AN: OK, I'm a little upset by the lack of reviews (only 4), but because I'm so nice, I'm gonna post another chapter anyway. Thanks to those who reviewed. This chapter's dedicated to you guys.
I don't own Connect 3, Mitchie, Brown, TobyMac (or their song Gone), or the Veronicas (or their song Leave Me Alone). I do, however, own Callie, Nick, Maddie, Adam, Jerry, and Danielle.
Chapter 4: Guitar Strings and…Other Things
"What are you going to do?" Maddie's eyes were wide, as she held her breath in anticipation.
"You'll see…" Callie kept quiet, not wanting to spoil her surprise.
"Wait, how is that going to prove to your parents that coming here will make you a better person?" Nick asked, confused.
"Yeah…" Maddie trailed off, confused.
"It's not…I just want to have a little fun this summer. There's no harm in that, is there?" Callie smirked. "And who's to say that I'm behind it all? There's lots of other campers here."
Nick shook his head, then glanced at his watch. "Oh snap, it's time for class. I've got to go to Jason's Guitar 101 class."
"Us too!" Maddie said, following Nick. "This is gonna be so cool!"
In Jason's class…
"Nick, you are such a dork…" Callie said, as they got there. There was no one else around.
"Hey, you're not the one who has to set up for class, do you?" Nick grumbled, as he pulled out a key and went to the storage closet.
"No way…you have a key to the closet?" Callie said, as her eyes sparkled.
"Yeah, why?" Nick wondered, as Maddie looked lost.
"Maddie, can you go stand over at the door and let us know when people are coming?" Callie said, glancing back at her friend.
"Sure, OK," Maddie said, still not catching on to Callie's idea.
"Nick, come on," Callie grabbed Nick's hand and pulled him inside, and Nick blushed a little, a little too aware of her hand in his.
"What are we doing in here?" Nick wondered, as Callie and Nick had to squeeze together to avoid knocking the instruments and stands over.
"Watch this…" Callie said, reaching for the nearest guitar. She went to work on it, loosening the strings.
"I don't know about this," Nick said, suddenly thinking this wasn't a good idea.
"Are you sure? 'Cuz now you're my partner in crime, you know. If you tell Jason about this, I'll just say you were the mastermind behind it."
"But I'm not," Nick gulped, catching Callie's knowing glance. "OK, my lips are sealed."
"There's more than one way to do that," Callie teased, glancing at Nick's lips. Nick blushed again, but remained silent.
"Are you going to help me out or what?" Callie said, as Nick nodded, then got to work on another guitar.
"Just loosen it enough so that it's out of tune, but when anyone tries to play it, it won't make a good sound." Callie instructed. Nick nodded, as Maddie kept watch.
Callie and Nick finished with the stands, then Nick looked to Callie for further instructions.
"Now start on the music stands…" Callie said, as Maddie saw some students heading towards the classroom.
"Students are coming!" Maddie gasped loudly, as Callie and Nick saw them and started setting up chairs.
"Maddie, help us," Callie hissed, as Maddie set it up.
The group of students came in, and were surprised to see they weren't the first.
"Who're you?" one of them said. He was about Nick's height, slightly taller, and had medium, wavy blond hair.
"Who wants to know?" Callie said back, not exactly friendly.
"I'm Adam, and this is Jerry and Danielle," The guy talking to Callie said. Jerry was a little shorter, with curly, light brown hair and brown eyes, and Danielle had long, wavy brown hair.
"I'm Callie, and this is Nick and Maddie," Callie couldn't help but stare at Adam. She was so focused on him that she didn't see the flicker of jealousy on Nick's face.
"So, let me guess. You guys came early to help set up. You're not geeks, are you?" Adam laughed, as Jerry and Danielle joined in.
"What? No way!" Callie said. Then she narrowed her eyes. "What are you guys doing here so early, anyway?"
"Let's just say, we want to surprise the teacher. You know…with a harmless little prank. Guys?" Adam snapped his fingers, and Jerry and Danielle got to work.
"Oh, don't touch the guitars, we've already loosened the strings," Callie said, as Adam's eyes widened.
"Not bad…" Adam grinned as Callie's heart started doing backflips. "Did you plan that by yourself?"
"Yeah," Callie couldn't help herself. "Hey, what about rearranging the cables on the amps?"
"Nice," Adam grinned in approval, as Maddie protested. "Hey, Dad's not gonna like that."
