AN: Hey Guys, well this is a better chapter than the last one. I'm introducing a new character in this chapter I hope you like her. You'll get to know more about her later on though.

144 days to go till the concert! wahoo cannot wait!

Hope you like the chapter! It's inspired by Before the Storm by Jonas Brothers, 'cos it's what I was listening to when I started writing it so that's why it's called so much for you, I think I might start naming my chapters after songs. Hmmm. Anyway hope you like it!

And I don't want to lose her
I don't wanna let her go

Standing out in the rain
Need to know if it's over
'cause I will leave you alone


Chapter 9 – Before the Storm

Mitchie awoke at 7:00am to the sweet sound of Shane's ring tone; she groaned and grabbed the phone from the table beside her bed,

"Hello?" she said sleepily

"Hello beautiful," Shane replied in an equally sleepy tone, "All ready for school?" he asked,

"I think so I just got to wake up first!" Mitchie chuckled and Shane followed suit, "Well I better get up, I'll see you after school?" Mitchie climbed out of bed and walked to the closet,

"Yeah, sure, I love you!" Mitchie smiled,

"I love you too popstar!" Shane didn't object this time but just chuckled, Mitchie hung up and proceeded to get dressed,

"Mitchie up, first day of school!" Connie shouted up the stairs,

"Ok Mom!" Mitchie replied, she could smell the sweet smell of pancakes wafting up the stairs. Mitchie finished getting dressed and brushed her hair and applied minimal amounts of make up, if Shane saw her he'd object but he wasn't so she carried on, only applying, a little eyeliner, lip gloss and clear mascara. When she was done, she grabbed her back pack and made her way down stairs for breakfast, she plonked herself down at the table as Connie put a pile of pancakes in front of her and she dug in,

"Hot Tunes is on, turn it up please!" Mitchie smiled. A picture of Shane and Mitchie walking down the street four days earlier, appeared on the screen,

"As we all know teen heart-throb Shane Gray has been seen holding hands with and acting very very affectionate with a girl at Avalanche Records in LA last week. The bad boy singer has been seen with a mysterious brunette who has not yet been identified." Mitchie sighed and picked up her phone and began to text as video footage of Shane and Mitchie in Starbucks the previous week appeared on screen.

I'm on hot tunes, this is really starting to bug me, they're making me sound like a murder victim, we need to talk about this later.

Mitchie returned her attention back to the TV screen as the presenter began speaking again. "Shane allegedly met the girl at Camp Rock, a summer camp for budding musicians, over the summer. Unfortunately Connect 3's tour is still cancelled until further notice. I'm Andrea Bolton reporting for Hot Tunes." Mitchie sighed again as she polished off the last of her pancakes.

"I got to go now mom, I'm going to Shane's after school, I should be home for dinner though," Mitchie said grabbing her backpack and walking to the door,

"Ok honey, I love you," Connie said walking over to her 17 year old daughter,

"I love you too Mom," Mitchie said kissing her mom. Mitchie opened the door and walked out of it, she walked out along the driveway and across the street to Caitlyn's house. As Mitchie reached Caitlyn's front door her phone began to beep in her pocket signalling that she had a message, she decided to wait until after Caitlyn was ready before she'd read it. Mitchie knocked on the door and waited for an answer, ten seconds later the door opened to reveal Caitlyn in her usual attire. Converse, skinny jeans and a vibrant coloured tee.

"Ready?" Mitchie asked,

"Yep, let's do this thing!" Caitlyn replied, Mitchie laughed and soon Caitlyn joined in too. Mitchie's pocket was still beeping and she reached into her pocket to pull out her sidekick, she flipped it open and read the message,

I totally agree, it's bugging me too. I'll see you after school. Love you. xxx

Mitchie and Caitlyn walked to school chatting and laughing all the way. Mitchie turned left into South Hill High, where Mitchie and Caitlyn would be spending their last year of High School. Mitchie was dreading it, Caitlyn however was looking forward to it. Mitchie was never popular at school and always dreading going back to school, today was no exception even though she now had Caitlyn with her.

Mitchie and Caitlyn walked up the stone steps to the entrance of the school, Mitchie turned to her best friend,

"Cait, you need to go to the office to get your locker and time table and stuff," Mitchie said as she walked through the crowded hallway. Mitchie felt like people were staring at her and she knew why. Shane. Every time they were out together they were followed by the press, they never got time alone but Mitchie knew that she would have to tell the press who she was, she didn't want to be known as Shane's mystery girl any longer. Mitchie was snapped out of her thoughts when Caitlyn began to talk.

