A/N: Thank you so much for all the reviews!
Cee10155, thank you so much… I also get excited when I get alerts that someone reviewed, favorited and alerted my fics :)
Crazy .For .Joe .Jonas, please don't hate me for what Jade would do… :)
Eloisel54, wow… im happy for you… I cant wait for the 3d movie to be released here in my place… :)
Ms. NickJ, good… I've got some drama… LOL
kandib293, nah… no spoilers! LOL… I'll try to make the preview part enough spoilers :)
Riley-the-Sadist848, glad you liked it
A Forgotten Fairy. .AKA- Fairy, I was kind of thinking having a second season and if ever that pushes through, expect ALEX :)
LOVE iS THE REASON X3, smitchie has a long way to go :)
socks900, I love the new word… LOL… find out and read what Sam remembers… :)
Crazy .For .Joe .Jonas, congrats for the 100th review! Thank you so much! :)
Ch3eSuS'x, the 5th of November? Is that your bday?
Nikkoismylove, in the future… she'll know… promise :)
Also big thanks to those who favorited my fic… Nikkoismylove, AryannaCabrera
And those who alerted… SweetSerenityPeacexRose, Nikkoismylove, AryannaCabrera, Lacey York
STATS:
Reviews: 102
Favorites: 46
Alerts: 55
C2s: 1
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Chapter 8
Another week at TONHS. Gosh, the weekend was a whirlwind! After the show, a couple of interviews were done backstage for Connect 3. And who knew some of those reporters has remembered me? Mitchie Torres. So interview here and there. It was just like how it was last summer. And I loved it. I love every single moment of it. But after those paps and 15-minute stardom, I have to go back to reality. I have to go to school and get my high grades because that is what is expected from me, not only by my peers and teachers but also by my parents. Good thing it was a Saturday night and I had the entire Sunday to catch up with my assignments.
Today, is the start of the music video shoot and the day that I dread the most. Jade Roberts is coming to town! I hope I could have been joyful like if it was Santa Claus but no… it's Jade Roberts! The girl who ruined my life! And now I have to go plastic over her so that no one will notice that we have a feud. Gosh I just hope that I'll be able to get out of this week, alive. Who knows what that girl has cooked up.
--
Sam drove his way to the Torres' driveway. Then noticed that Nate's car was already there. He planned to be early just so he would be able to see Caitlyn alone without Nate by her side but it seems, the guy can't get a grip out of his girlfriend.
Sam took a deep breath and knocked You can do this Sam…
Mitchie answered the door and gave her good morning smile. "Sam! You are early…" Mitchie said nervously.
"Mitch, I know he's here, I saw his car." Sam said. "Well, I was hoping I can grab some breakfast since my parents are out of town and you know how I hate the way Rosie cooks." Rosie was his babysitter when his parents are out of town. Actually not his babysitter, their family's house sitter.
"Yeah. I know. Comon' in. Mom cooked your favorite…" Mitchie smiled and led him to the dining hall. "Look who's here…"
"Hey, Sam!" Caitlyn called. Beside her sat Nate and beside Nate sat Shane. "Cool. You should have told Jason to come too…" Caitlyn told Nate.
"Well, he said he has to fetch Sierra so I think he's having breakfast over there." Nate explained.
Mitchie nodded and Sam sat beside her. Johnny and Connie joined the kids afterwards. Mitchie was glad that her best friend was coping up with the fact that Caitlyn is happy with Nate now. And that he has decided to move on.
When Connie served the last plate of food that she cooked, the kids started to eat. They were having hamburger for breakfast. Shane kind of noticed a weird act between Mitchie and Sam.
"What are you two doing?" Shane asked them. Mitchie and Sam were exchanging parts of their hamburger. Then they stopped when Shane asked the question.
Sam explained. "Well, it's kind of mine and Mitchie's thing. I hate coleslaw and all those green leafy things while she hates the tomatoes. So we exchange. Also when we eat at diners, she loves that her ice tea is full of ice while I don't like ice on mine so she gets my ice."
"Actually, we have many exchanging moments" Mitchie added.
Shane nodded. Gosh. Get a grip Shane! Their best friends since they were in diapers. Obviously they have their 'thing'. Am I jealous? Of Sam? Ofcourse not! Yeah… I am…
"They have been doing that ever since I can remember." Connie said. "And the weird part between the two of them, when they order fries, they don't eat at their own plates, they get at each other's plates."
Sam and Mitchie laughed at the thought. It was just that they felt that the other one's fries are much better than their own so they pick on the other's plate.
