A/N: Thank you all for the reviews and alerts. I am so glad you're enjoying this so far.
Kadence
Disclaimer: Camp Rock and its characters are the property of the Disney Channel. I own nothing...I merely borrow for my amusement, as well as yours.
Chapter Two
Bailey reached the top of the stairs and put a bag down to pull the door open. She maneuvered inside the cabin without dropping anything, only to get hit in the head with a small green Nerf ball, which startled her and caused her to drop both bags.
"Oh man, I am so sorry," a curly haired boy said.
"It's fine," Bailey said. "Don't worry about it. I have a bro..."
She trailed off, but shook off the sadness that she was suddenly overcome by and made her way into the cabin.
"Dude, what did you do?" a dark haired boy asked.
"It's fine. I'm fine," Bailey said.
"At least let us give you a hand," the curly haired boy said, picking up one of Bailey's bags. "We're sorry. We were just horsing around."
"It's no problem, really. I feel like I should be apologizing to you," Bailey said. "I'm sorry you have to share your cabin with a girl. It's, uh, it's been a crazy couple of weeks and this was kind of last minute."
"Don't worry about it. If anything you should get a medal for rooming with us. We'll really try to keep it clean in here though. I'm Shane by the way," the dark haired boy said.
"I kind of figured. I'm familiar with your music," Bailey said, turning to the curly haired boy. "You're Nate, right?"
"Yes," Nate said, shaking her hand. "You're the new dance instructor, right?"
"Yes, uh, Bailey Madison," she replied. "It's nice to meet both of you. There's three of you though, isn't there? Jason?"
"Someone looking for me?" the guy in question asked, walking out of one of the bathrooms.
"Jase, this is Bailey Madison. Our roommate and the new dance instructor," Shane said.
"I'm, uh, I..." Jason stammered, mesmerized by the redhead again. "Hi."
"Jason," Nate said. "Jase!"
"Huh?" Jason said. "Uh, sorry. Jason Grey."
"Hi," Bailey said.
Her hand tingled as the eldest Grey shook it, but Bailey pushed those feelings back. She couldn't handle any complications right now, and falling for a guy was definitely a complication.
"So, where are you from Bailey?" Shane asked.
"New, uh," Bailey began, mumbling a little. The agents had given her much of a cover story yet because this was supposed to be temporary.
'Great,' she thought. 'Now I've got to make stuff up on the fly.'
Her phone rang, and Bailey thanked God for the timing.
"I'm sorry, I've got to take this," Bailey said, practically running out of the cabin.
"That was weird," Nate said.
"Was it something I said?" Shane asked.
"She is so beautiful," Jason said.
**********
"Bailey?" the voice on the phone said. "Are you all settled in?"
"Agent Schiff, I'm fine," Bailey insisted. "Mr. Cessario set me up in the cabin with his nephews, and he pointed out the two cabins where the agents are. Please make sure they stay out of sight. I'd like to avoid any weird conversations with campers and instructors for as long as possible."
"You know you can't tell them..." Agent Schiff started.
"I know. But that's my point. If no one notices them, no one will ask questions," Bailey said. "With the red hair and contacts, I'm sure no one will recognize me. It'll be fine. I promise."
"Okay," Agent Schiff. "I just want to make sure. I'll keep you updated on how things are going back in New York."
"Actually, um, I'd rather you didn't. I'm kind of glad we're in the middle of nowhere with no access to the news," Bailey said. "Just tell me when it's over."
"I will," Agent Schiff said. "And Bailey?"
"Hmm?" she said.
"Just try and have fun. Make friends," Agent Schiff said. "And dance."
"I'll try," Bailey said with a small smile.
**********
A short while later...
Bailey had gone back to the cabin to retrieve her dance bag and headed to the studio that Brown told her was hers for classes.
She put her iPod into the dock with speakers so her music sounded throughout the studio. She was pleased to find that the studio had a small dressing area so she changed into her standard black leotard and sheer pink dance skirt. She then slipped on her Pointe shoes and tied the pink ribbons.
She smiled as she stood and stretched briefly before moving to the center of the floor. Matt Nathanson's All We Are began and Bailey immediately began to dance. Lost in the music, she used the full length of the studio, gracefully moving from one end to the other and back.
"Hey, do you hear that?" Shane asked as he and his brothers passed by the dance studio he'd used the year before.
"It sounds like somebody's in there. I thought classes didn't start until tomorrow," Nate said.
"Maybe its some campers," Jason said, as they walked inside.
"Wow," Shane said when they entered the cabin.
Bailey, on Pointe, moved to the center of the room and finished with six pirouettes, planting her foot at the exact end of the song.
"Wow," Shane said again. "That was amazing."
Bailey, startled to learn that she was no longer alone in the studio, jumped at the voice.
