"Nate?"

"Hmm?"

"You realize that for me to know the full story, you need to actually start talking... Right?"

A blush rose to his cheeks, making him feel very much like Mitchie right at that moment. She was still sitting beside him on the bed, her expression unreadable, and he didn't blame her. This was his fault; he should have told her the truth the second he'd laid eyes on Caitlyn.

He thought he had been protecting her by not telling her anything... He now realized how stupid that sounded.

"You said you'd tell me everything. What happened, Nate?"

It wasn't a day he liked to think about. It made him cringe every time he did remember it.


Camp Rock: Last Day Of Camp

Two Years Ago

"Shane... Who could you possibly be talking to?"

He shoved his things into the trunk of Jason's old Honda, and shot his friend a hard look. His parents had dropped it off the night before, they had had to make it to the airport in time to meet Mitchie and Alex's plane.

Mitchie

Nate laughed. Only the klutzy sister he knew and loved could make it through an entire summer at a dance camp, and not hurt herself until the end of the very last performance. She was going to be fine, her arm was broken in three different places, and the last text he'd received from Alex was a video of Mitchie acting high and goofy because of the pain medication the doctor had put her on. He planned on saving the video, bringing it out for everyone to see on her birthday, just a month away. She'd done the exact same for each of them, finding the most embarrassing footage she could manage, and putting the DVD, always a DVD (which she would later give to them as a part of their birthday present), into the DVD player before pressing play. He was overdue on revenge.

"Yeah, man." Jason muttered. "Who are you talking to?"

"Mitchie." Shane said, as if the answer were obvious. "I just wanted to make sure she was okay."

"Mitchie's a klutz." Nate replied with a laugh. "No matter how many times she falls; she gets back up. She's fine, dude."

The lead singer didn't look convinced. He pressed the phone back to his ear. "Do you need us to stop off and get you anything?"

His own phone rang. He glanced down at the caller ID, a broad grin spreading across his face.

"Well hello there, pretty lady."

"Hey yourself." Alex said with a laugh. "Have you left yet? I miss you."

Nate sighed. The distance was never easy, but besides Mitchie, Alex had always been his biggest supporter. He'd missed her too, more than words could describe.

"No." He said. "We haven't. We could have been on the road already, if a certain person would get off his phone."

She laughed again. "Ugh! I know! They've been on the phone for twenty minutes already! I know, I shouldn't be complaining, because I've had Mitchie all to myself for the last month, but this is getting ridiculous. I'm so bored, there's nothing on TV, my best friend won't get off her phone, and my boyfriend is taking forever to get home!"

"Absentee boyfriend, huh?" He asked. "This guy sounds like a real piece of work."

"Oh, he is." Alex replied. "He's stubborn, he loves to argue, he zones out during conversations, because he's focused on something else, he's always writing a song, but he never lets me hear any of them until they're absolutely perfect..."

Nate rolled his eyes. Alex was always rambling, and he loved that about her, but once she got started, it was hard to get her to stop.

"Lexi..."

"He's also got adorable curly hair, a great smile, pretty eyes, he's an amazing kisser..."

"Nice save." Nate teased. "Look. Shane's about to hang up with Mitchie right now. I'll be home in a little under two hours, okay?"

"Okay." Alex whispered. "Hurry. Please?"

"I promise. I love you, Lexi."

"I love you, Nate."

With a smile on his face, he hung up and shoved the phone back into his pocket before whacking Shane on the back of his head. As Jason was doubled over in laughter, the future shaggy haired rock star told Mitchie to hang on as he turned to glare at his young friend.

"What the hell was that for?"

"The sooner you hang up the phone." Nate said. "The sooner you can be with Mitchie in person."

Shane thought it over for a moment. "Mitch? We're on our way back right now, alright? I know, I can't wait to see you. Yeah... I... I love you too, Mitchie."

Before Jason and Nate could rag on him, Shane grabbed their gleaming trophy from the oldest hand member and climbed into the front seat.

The two boys shared a knowing look.

Mitchie had been living with him for the last five years, and though biologically she was just Jason's sister, that didn't matter to him at all. They had been friends since they were in diapers, Nate had even been at the hospital the day

Mitchie was born, though he had no memory of it. They'd been in the same grade in school, and he'd gotten after anyone who bullied her. He had been with her through the death of her parents, he had been the one to hold her hand at the funeral, though he had a vague memory of Jason gripping her free hand.

