A/N: So here you are, another update, finally. I just started working this week, and balancing that with two other stories, school, exams, and all the other ideas in my head is starting to get hectic. I'm not trying to excuse my lack of updates, but please don't be too angry if i take awhile before I update again!

I forgot to mention last time, that the song Mitchie sang was one that I wrote, and so is the one in this chapter. This one sucks, so i'm truly sorry.

We were on stage with about 4 other singers. Brown explained the procedure again to us, then eyed Anna and I.

"This ought to be interesting…" he said, his eyes twinkling in anticipation.

To be honest, even though it wasn't very interesting, it was a very good exercise. Maybe they should make it into a class instead of a jam next year though…

An overconfident girl named Heidi was first up in the group. The idea was that the band would play some music, and Heidi would start off with some lyrics, then another guy named John would continue her idea.

As soon as the band started playing, I saw Heidi lose her confidence almost immediately. Her face was blank and she was struggling to come up with something articulate; I could tell.

The room was engulfed in silence as every pair of eyes in the room turned to stare at the four of us. More than a hundred eyes watched as Heidi's mouth opened and closed a few times, her voice stolen by stage fright.

I remembered being in this situation myself not too long ago. I hated the feeling of all the eyes on me, and could understand what Heidi was going through. Before I could stop myself, I stepped forward, raising my microphone. I hadn't planned on it, but the words started pouring from my mouth before I could stop them.

"You told me that you loved me,

I guess you lied.

You told me I was different,

That you'd never make me cry.

Can't believe I couldn't see,

The lie in your eyes.

But now I know…"

I lowered my microphone and smiled as I heard the sound of Heidi's voice, firm but quiet, pick up where I left off.

"It was all a game,

What you did to me.

It was all a game,

Why was I so naïve?

It was all a game,

Why couldn't I see?

You're moving the pieces

And it's not alright with me."

The band kept playing as Heidi stepped back, beaming. She mouthed a quick 'thank you' to me before relinquishing the spotlight to John, who seemed to have a bit more confidence as well.

"I didn't mean to hurt you,

And I need you to know,

That I'm sorry,

For breaking your heart,

I didn't mean it,

You were everything

right from the start."

My smile froze. Had he been coerced into singing that? I know this is a ridiculous idea, but I can't help thinking that he was. I'm not sure if my delusion makes me feel better, or worse.

I don't have anymore time to occupy my mind with my own problems, because Anna stepped up shakily, mic in hand. I could tell she wasn't sure what to do now that it was her turn. She stood breathing carefully.

"Anna," I whispered, catching her attention, "Look at one person in the audience, and sing to them. Right to them."

"I…I can't."

"Yes, you can."

"You're telling me too little

Way too late.

Why did I ever think

That we were fate?

Because I hate you and I love you,

And this was not a game to me…"

"But you seem to think it is…" Heidi sang, surprising us.

The last words of the song flowed out over my lips before I could even think about them.

"You just keep moving our pieces,

But I'm done playing this game."

We ended to applause, and Brown winking at us as he came on stage, making all sorts of explanations about how great we were. He did that for every group, but it still made me feel as though what I'd put out there was worth it. It made me feel better, getting it all off my chest.

That is, until I saw Shane's face. His arms were crossed angrily over his chest, his eyebrows pulled together over smouldering brown eyes. His burning glare met my eyes for a split second before he turned on his heel and stormed out of the hall. I stopped short, suddenly overwhelmed by unjustified guilt. Why was I feeling guilty? Before I could stop myself, my feet were on autopilot and I was following him outside.

I found him sitting on a rock just off the path, glaring at a tree.

I had absolutely no idea what to say now that I was here. All that came out was a lame, "Shane…"

His head turned a fraction of an inch towards me, then back again, "What."

It wasn't a question.

"I-" What exactly was I going to say? Was I going to apologize for speaking my mind? For letting him know how I feel? Was I going to say I'm sorry for expressing myself? "I don't know…"

"Do you honestly think that's all you were; a game?"

My silence was all the answer I could provide.

At that, Shane jerked upright, kicked his foot at the dirt in front of him, whirled on me. "Dammit, Mitchie! How could you think that? How?!"

I finally found my voice as anger bubbled inside of me. "Oh, I don't know, how about the fact that you were kissing another girl while we were still together? Or did I miss the part where we broke up?"

"Mitchie, it- It wasn't what it looked like…"

"Really? Because I'm not blind, you know. I saw the pictures, I read the article."

"It was a tabloid!"

I felt a sinking feeling in my gut. I had to ask, but I didn't want to know. "Let me guess: It was a tabloid, and tabloids lie! Tell me, Shane, was this tabloid lying?"

His silence was all the answer he could provide.

"Thought so," I said quietly, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

"Mitchie, I- You have no idea how- I'm sorry."

"You just don't get it, do you?! Sorry isn't good enough! You broke my heart, Shane! Shattered it into a million pieces! I won't accept a sorry."

"What if sorry is all I have to offer?" Shane asked softly, looking up and meeting my gaze for the first time. His eyes were softer, more vulnerable, almost hopeful.

I shook my head slowly, tearing my eyes from his, refusing to be put under his spell. "That's not good enough."

He moved quickly, advancing toward me. Before I could react he was an inch away from me. I backed up. He followed. I felt the rough bark of a tree behind me. I couldn't go anywhere. His hands fixed on either side of the tree, trapping me.

"Then tell me what is."

My breath caught in my throat. My mind raced.

"I-I don- I don't know."

Shane's expression turned angry in the matter of seconds. He drew his right hand back and smacked the tree beside my head. I gasped involuntarily, and he recoiled.

"I'm- I'm sorry. I didn't… didn't mean… I'm sorry…" He turned and ran a hand through his hair.

"I…I should go…" I made about a million different hand gestures before I started to walk away.

"Mitchie, wait. I- We- The Jam…"

He looked so defeated.

"Right. How about… tomorrow?"

"Sure. See you then."

The tension from the encounter lingered even after I'd put a fair distance between us. It was like we were stuck in the same gear just grinding our teeth and trying to move up, but failing miserably, because we didn't know how.