Hello again. I am so happy, I am so Happy. Want to know why? Because you are reading this, yep it is all because of you.
And people say one person can't make a difference. Anyway I won't keep you too long.
I do not own camp rock if I did there would be a bird house tangent(I love the word tangent) for sure.
POV Nate
"Hey dude, your girlfriend's here," Bob calls to me and not quietly or discreetly either. Great I let out a groan, now everyone will be teasing me about my 'girlfriend'. I guess it wouldn't have been too bad if I actually had a girlfriend. But as I don't it would only serve as a very irritating reminder that no such girl existed.
"I don't think so, not unless people who don't exist have started to get cravings for waffles. Because I don't have a girlfriend," I try to explain for the thousandth time, not that I really expected it to get through.
"Aww, come on, you know that real cute brunette; the one that used to come in here like every day. The one you were so keen on that you kept getting yelled at for spending all your time staring at her. Not that I can blame you after seeing her at winter formal looking so damn fine," Bob teases.
"One, she is not my girlfriend and two I did not spend all my time staring at her. I may have…just happened to look over at her a couple of times."
"A couple of times a minute you mean," Bob butts in teasingly.
"And three, I don't ever want to hear you say the words damn fine in relation to her ever again. If I do I will happily break you, and anything else I can reach," I continue darkly.
"Defensive much? And you say you don't like her. Man, whatever you say; that reaction is not the reaction of a guy who just wants to be friends," Bob laughs, with a smirk forming on his face as I fall into his trap. "Oh and you should probably get over there as Lola just sat them in your section."
There she was sitting at the same table as the day she first came in here.
Flashback to the first time they met
"Hi," I say as I walk up to her; she has to be one of the prettiest girls I have ever seen. "I'm server; I'll be your Nate I… I mean I'm Nate…I'll be your server," I stammer, my words stumbling out of my mouth as I get more and more flustered. Why do I always have to mess up in front of cute girls? But she just laughs.
"Hi, I'm Caitlyn," She says, still laughing and I notice how it makes her face light up intoxicatingly, making me blush all the deeper.
"So are you ready to order?" I inquire, trying to regain some of my professionalism. My cheeks are still burning in embarrassment and kind of ruining the effect however.
"Um, not yet, I'm waiting for someone," Caitlyn murmurs, looking at her watch. Great, she has a boyfriend. Well, what did I expect? How can she not? Girls that pretty just aren't single. What did I think that I could walk over here, make a joke and she would just fall in love with me?
I inwardly sigh. That's exactly what I had hoped. Stupid, stupid Nate I mentally scold.
"Oh, okay then, will your boyfriend be long?" I question, kicking myself as the word spurts out of my mouth without my being able to help it. She flushes uncomfortably; making me mentally kick myself again. She can probably tell I'm jealous and that I like her.
"Actually my friend is here and she just walked in," Caitlyn mutters, a trace of irritation flickering in her voice as she makes sure to put emphasis on friend and she.
"Hi Caity, so sorry I'm late." The new girl says apologetically as she reaches the table, before turning to me. "Hi, I'm Mitchie, you must be Nate."
This sends my brain into confusion. I mean, how does she know my name?
"Your name tag and also I've heard about you from Shane, he recommended we eat here," She smiles, answering my un-asked question.
"Ahhh, so you're the fabled Mitchie. Shane talks about you almost incessantly. That cloud looks like Mitchie, Mitchie said this, and that tree smells like Mitchie or I wonder if Mitchie would like this. He once went on about your eyes for four hours and that is time I'll never get back," I joke, but sadly every word is true. The way he talks about her I half expect her to have a halo.
"You think that's bad try listening to a five hour spiel about how great Shane's big toe is, I now have nightmares," Caitlyn counters, laughing, and I have to admit she really does have me.
"It wasn't that long," Mitchie bites back indignantly, embarrassment undercoating her words at the thought of Shane hearing about it.
"It was long enough and his big toe, really Mitchie, really?" Caitlyn teases, playfully.
"So what would you like to order?" I ask, realising that I have been there way too long already.
"Oh I'll have…the apple and cinnamon waffles thank you," Mitchie requests, thoughtfully.
"And to drink?" I ask, finding it amusing that she has been so focused on what to order she has forgotten to pick a drink.
"Umm, a lemonade spider please?" she answers hesitantly, caught off guard by the sudden need for a choice.
"Good choice, and for you?" I direct this one at Caitlyn as she scans the menu, her nose scrunching up adorably in concentration. Obviously not having put any prior thought towards what to eat.
