A/N: Last chapter :( Sorry it took me so long to put this up my Easter weekend was a little hectic but what can you lol Hope all you guys had a good Easter break! and I hope you all enjoy the last chapter :) Thanks again for reading reviewing and adding to your favourites and alerts.

The days after our break-up I went through all the regular emotions which all involved me crying over what he'd said and what he'd tried to do even when I started being angry at him I cried I was glad Ella wasn't there for the initial wave of emotion because I was a mess I had reined myself in when she got back from her trip to her parents and after I listened to her ranting about him and knowing I should just be getting over him and moving on I couldn't…I missed him but that was natural right? And he'd given me a few things to really think about when I managed to look past the harshness he'd phrased them.

"How can you say he had a point?" Ella exploded as we walked to work.

I looked at the ground as if I were being told off, "I just mean…what he said…he had a point."

"He was being a jerk not making a point." She frowned.

"Maybe." I shrugged. "But I have been getting comfortable I mean my stomach churns at the thought of leaving the "Sugar Bowl"." I admitted.

She quietly scrutinised my face for a minute before sighing, "You're quitting aren't you?" She sulked.

"I think I need too." I confessed. "If I don't have the club or you and the rest of the girls and John I think it will give me the push I need to go back to college."

She pouted a bit before sighing in defeat, "Maybe you're right, what about the tuition money though?"

"I went for an interview at a piano bar the other day." I confessed making her look at me in utter surprise. "And they rang me yesterday to tell me I got the job."

"Oh." She said sounding a little hurt.

"I didn't mean to upset you I just didn't want to say anything till I was sure…and I definitely didn't want you thinking this was all because of Shane."

"It is all because of Shane, but I guess he finally done something right even if he was being a douche." She half smiled. "I don't want you to leave; work just wont be the same without you but that's just me being selfish I know you need to do this I get it you need the "scare" to get you back on track."

"Well we'll still live together." I smiled linking my arm with hers.

"You wouldn't have gotten rid of me that easy even if we didn't." She laughed.


"To Mitchie." John smiled raising his glass which was mimicked by the entire staff that came to my last night party. "We'll miss you." He toasted before taken a mouthful of his beer.

He'd wanted to break open a bottle of champagne to celebrate but I choose against it, mostly because champagne wasn't my style at all and secondly it brought back certain memories that I had been trying to repress lately, and I'd sworn a clean break from…him…them…that.

"We got you something." Ella sang happily setting down her glass and pulling out an envelope from under the counter.

"You's didn't have to." I started to protest.

"Of course we did." John interrupted as Ella handed me the envelope.

"What is it?" I asked sliding my finger under the seal and sliding it open.

"It's a donation for the Mitchie Law School fund." Tara smiled.

I looked at them wide eyed my mouth popping opened at the number written on the cheque in John's elegant script.

"Wow, that's incredible." I gushed when I found how to speak again. "But it's too much…"

"Don't be stupid." Ella laughed. "Everyone chipped in so it's really not much when it's divided between everyone."

"Plus you're worth it." John added.

"To Mitchie." Everyone cheered again.


I had been working at the piano bar for two weeks and although it wasn't anything like the club I was happy. It was a steady job I had designated hours mostly at the weekend which would work well when school started, I was a barmaid again but I got to play the piano too, the cliental were mostly business men or woman so I didn't have to worry about people hitting on me in fact I thought most of the time I was invisible to them and although I would never consider the people I work with family like I did with the girls and John at the club I still made really good friends with them.

"Hey babe, how much for a lap dance?"

I turned to face the addresser laughing, because whoever it was; was obviously a girl trying to put on a man's voice…I wasn't ecstatic when I seen who it was though and she must've have seen that in my face because her smile faltered a little.

"I guess I'm the last person you expected, huh?" Caitlyn tried to joke.

"You could say that." I answered more snippily than I should have been with her; she'd just caught me off guard.

I thought I'd dropped off her radar when I finished with…and I guess that was another reason I wasn't exactly jumping for joy I felt the memories starting to leak back I felt the feelings about to drag me back to the dark place I'd worked hard to get out of.

