Author's Note: Thanks, you guys.
"I suppose I'll take that as a compliment?" Shane inquired, a coy grin coming upon his lips. Mitchie rolled her eyes in response.
The soothing breezes swept across the surface of the rippling lake, as the rays of the setting sun descended. Auburn eyes gleamed at the serene view on the beach. She inhaled, taking in the fresh scent, and her delicate lips curved into a smile. The sky turned into an enchanting shade of pink. The faint golden luminosity of the sun's rays added a striking touch to the sky. Tints of indigo and gray came from drifting clouds. The sun drifted behind the vast lake. Rays of the sun still emitted a radiant light causing the shades in the sky to blend together.
"Isn't it pretty?" she murmured gently, gazing dreamily. Her lashes fluttered as a smile overpowered her lips.
"Nothing or no one can exceed your beauty…" he mumbled in response, teasingly.
"Even Shane Gray has clichéd lines…" she muttered lightheartedly, swatting him on his arm. He seemed to have mock surprise on his face, and falsely gasped.
"This certain clichéd rock star happens to be your boyfriend!"
"Rock star?" she scoffed teasingly, "You're more of a pop star, pretty boy."
Mitchie stuck out her tongue at him.
"Is that an…insult?"
"I-I don't really know."
A smile graced his lips, and he gazed at her.
"Our little reminiscing this night was wonderful," she whispered, "so thank you."
Shane nodded in response as he pulled her into an embrace. As she jerked away, he grabbed his oars and submerged them into the lake.
"Good night, Mitchie. Be sure to bring your guitar to my class tomorrow, okay?"
"Um, okay, what for?"
"You'll see," Shane answered, rowing his oars.
"Thanks for such a great night," she said softly, before parting.
--
The following morning, Mitchie would continue her days at school. The bell chimed incessantly, and the first physical education class of the year came along. Physical education, or gym class as most students favored to call the class, was not exactly Mitchie's best subject. Her agility and endurance was not quite up-to-top either. If they would have to run laps, most of the students would surpass her as she dashed. She dreaded the fact that they were headed towards the gymnasium.
Mitchie entered the girl's locker room, which contained foul stenches and odors. A disgusted expression swept across her face, and she held her nose. Uncomfortably, she began dressing in a loose-fitting tee shirt that was a shade of ash, and cascaded a little bit lower than her waist. Indigo-shaded shorts came to an end before her knees.
She let out a sigh as they met up with their gym teacher, Coach Warren. He blew on his whistle, and exclaimed in a husky, masculine tone, "Listen up! I'm Coach Warren, and from people who know me from previous years, I don't tolerate slackers! To start off this class, I want you all to run five laps around the gym in ten minutes!"
Mitchie let out a drawn out sigh, and began jogging. Her brunette hair swayed and thrashed at her face as she dashed. Her bangs were gently draped across her forehead, somewhat getting in the way.
She fortunately jogged passed Taylor's friends, who were simply walking and continuing their chatting. She overheard Courtney whispering, "I mean, look at Torres's hair. Bangs? I mean, please. Just look at her!"
Mitchie rolled her eyes. Taylor seemed to slightly frown.
"What's wrong, Taylor?" Courtney inquired, arching an eyebrow, "Usually, you'd be all over her."
"I just don't see how you find insulting others amusing," Taylor muttered.
"And when did you start to care?" Courtney began to get doubtful.
Taylor merely jogged passed Courtney, catching up with Mitchie.
"H-hi," Taylor said uncomfortably
"Hi…?" Mitchie answered.
"It was nice to talk to someone who understood."
"Okay…"
When they all had finished their tiring laps, they had seated themselves in the center of the gymnasium. "Attendance!" Coach Warren roughly exclaimed.
"Courtney Arianne!"
"Right here," Courtney answered coolly.
"Victoria Brookes!"
"Present," a timid-seeming girl murmured.
"Luke Bryant!"
"I'm here!"
Coach Warren rapidly listed each name, going down the list as quick as he could.
"Tiffany Taylor!"
"I'm present," Taylor replied gently.
"Mitchie Torres!"
"H-here," Mitchie responded, raising her hand; all her classmates seemed to be present.
"Things still need to be set up before actually starting a sport, so we'll be doing dodge ball! Guys versus girls! Guys go to the left side of the gym, girls go to the right!"
The majority of the girls groaned in aggravation as they made their way to the edge of the gymnasium.
"Rules are simple, you get with a ball, you're out." Coach Warren lined up a few foam balls in the center of the area. He suddenly blew his whistle to signal the start of the game. Balls abruptly whizzed overhead, and Mitchie merely leaned against the wall, with a puzzled expression swept across her face.
Mitchie did an impressive jump to avoid a ball, but a one completely caught her off guard. It struck her intensely at her head, and that was against the rules. She felt a bit faint all of a sudden, and collapsed.