"Dad?" Adam said, a little suspicious. "You mean, she's…"
"Yeah, but she's a little…out there," Callie whispered. Adam understood, as Maddie said, "Ooh!", and pointed out the window at a chipmunk. "Callie, look! A chipmunk!"
"Maddie, focus!" Callie reminded her, as Maddie said, "Oh yeah! Oops, sorry!" and went back to keeping watch.
"Nick, could you help Maddie?" Callie said. Nick nodded reluctantly, not wanting to leave Callie alone with Adam, but he went to keep watch with Maddie anyway.
"You're right, Maddie won't be a problem at all," Adam said.
Adam's POV: But Nick might…
They worked together, trading glances every so often when the other wasn't looking.
About 15 minutes later, students started coming in, and Maddie sat next to Callie as always. There was another seat available on Callie's other side, which Nick went to sit in, but Adam got there first and smirked. Nick sadly walked over to Maddie's other side, and sat next to her.
"Mind if I sit here?" Adam gave Callie a smile, and Callie melted on the inside.
"No, not at all," Callie said, smiling back. She hoped she sounded cooler than she felt.
"Cool. And btw, I'm gonna be the guy who gets to sit next to you all the time. If that's all right with you…" Adam said confidently.
"Yeah, sure...OK," Callie mumbled, trying not to sound too overly excited. They smiled at each other, then Adam turned to talk to his friends. As soon as his back was turned, Callie squealed as Maddie looked confused.
"What?" Maddie asked.
"OMG, isn't Adam soooo hot?" Callie said, trying to keep her voice down.
"The guy you just talked to? He's OK…" Maddie glanced over her shoulder, and saw her dad coming in.
"OK guys, I'm Jason, and I'll be teaching guitar this summer. Callie, why don't you show us what you can do?"
"Sure," Callie couldn't resist showing off a little. She loved being the center of attention, and loved it when everyone's attention was on her. She took out her own guitar and walked up to the front of the class. She started playing Play My Music and sang along. When she was finished, Jason and the class clapped and cheered.
"Great job, Callie!" Jason said. "That was awesome! Great song choice, by the way. I love that song…" Jason trailed off, then noticed everyone's eyes were on him. Callie cleared her throat, reminding him to continue, and Jason remembered where he was. "OK, those of you who can play guitar, I want you to practice a song and make it your own by the end of this week. For those of you who can't, come up and grab a guitar and some sheet music from the closet."
The class split up into two groups, as Callie stayed in her seat. So did Maddie, Nick, Adam, and Jerry, and a few others. Danielle left them and went to Jason's group.
"Hey, what happened in here? Why are all the guitar strings loose?" Jason said, as he opened the storage closet. Jason paused for a moment, tried to regroup, and then said, "OK guys, first lesson, stringing your guitars. Everyone, grab a guitar, and follow my instructions."
The group did as Jason said, and Maddie looked at her father's group. "Callie, don't you think we should tell Dad that we…"
"No, Maddie," Callie said. "We don't know anything about that, do we?" Callie stressed the last 2 words of her question, and Maddie nodded.
"No, I guess not," Maddie said, although she did.
By the time Jason had explained how to restring a guitar properly, it was time to go to voice training. Callie didn't look too disappointed, because Adam whispered, "Don't worry, it's set for next time."
Callie and her friends went to class, and Mitchie was there as they came in.
"Hi, Callie," Mitchie greeted warmly, hoping Callie had gotten over having her parents teaching by now.
Callie ignored her mom, and sat down way in back.
"Is that your mom?" Adam said, sliding into the seat next to her.
"Adam? I didn't know you sang…"
"I don't, but I saw you come in here, and I wanted to be in the same class as you," Adam smiled his smile, and Callie couldn't help but smile back.
"But you could get in trouble," Callie said, then regretted her words instantly.
"Who cares? You're definitely worth it." Adam said, pouring on the praise. "By the way, you never answered my question."
"Oh, yeah, that's my mom," Callie said, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her.
"Really? 'Cuz you're a lot prettier than she is," Adam grinned.
Callie was about to say something back, but Mitchie had called the class to attention.
"Hi everyone, I'm Mitchie, and I'll be your voice teacher this summer. Some of you will be having private voice lessons with me, based on what I hear from you this week. Now, let's start off with the basics. Who wants to sing for me?" Everyone except Callie, Adam, Jerry and Nick raised their hands.
