DISCLAIMER: Don't own anything!!!

Since I sat here, I didn't leave. I'm staring at the other kids dance. i'm in the After Jam party. I could hear them laughing, some speaks, or should I say scream, while some sings together on the stage. They are enjoying the party a lot. I should be enjoying this too but here I am. I'm like in a coma. Physically present but mentally absent. I miss her. I miss her a lot.

I drank my third cola. Don't they serve hard drinks here? Well, I really don't drink such things. I never tried. I'm just thinking that maybe, it will help me forget her and what I feel. It's killing me.

"Hey Nate! Wanna dance?" It's Caitlyn. I smile but shook my head. She went to the dance floor with the other kids.

I miss her terribly. I wonder where she is right now. After what happened in her performance, I'm sure she's crying somewhere. I should have run after her but remembering what Shane (and others) said, I chicken out.

*********

"We didn't see much of you lately. Where have you been?" Shane asked me one night after we performed.

"I'm dating—"

"You're dating? Oh my God! With who?" Jason interrupted me.

"With Tess—"

"Tess? As in Tess Tyler of Camp Rock?" Jason interrupted me again. I nodded. He looked disappointed.

"That mean girl? She's going to destroy you." Jason remarked.

How dare he to say that? I should have defended her but I stayed silent until my anger subsides and Jason left.

"You're dating Tess?" Shane asked me when Jason left. I nodded.

"You better stop it. She doesn't have a good image. She can destroy you," Shane said, seemed concern. OK. Those words weren't so Shane. He doesn't talk bad things about other people but he said it.

**********

That's the reason why I'm ignoring Tess in our second summer in Camp Rock. I love her but I also love my career. It's hard to ignore her. It's hard to see her broken every time I leave her. I don't want to hurt her but I keep doing it. What's wrong with me?

I should have chosen Tess instead of protecting my career. Tess is kinder now than before. She changed a lot. She's not the mean girl everybody knows anymore. I'm so stupid. I realized it just right now. She can't destroy me because she loves me and I love her too.

I stood up and started asking everyone I see about Tess' whereabouts. Nobody knew where she was. I went out of the hall and searched for her.

The lake! She'll be there, just like last year where I saw her. Why didn't I thought of that?

**********

I was walking on the woods. The Final Jam was so tiring and having a fresh air made me feel better. The sky was so clear and it was so quiet.

Then, I heard a scream. I followed the voice and I saw her. She stood up and stared at the sky. Her blond hair was blown by the summer breeze. Then, she fell to the water.

Weird girl. Who would think to go swimming at these hours and alone? I walked near the lake waiting for her to go back to the surface. It's more than a minute. She's still not going up for some air. Another minute passed. She's still at the bottom of the lake. Panic stricken me. Is she committing suicide? I dove to the water with shoes and all. I found her and grabbed her to the surface.

"Are you trying to kill your self?" I yelled at her. She looked up. It was Tess Tyler. I admired her from the first time I saw her.

"Yes!" she yelled back. She looked at me in the eyes. She screamed something to me but I didn't understand. I was busy looking at her eyes. It were full of sadness.

"Why?" I asked her after a minute.

"Why do you care?" she said, standing. I stood too. "Why are you here? You should be there, not here. You should not be talking to me. You should hate me like everyone else" she said staring at the water.

"Why would I hat you?" I half-smiled. She didn't answer. Instead, she sat again. "Why did you do that?" I asked as I sat beside her.

"Why will I tell you?" she asked back?

"Because I want to know," I answered matter-of-factly.

"You really want to know?" she said looking at me an eyebrow raised. I nodded. She stared at the sky.

"Because I'm pathetic," she started. "Because I'm a shame. Because I'm so mean," she started crying. "And everybody hates me. Because I don't have a friend. Because my Mom will surely get mad… at… me," she was shaking uncontrollably. I want to hold her… to comfort her. "Because… nobody… cares… for… me… Because… nobody… loves… me… Because… I… I… have nothing… Because…"

Before I knew it, I was already kissing her. She seemed shock at first but she kissed back.

"Don't say nobody cares for you coz I'm not a nobody," I said smiling after the tender kiss. I kissed her on the forehead. "And Tess Tyler, I love you,' I didn't know why I said that but it's what I feel. "When you feel that you have nothing, think of me. I'm yours to keep.

**************

And I'm still hers. I still care for her. And I still love her.

I arrived at the lake. She's not there. I'm about to leave when I noticed a pair of shoes. Her shoes. I ran to the lake and dove. She can't do it again. Please God… tell me she didn't do it again.

I searched for her silently praying that I'm wrong. She might just left her shoes. Or it can be not hers. Or…. I saw her lying at the bottom of the lake. I grabbed her up.

I lay her on the ground.

"Tess, wake up. It's Nate," I said wishing that she'll wake up. She's not breathing. What do they do during these emergencies? CPR, right. I tried it but nothing happened. I tried it again. Still, nothing happened.

"Tess, wake up. This is not a good joke," I said. I can feel tears running in my face. I hug her. I hug her so tight I'm afraid I'll break her fragile bones.

I should have talked to her when she called me. I should have thought of her instead of my career. I should have ignored Shane and Jason's words. I should have given her my attention. I should have run after her when she almost falls on the stage. If only I didn't act so stupid. She wouldn't do this. She would not try it again. She would be here with me.

But I am stupid and she did try it again… and actually succeeded. Now, she's gone and it's my entire fault.

I let out a scream---------

I know it's stupid… but it's my first time… Give me some considerations. I'll try to make a better one next time…. Please review….