To be honest, Mitchie wasn't that excited for the party. She'd never been too popular and at parties she usually ended up mingling alone at the snack table.
Seirra chatted the entire way to the party, somehow managing to keep her eyes on the road as she drove at the same time.
"So you remember Tommy Jenkins?" she asked at one point.
"Yeah," Mitchie said. "Isn't he a year older than us? With dirty blond hair? Tall? I think?"
"That's the one!" Seirra agreed. "Well, I called to invite him and he says he's looking forward to seeing you again. But he can't compete against Shane!"
"There is no competition between him and any other boy in the world," Mitchie confirmed, going slightly pink.
They arrived at the party and walked up the front steps. Mitchie didn't recognize the house. "Who's throwing the party?" she asked.
"Oh, Stacie Hintler agreed too," Sierra said, grabbing her purse. "She has this huge sound system in her media room. It's great for music."
"Great!" Mitchie said enthusiastically enough. But she was getting a sinking feeling.
They thudded down the stair and Seirra threw open the door to the media room. "Ladies and gentlmen!" she called. "The star of this party has arrived!"
Everyone looked up and started clapping. Mitchie blushed and smiled.
"Hey, guys," she said, taking in all the familiar faces of her high school. "Thanks for the party."
"No problem, Mitchie." A girl with dark blonde hair came bouncing up. "Come on, I'll show you to the food."
"Uh, thanks, Stacie," Mitchie meekly followed the girl. Someone came up behind her.
"Hey, Mitchie," a deep voice greeted her.
She turned. "Tom," she said. "Hi. How have you been?"
"No as good as America's newest star," he said, grinning his relaxed grin.
Mitchie smiled back. "Believe me," she said. "It's not as easy as it looks."
"Any easier than the load of homework they give us?" Tommy asked.
Mitchie shrugged. "Who knows?" she asked. "I get tutored on the road nowadays."
"That's cool. Where is your next concert?"
"Washington D.C. Shane and the rest of Connect 3 are preforming with me." She could barely hid the warmth in her voice as she said Shane's name.
Tommy caught it. "Uh huh," he said, frowning slightly. "You have a separate tour bus?"
"Nope," Mitchie shook her head, grabbing some punch. "We all ride in the same thing. It's a pretty big bus, so we have enough room." She sipped the red juice hesitantly.
"Wow," Tommy said, grabbing a handful of M&M's. "That must be tiring. Around those boys all day. And aren't they all older than you?"
"Nate's only a few months older," Mitchie replied, a little sharply.
"You going out with any of them?" Tommy asked conversationally, leaning against the table and pouring the candies into his mouth.
Mitchie reddened. "No," she said quietly. "Not really. They're like brothers to me. My best friends, beside Seirra."
Where was Seirra? Mitchie glanced around as Tommy began to speak. There! She was dancing with their old classmate, Phil Marsty.
"Mitchie?"
"Hmmm?" she asked. "Pardon? Sorry I didn't hear you."
"I said, aren't you ever on tour by yourself?" Tommy asked impatiently.
"Sometimes," Mitchie answered. "Caitlynn Gellar, my producer, comes with me then. So not really. She plays background for me a lot."
Tommy nodded. "Want to dance? You said you're not going out with any of them." He made the word 'them' sound like a cuss word.
"Uh…" Mitchie bit her lip. Well, I guess Shane won't mind much. Then again, he might. "I guess so," she said.
"Great." He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the table.
'Low' by Flo Rida was playing and Mitchie began to grin. She loved this song! She began doing the little bit of hip-hop she'd learned from Connect 3 in tune with the song. Tommy appraised her.
"You know hip-hop?" he asked, sounding surprised.
"A little," Mitchie hedged.
"Show some moves, girl!" he commanded. "Come on."
Mitchie sighed. "Okay," she said. She began doing the moves she sometimes did on stage-sometimes.
Tommy's eyebrows widened as Mitchie danced. He started clapping. Mitchie grinned wider and began really showing off. A circle formed and everyone applauded. Mitchie twisted her way around the small space, really getting into it.
The song ended and Mitchie stopped, exhausted. Everyone started whistling and cheering.
"Wow, that was awesome Mitchie!"
"Dang, where'd you learn that?"
"Sweet!"
Mitchie smiled at the crowd and took a stage bow. Everyone laughed. Mitchie put a hand on her chest and leaned against the wall, panting. Tommy stood next to her.
"Want to take a walk with me out back?" he asked, gestering to the door.
"Sure." Mitchie followed him. He began walking around the edge of the pool. Mitchie fell into step beside him.
"Your hip hop is amazing," Tommy said, reaching out and taking her hand firmly. She jumped and tried to pull away.
"Thanks," she said. "You should see Shane and the others at parties. They're amazing." She tugged her hand again.
Tommy lead her to the darker end of the pool, then stopped. He turned to her. "You've really changed," he said. "You're different than the little invisible girl you used to be. Seirra still is, though."
"Seirra is an awesome person," Mitchie argued. "She's great."
Tommy gently pulled her closer. "Not as great as you," he murmmered. Mitchie froze. He started to bend down towards her. Her heart skipped a beat.
Oh, no WAY she shrieked in her mind. His lips pressed against hers. She screamed and shoved him; hard. He stumbled back and with a cry, fell back into the pool.
Mitchie coughed and spit. Wiping her lips, she groaned. A sudden red-hot anger filled her. "NEVER kiss me AGAIN!" she shouted at Tommy. "Or you'll regret it," she added in a lower, dangerous tone. Then she turned and fled back into the house.
She snagged Seirra. "Seirra, hide me!" she commanded.
"What happened?"
"Tommy kissed me."
"WHAT?!" she shrieked. Grabbing her arm, Seirra towed her towards a corner. "But Shane…"
"I didn't want him to kiss me!" hissed Mitchie. "I pushed him into the pool."
Seirra snorted into laughter.
"It's not funny!" Mitchie said indignately.
The door slid open and in waked a soaked Tommy Jenkins. Everyone stopped and stared.
"Tommy, dude, what happened to you?" asked one of the jocks.
He ignored them and waked straight to Mitchie. "No one says no to me," he growled. "This isn't the end." He turned heal and left.
Mitchie stared after him. "Is he on medication?" she asked.
"No," Seirra glared at the wet retreating shirt Tommy wore. "Why?"
"He's mental. He needs to be in the asylum!" Mitchie said, glaring as well.
Seirra sighed. "Are you going to tell Shane?"
"I don't think so," Mitchie said softly. "He'll be furious."
"Ooh," Seirra grinned. "Jealous much?"
Mitchie sighed. "I really don't want to find out."