"Which way to the office?" Caitlyn asked as she looked up and down the hallway.

"Uh it's this way," Mitchie said rubbing her head and walking down the hallway passed the walls of red lockers. Mitchie stopped in her tracks; she spotted someone she really wanted to talk to. "Cait the office is just there," Mitchie said pointing to double doors with OFFICE written across them, "There's someone I need to talk to." Caitlyn nodded and walked off in the direction of the office Mitchie however walked over to a girl with brown frizzy hair that was looking though her locker for a book,

"Hey Sierra," Mitchie spoke politely, she hadn't exactly kept in touch with her while she was away, then again neither did Sierra. Mitchie waited for a response from Sierra but she wasn't going to give it to her. "Sierra?" Mitchie waited again for a response but yet again she wasn't getting one. "So you're just going to ignore me after 14 years of friendship?" Mitchie's voice began to get angry; Sierra turned around and looked Mitchie in the face,

"You threw away those 14 years of friendship, when you didn't call all summer!" Sierra got closer to Mitchie as she spoke causing Mitchie to walk backwards and collide with another student that was innocently passing by, he looked at Mitchie and then at Sierra and carried on walking away from the two girls hurriedly, almost as if he was scared of Sierra.

"A phone works both ways Sierra; you could've called me instead of blowing off at me on the first day off school!" Mitchie's voice was beginning to get angrier, "Just because you are smarter than me doesn't mean that you can't call me Sierra," Mitchie stuck her face into Sierra's, now making Sierra walk backwards.

"Oh so that's what this is all about. You're jealous because I get better grades than you, I never pegged you as the jealous type. You know what Mitchie, I don't want to deal with this right now, you know you've changed over the summer, you're not the Mitchie, I thought I knew. This Mitchie I don't want to be friends with, so go find someone else that will put up with all your problems for the next 14 years because frankly I don't care, I never did!" Sierra turned and walked away leaving Mitchie behind in shock surrounded by equally shocked bystanders. Mitchie could feel the tears beginning to form in her eyes threatening to fall, this was just like Camp Rock all over again but this time it wasn't her fault. Mitchie watched as Sierra walked down the corridor and just as she did the one person that Mitchie detested in the whole entire world, besides Tess Tyler, was Dakota Fisher, the Tess Tyler of South Hill High.

Mitchie watched as a girl that was wearing black skinny jeans and a black Panic! At the Disco, concert T-Shirt, passed by Dakota and her band of followers. The girl had medium length straight hair which was jet black with bright red streaks, her eyes were lined with heavy eyeliner and her face was pale.

As Dakota passed the girl, she reached out and pushed her against the candy apple red lockers, causing her to drop the books she was carrying they landed with a thud, several people around the hallway laughed but no one offered to help. Mitchie walked over to the girl and helped her to pick up her many books. No one in the school carried that many books unless it was their first day at school.

As Mitchie finished gathering the books she got to her feet and looked at the girl, she had bright blue eyes but they looked sad as if she had had a life full of pain and disappointment.

"Thanks," The girl said as Mitchie passed her the books back,

"You must be new I haven't seen you around before, I'm Mitchie," she stretched her hand out for her to shake "Mitchie Torres," the girl took it,

"I'm Alix, Alix Wilks" Alix tried to balance the many books in one arm as she pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket,

"Do you need help getting to your classes? My best friend just started here today so I'll be showing her around, so if you want to tag along feel free," Mitchie smiled,

"Thanks I will," Alix gave a small smile back.

"Alright Mitch, I'm locker 256, oh hi!" Caitlyn said as she came up behind her holding numerous pieces of paper and 3 books,

"Alix this is Caitlyn she's new here too, Caitlyn this is Alix," Mitchie motioned to the correct person and they both smiled at each other, Alix giving the same weak smile she gave Mitchie.

"I'm locker 255 so, I'll show you where to go, what number are you Alix?" Mitchie asked, Alix looked at the piece of paper in her and still trying to balance the books on her arm, "Here let me carry some of those books for you, you look like you're going to drop them,"

"Thank you," Alix handed some of the books over to Mitchie "I'm locker 257!" Alix looked pleasantly surprised

"Well that's lucky," Caitlyn said following Mitchie to her locker they all opened them, Mitchie finding hundreds of Camp Rock brochures still on the top shelf of her locker. Alix began piling her books into her locker along with Caitlyn. Mitchie looked to the door of her locker and saw a picture of herself and Sierra, she sighed pulling it from the door she was about to rip it up, when she thought otherwise.