Biological or not, Mitchie was his sister, and nothing could ever change that.

Did he have a problem with Shane's crush on Mitchie? Of course not, he just hoped Shane knew what the consequences would be in the rare, very rare, case that he broke Mitchie's heart.

"Nate!"

He laughed as he caught sight of a very familiar looking curly haired girl. They'd stayed up all night, looking at the stars, and watching the sun rise. He was exhausted, but it had been totally worth it.

Caitlyn Geller was one of the best friends a guy could ask for.

In some ways, she did remind him of Alex, her sense of humor, her sarcastic trait, and though he would never admit it, hanging around with Caitlyn all summer had made him miss his girlfriend a little less.

"Cait!" He called back, sounding just as eager. "I was hoping I'd get to see you before you left."

"I knew it would ruin the rest of your summer if you didn't get to say goodbye to me." Caitlyn replied with a laugh. "Admit it: I make your days brighter."

Nate glanced at her neon-orange shirt. "That's... True, I guess."

"Shut up, idiot." She shoved him. "I know you're gonna miss me!"

"When you're right, you're right, Caity."

They stared at each other for a few moments, and then she was suddenly in his arms. She wasn't big on hugs, and she didn't think he was either, though she had no way of knowing that he hugged Mitchie and Alex at least once a day.

Caitlyn gave into the hug, because it was Nate, and on the rare occasions that he did hug her, she never wanted him to let go.

"I'm gonna miss you, Cait."

The words made her heart melt. She closed her eyes, trying to work up the courage to say the words she had been practicing all morning long.

It was now or never.

"Um... Nate?"

Nate pulled back to look her in the eyes, his own full of concern. "What's wrong, Caitlyn? You okay?"

The next words to leave her mouth could either change things for the better, or ruin the friendship they had spent years building.

She had to take that risk.

"Caitlyn."

"I... Um..." Caitlyn began, shaking her head. "I like you, Nate."

Silence.

That was all there was.

Silence.

Nate's look of concern had turned into a look of shock, and he seemed to be in a frozen debate with himself, unsure of how to respond.

"Um..." Nate drew out, blinking rapidly. "I like you too, Caitlyn. You're a great friend..."

Tears formed in Caitlyn's eyes, but she held them back. She wasn't going to let him see her cry, she wasn't going to let Nate see her break down. He'd always told her how strong she was, that he loved that about her, so that's what she was going to do. She was going to be strong.

Even if Nate didn't love her back.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it." She hissed. "What's the real problem, Nate? Is it me? Am I not attractive enough? Am I not good enough for you? Are you ashamed of me?"

"Caitlyn." He snapped, sounding angry. "When did I ever say that? First, you are absolutely gorgeous, and second, I would never be ashamed of you! You're my friend, Cait, my best friend, and I care about you."

Her face fell. "But you don't like me..."

"I have a girlfriend." Nate whispered, the guilt was eating him alive. "Who is also very beautiful, and kind, and who I'm in love with... I'm sorry, Cait, but I don't feel that way for you... I never have."


He'd lied straight to her face.

Yes, he'd been head over heels in love with Alex, he would always love her.

But he liked Caitlyn.

He'd first discovered his feelings the first day of camp that summer. Caitlyn had beamed at him as he'd climbed out of the backseat of his parent's car, before throwing her arms around his neck to welcome him back. Caitlyn was beautiful, she was talented, she was funny, she was stubborn, she was sarcastic, she was kind. They had always been able to connect on a way that he had Alex couldn't.

And that made him feel so guilty.

Alex was his girlfriend, the love of his life, he shouldn't have had any romantic-type feelings for his summer camp best friend,

But he had had those feelings, and he couldn't take that back.

"Nate."

He was expecting a lecture, because she'd always been so quick to give them to Shane. Instead, she threw her arms around his neck, holding onto him for dear life.

Nate's hand made hesitant circles across her back. "Mitchie?"

Mitchie pulled back to look him in the eye. "Yeah?"

"Why... Why aren't you yelling at me?"

She threw her arms around him again in response. Nate hugged her back this time, pressing his face into her shoulder.

He had comforted her so many times before, it was her turn to comfort him.

"Nate." Mitchie signed, after she pulled away. "I know that you loved Alex, you know that you loved Alex. Alex knew that you were in love for her! It's okay that you had feelings for Caitlyn. You never would have done anything to hurt Alex."