"Eeny, meeny, miney, you…" Mitchie used the same method that Brown had used to choose her.
"Callie!" Maddie hissed, as Callie realized everyone's eyes were on her.
"Why me?" Callie said. Usually, she loved singing, but not when she was too busy gazing at Adam.
"I'll do it," Adam said, but Mitchie shook her head. "No, I picked her...Callie, come on, I know you have a great voice. Sing for me…"
"Fine…" Callie grumbled. She thought for a moment, then knew exactly what she wanted to sing.
I'm getting tired of you pushing me
'round
Dragging me down
Making a sound because you wanna
I
guess that's why I like messing with you
Putting you through
A
lesson or two, because I'm gonna
Before I go my own way
I just
gotta say
Leave me alone
Get out of my face
I'm tired of
love
Feeling so misplaced
Time for you to go
'Cause I know
I'm better off on my own, oh
Leave me alone
This isn't
gonna work
Don't call me on the phone
Because I'm all out of
words
I'll face the unknown
Thinking about all the ways that
I've grown
Oh, Leave me alone
There was the time I thought
you were the one
Having some fun
Getting it done
What an
illusion
'Cause you were trying to take control of me
That
couldn't be, I need to be free of this confusion
Don't give me a
guilt trip, because I'm so over it
Leave me alone
Get out
of my face
I'm tired of love
Feeling so misplaced
Time for
you to go
'Cause I know I'm better off on my own, oh
Leave me
alone
This isn't gonna work
Don't call me on the
phone
Because I'm all out of words
I'll face the
unknown
Thinking about all the ways that I've grown
Oh, leave
me alone
Don't turn around and don't look back
I see right
through all your selfless acts
Oh
Leave me alone
Get
out of my face
I'm tired of love
Feeling so misplaced
Time
for you to go
'Cause I know I'm better off on my own, oh
Leave
me alone
This isn't gonna work
Don't call me on the
phone
Because I'm all out of words
I'll face the
unknown
Thinking about all the ways that I've grown
Oh, leave
me alone
If you win your love
I'll feel better on my own
Leave me alone
Callie glared at her mom before sitting back down.
Ignoring the tears that came to her eyes, Mitchie swallowed, then said after pausing, "Great job, Callie. Anyone else?"
Nick volunteered, and glared at Callie before going up. (AN: I changed the lyrics a little to fit Callie's attitude towards her mom).
I told your mom that you should
treat her like a lady and
She told me all the things you did and
it was shady, girl
She said that what you say and what you do are
different things
While all this time you weren't even
listening
She said she's had enough
Well, it sounds to me
like you're straight out of luck
And she said she's all
through
And life's not blowin' her kisses, thanks to you
I
wanna know, wanna know what you were thinkin'
I can't imagine why
it didn't even sink in
They say you never know what you got till
it's gone
(Never know what you got till it's gone)
I wanna
know, wanna know what you were thinkin'
I can't imagine why it
didn't even sink in
They say you never know what you got till it's
gone
(Never know what you got till it's gone)
She said
she's had enough
So, it sounds to me like you're still out of
love
And she said you weren't true
And life's not blowin' her
kisses, thanks to you
She said it's gonna be alright
Cause
she'll get through the pain and she's opened her eyes
And she
said you'll come crawling back
But after what you did to her,
she won't have any of that
"Thank you, Nick, that was great," Mitchie said, noticing Nick smirk at Callie before taking his seat.
At the end of class, Callie walked out, not waiting for Maddie to follow her.
"Maddie, wait," Nick said, as he saw Adam stop Callie and talk to her.
"What's up?" Maddie wondered.
"Do you…maybe want to have lunch with me?" Nick said.
"Sure!" Maddie said happily, as Nick looked relieved.
"Good, because there's something I want to talk to you about," Nick explained.
"OK," Maddie said, thinking Nick was about to ask her out.
Nick's POV: Should I tell Maddie I like Callie? What if Callie doesn't like me back? Even worse, what if Callie won't forgive me for the song I sang? I'm really worried…
AN: Ooh, Nick likes Callie! But what will happen? Will Maddie get mad that Nick doesn't like her? Will she tell Callie? Or will Callie found out some other way? And what about Callie and Adam? And Callie and Mitchie? What happens next? If you want to find out, then all you have to do is review.