"That's cool." Caitlyn said. "I so envy your friendship. Not that I am not contented with what we have Mitch. But the fact that you two know each other well and it's like you think the same. I wish I had a best friend who knows me so well that I don't have to explain things to him or her when I get on a fight with Mr. Loverboy here." Caitlyn joked.
"Hey!" Nate called jokingly.
"I was just joking babe." Caitlyn laughed.
Sam took a deep breath again. He was getting jealous major again. Mitchie noticed Sam's uneasiness so she tried to change the subject until her father beat her to it.
"Hey, young man. You better not make my baby Caitlyn here cry or I'll make you cry. Get me?" Johnny called to Nate.
Caitlyn smiled at her dad. She may not come from him but she does feel that she has. "You hear my dad, Nate?"
"Aye aye Captain!" Nate replied. "I'll never make her cry."
Then they finished their meal and the kids headed for school. Mitchie and Shane rode with Sam while Nate and Caitlyn was on Nate's car. Shane didn't bring his car since Nate planned on visiting the Torres' so he just rode with him so he can also see Mitchie.
--
It's the start of shooting day. Kids have been hanging around the main halls to get a glimpse of Jade Roberts. She was coming today to start shooting. Paparazzi has already bombarded the front door along with other fans who are not going at TONHS.
When Nate and Sam pulled at the curb, they both went out of their cars and so did the others who were also inside. Nate opened the door for Caitlyn and noticed Gary approaching them.
"Gary, what's happening? Why are you here? I thought mom…" Nate started.
"No time to explain." Gary said. "Comon' you kids… follow me… we're not taking the front entrance since the paps are there awaiting Jade's arrival."
Nate nodded and understood the situation. He took Caitlyn's hand and pulled her close to him. Gary was leading the trail along with other two bodyguards. Shane, Mitchie and Sam were also escorted by three other bodyguards.
Unluckily, one of the fans saw them and shouted "Hey, it's Connect 3!" the girl called and pointed to their direction. So a couple of the fans and the paps went to their direction.
The gang, noticing the event, ran through and good thing, the back door was already opened by another bodyguard so they got in safely. The gang was still panting for breath until they asked where they were.
"This is the old machine shop." Sam said in awe. He haven't been there since he was in junior high. This was his, Mitchie and Sierra's favorite hang out after school. But when the old man who takes care of the place died, the school closed it up in memory of him.
"Yes." Gary said. "Sam's right. This is the old machine shop. Principal Kelley foresaw this happening so he gave us this route yesterday which leads back inside the halls. But we will be staying here until the coast is clear. Once Jade's safely inside and the security are able to push the paps away, you guys can go back to whatever you need to do, the shoot and class."
"We still have class?" Shane asked.
"Yes Shane." Gary growled at him.
Shane just kept his mouth shut. Fine. Then Jason and Sierra entered the shop being escorted by three other bodyguards. When everyone was settled, the bodyguards went to their posts outside the shop and only Gary was left eyeing for some suspicious acts from the kids. The gang formed a circle around sitting on a couple of couches.
"Wow! This place is still amazing as before." Sam told Mitchie and Sierra who were both beside him.
"I know." Mitchie said. She really wasn't fond of cars but this was the place where she really learned how to play the piano since the old man, who they call, Uncle Earl, has one and really played well. So during break times, the old man teaches Mitchie how to play. Sierra also loves the place due to the fact that her friends are there and she can study well at Uncle Earl's office, it was air-conditioned and really quiet since it was covered with sound proof glasses.
"It has been years since we've been here…" Sierra said. "I missed Uncle Earl."
"Me too." Sam and Mitchie said at the same time.
"What are you three talking about?" Jason asked.
"Oh. Nothing. It's just this place is special for us. We always stay here before until the caretaker died." Sierra explained. Mitchie and Sam nodded. Then Sam remembered something.
"Guys! Hey, remember the box that we hid here? The ones where we put our resolutions every year and some of our memorable items the previous year?" Sam asked Mitchie and Sierra.
"I remember… I know it was near the…" Mitchie thought. "… the piano!" she called and she stood up and walked to open the dim room across them. The gang watched her and then after a few minutes she came out carrying a medium-sized box.
Sam helped her and put it on the middle of their circle. Then he opened it and the gang took out the things inside of it.
"What is this?" Shane asked. It was an old broken plastic airplane toy.
Sam laughed. "Oh! I remember that… that was the reason Mitchie and Sierra first got a fight."
"Why?" Jason asked.
"Sam… shut up!" Sierra told him.