We looked at each other in an awkward silence for a while before she broke it.

"Can you take a break?" She asked awkwardly.

I looked around it was only ten in the morning on a Sunday and the place wasn't exactly packed.

"I guess." I answered I wonder if she picked up in how much I didn't really want to talk. "Sit down and I'll get us a coffee."

I took my time making the coffee, searching everywhere for the fancy little biscuits the kitchen staff added with the coffee when ordered by a real customer and I even tried slowly un-doing the knot in my apron but I couldn't put it off forever so with a sigh I took the cups and little biscuits over to her.

"Thanks." She smiled taking a sip then putting the cup in front of her.

I smiled back I felt how uneasy it must have looked to her before putting my cup to my mouth it was too warm I burnt my tongue but I didn't care I didn't want to speak first because the only questions I had for her were about Shane, how was he? Was he thinking about me? Did he ever talk about me? Did he miss me? I rolled my eyes at myself I was pathetic.

"I'm sorry." She blurted out making me choke on my coffee in surprise.

"Huh?" I managed to get out after I finished spluttering.

"I should have kept in touch…I should have made sure you were fine after…It's just Shane really needed me after…and I know that's not an excuse because you're my friend too…"

He needed her so he took the break-up as hard as I did I couldn't decide if that made me feel good or bad but I tore my mind off that quickly, "Don't worry about it." I interrupted quickly." "I'm fine."

"You seem it." She half smiled looking around herself. "I actually went to the club first I thought…"

"Yeah, I quit working there the hours just wouldn't have suited me when I went to school in the fall."

"You're going back to school?" She sounded surprised.

"Yeah, the girls and John gave me the last half of my tuition money as a leaving present, so I've enrolled and everything." I smiled.

"That's great, I'm so happy for you and I'm sure Shane would be too." She added the last bit casually but I seen her eyes beginning to gauge my reaction; it was too late for me to play it cool though for her I felt my jaw tighten a little I was still cross with him when it came to the subject of him and my attending school.

"Yeah I bet he would be; I mean he was the one pulling out all the stops to get me to quit my previous job to go back there." I frowned harshly.

She made a face while I stared at her challengingly to see how she could defend him.

"He didn't go about that the right way, did he?" She finally said.

"No." I answered bluntly. "He didn't."

"He only wanted the best for you." She tried.

"No, he wanted to be some hero in a story that didn't need one." I disagreed.

She opened her mouth to say something but when nothing came out she shut it again then looked pensively into her coffee cup. I'd won…but why didn't I feel good about that? She looked so down-trodden I had to say something to break the ice.

"Of course if it hadn't been for his harsh words I probably wouldn't be going back to school." I added.

She looked at me confused.

"Shane was right about me getting too comfortable…don't tell him that though and don't tell him I'm going back to school."

"I'll not tell him anything you don't want me to." She smiled. "You know you've inspired some changes in his life too like…"

"Caitlyn." I interrupted exhaustedly; I had reached my limit on the Shane talk.

"Sorry." She half smiled pretending to zip her lips closed. "I actually didn't come here to argue." She smiled lopsidedly digging into her bag. "I came to personally give you this." She was smiling brightly as she slid the ivory envelope towards me.

I peeled it opened -although already I knew what was inside- and pulled out the ivory card that had the invite to Caitlyn and Nate's wedding written in an elegant script.

"Wow, Caitlyn that's so thoughtful…" I tried to smile.

"But Shane will be there." She finished my thought for me.

I nodded sheepishly, "It would be awkward."

Which was true, even though part of me wanted to use the wedding as an excuse to see him.

"What if I promise you, you'd be able to avoid him through the whole thing…" She offered desperately. "He's in the wedding party so he'll be at the front of the church so you could sit at the back and you'll be sitting at a different table from him."

"And at the party, what then I build an invisibility shield and use it to hide from him?" I teased.

"If you want to." She laughed before becoming more serious. "Mitchie, I really want you there." She pleaded.

I felt myself given in, "I'll think about it." I settled.


