"It's gonna be really great having you with us this time, Mitch."

He wanted to believe that two years was enough time away, but as the 'Camp Rock' sign came into view, and he tried to smile at her, it came out as more of a grimace. There was not enough time in the world to make the pain go away.

It had been almost two years.

Two years since he'd come home from camp to spend time with his best friend, his little 'sister' and his girlfriend, seven hundred and thirty days since the fight had ensured over Nate's rising career, one hundred and four weeks since Drew had made the decision to get behind the wheel while drunk, twenty-four months since the last time he had seen his girlfriend alive. It was never going to get easier, and right then and there, he chose to place the blame on his bandmate and longtime friend: Shane.

He didn't want to be back at Camp Rock.

Alex told him that she wanted to spend the next summer out there with him, she'd spent weeks convincing her parents that Camp Rock was the place to be. He didn't want to come back here without her.

It was all Shane's fault!

Nate was being forced to return to the last place he could remember actually being happy, because someone had had to storm off the set of their music video shoot, knocking over a desert table in the process. Now Shane was being sent back to the place where Connect 3 had been discovered in the hopes that he would find who he used to be, and Nate had been dragged along to play chaperone. There was only one good thing about the upcoming summer: Mitchie was right there with him. With Jason and his new wife, Hayley trying to find a suitable place for them all to live, and his parents currently traveling around Europe, Jason had reluctantly agreed to allow her to accompany Shane and Nate to Camp Rock, with the promise that Nate would keep a watchful eye on her always. It wasn't that Jason didn't trust Shane with his sister, in fact, Mitchie was the only one who ever saw Shane's nice side anymore, Nate was just like a little brother to the oldest band member. He knew Nate would never let anything happen to her.

"Hey, Mitch." Nate muttered, reaching out to squeeze her knee. "Look. We're here."

The sixteen-year-old glanced out the window and smiled. She had been there countless times before, for drop offs and pickups, and while she loved it there dearly, she and Alex had always chosen to spend their summers at an exclusive dance camp.

They'd both agreed that Camp Rock was where they really wanted to be.

"I don't wanna waste my summer at some camp!" He hissed. "I'm Shane Gray for crying out loud!"

"Yeah." Mitchie agreed, a smile gracing her lips for the first time all day. "Shane Gray the hothead."

Jason and Nate began to laugh, Shane stared at them. He raised an eye brow as the realization hit him, and he lunged at her. His arm pressed her shoulders back, trapping her against the seat as his free hand began to probe her waist. Mitchie began to laugh silently, tears streaming down her cheeks. Nate watched them, a faraway look in his eyes. There had been a time when she would have giggled, or told him to leave her alone, but she couldn't.

Mitchie had stopped talking after the accident.

The doctor said it was a 'selective' form of mutism, a common symptom due to PTSD. While they promised that it wasn't permanent, she hadn't said a word in two years. His mother, an ASL teacher in her spare time had taught them all how to sign, and now that was their only means of communication.

"You really wanna call me that, Mitch?" Shane challenged, his grip tightening. "You wanna take me on? Bad move."

The moment he caught his two bandmates staring at him, he abruptly released his hold on her. He leaned back against the leather seat and readjusted his sunglasses before crossing his arms.

"What?"

"Why can't you treat everyone the way you treat Mitchie?"

"Because." He replied, as if the answer were obvious. "Not everyone is Mitchie. Don't do this to me, Nate. Please."

Nate blinked in surprise. He couldn't remember the last time he'd heard the word please come out of the rock star's mouth. It took him a few moments to think of a response.

"Hey man." He muttered, shaking his head. "We used to love this place. Three years ago, we were campers."

"Yeah, man!" Jason pipped in. "This is where Connect 3... Connected!"

Nate shook his head again. When it came to Mitchie, he was the most responsible person ever, but Jason had a very unique sense of humor that came across as strange to anyone who didn't know him. He was the 'weird' one of the group, while Shane was the 'bad boy' or the 'heartthrob', and Nate was the 'serious cutie.' Mitchie was Connect 3's Princess, loved and adored by all of their fans.

"And you get to see your Uncle Brown." Nate added.

Brown had been like a father to Shane while growing up. He was so laid back, with a funk attitude and a love for all things music related, if anyone could get through to him, it was Brown. Once the bassist in a band called Wet Crows, he knew what fame could do to a kid.

"Ha." Shane scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Not a selling point."