"Umm, I'll have the buttermilk pancakes with lemon and sugar." Caitlyn states after a long pause.
"Really?" the words burst out of my mouth before I can stop myself as she orders the most boring item on the menu.
"Oh ,then what do you think I should have then?" There's sarcasm lacing her voice, her anger practically dripping out of her mouth and making me wince; not only do I make a fool of myself, I manage to piss her off.
"Hmmm, I think you should have the chocolate honey with a banberry smoothie," I reply smugly, knowing she probably wouldn't be able to resist my personal favorite aka the best thing on the menu.
"Oh, well… that does sound yummy. Okay, I'll have that then, you are the expert after all," Caitlyn relents, appeased slightly.
"Wow, what an excellent choice, you really do have exceptional taste indeed," I can't help but tease.
I laugh to myself; in the year and a half since she first came in here Caitlyn hadn't once changed her order from the choc-honey with a banberry smoothie that I had suggested.
Walking over to the table, I feel a twinge of worry spasm through my body. I haven't seen Mitchie or Caitlyn since the funeral, almost six months ago. I can't face either of them. I blame myself because I was there. I was there when it happened but I didn't, I couldn't help. I know now I couldn't have done anything, but back then ….. I hated my self.
I gulp before walking up to their table.
"Excuse me," I interrupt, "hi I'm Nate, I'll be your server today, is there anything I can get you?"
I'm trying to be professional but it's making Caitlyn roll her eyes at me.
"Well, I'll have the usual, chocolate honey waffles with a banberry smoothie," Caitlyn orders with a smirk.
I look over to Mitchie as she examines the menu, noticing how pale and thin she looks. But at least she's a little more alive than she looked last time I saw her.
"And I'll have hazelnut praline crepes with chocolate sauce and a banana milkshake," Mitchie orders thoughtfully, a ghost of a smile playing on her face.
"Both very good choices," I comment, unable to keep from smiling; Mitchie always orders interesting things.
"Why thank you, a very conceited waiter once suggested it," Caitlyn adds teasingly, dispelling the slight awkwardness that had been hanging in the air. "So what have you been up to?" She adds curiously.
"Um, well not much really. Mostly work really," I reply honestly, carefully leaving out the part where when I wasn't working or missing my dead best friend…I was generally thing thinking about her. That I didn't think she needed to know.
"Ah yes Nate the great workaholic. So do you ever leave this place?" Caitlyn asks playfully, earning a laugh from Mitchie.
"Well actually miss-know-it-all, I leave when my shift finishes in an hour and a half I will be out of here." I counter.
"Hey Nate, you should probably get going – if you don't want Brown to kick your ass again that is," Lola whispers to me as she walks past to seat a couple across the room. "Oh and your girlfriend is real cute," she adds even quieter, making my cheeks blush scarlet.
"S..sorry guys but duty calls, I'll have those drinks for you soon," I explain before hurrying off with my cheeks still flaming.
"Dude, whatever you say about her not being your girlfriend; she is totally into you. If I were you, and the pretty girl I was crushing on liked me … well let's just say I wouldn't be over here talking to me. But that's just me, if you know what I mean," Bob rambles as soon as I get behind the counter.
"Well I'm not you and she isn't 'into me' as you put it, so just drop it ok?" I snap, handing him the drink orders.
"Banberry? Isn't that what you always order?" Bob asks, trying to control his laughter. "And you're still trying to tell me there isn't anything going on, that is too rich."
"Just shut it and make the drink orders," I growl, wondering why I'm even friends with him.
"Man, you really do have it bad for this chick," He laughs as I walk through the doors to the kitchen.
"Hey Nate, I hear your girlfriend is here," Brown mocks, raising his eyebrows up and down suggestively.
"She is not my girlfriend!" I repeat, my teeth gritting for what feels like the thousandth time as I hand him the orders.
"Uha, that's what they all say, but just remember to keep your mind on the job," Brown advises, switching back into boss mode.
"Oh, hey Nate; I just saw your girlfriend," Lola points her out.
"She seems really nice, and cute too!" Dee interrupts as she walks in, probably just getting off her break.
"She isn't my girlfriend," I mutter, knowing now that she has the idea in her mind no amount of arguing will change it.
"That's not what your cheeks say," Dee teases, pointing at my now beet red face.
Turning to walk out the door, I curse how easily I blush.
"Did you tell every one that she is 'my girlfriend'?" I growl accusingly at Bob as soon as I reach the bar.
"No, just Brown, oh and Lola," Bob answers casually, unfazed by my bad mood.
