I let Shane cry into my shoulder while Nate and Jason cried into each other, hugging like crazy. There were millions of sobs from all around. I wasn't crying myself—no, I was too disgusted by Brown's body to do that—but I was going to be mope-y for a while. Sad moods didn't accompany me much. I patted Shane's back as he sobbed and stained my jacket.

Soon the sun peeked over the edge of the lake and the sobbing and crying came to an official stop.

"Are you done?" I asked Shane.

He nodded in response.

"Good, because it's best to be strong and move on. Besides, Brown wouldn't want to see you three sobbing over him. He'd want you to live your lives happy and remember the good, sweet times together—or here at this camp." Shane and Nate nodded while Jason broke out in another episode of tears.

"We should head back to the campsite," Nate suggested. Shane dropped the weights from Brown's canoe so that the canoe was still.

"His body should stay here for eternity…as a remembrance, a legend," Shane said. "He'd want to be out here on the lake."

"You have to bury him, you know?" I told him. "Otherwise his soul will be forever trapped here. Why don't you leave just the canoe here and then bury his body at the entrance of Camp Rock?" I suggested. "We can have a special ritual for him in remembrance. I can order a stone engraved with his name and we can plant flowers around it."

"He'd like that," Nate added. Jason stopped sobbing all of a sudden.

"I can make a handprint platter for him!"

"So, it's settled. I'll order the flowers and plant them, Jason will make the platter thingy…" I looked up at Nate and Shane, who had nothing to do.

"I can get Jeanie to announce the ceremony and get everyone to come," Nate inputted. "Shane, will you be okay burying him?" That was the only thing that was left.

"I'll be fine."

"Are you sure? I mean, I can sacrifice a brand new mani to do it…I can also survive the gagging," I sacrificed. I didn't want him to suffer anymore than he had to.

"No, I'll do it. You can do your manicure."

"I thought you weren't going to baby me," I pointed out.

He laughed a small chuckle, a nervous one. Everyone broke up, the boys still mourning.

---

Later that day I found Shane in the back by the dock where we sang before—yesterday. I decided not to interrupt his playing, though it wasn't the same tune as yesterday. It was a sadder, minor tune that played throughout the lake. I could hear the notes drifting away as they surrounded the canoe in the middle of the lake. We all decided to paint it after the ceremony and name it "The Legend" after Brown who was the legend here at Camp Rock.

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever see you again

Never know whether I can live or regret

What's happened what's happened

No one can change that

I'll just let it be

For eternity

I hear you calling out my name

Can't get you out of my brain

What's done here is the past

I won't forget that

I'll just let it be

For eternity

I just can't let you go

Now I'll never know

What life'll be with out you

I've seen the light

Falling tonight

What can I do

This song was meant to be heard

Leaving with no words

But we all die sometimes

While some live their life

I'll just let it be

For eternity

He strummed the last of the E major chord with a sigh. I wanted to go up to him and hug him tight.

"It's best if you leave him alone," someone said from behind me.

"So you heard the news, huh?" I asked.

"It's all over the camp. Nate and all of the rest of the counselors prohibited anyone from going in the lake today. I can see why." Sydney pointed out beyond Shane towards The Legend.

"Yeah, today's going to be a rough day for all of us," I concluded.

"Not for Tess."

"What do you mean?"

"Tess has been ecstatic because she thinks she's dating the Camp Rock leader, Shane. I don't believe her. She's been spreading that rumor around all morning."

"You should get to class, Sydney," I suggested. I needed to talk to Tess.

---

I found Tess only a few minutes later. She was squawking to a few other camp rockers how she was dating Shane.

"Did you hear? Shane and I…" I could hear her whisper. She glanced over at me with an evil stare.

"Why?" I questioned in a harsh tone.

"Why what?" she asked innocently.

"Why are you rumoring about you and Shane?"

"Because it's not a rumor, it's true."

"You and I both know it's a rumor."

"So?"

"So why?"

"People won't perform at Final Jamz because they'll assume that I'm a complete shoe-in," she explained.

"Don't you think Shane feels bad enough. He doesn't have to deal with you, too."

"Yeah, I know," she answered calmly.

"So shut up about it, Tess. You're just a snobby diva. No one's going to like you or help you when you need them. Trust me, I've been there," I snapped.