I had a few weeks before the wedding and I used them to come up with every excuse I could think of most so flimsy I almost laughed at myself for even considering them.

"You're going aren't you?" Ella said eyeing me suspiciously over the bar.

I had called in on my way home from some retail therapy that was supposed to get my mind off the coming weekend but that was all I'd thought of, so I thought coming in for some pearls of wisdom from Ella would help me.

"What? No…well maybe…I dunno."

"You've already made up your mind, you so want to go." She smiled amused.

"Well yeah I want to go for Caitlyn."

"No you want to go see Shane." She disagreed with a laugh.

"Where did you get that idea from?" I asked somewhat shocked at her conclusion.

"You've been pining for him since you's broke up."

"I've not been pining." I argued…well I hadn't been pining around her anyway I corrected.

She rolled her eyes, "Look I know the guy done a really jerky thing and the way he said what he said wouldn't exactly win him the boyfriend of the year award, but think about it Mitchie every guy you could hook up with would react the same way if you still worked here."

"No they wouldn't…" I tried to disagree but she interrupted me.

"They would. Guys are intimidated by this sort of job and get jealous easily haven't you noticed since you've been here that your's and Shane's relationship lasted the longest out of everyone else that works here?"

I thought back on it she had a point.

"What if he has a date?" I asked worriedly.

She laughed loudly, "Please if you're still this hung up on him, he's probably ten times worse."

That made me feel a little better.


"How do I look?" I asked twirling around so Ella could see my whole outfit.

Ella and I went shopping the day before the wedding and I ended up buying a cute baby-doll designed dress that fastened behind my neck. It had a lightweight chiffon front, ruffled designed cups, jewelled embellishment and was a unique checker board colour scheme and I wore my favourite black high heels with the platform soul.

"You look terrific." She complimented. "Now go get him." She smiled widely.

I was glad Ella didn't think I was naïve or stupid wanting Shane back but she seemed to understand, I'd fell for him on our first date and I'd kept falling ever since. And maybe it wasn't coming from different worlds that made us unable to see eye to eye on certain things maybe it was because we were too a like both strong willed and ambitious?

I hailed a cab and arrived at the church early I didn't want to be walking in late and interrupting everything.

I cringed up a little noticing a small group of photographers waiting by the church's steps but I relaxed a little they wouldn't really be interested in me now I was arriving without my socialite.

I was mostly right, they all noticed my arrival but only one, a woman reporter with a camera slung round her neck stopped me.

"Mitchie, right?" She asked pleasantly.

"That's me." I almost sighed.

"Diana Fall." She smiled introducing myself. "Fashion reporter for the Daily Express. I love what your wearing it's so now do you mind if I take a picture?"

I felt myself blush at the compliment, "Sure." I smiled standing on one of the higher stony steps posing with one hand on my hip and my ankles crossed.

"That's perfect." She smiled. "Can I take a few more?"

"Of course…" But my answer was interrupted.

"It's Shane and Jason." The photographers exploded as a car pulled up.

"Sorry, I have to get there pictures, since they're in the wedding party." Diana excused herself.

I almost didn't hear her excuse herself with Shane here my mind had went into overdrive and suddenly nothing else mattered just him. I tried seeing over the photographers but it was impossible I tried climbing the steps hoping the height would give me an advantage but it didn't so I gave up and just went on into the church.

Until the other guests began to arrive I was sitting alone in the pews in the main part of the church after half an hour of hoping Shane and Jason would have to pass by me to get to the rooms at the back to get ready I realised it was pointless there must have been a side door.

I sat close to the front of the church so I wasn't alone in my pew for long but none of the other guests surrounding me said much to me besides a polite greeting, I didn't mind really I liked being able to think without trying to make conversation with someone I didn't know. The only thing to interrupt my thoughts before the minister and wedding party came through the side door before the traditional bride entrance was Tess and Aiden's arrival; they arrived separately and when they seen each other they threw each other the dirtiest looks I've ever seen I couldn't help smiling maybe I'd get through the day without a nasty comment from either of them if they were fighting amongst themselves.