Jason then signaled Sam to continue by putting a hand on Sierra's mouth. Sam then told them that Sierra and Mitchie got this huge crush on the new kid Todd Wilkin back in 7th grade. They got along with him and by the end of the year he moved out again. He gave the airplane to Mitchie and Sierra so they'll remember him. But a time came when both girls wanted to have it all to herself and it ended on a tug of war until they broke it up after their petty catfight. The gang laughed at this story while Mitchie and Sierra shot Sam a killing eye contact.
"Well, he called me after he left." Mitchie said.
"I also got a call Mitch." Sierra said back.
"Okay… here we go again!" Sam said. They had this kind of conversation over and over again when Todd is reminisced. "Stop that argument before it gets worse okay?"
Mitchie and Sierra smiled at each other. They just do that to annoy Sam.
To pass up the time, the gang got out a couple of other things and let their friends tell them the story behind it. Then there was these couple of dolls that Nate took since they were bundled together. There were four dolls. Two guys and two girls. When Mitchie saw it, she hoped that no one would ask it's meaning but when they did, the three got silent. Mitchie felt like crying.
Then Sam knowing that it still makes his girls cry said, "Um, can we pass off with that thing? It's kind of personal."
Their friends nodded and then they noticed Mitchie stood up and headed back to the room where she got the box. The gang followed her through their eyes. Then she opened the piano and started to play a melody.
"The fourth doll is Max London. He died when we were in 8th grade. Mitchie blames herself for what happened to him that's why we kind of hoped that none of you will notice that. But you did and here she goes again playing that song…" Sierra explained
"That's the song she composed after Max's death. She really got depressed even to the point of…" Sam trailed when Sierra cut him off.
"Sam… don't go there…" Sierra whispered. Sam nodded and then continued his story. "The point is she was very depressed and we did everything we can so she could move on. Good thing after sometime she did and she fully recovered when she went to Camp Rock."
Shane, Caitlyn, Nate and Jason smiled because they were part of Mitchie's recovery. Then they faced Sam again.
"Please don't bring up anything about Max. She really gets upset when she hears his name." Sam said.
The four kids nodded and looked at Mitchie again.
--
It was time for the shoot. Jade has successfully come inside the halls of TONHS. Kids had been following her but at the same time pretending that they aren't because when the paps and the other fans are out of the scene, Principal Kelley ordered them not to be stalkerish around Jade or they'll get detention. Jade met up with Connect 3 and the other kids that were casted. She was really putting up that sweet façade because even if those kids are in the music video they are still her fans.
"Hey Shane… Nate… Jason…" she greeted the guys sweetly. Then she gave them each a hug. The guys also just gave in to her façade because an exclusive behind-the-scenes footage was being done while they were going to film. "Hey Caitlyn. I didn't know you were going here…"
Caitlyn smiled forcefully, "Well, I am…" then Jade hugged her too and whispered "Oh, drop the smile, you look stupid." Then Caitlyn shot back in a whisper, "Drop the sweet face too… you look stupid…"
Then they faced each other again and gave each other a fake smile. "Where's Mitchie? She's in the video too right?" Jade asked. "I really would love to see her again. I missed that girl!"
"Yeah right." Caitlyn muttered while the boys just rolled their eyes. The other kids especially Georgie was so looking at her like she'd melt anytime because of their stares. They really admire her big time. If they only knew her real identity. Caitlyn thought.
Janice also asked the same question Jade asked. Mitchie was no where to be seen. The last time they saw her was when she head back to her locker and to her class. Caitlyn told her that she can be excused from class since they'll be shooting but she just said that she'll just catch up.
"She's in class, I think." Caitlyn said. "She really doesn't want to miss her class in Physics, it means a lot to her."
Janice nodded. "Well, we can start shooting the scenes where Mitchie is not included. So you guys head off to your make up artists and we'll start…" Janice instructed. Then she went to her producer and explained the situation.
After a couple of scenes were shot, Mitchie still wasn't there. "Caitlyn, are you sure she's coming?" Janice asked Caitlyn.
"Yeah she is." Caitlyn said. Then the producer came to them. Then he called, "Where the heck is Jason's leading lady?!" he squealed.
"Um… she's coming…" Caitlyn said.
"Coming? The call time was three hours ago! If she's not here in ten minutes, I'm going to replace her!" the producer said and stalked off.
Caitlyn groaned and tried to call Mitchie again but still again, she wasn't picking up. Then she called Sam.
"Cait? What's wrong?" Sam asked.
"Do you know where Mitchie is?" Caitlyn asked.
