Author's Note: I got reviews! Ha, I wasn't expecting many in such a short time and they just made my day, so here's another chapter for you lovely people! Two chapters in one day, be grateful! Just kidding... but if you showed your appreciation with reviews it would be nice :). Thanks so much to obv sarah, xxorangexxmonkeyxx, naioka1992, seoulangel, and TheMockTurtle for reviewing my last chapter!

Disclaimer: Shadow is the only thing that's mine, Disney owns everything else.


How could I have done that? That question just ran repeatedly through my head, annoying me almost to insanity. But that question was completely justifiable since I was just acting so incredibly stupid. Sure, Shane had abandoned me, leaving me to continue my pathetic life in a dark world devoid of comfort and light, but at least he didn't mean to hurt me. I, on the other hand, could clearly read the hurt and anger building up in his eyes at my endless rudeness towards him and Mitchie. And yet, I didn't care. I had felt an unforgivable satisfaction at hurting him like he had hurt me, at giving him a small taste of what I had gone through once he had left. But now all I wanted to do was take it all back. I wanted my best friend back.

"Shane," I whispered painfully, longingly, my wrists still tingling where he had grasped them. Sighing, I mustered up the courage to find him and explain why I had been acting so bipolar and spiteful. I walked briskly to where I thought I had seen him go and heard loud voices talking. I darted behind a stage curtain to eavesdrop where I couldn't be seen.

"I want to see her though!" Jason's voice whined childishly. I smiled softly to myself; same old Jason.

"Jason, did you not just hear a word I said?" Shane snapped. "She's changed. And not for the better... you don't want to see her, at least not now. Trust me Jason; she's really just... a different person."

"Yeah Jason, I don't know much about this girl, but she doesn't really seem like someone you would want to associate with," Mitchie told him. I frowned at her words even though I knew she had every right to say them. The impression I had given her was that I was some crazed, foul-mouthed, nasty girl, out to ruin her and Shane's relationship, and I was surprised she wasn't ranting on and on about how terrible I was. She's a pretty good person... I thought bitterly. Much better than me... she deserves Shane more than I do.

"Jason, maybe we should just forget her for now." Oh joy, practical, reasonable Nate was there too. More people to confront if I ever wanted to talk to Shane. Taking a deep breath, I decided it was now or never.

"I can hear every word you guys are saying, you know," I announced, emerging from behind the curtain. They stared at me, startled, before hardening their gazes.

"What do you want, Skylynn?" Shane growled. I froze, stiffening slightly at how Shane addressed me. Nobody ever called me by my birth name 'Skylynn' unless it was somebody I truly despised, or if I was in big trouble. Even my parents called me Sky.

"Shadow!" Jason yelped happily, oblivious to the growing tension amongst us. "I haven't seen you in forever! How've you been doing?"

"I've been better," I mumbled, but I couldn't help but crack a small smile at him. "Um Jason, Nate, do you mind leaving for a second? I want to um talk to Shane and Mitchie... alone."

Jason nodded, but Nate only sent me a suspicious look before leaving. I sighed, turning towards Shane and Mitchie's icy glares.

"Look, Mitchie..." I swallowed hard. "I'm... I'm sorry. I really am. I know that what I said about you guys was wrong, and-"

"Skylynn, a sorry doesn't exactly excuse you from calling me a whore and saying I'm only dating Shane for the money and fame," Mitchie snapped. "Because I'm not. I really love Shane, and you have no right to insult me like that when you don't even know me."

"I know, I know, and I never should have said those things," I continued, allowing just the right amount of desperation to seep into my voice. "I'm really sorry, I was just bitter, and I'm never going to forgive myself for hurting your feelings."

"Really?" Mitchie asked, a bit skeptically.

"Hell no," I smirked, rolling my eyes, deciding to be honest with her. Besides, it's not like she would buy it even if I said yes. "But I am sorry, and I really mean that. I wish I could take all those things I said about you back."

"Well, I guess I don't really know you, I can let it slide just this once," Mitchie sighed. "Let's just start over."

"Agreed," I smiled. Mitchie opened her arms, obviously hoping for a hug. I eyed her arms uncomfortably and instead stuck out my hand for her to shake. She took it, but looked a little confused and hurt. "Now um, can Shane and I talk now?"

"Of course Skylynn," Mitchie smiled, and started walking away from us.

"Hey, Mitchie?"

"Yeah?"

"Call me Sky... please."

She smirked slightly. "Sure thing." Then she walked away, leaving the two of us alone.

"Shane..."

"Save it," he snarled. "What could you possibly have to say now?"

"I just wanted to explain why I was acting like that..." I mumbled, and Shane raised a questioning eyebrow at me, still glaring at me coldly. Noticing that I had actually gone much farther than I had ever imagined, I decided that now my expertise at hiding and masking my true emotions would come in handy. Playing the sympathy card, I made sure regret and remorse were dripping in my voice before I continued. "Look Shane, I don't expect you to forgive me or anything, I just want you to listen to me. Please, just do that for me."

"Fine," he grumbled. "But not here. Let's go outside." I smirked inwardly as we ventured into the cool night air. I'm practically too good.

"Shane, where are we going?" I asked quietly, my voice holding a slight whimper. Scratch that. I am too good.

"Relax; we're just going outside my cabin." I thought I heard his tone soften a little.

"Why?"

"Just shut up and follow me," he huffed, irritated. We walked in silence to his cabin, and he leaned the railing to the stairs that led up to the door.

"Well?"

"Look Shane, I know it was cruel of me to say those things..."

"Oh cut out the fake guilt in your voice, it's not going to get any sympathy from me," Shane snapped, making me jump. "It's not like I've forgotten all those years we were best friends. I know you. And right now, I know you're just pretending like you're really sorry so I'll forgive you." I stayed silent, surprised that he could actually read me as well as I could ready him. Well, at least the faux-remorse worked on Mitchie. "Do you know how long I've wanted to meet up with you again and pick up where we left off? I've missed you so much! But then I finally see you again and discover you're nothing like the girl I left. All you do is insult me and my girlfriend that I care about so much. You really hurt me."

"Hurt?" I repeated, my voice quiet at first but strengthening as I continued. "Hurt?! You want to talk about hurt? What about when you left me, huh? When you got a record deal and just picked up your stuff and moved away without so much as a goodbye? Do you have any idea how I felt about that? That my best friend in the entire world left me and never came back for a world of fame? Do you even know what I had to go through once you left? My mom killed herself, Shane! And since she wasn't able to protect me anymore, my dad started beating me. But I never gave up hope that my one other protector, my very best friend would come back and save me from the living hell I had to go through. But it was all just a stupid, useless fantasy... and when I finally find you, I find you lip-locking with another beautiful girl, one that is obviously perfect for you." I choked back a sob, an actual one, not just a ploy to get pity. "That just ripped me apart Shane... I waited for you for over three fucking years, but it seems like you've moved on and replaced me with perfect, sweet Mitchie with the beautiful face and amazing voice..." My voice faded as my teeth started chattering uncontrollably, which always happens when I cry too hard. And yet, I hadn't even noticed the tears streaming down my face in little rivers until now. "You don't have any idea what hurt is Shane Gray," I managed to say as I stood up and walked away from him. Not because I wanted to leave him, but because I couldn't stand to see his reaction. I had just poured out my heart and soul to him and for him to either lose all respect for me because of my meltdown or reject me again would just destroy me.

"Skylynn!" I felt Shane grab my arm roughly, but I fiercely ripped away from his grasp and began running through the woods, avoiding him at all costs. I was lucky this time. Plenty of shadows for me to hide in.


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