But I forgot quickly about them when Shane followed the minister, Nate and Jason in looking like a Greek god in a simple tuxedo as the wedding march began and the entire congregation got to their feet as Caitlyn made her way down the aisle.


The ceremony was beautiful, both Caitlyn and Nate wrote their own vows -both brought a tear to my eye- and I'd never seen either of them so happy when the finally kissed as man and wife.

I didn't get to see Shane until the reception and even then it was only a glimpse here and there, Caitlyn had kept up her end of the deal my table was far away from the wedding party's table, I wish she knew how that wasn't necessary anymore I knew what I wanted now and that was him. He didn't look my way once which annoyed me I kept hoping we'd make eye contact at some point but it never happened then he disappeared as the waiters began setting up for the night party.

I walked around mostly by myself but now and again making polite conversation with Caitlyn's relatives I'd been sitting with through our meal before I finally found a window of opportunity to congratulate the bride and groom.

"Congratulations." I sung happily when I was close to them.

"Mitchie." Caitlyn beamed seeing me approach them. "I thought you weren't going to show." She smiled embracing me.

"Of course I was coming, brave as a lion remember?" I joked making them both smile. "You look spectacular." I smiled looking her up and down.

"Thanks." She smiled embarrassedly.

"Cough." Nate cleared his throat making us look at him. "And me?" He sniffed before chuckling making us giggle with him

"You look just as good." I smiled through my laughter.

The three of us began talking about their special day so far and they started telling me about their honeymoon plans, it was nice being able to talk to them with no interruptions because I didn't know anyone else here to talk to but I still couldn't help myself from scanning the crowd for Shane during our conversation.

"Looking for someone in particular?" Caitlyn teased, knowing only too well who I was looking for.

I smiled sheepishly.

My sheepish expression made her smile brightly, "Are you here to make up?" She squeaked excitedly.

"Ssh." I hushed her. "Maybe." I smiled lopsidedly.

"Yay." She smiled excitedly.

"Where is he?" I tried to ask as casually as I could.

Just as I asked the lights went down and a voice over the speakers welcomed a band I'd never heard of onto the stage drowning out Caitlyn's voice.

"What?" I asked again.

She didn't speak; Nate beat her to it pointing over my shoulder before twirling me around by the elbow to face the stage.

Shane was in the middle of the stage behind the microphone with one of the guitars I remember from his apartment in his hands, he'd lost his tux jacket and bow tie and unfastened the top buttons of his shirt. There were other people on the stage that I was aware of but I couldn't take my eyes off him, he'd looked like a god earlier but right now there just wasn't a word to describe how hot he looked and then he finally met my gaze and we stood staring at each other smiling stupidly just like the first time we met before he was pulled back to reality by the drummer counting down and I was pulled back to reality by Caitlyn.

"He quit his job."

"What?" I asked coming out of it.

"Yeah, he told his dad that the company life just wasn't for him; next thing I knew he was holding auditions and found Ricky, Dylan and Cody. They've been playing at little bars all around the city he's already been contacted by a couple of labels."

"Wow." I breathed looking back at him.

"Yeah." Caitlyn and Nate both agreed.

"Apparently you're to thank for it." Nate added.

"What? How?" I asked confusedly looking back to Nate.

"Something you said, that's all I know." He shrugged.

Caitlyn and I looked at each other and smiled knowingly, "Guess we're good for each other."

Caitlyn and Nate didn't say anything after that, well they could've been talking to me but I was too busy just watching him that I didn't even hear what he was singing never mind them talking. He looked like he belonged on stage his very person seemed to be glowing as he sang and rocked multiple solos on his guitar. I was happy to see him so happy.

A familiar guitar tune began the next song breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Wow." I smiled brightly.

"You know this song?" Jason asked picking up on my excitement.

I jumped a little before looking at him in surprise, when had he joined our little group? But I shook it off quickly.

"Yeah it's a favourite; it's called "Promise"."

"Well it seems like a shame to waste your favourite song, wanna dance?" He smiled offering me his hand and I took it with a smile dragging him to the centre of the floor just as the Shane began to sing.