--
"I got here as fast as I could!" Shane exclaimed, rushing to the infirmary, frantically, "What happened to Mitchie?"
"She's just out cold from gym. She'll be fine soon," Nurse Therein answered bluntly.
Shane peered down perplexedly at the dormant girl. Mitchie was breathing softly, laid comfortably upon a white-draped bed in the nurse's office. He jabbed a finger at Mitchie's back, but she didn't respond. The brunette merely stirred in her sleep and muttered under her breath. "Wake up, Mitchie…" Shane mumbled.
Mitchie softly groaned, "Five more minutes…"
Shane sparked an idea, and supported the back of her head with his hand. He leaned down to press his lips against hers. She muffled in surprise, and her eyes were wide open. As he jerked away, a grin overpowered his face. "Sleeping beauty awakens."
"W-What happened?"
"It seems you were knocked out cold. Dodge ball game? Who did this to you? I'll make him cry…"
Mitchie giggled softly, getting off the bed.
"How long was I out?" Mitchie questioned.
"It's time for my music class."
"Good afternoon," Shane said, sighing. It took quite a lot to keep the continuous greetings up.
"I'm certain you all play at least one instrument, or sing," Shane began speaking at the front of the classroom, "and I've been told your previous teachers had taught you to play an instrument. At the back of the classroom, are new instruments, so choose one, and mark your name on it. If you have your own instrument, you may use that. I'm passing a paper around for you to mark what you play, or if you sing."
Mitchie's interest was certainly peaked, and she wondered how creative his classes would be. She merely smiled at him, and nodded. When the paper came to her desk, she marked down, 'singing, guitar, and piano.' She her guitar case set neatly on the side of her desk.
It was unexpected that Taylor played the flute, the rod from the Woodwind family that produced an innocent, but melodious tune.
"Your assignment is simple; all you have to do is pick any song you want and play it to a different melody, or if you have written your own song, you may play that. You have the entire period and if you don't finish, it'll be homework." Shane bluntly explained, "when you have finished, you're going to perform in front of the class either today or tomorrow."
Mitchie found his task he assigned everyone certainly easy. As he came around Mitchie's desk, she said softly, "So, this is why you wanted me to bring my guitar?"
"Exactly. So, what will you be doing?"
"I already have a song."
"I knew it," Shane answered, chuckling, "so let us hear it. Listen up, everyone!"
Mitchie averted her gaze to the floor. She was sometimes irritated by the attention, but if it was for Shane, she would be alright. She began strumming her guitar, and her lips parted, to begin singing.
"Never be Ain't it plain to see Ain't it plain to see
Never, never…
Tell me honestly
Don't my eyes
Speak up for me
Never, never…
You're always true to me
How can I make it real
Why can't you see
The way I feel
Tell me honestly
Don't my eyes
Speak up for me
Never, never…
You're always true to me
How can I make it real
Why can't you see
The way I feel
"That was beautiful, as always."
A smile appeared upon Mitchie's lips, but she whispered to him, so lowly that nobody else could hear. "I appreciate it, but Shane, you don't need to go easy on me. You should treat me like a regular student…"
"I understand, but I filled in to see you, so I don't have a choice," Shane answered, laughing, "I'm only a substitute. Does it seem like special treatment?"
Mitchie giggled in response. The following periods seem to drift by slowly, as usual.
During the end of the day, Sierra had confronted Mitchie at her locker while with Shane.
"Hey Mitchie," Sierra greeted, "Um, if you're not spending time with Shane, do you want to just hang out like the old days? Just friends? You know, like the old times. Looking at clothes and boys."
"Oh," Mitchie answered, a little guilty that she hasn't been spending that much time with Sierra, "Sure."
"Shane," she said, as she spotted Shane. "I'm going somewhere, maybe the mall, with Sierra tonight."
"Alright," Shane replied, frowning slightly. Mitchie was going to go somewhere without him, and there was a chance that she was going to meet other guys. There was certainly no way was he going to let any guy get close to his Mitchie.
As Mitchie walked away, Shane whipped out his cell phone and called Nate and Jason.
"Guys, you two are coming tonight with me to the mall."
"Why? Can't you go with Mitchie?" Nate inquired over the phone.
"Uh, I'm actually going to follow her without her knowing."
"You mean, you're going to spy on her?"
"No! How could you say something like that?" Shane retorted, "Okay…yes."
"Well, we aren't doing anything tonight, so I guess," Nate answered, shrugging.
"Commence Operation Prevent Mitchie from Getting Near any Other Guy!"
Author's Note: Please review. I love all of you guys! I want to point out some of my most supportive reviewers: WritingSia, SweetSerenityPeacexRose, Shizuku Tsukishima749, Ivyshadow!
I'm going to need a one or two original characters, so time for auditions! Just post the following form in your review.
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