"And Lola just told Dee, so now everyone will know," I cringe at the thought. "And what's worse it isn't even true so when people start asking about it I'm going to sound pathetic when I say that. Or what if people ask her; she'll think I'm some deranged obsessive stalker or something!" I say in a bit of a rush, starting to really freak at the thought because if she did hear about it any chance of actually going out with her would die immediately.
"OK, calm down, here is what we are going to do; you are going to take over their drinks, be your charming self and act like nothing is going on. And if anyone says anything, I'll say it was some kind of prank on Brown or something. OK?" Bob explains calmly.
"Thanks," I say, taking the drinks and walking over to the table, noticing that, oddly, Caitlyn isn't there.
"Here are your drinks, one banana milkshake and one banberry smoothie," I say, putting the drinks on the table.
"Great, these look delicious. Oh, and Caitlyn's just gone to the bathroom," Mitchie adds with a knowing smile; once again using her uncanny ability to answer unasked questions.
"I-I didn't even notice," I lie awkwardly, watching an unconvinced smile breaking out on Mitchie's face.
"Mmhmm, whatever. Hey, what's up? You seem really mad," She asks, concern playing across her face.
"Nothing's wrong. I'm not mad. Why would I be mad?" I splutter, obviously not convincing her if the look on her face is anything to go by. "Okay, it's just there is this guy that has got it into his head that Caitlyn is my girlfriend. Then he told a few people, and now, just about the entire staff thinks we're dating," I admit, finishing with a sigh.
"Wow. How much are they teasing you?" she asks, unable to completely hide her amusement at my predicament.
"Not much really…well, OK, a lot. But that isn't what's really worrying it's just…" I trail off, not knowing how to explain the real problem.
"It's that you're worried Caitlyn will find out and get the wrong idea. That she'll think you're spreading the lie, a very odd lie it is too. And what she'll think is that you're either pathetic or worse and more likely that you are making a fool of her again," Mitchie finishes with a sigh.
"Yep, that pretty much sums it up," I say with a sigh; hearing it all spread out like that is not making me feel any better, in fact it's having the opposite effect. "You know how long it took her to forgive me for the last time and that she put down to pity, so this… well, I'll probably be on my death bed before she forgives me," I put my fears out in the open.
"You should just talk to her. You like her, right?" Mitchie asks, making me stammer. "So if you talk to her, who knows, maybe she'll surprise you."
"What, just tell her? Yeah, right, because that worked so well last time. After what happened at formal she made it crystal clear that she didn't want anything like that from me," bitterness makes my words sharper than I like.
"Nate, you know why she was so mad. You hurt her, bad. She wanted exactly that sort of thing from you. But when you told her she thought it was some kind of joke or pity, some kind of favor to Shane. You know, 'make the girlfriend's best friend happy'. Yes, I know, that wasn't true. Stop looking at me like that. I even tried to tell her how wrong she was but nothing I, or anyone else tried to tell her, could change her mind. When I told her what I thought she said it couldn't be true and that her way made more sense then a 'guy like you' actually liking her. So, you see; you have to tell her," Mitchie explains.
"Yes, because the fact that she can't imagine me actually liking her is a great reason to profess my love to her," I retort sarcastically.
"No, but the reason why she can't imagine it is," She suggests smugly.
"What on earth are you talking about?" I shake my head, confused.
"Why didn't you just ask her to go out with you instead of lying? Why not tell her you like her? Why? Well, because you were scared, scared she would say no and maybe even because you couldn't imagine her liking you back. Why is that?" She finishes with a knowing smile.
Her speech hit me, making my brain rush at a million miles an hour, so many thoughts going through my mind in so little time. Why didn't I think she would say yes? Why couldn't I imagine her liking me?
Simple; because I like her, I like her so much. To me it makes no sense that someone as amazing and perfect as she is – would like dorky guy like me. My mouth falls open, dumbstruck. If what Mitchie is suggesting is true then maybe, just maybe, she is right. Maybe I should talk to her, but what will I say?
"Hey guys, what'd I miss? You would not believe the line for the bathroom," Caitlyn bounces over, chattering and breaking my line of thought.
"Oh, nothing really, just saying to Mitchie how… how good it is to see her. It really has been too long," I ramble back.
"Yes, in fact, he was just saying that we should have one of those movie nights we always used to have," Mitchie adds with a smile, almost hiding the way her face twitched sadly as the memories of all the movie nights we used to have at Shane's swept over her.
"Um, yes, we really must but I kind of need to get back to work now so maybe later we can organize it?" I say, remembering where we are and how much I need this job.