"Breakdown
I can't take this
I need somewhere to go
I need you
I'm so restless
I don't know what to do

We've had our rough times
Fighting all night
And now you're just slipping away

Give me this chance
To make the wrongs right, to say
Don't don't don't walk away

I promise
I won't let you down (you down)
If you take my hand tonight
I promise
We'll be just fine this time
If you take my hand tonight
If you take my hand tonight

Without you

I go through the motions
Without you

It's just not quite the same
Without you

I don't want to go out
I just wanted to say

That I'm sick of these fights
I'll let you be right
If it stops you from running away

So give me this chance
To make the wrongs right, to say
Don't don't don't walk away

I promise
I won't let you down (you down)
If you take my hand tonight
I promise
We'll be just fine this time
If you take my hand tonight
If you take my hand tonight

Take my hand
Take my hand (I promise)
Take my hand (I promise)
Take my hand"

Dancing with Jason was fun and as the main guitar solo came around we were both jumping around like lunatics at a rock show; but it didn't stop me from stealing glances at Shane during it and although he didn't seem to be looking directly at us something in his smile gave away he was amused at our dancing.

"I promise
I won't let you down (you down)
If you take my hand tonight
I promise

We'll be just fine (this time)
If you take my hand tonight
If you take my hand tonight
If you take my hand tonight
I won't let you down (you down)
If you take my hand tonight"

"Phew." Jason smiled exhausted as the song ended.

I nodded at his sentiment trying to fan myself with my hands.

"Drink?" He offered before leading the way to the bar. "A beer and…?" He trailed off looking at me making the bartender look at me too.

"I'll have one too." I smiled getting a funny look from the bartender, which in turn made me make a face behind his back.

"Would you like a glass and ice, miss?" The bartender asked handing Jason's to him but keeping mine back slightly.

"You got it out of the fridge right?" I asked rhetorically. "Then I don't need ice or a glass." I smiled taken it from him and taken a swig from the bottle making him make a disgusted face but Jason laugh.

"No wonder Shane's not over you." Jason laughed leaning against the bar.

"He's not?" I asked happily.

"Obviously not." Jason smiled. "I mean I know our dancing was pretty awesome but you know the song lyrics already granted I only heard some of them because of all the dancing but I got the jest of it."

"That means nothing it could have just been on the set list." I disagreed unwilling to believe he still wanted me like that.

"Yeah your favourite song was on their set list by coincidence." Jason said rolling his eyes. "And people think I'm slow." He teased.

I was still smiling stupidly because of Jason's confirmation as they closed another song and Shane began to speak instead of sing.

"Could the bride and groom come onto the dance floor for their first dance as man and wife?" He asked squinting against the lights to look into the crowd.

The second Caitlyn and Nate were in the centre of the dance floor and everyone else had cleared from it the music started they'd opted for another of my favourites Bon Jovi's "You Had Me at Hello." but Shane didn't sing he simply played guitar while the other guitarist took over lead vocals.

After their song the guy that had been singing began to talk, "Could the others in the wedding party and everyone else who's in love now join the happy couple on the dance floor?" He smiled strumming his guitar a little as he waited stopping to give Shane a little salute as he set his guitar down and slipped off the stage.

I lost track of Shane as he got off the stage and I was too busy looking for him that I hadn't noticed Jason had been pulled from my side and onto the dance floor by one of the bridesmaids.

"Hi."

His voice came out of nowhere making me jump out of my skin.

"Hi." I smiled embarrassedly turning to face him.

"Um…do you want to dance?" He asked awkwardly.

I was glad I wasn't the only one a bit thrown by our reunion, it made me ease up.

"I'd love to." I smiled reassuringly when he looked as if he was ready to bolt at the first sign of rejection.

He sighed in relief under his breath making me smile as he led the way onto the dance floor. He turned to face me when he found a space and went to put his arms around my waist before dropping them and then going to put them around my neck before dropping them again. I tried not to laugh but I couldn't help it –making him frown- before I took the lead taken his hands and placing them around my waist and wrapping mine around his neck.