"Is everybody ready?" Mitchie asked looking at Caitlyn and Alix, they both nodded, "Whose homeroom are you in?" Mitchie asked as both girls looked at the paper in there hand,

"Ummm, Mr Beakerfield room 101." Alix said putting her messenger bag on her shoulder,

"Oh, me too," Caitlyn chimed in, Mitchie smiled,

"Well it seems that we're lucky there then 'cos that's my homeroom!" Mitchie smiled, the others did too. Mitchie's phone began bleeping in her pocket,

Enjoy school baby, I can't wait until after so I can see you. Love You, Shane. Xxx

Mitchie smiled,

"Was that lover boy?" Caitlyn asked slyly, Mitchie nodded and threw her phone back into her bag. Mitchie, Alix and Caitlyn walked to homeroom together. Ready for the day ahead.

12.00pm – School Cafeteria

Mitchie, Alix and Caitlyn waited in the lunch line holding red trays waiting for the lunch ladies to serve everyone in front of them. Caitlyn's stomach rumbled,

"Seriously Caitlyn, when was the last time you ate?" Mitchie asked laughing at her best friend,

"Last night, I didn't have time for breakfast this morning 'cos the alarm didn't go off, it's still in a box somewhere in the garage, I asked Nate to get it for me the last time he came over, but you know what he's like," Caitlyn replied pushing a stray curl out of her face,

"Whose Nate?" Alix asked getting confused "Is he your boyfriend?"

"Yeah," Caitlyn nodded,

"Does he go to school here?" she asked again,

"No, he's home schooled," Caitlyn replied

"Oh cool," Alix replied, Mitchie had an idea,

"Hey Alix, I'm going over to Shane's tonight, he's my boyfriend, him and Nate live together, do you want to come with us you can meet them if you want to," Mitchie said, Caitlyn looked at Mitchie and smiled,

"If that's ok?" Alix asked looking from Caitlyn to Mitchie,

"Yeah, of course it is you're our friend, they'll love you!" Caitlyn spoke up, Alix's face suddenly lit up.

The line finally began to move and Caitlyn was finally given food. Alix, Mitchie and Caitlyn sat down and ate, chatting and laughing after every bite. Mitchie looked up from her slice of apple pie and saw Sierra sitting at a table across the cafeteria with Dakota, What was she doing over there with her? Mitchie watched as Sierra got up from the table carrying her tray to the rack for the lunch staff to clean,

"I'll be right back," Mitchie said rising to her feet and walking over to her friend, or though she thought, "Sierra?" Sierra turned and looked at Mitchie,

"What do you want?" Sierra spat,

"I just wanted to talk to you; there was no reason to snap Sierra!" Mitchie replied calmer,

"I can snap at you if I want Michaela," Mitchie shuddered at the use of her full name,

"Don't call me that you know I hate that!" Mitchie began to sound spiteful,

"What do you want?" Sierra ignored Mitchie's last comment,

"What are you doing sitting over there with Dakota? You know what she's like!" Mitchie said pointing her head over to the table Dakota was sat on,

"I don't think that's any business of yours, do you, Michaela?" Mitchie shuddered again, it was obvious she wasn't going to stop, so she just let it slide,

"Fine, I just thought you might like this, seeing as though you don't want me as a friend anymore," Mitchie took the photo from her locker out of the back pocket of her jeans and handed it to Sierra, she took it. Sierra began to walk away, "Sierra," she turned without saying anything, " I don't want to be friends with you anymore, I don't deserve to be treated like this, we've been friends for 14 years don't they mean anything to you?" Sierra did nothing, "You know what fine!" Mitchie walked away and back to her new found friends, she didn't need Sierra, not anymore.

Mitchie felt her pocket vibrate she pulled out her phone and opened it to find another message from Shane;

I'll pick you up from school, so you don't have to walk. Shane xxx

Mitchie began to type as she reached the table,

Ok, but park a block away from school unless you want to get swarmed by fans.

She closed the screen after sending it and put it back in her pocket, eating her pie again, she was halfway through her first mouthful when her phone began vibrating again, she pulled it back out and read it;

OK, good idea, you're always thinking! That's what I love about you!