"Oh yes, of course, we don't want you to get in trouble but I was thinking maybe tomorrow night, your place? Is that okay?" Mitchie suggests, grinning as her plan closes in around me. "What do you think, Caitlyn?"
"That sounds great. Hey, I think the movie hire place has a special Tuesday offer. So we could get them after this?" Caitlyn suggests to Mitchie.
"That sounds good; I'll see you to around six pm tomorrow?" I say, trying to get out of there before I get hooked into anything else, like my own wedding maybe, considering the way Mitchie's mind seems to be working. But I don't know, somehow this plotting has managed to make her feel better, judging by the way she looks.
"Six pm sounds good, well I'll have to ask my Mom but she won't mind but speaking of Moms…I promised mine I would get back early; I can't go get DVDs with you Caity, but Nate, didn't you say you get off soon? You could go with Caitlyn, couldn't you?" Mitchie suggests cunningly.
"Um, well, I guess so. I get off at two, if that's okay?" I concede, unable to outplay Mitchie's plotting.
"So … um, what kind of movies were you thinking?" I say to Caitlyn as we walk in to the DVD store. My palms practically dripping I am so nervous.
"Um I don't know a comedy maybe, I hear the new camp rock movie is out." Caitlyn suggested.
"Um, no thanks, I mean the first one was enough. And the second one is trying to be all 'Romeo and Juliet'. Anyway, the youngest one was totally meant to be with the best friend so who's this new chick? Blahh. Disney can't leave well enough alone. I mean, look what they did to High School Musical," I rant, unable to stop my self.
OK, I mean, Lola just leaves her magazines around. It's hard not to read them.
"OK tiger, chill. What about the Wizards of Waverly place movie? Oooo and oh my god we have to watch the Lizzie McGuire movie. It's a classic," Caitlyn cries happily. Bouncing up and down at the sight of her old favorite movie.
"Oooo what about this?" I ask, holding up the Rugrats in Paris movie.
"Ok, lol, it'll be 'hey remember when this was cool' movie night," She replies excitedly.
"Hey, rugrats is still cool. I mean come on Tommy is da bomb."
"Da bomb? Really Nate really? I swear if you say dawg, rad or flava I am so out of here," She threatens with a laugh.
"Awwww my bad," I joke back.
"Hey, talk to the hand," she retorts.
"Come on don't have a cow man," I add making us both break out laughing.
"This is….. fun. I miss just hanging out like this," Caitlyn comments after we regain some composure.
"Yeah, I missed this too, I….. I missed you," I admit, taking Mitchie's advice and just being honest.
"Mhmmm yeah," she replies, turning away.
"No wait and listen. OK?" I say, grabbing her.
"No, Nate, you listen. I am not going to do this. I am not going to stand here while you make me fall for you for whatever reason and then just mess with my head. Not again. So just leave it 'cause I'm not playing," Caitlyn snaps, tears welling in her eyes.
"Naha not this time, this time you will hear me out. Yes, I lied to you. I didn't ask you to go to formal with me because I hadn't been asked, I had OK? I had been asked to go by heaps of girls, but I turned them all down. I turned them down because there was this other girl I wanted to go with, one who I was too scared to ask out so instead I told a stupid lie and asked her to go with me as friends. Only to have my stupid-ness bite me on the bum when I finally get the courage to tell the most amazing girl how I feel," I say in a rush. "Now do you get it?"
"But what about what Tess said?" she asks timidly, not quite ready to believe me.
"Tess is a bitch, she asked me out and I said no. She was jealous; she would have said anything to get back at me," I reply simply.
"I'm sorry I didn't listen. I …. Well it just never really felt real so it seemed to make more sense. So what happens now?" She asks curiously.
"Well I think now we…" I reply wrapping my arms around her and leaning in. "go some where else, somewhere without on audience." I pull away after realizing almost the whole store is standing there watching us.
"Oh my, that's embarrassing," she starts with a laugh, "but we can't leave then hanging, can we?"
She pulls me in for a kiss.
Hey you made it. Okay it's not the best end but anyway. I had fun writing the bits where they are joking around. Well that's the end kind of I felt bad about the fact that nothing really got finalized for Mitchie. So I have been toying around with writing another little bit to put on the end but I won't do so unless some one asks me to. So if you want a little more review and ask.
Finally I have to say it was fun writing this. I really hope at least some one enjoys it(as I did put a fair bit of work into it). thank you for reading this(and hopefully reviewing) have a good day and stay safe(I hate the idea of people getting hurt).