We swayed back and forth awkwardly like we hadn't danced together before; I was in the middle of rolling my eyes over his shoulders before he finally broke the silence.

"I'm sorry, I'm being so awkward." He started making me laugh a little. "I actually had this whole speech prepared…but I never thought for a minute I'd actually have to use it because I didn't think you'd come."

"Caitlyn can be really persuasive." I lied, I would've had no problem turning her invite down if I didn't want to be here…but I did.

"Is that the only reason you're here?" He asked a bit glumly.

"Of course not." I answered exhaustedly. "I wanted to see you; I miss you, I don't like the way we left things."

He looked stunned at my honesty but I wasn't going to shy away from it now.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" I asked as the lull continued.

"Yeah, it's just you sort've given half my speech for me." He joked.

"I don't need a speech, just to know you feel the same way would do."

"Of course I feel the same way." He smiled quickly making me smile. "I was thinking…I wanted to know if you wanted to try again…be us again?"

I felt my smile waver slightly and he seen it and his face fell.

"It's o.k. if you don't want to be us again, I'll settle for being your friend." He tried to smile reassuringly but I seen the sacrifice in his eyes.

"Nothing would make me happier than for us to be us again." I reassured him quickly. "But…what about the stuff that happened the last time?"

I knew the things…or more correctly thing that broke us up before no longer applied but he didn't know that and I needed an answer so I could go into this relationship again with my eyes both opened. There was no point of getting back together if he was still trying to rescue me when I didn't need it.

"I think we can both agree it wasn't stuff that wrecked us it was just me." He half smiled before continuing. "I have a theory about why I was such a jackass, I think I was jealous…"

"Yeah I know you were jealous." I interrupted.

"No not of your cliental –although that was part of it- I was jealous of you."

"Me?" I asked in surprise.

He nodded with a smile, "You have everything Mitchie."

I was about to object, he was the one that had everything, a loving family, a well paid job, the best education…but he put his finger up to stop me.

"You had the job; you wanted someone didn't choose it for you and you were happy doing it and I wasn't happy with mine."

"But you quit." I pointed out.

"True but it took a few harsh words from you to get me to do it." He smiled.

"Likewise." I admitted, giggling at his confused expression. "I stopped working at the club you were right I was getting too comfortable."

"I was being a jerk when I said that." He admitted.

"I know that." I smiled. "I was a jerk too."

"How are you going to pay for college?" He asked suddenly as if it just came to him.

"I had half of my tuition money before I quit and the girls and John gave me the last part as a leaving present and I got a job at a piano bar for other expenses when I start in the fall."

He looked at me funny for a second before opening his mouth before shutting it again.

"Just say what you wanna say." I encouraged.

"Nothing it's just…well you accepted money from your friends but when my parents offered you…"

"That's different." I interrupted quickly.

"How?"

"My friends weren't doing it to save me, they were just helping me." I felt my temper starting to step in just thinking about it.

"I wasn't trying…"

I raised my eyebrow at him making him stop mid-sentence.

"O.k. maybe I was trying to save you but I didn't think that was a bad thing."

"Not bad; just insulting." I corrected. "I didn't need saving but that was probably hard for you to understand because I didn't have as much as you."

He looked away from me but not before I seen the hurt puppy look.

"What's wrong?" I asked concernedly.

"Nothing, I just thought we were talking about us getting back together and now it's sounding like we're discussing all the reasons we should stay apart."

"Don't say that." I pleaded quickly. "These past weeks without you were awful and why just because I had too much pride to admit you were right? I might not need a hero but I definitely need you."

"You do?" He asked smiling looking up at me.

"Don't be an idiot, of course I do and you need me too otherwise you wouldn't be some big time rockstar." I joked. "We just needed to talk about our mistakes so we don't make them again."

"So, no more mistakes." Shane smiled kissing my cheek. "No more jealousy." He smiled kissing my other cheek. "Just you and me." He smiled lovingly looking into my eyes.

"Just you and me." I smiled back at him before leaning in to kiss him.