and then the whole room was lit up for a split second as the lightning flashed through her thin curtains. Caitlyn buried her face into her pillow to hide her screams and for the next half hour she didn't move.
Her eyes were glued to the television screen but she could not see anything more than blurs of colour skimming passed. Her fingers dug harder into the pillowcase with every growl of thunder and her screams grew longer with each flash of light. The pillow muffled the noise but it still echoed in her ears. She could hear rain pounding down hard outside but nobody else seemed to be stirring. Was she the only one who had noticed the storm?
A particularly loud roll of thunder sounded and Caitlyn was reminded of something that happened every time there was a storm at home with her parents. Whatever her age, Caitlyn's Dad would take her to a room with a view of the night sky and they would sit for hours on end watching the storm. It was strangely calming for Caitlyn to watch the thunder and lighting although she was deathly afraid of it.
On remembering this, Caitlyn forced herself to climb out of bed and dragged her petrified form out of her room and down the stairs into the large lounge with its wide window. She barely noticed that she was only wearing shorts and a tank top as she walked along in the dark. Even this familiar building seemed different in the dark.
She finally found the room she was searching for and used the next flash of lighting to locate the sofa and fall onto it. Her eyes scanned the horizon as she waited for the next grumble. It came without warning along with the lighting, loud and bright. Caitlyn screamed instinctively and curled herself up in a ball, wrapping her arms around her legs for protection.
"Caitlyn?" She spun around at the voice only to find the last person she wanted to see right now.
"Eugh. Go away Nate." Another flash and grumble came together and Caitlyn couldn't' help but scream. Nate looked almost concerned as he rushed to her side.
"Cait? What's wrong?" Caitlyn look up at him, a single tear glistening in her eye.
"I have a phobia of thunderstorms, okay? Happy now? You have something else to tease me about!" She glanced out of the window and shuddered. Nate frowned, looking as though he was torn between two choices. When the next scream came from the girl sat next to him, he reached out uncertainly to wrap his arm around her shoulders. Caitlyn gave him an odd glance but didn't have time to say anything before yet another flash lit up the room. It was followed by the thunder less than a second later.
Caitlyn turned and burrowed her head into Nate's chest without realising it. Nate wrapped his other arm around her and held her shaking form.
"It's okay Caity. Don't worry, I'm here."
And strangely enough, that was all Caitlyn needed to stop shaking.
The two sat in silence for a long time, watching and listening as the storm faded into the distance and the rain let up, leaving behind no visible trace of the storm except for the wet ground. It was then that Caitlyn turned to look up at Nate, questions in her eyes.
Instead of answers, Caitlyn found herself on the receiving end of a gentle kiss. Although she had no idea where it was coming from, the kiss felt so perfect that she had to respond. She found her lips moving in time with Nate's as her eyes slid shut. Nate slipped his hands in opposite directions; one of them twisted in the curls hanging from Caitlyn's head and the other sitting gently on her waist. Caitlyn wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer to him.
"Caitlyn…" he murmured against her lips. Caitlyn pulled away ever so slightly and for a second the pair of them just sat there, shocked at what they were doing. But neither of them attempted to move away anything. "Caitlyn I know this might sound odd but… I think… No I know… I love you Caity."
Caitlyn took a moment to digest that and Nate took her shock for hesitation.
"You don't have to say it back Caity. I know that kiss was out of order and I kind of forced myself on you but it just kind of happened and I've just realised that I love you Caity. I… I know it must be odd but I had to get it out in the open…" Nate pulled away from her and Caitlyn watched in pure shock as he disappeared from the room.
Nate loved her? Just hours ago he had been snapping at her and now he was proclaiming his love for her? She shook her head in disbelief; this as probably just another one of his silly tricks.
Or was it? Their tricks and jokes had never gone this far before, they had never kissed or brought feelings into them. He had seemed so sincere when he had told her that he loved her, there wasn't even a hint of laughter in his eyes. Was it possible that he loved her? Caitlyn glanced towards the door he had exited through and felt her heart reach out towards it. She gasped. Was it possible that she loved him back?
She knew the answer to that. Just like Nate it had taken a kiss to realise it but yes she, Caitlyn Gellar, did indeed love Nate Grey.
As soon as she realised this, Caitlyn leapt up and sprinted out of the room. Where would Nate have gone? A tap turned on and off upstairs and she hurried towards the staircase. Nate exited the bathroom as she began the ascent and she managed to catch up with him just outside her own bedroom.
"Nate…" She managed to choke out, her breathing heavy. Nate turned around, shock clearly present on his face. "I… I love you too." Nate grinned broadly and happily accepted her as she closed the gap between them in their second kiss.
This one lasted longer than the first and there was much more passion in it. Now that they had realised and admitted their true feelings, the two were desperate to make up for the four months of chances that they had missed. Nate kissed her hungrily, chewing roughly on her bottom lip and pushing her back firmly against the wall behind her only to find that it was her bedroom door and swung out of the way when it received their combined weights. They stumbled inside and Nate pushed her against the first wall he found. Caitlyn smiled as his tongue darted out to explore her mouth and she jumped slightly, hitching her legs around his waist.
Nate found this too much and spun around, dropping her onto the bed. Just as he was about to join her, Caitlyn held up her hand.
"Nate, just promise me one thing?"
"What?"
"Promise me this isn't a joke. Promise me that you won't get up in the morning and laugh at how gullible I was. Just promise me that."
"I promise you Caity. I promise you, this love is real and I could never do that to you. When you wake up in the morning I will be there for you, I promise."
xOx
"Caitlyn!" Mitchie sprinted up the stairs and flew towards her friend's room. "Caitlyn have you seen Nate? He hasn't gone out because the front door is still locked and we can't find him-." She broke off as her eyes absorbed what was sitting right in front of her.
Caitlyn was blinking slowly and yawning, tucked right under the covers. Mitchie could only see her head and face but she did take note of how Caitlyn's pyjamas were lying on the floor at the foot of the bed and how, lying next to Caitlyn was what appeared to be a topless Nate Grey. Or Mitchie might have believed he was topless from seeing his bare chest had she not seen his boxers mixed in with Caitlyn's clothes.
"Mitchie has Caitlyn seen him at all?" Shane called, appearing behind his fiancée seconds later. "Oh…"
Caitlyn slowly lifted her head, looking for the sign of disturbance.
"What-? Shit!" Caitlyn turned scarlet with embarrassment as she saw her best friend and Shane standing in the doorway to her room. Nate woke up at her yell.
"What's wrong?" He grumbled, sitting up. He then repeated Caitlyn's choice of words and looked around the room with wide eyes.
"You know what? Mitchie and I have to go…do something." Shane improvised. Mitchie nodded and pulled the door shut quickly before scurrying off down the stairs.
Inside the room, Nate and Caitlyn were just sitting still, avoiding each others gaze. Neither of them knew how to start the conversation after that less than expected night and awakening.
Caitlyn decided to say something. The last coherent speech she could remember was Nate promising not to hurt her so she didn't think it could be too bad.
"Nate, I-."
"Look, I'm sorry Caitlyn. Let's just forget it ever happened. Pretend that last night never happened and go back to how we used to be, okay?"
"I-."
"You don't have to say it." Nate clambered out of the bed and pulled on his clothes before leaving without another word. Caitlyn just sat perfectly still.
He had promised. He had promised her that he wouldn't leave in the morning. He had promised. Caitlyn felt a tear trickle down her cheek. He had promised.
Okay, so now it's up to you guys. Do you want me to leave it there, with Caitlyn heartbroken or do you want me to add an extra chapter that may possible resolve things? Your choice, review or PM me and let me know.
~Spwarkle