Mitchie smiled again and replied, Caitlyn was watching and Alix looked at Caitlyn with a look of wonder on her face, Caitlyn mouthed to Alix that it was Shane, Alix smiled.

Well, I'm not just a pretty face! Do you mind if I bring my friend with me and I don't mean Caitlyn! Lol

Mitchie put the phone in her lap and carried on eating her pie, she knew the other girls were talking about her between themselves but she didn't care they were her friends she knew it wouldn't be anything bad; the altercation between herself and Sierra was still playing on her mind.

Her phone vibrated in her lap, she read it;

And what would happen if I said no? xx

Hmm, I'll think of an appropriate punishment…and it won't be a nice one! Mitchie replied, smiling, she had finished her pie so she waited for a reply,

Oooh, am scared…Sure! Love you baby! Xx

Love you too popstar! Mitchie replied, it wasn't 30 seconds before she got a reply,

ROCKSTAR!!!!

Mitchie laughed, Whatever, she thought.

2.58pm – 7 period, Music with Miss Delaware

2 minutes, that's all she had left, 2 minutes and she could see Shane again, after being together every minute of every day she had to spend 7 hours away from him at school and as soon as that bell rang she could see him again. 2.59 One more minute. She thought to herself, she wasn't even paying attention to the teacher like she normally did, Miss Delaware was strict and she could always tell when someone wasn't paying attention but she didn't care about that, all she could think about was Shane.

Mitchie watched as the second hand slowly went around the clock, it was nearly at 12, she held on to the edge of the desk as it reached the 12. The shrill of the school bell rang out through the room. Mitchie reached for her bag as Miss Delaware was telling them about the homework,

"Ok guys, I want you to write a song for me, it can be about anything, I'll pick the best ones and that person will have to play them on Friday." Miss Delaware shouted over the racket of moving chairs and slamming of desks. Well that's an easy piece of homework. Mitchie thought.

Mitchie practically ran to her locker to collect her books to do her homework, she waited for Alix and Caitlyn to catch up, it seemed like they were taking forever but they finally submerged from the crowd of people gathering through the hallway. When they were finished Mitchie ran for the entrance to the school.

Alix's POV

Mitchie ran for the front entrance of to the school, I followed her along with Caitlyn, well we tried anyway she was running so fast we nearly lost her, I turned to Caitlyn.

"Should we run it's the only way we can keep up with her." I asked trying to keep and eye on her as we pushed passed the jocks and cheerleaders in the hallway.

"Yeah I think we better, I just moved here so I don't really know where I'm going!" Caitlyn replied, we both broke out into a run, I watched as Mitchie rounded a corner, we were only seconds behind and before I knew it I saw a huge black SUV with black tinted windows, Mitchie was waiting just near the car, she waited until we were nearer before opening the door,

"Jeez Mitch, was the first day back that bad?" I asked trying to catch my breath I wasn't exactly the fittest person in the world but a few more days running after Mitchie like this then I probably would be.

"No I just wanted to get out of there," I shrugged my shoulders as I waited for Caitlyn to open the door to the car, Mitchie got into the front, what I was about to see was not what I expected.

The door opened to reveal Nate West from Connect 3, I thought I was dreaming so I blinked, when I opened them again he was still there, I pinched myself for double measure, I maybe pinched myself a little too hard, it left a purple mark. Well I'm definitely not dreaming. I followed Caitlyn into the car. I got another shock though when I did, there in the front seat was Shane Gray, they biggest jerk in pop at the moment, what was he doing dated sweet Mitchie Torres, I was really confused. Caitlyn turned to me,

"We probably should of mentioned that we're dating two members of Connect 3, huh?"

"Um, yeah just a little," Alix laughed nervously,

"Shane this is Alix, Alix this is Shane," Mitchie introduced me, I rose my hand to wave unable to speak,

"and this is Nate," Caitlyn said gesturing to Nate,

"Hey!" Nate said to me, I did the same again, I was in shock, just yesterday their faces were plastered around my bedroom now they were right here in front of me talking to me.

Well this day just gets better and better. I have some friends that see me for who I am on the inside not the emo girl they see on the outside. This time I was thankful that I moved.


So what did you think of Alix? Did you like her, I'm going to upload some links onto my profile for this chapter so take a look after reviewing! Thanks.

BTW the storm was the fight between Sierra and Mitchie.