So, I realize this is a shorter chapter than usual. Actually, this is just a short chapter in general. But I thought that was a good place to end the chapter, and I wanted to get this up before things get crazy with me moving into college.

Disclaimer: I don't own WOWP or Camp Rock, but if I did, it would go something like this...

Chapter 9

"Alex? Alex, wake up."

A gentle voice was calling me. I stirred, unwilling to face the long day ahead of me.

"Alex, get your ass out of bed now." The gentle voice turned into a stern one. But I knew it was the same voice. And I suddenly remembered who that voice belonged to.

"Alex, now!" Caitlyn shook me, and finally I awoke. I glared at her. I was ready to wake up yet. Why was she waking me up?

As if reading my mind, Caitlyn answered me. "Warm up is in two hours, you need to get ready to go."

Slowly I got out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom. I got into the shower, not even bothering to wait for it to warm up. Cold showers burn calories anyway right? I scrubbed myself clean, and rubbed the swelling out of my eyes. I couldn't face the team with puffy eyes now could I?

I finished my hair and makeup in an hour, then dressed into my warm up uniform, with a black undershirt on so I wouldn't have to go to the bathroom to change at game time. I found Caitlyn already dressed and reading while she waited for me. A look of concern flashed in her eyes, but I ignored it as I walked to the door.

"Ready for breakfast?"

I wasn't exactly hungry, but that would be too out of character for me to refuse breakfast. I liked to eat, and the entire team knew it. So I nodded and followed her down to breakfast, where the entire team already was. I pointedly ignored Mitchie, and walked up to Selena, who was easily the quietest on the team. She didn't listen to any rumors or what the team was saying, so sitting next to her would be a safe option.

"Hey, Selena, can I sit here?" I asked.

She smiled at me, which was eerie since she looked so much like me. And we weren't even related.

"Of course, Alex."

So I went and got a simple bowl of cereal and joined Selena's table. A couple others were there: Jennifer was sitting on the other side of Selena and Demi was sitting across from her. Both were very kind to me, not mentioning last night or my lack of an Alex-sized breakfast.

After a few minutes of small talk, Coach walked up and told us to finish up quickly because we were headed to the field in five minutes. I ate the last couple bites of cereal and put the bowl away just in time. We were off, and I could barely look at most of my fellow starters.

This was going to be a long game.

The game went by quickly, even in the midsummer Vegas weather. I had a surprisingly good game, with no errors, ten assists, three putouts, and going three for four with four RBI's. Our team won, and it was soon time for the second game. I had a similar game, and once again we won.

We won the final game in our pool, and we were in the Gold Bracket for the next day.

Throughout the entire day, I didn't say a single word to Mitchie that wasn't team-related or game-related. How could I talk to her as if nothing was wrong when I could barely look at her without breaking down in tears again? What I didn't notice then was that no one else spoke to her much either. She seemed to withdraw into her own world, and I didn't care whether it was helpful or hurtful.

We got to the hotel around eight that night, and I went straight to bed and crashed. I wanted to get out of my head for the night, and sleep offered just that. Unfortunately, I woke an hour later, Mitchie's words bouncing inside my head. How could I feel so much for someone who didn't feel anything at all? I didn't want to wake up Caitlyn, who was sleeping soundly beside me, so I headed to the bathroom.

I sat on the cool tile floor and read for a little bit, but that wasn't helping, I could still hear those words echoing around me. I spotted a bottle of Vicatin lying in my toiletries bag, left over from when I blew out my shoulder last year. I grabbed the bottle and popped a couple, allowing the fog of the drug to comfort my pain. I walked back to my bed and crashed half an hour later.

While I didn't notice it then, I was allowing myself to spin out of control. But control wasn't what I wanted, freedom was. Painless nights were as well.