"Right."

"You're becoming a monster."

"Just let it go, Mitchie," a new, darker voice announced.

"Shane! Baby! So sorry about your uncle. What a great man he was. Wanna grab some lunch together?" Tess asked in a high-pitched voice.

"Nah, Mitchie and I have plans, but thanks for the offer."

"We have plans?" I didn't realize my schedule had been completely altered.

"Yes, we do. Follow me," he ordered. I followed him back to our cabin, leaving Tess stunned. Some of the other camp rockers noticed out little squabble and began to talk. Probably about how Shane left Tess for me—even though he was never dating Tess in the first place.

We entered the cabin and there was a picnic basket. Shane just picked it up and walked back out the cabin. He lead me to a limo which he would be driving. He was nice enough to open the door for me without a word.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

He drove us to an airport where they held a private plane for us. I'd thought that everyone would be appalled at my outfit but hardly anyone was in the airport—except for the staff. No one even noticed that I was strutting behind Shane.

"Where are we going?" I asked on our flight.

"You'll see," he said with a smile.

"Can you answer one question of mine, though?"

"That depends, what's your question?"

"Why did you drag me away from Tess before I ripped her to shreds?" I wondered.

"Because I can't have my girlfriend get into a fight with a monster and destroy her. Not after all she's worked for this summer," he explained.

"Ah," was all I said, looking out the window at the terrains of who knows where.

"Now, will you answer my question?"

"That depends, what's your question?" I imitated in his very voice. I sucked at impersonating him, though.

He laughed before asking. "Why were you going to fight Tess?"

"Because she's becoming what I am."

"Correction—used to be."

"I haven't changed that much, have I?"

"Completely, Mitchie."

The flight attendant landed the plane and Shane escorted me to the park. I knew where we were now. We were at Central Park in New York City. It was one of my favorite places to be. He was taking me here for lunch? I was confused but I'd let the date itself explain that.

---

After our lunch Shane laid back on the soft grass that was next to the blanket of checkered red and white. I laid there next to him, though I fell back with a thud. Shane laughed and removed a strand of my hair that dangled in front of my face.

"Why all of this?" I asked.

"What I can't take my girlfriend out to lunch?" he asked back, innocently.

"I'm your girlfriend again?"

"I told you. The old Mitchie was my girlfriend. And when she turned into a monster, my love changed for her," he repeated. "Now that the old Mitchie's back, so is my love for her."

"But what about Tess?" I wondered, wanting to know what—if there was anything—going on between the two of them.

"Well, I have a theory," he said, almost altering the entire conversation.

"What's that?"

"Last time you were here you were influenced by Tess, right?"

I nodded.

"Well, my theory is that since she influenced you, you became the monster because you didn't want to be seen hurt like Tess is; however, this year I've influenced you because I've experienced what it's like to be that kind of person and now you're the real Mitchie again," he explained.

"So there's nothing going on between you two?"

"Absolutely not!" he rebuked.

"So who's prettier?" I challenged.

"Oh, Tess is," he answered.

"How can you say that?! I'm your girlfriend! Maybe you should date her!" I screamed, overreacting at his answer.

"But your beautiful."

"Really?"

He took my face in cupped it in his hands. His lips were only centimeters away from mine.

"The most beautiful girl in the world," he complimented.

Heatedly, I closed the air between our lips, holding on to the back of his neck. He grabbed my back and pulled me even closer to him. I tangled my fingers in his black, charcoal hair. It was smooth, like he'd just came out of a steamer in heaven.

He pulled away, both of us breathing heavily. He pushed me on the ground gently, laying on top of me. My shirt was going to be dirty but I didn't care. I grabbed the necklace he was wearing and pulled it closer to me until our lips met in the middle. His tongue scavenged the inside of my mouth while ripping off his V-neck shirt. My fingers traced the contours of his abs as his strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer to him.

He pulled away once more, putting one of his burning hands to my cheek. I tried to get a hold on my heart, but it went soaring. My brain was disfunctioning…like it was drunk. I looked up at him with wondrous eyes, just wanting to know why he pulled me away from heaven. He was staring back with those brown eyes of his, his necklace hanging in my face.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that." He smiled at me and brought me back to heaven.