Mitchie jabbed him with her elbow, and his disapproving gaze moved down to her for a moment. She didn't care if he became annoyed with her, she was so sick and tired of his bad attitude. The Shane Gray she knew and loved was a good guy, a kid who loved music, and his friends, and his family. This version of Shane was a stranger to her, someone who had let the fame go to his head. She knew that Nate was tired of beating around the bush. They were staying, for the entire summer. This was his last chance to prove himself. If Shane didn't change his tune, Connect 3 stood to lose it all.

"Look man." Nate sighed. "Right now, you're the bad boy to the press, and the label has a problem with that, which means we have a problem with that."

"Actually..." Jason drew out. "I don't really have a problem with that."

This time it was his sister who turned to shoot him an annoyed look. Jason shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to regain his composure.

"We have a problem with that."

Shane glared at him. When the label had sat the boys down to brainstorm ideas, Jason had been the only one opposed to sending Shane back to Camp Rock, but little by little, Nate, Mitchie, their manager and Shane's family had worn the guitarist down. It irritated him beyond belief that the only person on his side had been forced to change his mind.

"This camp thing is supposed to fix it." He said. "It's good P.R., so do your time. Enjoy the fresh air, get a tan."

"Oh! And can you make me a birdhouse or something?"

Shane, Nate and Mitchie turned to stare at him, their expressions unreadable. Mitchie couldn't help but think back to her childhood, where Jason had sent a letter to Santa every Christmas, asking for a pet bird. No such luck there, and she was still grateful.

"One word: Payback."

"That's two words!"

Without an annoyed sigh, Shane threw the limo door open and jumped out, reaching for his guitar case. Nate offered Jason a mock salute before climbing out after him. Mitchie, however, moved to take Nate's vacated spot, sliding her arms around her brother's torso.

Jason sighed, pressing his lips to her forehead. "You know if I had it my way, you would be coming with me, right?"

"I know." She signed, a faraway look in her eyes. "But you and Hayley just got married, Jase. You guys deserve a little time to yourselves."

Her new sister-in-law was currently waiting for Jason in her tiny college apartment, where the newlyweds had been living for the last few months. Hayley had been more than willing to let Mitchie stay with them while they looked at houses, and while she loved her for that, she wanted to give both of them a break. It was like their entire lives revolved around her.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"I'll be fine."

"I'm only a phone call away."

"I know, Jase."

"I love you, Munchkin."

"You're really annoying when you get all overprotective, but I love you too."

"Enough with all the mushy stuff." Shane mumbled, his hand wrapping around her own. "She'll be fine, Jason."

He still looked unsure. "Nate?"

"She'll be fine, Jase." Nate promised. "I won't let anything happen to her."

Jason reluctantly nodded, stepping out of the limo to wrap her up in one last hug.

"I love you, Munchkin. Have a great summer, guys."

"I love you too, Jase."

"By the way." Nate said, glancing back at Shane. "We told the press you'd be recording a duet with the winner of Final Jam."

"What?!"

Mitchie couldn't hide the smile on her face. As the limo pulled away, he turned to her and held a hand out. She grasped it tightly, letting out a silent sigh. She finally had some time away from her brother for the first time in two years, and she didn't know how to feel about it.

"Wait..." Shane muttered, looking confused. "Reggie can't leave without carrying my stuff to my cabin..."

"Yeah, he can." Nate replied with a smile. He handed Mitchie her guitar case. "I told him to leave, Shane. You brought all that crap, you can carry it."

"Nate..."

"I'll help you." Mitchie offered, releasing her grip on Nate's hand. "It's not a big deal, Shay."

Shane was about to agree until he saw the look on Nate's face. He put on a brave face, shook his head and reached out to take hold of his own bags.

"Thanks, Mitch, but I've got it."

Nate's fingers locked around her wrist, leading her down the pathway towards Brown's office. When he felt her struggling to keep up, he slowed his pace, glancing back at her before stopping altogether. Her gaze was fixated on Shane.

Nate sighed.

He knew that if anyone missed the person Shane once was, it was Mitchie. They had been friends since an eleven-year-old Nate and a sixteen-year-old Jason had introduced her to their super cool cabin mate, nephew of West Crow legend/owner of Camp Rock, Shane Gray. Mitchie was the only one who Shane was real with anymore. This summer was their last chance to try and save him. He couldn't do it without her help.

"Don't worry, Mitchie." Nate muttered, squeezing her hand. "You're gonna have a great summer. I promise."