"No. I'm in practice. Try to call Sierra. Maybe they're in class." Sam suggested.
"Okay. Thanks" then Caitlyn hung up and called Sierra. She wasn't picking up then she realized that Sierra keeps her phone silent inside her locker to avoid any disturbances during class. Then Caitlyn was kind of getting worried. Mitchie wasn't herself earlier that day and she was worried that something has happened to her. "Jan…" Caitlyn approached Janice. "Um, can I go? I'll find Mitchie. She was not herself earlier this day and I'm kind of getting worried."
Janice nodded. "Sure. I'll just tell the producer and director what happened."
"Thank you so much!" Caitlyn said and headed out of the set not even explaining to the boys why.
--
"Mitchie!" Caitlyn called through the old machine shop that they were in. Caitlyn has come to quite feel where Mitchie is. Maybe it's intuition.
"Cait?" Mitchie called back.
"Thank god you're here!" Caitlyn approached her to the piano and sat beside her. "Why didn't you come to the shoot?"
"I'm sorry. It's just that when I saw those dolls, Max's memory came up to me again." Mitchie explained. "And it really upsets me."
"Who's Max?" Caitlyn asked. She was putting up the act of not knowing the kid.
"Caitlyn… you know that you are a bad liar right? Well, to me that is… I know you quite well…" Mitchie smiled. "It's okay. I think it was cool that Sam shared the story to you. Atleast that burden was not put upon me."
Caitlyn gave her a hug. "Hey, if you don't want to do the video it's okay. Actually the producer was kind of pissed off today since you didn't came and Jade was being a pain on the ass. She was screwing up all the time. Where the hell did the agency got her?"
Mitchie laughed. "Hey. I'm not going to give Jade the satisfaction that she would feel like I got intimidated by her."
"You are right. Comon' we still have to kick ass on that video." Caitlyn said and pulled her best friend out of the machine shop. Mitchie closed the door and smiled to herself. I'm going to be okay. Thanks for making me strong Maxey…
--
The producer was getting frustrated. Jade was screwing up. She gets atleast five takes per angle. And the thought of Mitchie still not there was getting to his nerves.
"If that girl is still not here! I am so going to…" then he stopped. Is that Mitchie Torres? He was a big fan of Mitchie. He was the one who convinced the agency to sign Mitchie but to his dismay she declined the tour offer. But still he loved her and her music. "Janice! Is that Mitchie Torres coming to us?"
"Yes, Kiel. Why? She's playing Jason's leading lady…" Janice said.
"Really? Why didn't you tell me?!"
"You didn't asked?"
"Okay… time to pack up… we'll resume tomorrow." Kiel the producer called. He wanted to talk to Mitchie.
Jade and the boys got curious and just obeyed to what the producer said.
"Mitchie?" Kiel called.
"Kiel? Oh my gosh! You are the producer? I'm so sorry… I was late… It's just…" Mitchie started to explain but Kiel stopped her.
"Hey, stop explaining. We have so much catching up to do." Kiel said.
Mitchie smiled. Kiel was a friend of hers back on tour. He was the one who first believed in her music, well except for her family, friends and Shane. The others didn't really know that they were friends because Kiel was more of a home buddy. They became friends because of Kiel's boyfriend (yeah he's gay), Stephen who's the tour coordinator. When Mitchie got injured, they were at Santa Monica at that time and so she stayed at Stephen's place with Kiel to take care of her. Then when it was time to go, Kiel and her friends didn't had the chance to get acquainted.
"You know him?" Caitlyn asked.
"Yeah. He was the one who took care of me when I got injured. He was also the one who work on the contract that I declined." Mitchie told Caitlyn. "Hey, you're packing up?"
"Yeah. Well, because Jade's a screw up and Jason' leading lady seems lost. Oh, here she is!" Kiel joked. Then they gave each other a hug. "I missed you, girly."
"I missed you too. Hey, why don't you have dinner at my house. My mom would love to meet you. Invite Stephen too." Mitchie said.
"Mitch, we broke up." Kiel said sadly.
"What?" Mitchie called. "Why? Oh I'm so sorry! Come here…" she gave her a hug then Kiel assured her that he's fine.
Then everything was packed up. Jade and the boys got out of their temporary dressing rooms which were classrooms. Then they approached Kiel.
"Kiel, I'm heading off." Jade told him coldly. She was seeing that Mitchie was goody-goody friends with her producer. "Hey Mitchie… It was nice seeing you…" she smiled fakely and waved.