"Sorry," Shane said. "We didn't mean to scare you."
"It's okay," Bailey said. "Is it okay that I'm in here?"
"Of course," Nate said. "It's your studio for the summer."
"I heard it was yours last year Shane," Bailey said, sitting on the bench to but her sandals back on. "I'm sorry for stealing your classes."
"It's fine," Shane said. "I'd rather focus on voice this year anyway."
"Besides, I think they're much better off with you as the dance teacher," Nate said. "You really are incredible."
"Hi," Jason said, finally joining the conversation.
"You don't say much, do you?" Bailey said, smiling at Jason.
"You dance well," Jason said.
"Thank you Jason," Bailey said.
"We, uh, we were on our way to dinner. Would you like to join us?" Jason said, relaxing a bit more.
"Sure," Bailey said, putting her Pointe shoes in her dance bag.
"Has Uncle Brown asked you to dance at Opening Jam tomorrow night?" Nate asked.
No. I think he was more focused on getting me settled in and giving me the schedule," Bailey said.
"You really should. It'll be a great way for the campers to see what you can do," Shane said. "I can't believe how good you are. I mean you should be a professional."
"Yeah," Bailey said softly to herself. "I should."
"Are you in a dance school or something?" Nate asked.
"I'm 18. I'm finished with school," Bailey said. "And I'm not sure what I want to do yet."
In truth, she wasn't. Even when all this was over, while Bailey knew she wanted to dance, she wasn't sure if she could just return to the NYC Ballet as Mackenzie Grace again. But there would be time for those decisions later. Right now, she was supposed to be focused on dancing again, and being a good instructor.
**********
Later that night...
Bailey had enjoyed dinner with the brothers, and had also been introduced to Shane's girlfriend Mitchie and Nate's girlfriend Caitlyn. They were both excited for her class. The six walked around camp after dinner and the group helped Bailey familiarize herself with the property. When curfew came around, Mitchie and Caitlyn headed to their cabin and Bailey and the boys went to theirs.
An hour later, the boys had long been asleep, but Bailey's mind wouldn't shut off. Every time she closed her eyes she saw the scene at her brother's restaurant or the trial. Sneaking the one picture she had of her family, her formal life, out of the bottom of her bad, Bailey quietly walked out of the cabin.
"I miss you guys so much," Bailey said, her eyes filling with tears. "I don't know what I'm going to do without you. These past few months have been crazy, but for the first time, I'm on my own, with people my own age again. But I can't just go back to being myself. Not that I even know who 'myself' is anymore. I think that's the hardest part. I haven't just lost all of you. I've lost myself too. I've lost Mackenzie. And I hate it. I hate that it's so hard."
Bailey silently cried on the steps of the cabin. She sat there for hours, finally falling asleep, leaning against the railing. She woke up to the sunrise and quietly walked back into the cabin, hoping no one noticed that she'd slept outside all night. She gathered her clothes for the day and headed into her bathroom to shower.
Not long after that, the boys slowly began to wake up.
"Bailey didn't sleep in her bed last night, did she?" Shane said, pointing to her bed that had clearly never been slept in.
"I don't think so," Nate said.
"I think I heard her leave last night. And it sounded like she was crying," Jason said.
"Well she definitely doesn't like talking about herself," Shane said. "I mean she practically ran out of here when I asked where she was from."
"Maybe we should ask Uncle Brown about it," Jason said. "I'm sure he knows."
"Oh, hey guys, I didn't wake you with the shower, did I?" Bailey asked, returning from the bathroom showered and dressed.
"No, we're up," Nate said.
"Do you know what's on the schedule today other than Opening Jam tonight?" Bailey asked.
"Not much. We were thinking of heading into town for a little while, if you'd like to join us," Shane said.
"No, I...uh, I can't leave camp," Bailey said.
"Of course you can. You're an instructor," Jason said. "You should come with us."
"Um, I'll think about it," Bailey said. "It's just, the weather's so nice today, I was thinking of going for a swim or taking a canoe out or something."
"She's got a point," Jason said. "I mean, maybe we should experience nature instead of spending the day in a bunch of air-conditioned stores. We can see birds!"
"Jason and his bird obsession," Nate said, shaking his head. "He seems so normal until someone mentions birds."
"Well I think it's sweet," Bailey said. "So what do you say? You want to stay here with me?"
"I'm in," Jason said.
"Me too," Nate said.
"Alright," Shane said. "But mainly because Mitchie can't leave camp."
"Well, I'll let you guys get changed. I need to see your Uncle Brown. Meet you in the cafeteria?" Bailey said.
"See you there," Shane shouted as Bailey headed out.
A/N: As you can see, Bailey's already struggling with keep her secret. Should she tell someone soon or should she continue to hide it? Or should someone figure out who she is? Thanks for reading!
Kadence