Author's Note: So I was feeling really moody yesterday and this just sort of came to me. This is my first one-shot (I'm not even sure what one-shot means, I'm just kinda giving an educated guess) and second fan-fic ever, so please don't flame it (I really don't know what flame means either, but I'm assuming it's when people like leave nasty comments or something like that). But please review it, feedback is always nice!
Disclaimer: I don't own Shane, Mitchie, or anything Camp Rock related... just little morbid Shadow.
Happiness. Why it skipped over me and flitted to everyone else I did not know. Was it because I didn't deserve it? Possibly.
Instead anguish, depression, and hopelessness chased me tirelessly, finding me even when I hid in the darkest of shadows. That was my name. Shadow. My nickname actually. It was the only thing related to Shane Gray that I didn't throw away or burn when he left me for a life of fame filled with superficial celebrities and flashing lights. He called me that back in preschool when we played hide-and-seek. He could never find me, as long as it was evening and shadows loomed everywhere. Maybe it was because my raven hair blended in with my dark surroundings, or my small body was just plain unnoticeable. But whatever it was, I was good at hiding. The very best actually. That was the reason why challenge-loving Shane and I became friends through hide-and-seek, because he insisted on playing until he could find me without me allowing him to first. Which he never did. But I guess a childhood of being best friends wasn't enough to draw him back once he was immersed into the world of screaming fans and paparazzi. If only he knew what I had gone through when he left, the feelings that started that day and continued to torment me after all this time.
And yet, I didn't think they had ever hit me as hard as they did when I showed up to Camp Rock's Final Jam, just in time to see Shane and an annoyingly beautiful brunette singing together, their voices blending together into a perfect harmony. And at the end of the song, when their fingers laced together and their lips touched, pain and despair washed over me so strongly I was surprised I didn't collapse right then and there.
I followed him backstage after the song, not even bothering to hide from him anymore. But he still brushed past me without even a single glance of recognition or greeting. That did it. No more hiding, no more shrinking into the shadows. I had to be seen, had to be heard, had to be noticed.
"Shane..."
"Yeah?" He turned to see who had beckoned to him, and his glance fell onto me. Finally... "Oh hey, can I help you?" His flawless features melted into a warm grin, his eyes holding nothing but innocent curiosity. He doesn't remember...
"Oh um... nothing..." His gorgeous face became concerned for a moment, silently asking me why tears were so suddenly welling up in my gray eyes. But his worry was gone in a flash when the brunette from onstage darted over and enveloped him in a hug.
"That was wonderful Shane... thank you so much for forgiving me, you wouldn't believe how much it means to me... I love you..." she gushed, her voice muffled since her head was buried into his shoulder.
"I love you too Mitchie," he whispered sincerely, returning her embrace as my heart shattered painfully. No one would know though if they happened to walk by. Hiding physically wasn't the only thing I did well. Hiding my emotions also fell under my expertise. Well maybe hiding wasn't the right word... more like burying them underneath layers of hurt and betrayal to nestle among others of their kind. The feelings of misery and abandonment tortuously piled up day after day adding to my millions of unshed tears, threatening to suffocate me unless they were released soon.
"Hey, who's this?" Mitchie asked Shane, noticing me standing there awkwardly.
"Um, I really don't know..." he answered her, giving me a confused smile.
"Nice to meet you," I greeted her, flashing a smile that would seem genuine to the untrained eye. But to those who bothered to look closely, they would find infinite pain and bleakness hiding in those cloudy eyes, masked by fake cheerfulness. "I'm..." I hesitated, uncertain if I should tell them my real name or the nickname that was so fondly given to me so long ago. "I'm Shadow." There was a pause until Shane's eyes widened slightly, scanning my black hair and silver orbs, acknowledgment flashing across his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. "I really should be going though. Nice duet by the way. It was awesome. It's like you two were made for each other." A single tear finally escaped and snaked down my cheek as I turned around and headed for the shadows, to do what I do best.
Author's Note: So what did you think? Like it? Hate it? Let me know please, constructive critisizm is good!!