Mitchie gave her a fake smile too. Then she faced Shane and the boys. "Hey… how was the shoot? Kiel, gave you a headache?"
"You two knew each other?" Shane asked. "Wow, Mitch, it seems you know much more important people than us."
"I choose my friends well Shane." Mitchie joked. Then Kiel laughed. And so did the boys and Caitlyn. "So, who's up for my mom's dinner?"
Everyone raised their hands and the gang including Kiel and Janice went to Mitchie's house.
--
The next day was a stressing shoot. Jade was late, so Jason's and Nate's scenes where the ones being done first. Though Jason and Mitchie may only feel like siblings but the camera says otherwise. They do have chemistry. Nate and Caitlyn also show the same effect on camera. And Kiel was loving every single moment of it. Things were going smoothly until queen bee arrived.
"Sorry, I'm late. I still had a photoshoot." Jade explained and headed to her dressing room.
"If I could just replace her, I would have done it a long time ago." Kiel told Mitchie.
"Kiel, easy… wrinkles will form…"
"I know… but she really is a big bitch."
"I know. I first handedly experienced her bitchiness."
"Ooh… gossip. Tell me! Tell me!" Kiel squealed.
"Later…" Mitchie winked and went away since Jade already was done doing her make up.
She went in front of the camera and Shane did the same. They were going to do a scene where it involves the two of them singing their duet in lip sync. At first it was going well. When Mitchie got out of the dressing room and started watching them do the scene, Jade got a glimpse of her. And when Kiel called a cut. She 'accidentally' tripped herself and fell on Shane's body.
What a bitch! Mitchie eyed her opponent.Then much to her dismay, Jade put her lips on Shane.
Shane got caught off guard, he pushed her and called, "What the heck Jade?!"
"Babe, don't you think it's time for everyone to know that we are together?" Jade called enough for everyone to hear. This is such a big news tomorrow. In your face Mitchie-kins…
"What are you talking about?!" Shane called back.
"Shane…"
Mitchie was there and she was seeing the entire scene. She didn't know what to feel or to do. They're together? How can he do this to me? Then she turned her heel and walked away, her way out was behind Jade so Shane saw her go.
"Mitchie!" Shane called after her. Jade held him back. But he jerked her away. "Stop playing these games Jade. They're not funny!" he shouted at her and went off to find Mitchie.
Kiel also saw what happened. Now he knew the gossip. But they weren't any other gossip. It's his friend's true to life love story. His love story may have ended badly, but he sure won't let Mitchie have the same heartache he went through. Gosh, this Jade is so pathetic! What is her problem?! Then he call for a pack up.
--
Okay. That was what you call over-acting. I walked out! Gosh… I feel so pathetic. Shane's not even my boyfriend. Well, officially not mine but he's still mine! He promised! How can that girl say that they're together? Is it just a lie? I hope so… Now I feel so pathetic… I promised Shane I'll be strong and I'll learn to trust him but now I am giving in again to this temptation of getting scared and not trusting the love of my life again! Jade must be laughing right now. She won again. Ugh!
Why am I such a damsel in distress? I'm such a crybaby. Now I wished everything was just the same way before Max died. Things were simpler that way. Georgie may be the only bother but atleast I have Sam and Max that I consider my big brothers. They're always there for me. They always keep me off Georgie's torments. Then there's Sierra whom I always go to if I have boy problems since I can't tell such things to Sam and Max. Things were simpler before Shane came to my life. But obviously it wasn't as happy and as eventful as what I have experienced these past few months. And life would be incomplete without Shane in it.
--
PREVIEW:
The latest gossip is always the talk of the school and of the entire town of Tree Oak especially when it involves relationships, love triangles and DRAMA. Headline of the Week: Shane Gray and Jade Roberts Confirmed! And I Mitchie Torres is the reason as to why they are breaking up.
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Jason faced a stunned Sierra. "Babe, what's wrong?" Jason asked Sierra who was totally speechless and looking behind his back. Jason followed her gaze and saw a boy behind her.
"So you're Jason huh?" the guy asked.
"Yeah. And who are you?" Jason demanded
"Someone special in Sierra's life." He said confidently.
--
"So, what now? We can't even be friends?"
"I'm afraid not…" Mitchie replied sadly.
--
"Awkward." Nate said. And Caitlyn stomped on his foot again. "Gosh Cait! You have to stop doing that…"
"You are such a baby!" Caitlyn said. And kiss his cheek. "Sorry…"
"Apology accepted." Nate said as he pecked her lips. Sam groaned.
More drama! Tune in for the next chapter of What High School is Like!