Nate let out a long sigh. "I did like Caitlyn, Mitchie... But I swear, I was in love with Alex."

For reasons only known to her, Mitchie was smiling.

"I know you did." She said. "You don't have anything to prove."

Mitchie reached out to take his hand, and he gave her a grateful squeeze. There was no one on earth quite like Mitchie Torres.

He was lucky to have her.

"You're not mad at Shane for telling me... Are you? I did kind of make him..."

"No, Mitch, I'm not mad." He promised, smiling for the first time. "I should have told you a long time ago... I honestly thought I would never see Caitlyn again. I didn't plan on ever coming back here, but Shane..."

"Shane." Mitchie repeated, rolling her eyes. "What are we gonna do, Nate? I can't stand to see him act like that... I miss the old Shane. So much."

Nate squeezed her hand again. "I know, Mitchie, so do I... Can I tell you something?"

"Anything."

"I've been thinking of a way we could get the old Shane back."

"Really? What is it?"

Nate took a deep breath, squeezing her hand for a third time. "I was thinking... If you could learn how to speak again, and sing again... Mitch, Shane's attitude change happened a lot longer than I think we both realize... He's been this way since the accident."


Nate didn't know just how many times she'd watched the video.

In fact, she didn't think he knew the video even existed, but she did, and she watched it anytime she needed a reminder that at one point in her life, she had been happy.


The Black's Living Room

Two Years Ago

"Look who finally got off the phone!" Alex teased, staring directly into the webcam on her MacBook. "Mitchie's boyfriend Shane was just calling to check up on her... Tell em' why we had to miss the boys 'Final Jam' performance, Mitch."

"Because..." She replied with a sheepish smile "I... Well..."

She held her arm, the one wrapped in plaster, up for everyone to see.

"Because you're a klutz? Because you can't go a week without falling flat on your ass?"

"Shut up, Alexandra."

"Make me, Michelle."

Mitchie stuck her tongue out at her best friend in response. "In case you ever see this, Jason? Shane? Nate? I'm sorry that I tripped, and fell... Down three flights of stairs, and I'm sorry that I missed your Final Jam performance, but I know for a fact that you guys rocked it, and I'm more than ninety percent sure that you won, because you guys are so amazingly talented. Shane... I know you're never gonna let me hear the end of this, but I love you, and I'm sorry."

Alex nudged her with her elbow. "That was a pretty good apology, Mitch."

"And you caught it on camera. Nice job, Lex."

The raven haired girl slipped her arm around Mitchie's shoulders and gave her a squeeze. "I think we have a very special guest... Drum roll, please!"

"Russo! Torres!"


Mitchie stabbed the space button on her laptop to pause the video. She had never watched it in its entirety, she found it too painful to hear Drew's voice, let alone see his face.

But she was curious, so against her better judgment, she hit the space bar again, and resumed watching the video.


The Black's Living Room

Two Years Ago

"Russo! Torres!"

"Drew!"

He came into view, dropping down beside Mitchie with a sigh. He glanced at his own reflection on the computer screen before turning to shoot Alex a questioning look.

"Why?"

"Why not?" She replied with a smile. "We were bored, and the boys aren't here, and Mitchie's pain medication has finally worn off. So. Why not?"

His gaze moved to her. "Are you alright, Mitch? Nate was pretty hysteric when he called me... How do you fall down three flights of stairs? I don't understand."

"We were staying on the third floor." Mitchie rolled her eyes. "And I wasn't looking where I was going..."

"And she's a klutz!"

"Shut. Up. Alex."

Alex threw her arms around her again. "You know you love me, Mitchie!"

"I do love you." She said, hugging her back. "But you're a pain in my ass."

"Aww! Likewise!"

Drew couldn't help but laugh. "You two are really the weirdest set of best friends I have ever met."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Mitchie muttered, elbowing him. "So. Are we all gonna hang out when Nate gets back?"

He offered her a playful wink.

"You know it, Mitch."


She never got used to hearing the sound of her own voice, but she did miss it.

Mitchie couldn't remember what she had said after Nate told her about his plan, but she was pretty sure she'd lied to him, signing that she was tired, and that she wanted to take a nap before dinner.

He'd let her go with a reluctant sigh.

Nate was a genius, she knew that he'd put a lot of thought into his idea, and it could potentially work. There was only one problem.

She wasn't sure if she would be able to find her voice again.