So, after the super happy chapter before, it needs to downgrade a bit. But, please don't throw tomatoes at me!

Disclaimer: I don't own the character of Camp Rock, or Carter Jenkins who makes an appearance in this chapter and the next. If you ever watched Unfabulous, he was Eli. Okay, moving along.

"We need to keep this a secret," Shane said, as I reached for his hand as we walked to breakfast. We had established the night before that we liked each other. But, secrets never came up.

"Why?" I flinched as his hand shot away from mine. I couldn't help but this: Wow, that hurt. He took my elbow, and dragged me half into some random brambles off the beaten path.

"Because being famous is not fun with paparazzi all the time," Shane said, almost as if he was choosing his words carefully, "And, I don't want that for you."

"So, this is a secret?" I softly asked, not wanting to lose him over some stupid little fame thing. He nodded with a small smile.

"I'm sorry," Shane said, before he kissed my cheek. Part of being with someone was being able to flaunt what was clearly yours, but I wouldn't be able to do that.

"Just promise me one thing," I offered, as Shane started to fight his way out of the weeds. He looked at me with a crooked smile, "That since I can't claim that you're mine, just try and make those girls in camp stop flirting with you."

"I promise," Shane said, as I held out my pinky. He looked at it, as I hoped he understood that pinky promises were the most legitimate promises in the world, and if they were broken, trusted was screwed over.

"These can't be broken," I warned, as Shane raised his hand up to mine, his pinky extended from the rest of his fingers.

"I know," Shane said, as his pinky laced with mine, "Just so you know, I'm not the only person who has to keep the flirts away."

"Oh really?" I asked, feeling dizzy at the thought that other people liked me. I mean, I was never one to be bold around boys.

"Don't act so surprised," Shane said, as he lowered his head, as my breath hitched, "You're beautiful."

I couldn't say anything as his lips softly collided with mine. It was hard to kiss him back because I was trying to contain a huge smile, but I finally got it under control. Our lips parted, as our foreheads leaned against each other. I noticed that Shane had a huge smile to match mine. And, that made me smile even more.


"Alright, this week I will be picking partners for duets," Dee announced on the stage of the large auditorium. Shane and I were sitting next to each other, our thighs touching, and pinkies linked. During breakfast we had declared that best friends hold pinkies, and so far we hadn't let go.

"I finally figured out lyrics to the chords I have," Shane whispered to me, as I could feel his lips just lingering inches from my ear. It took everything I had to not turn my head to kiss them.

"You did?" I asked, feeling anxious to hear what he came up with. I didn't even both looking at him because I knew his face was so close to mine. I probably should have told him up front that I'm a pretty horrible secret keeper. Besides, how could I keep something this big from Caitlyn? I nearly screamed it during breakfast.

"I'll show you later," Shane said, as I tried to get my heart beating to a natural rhythm, not the fast paced one Shane had it going.

"Tess Tyler and Shane Gray," Dee called out, as I could see Tess vicariously smile from her seat just rows down. It nearly killed me when she winked at him. He nonchalantly rubbed his leg against mine.

"I'm yours," Shane said, once Tess turned back around. I started to come up with a mental list of why Tess was better than me. I shied away from him, trying to get my mind off of them being partners.

"Mitchie Torres and Carter Jenkins," Dee said, as I watched Carter turn around in his seat to look at me. He smiled at me, so being polite, I smiled back. I thought nothing of it until I watched Shane's face turn green with jealously.

"You shouldn't even have to think twice about him," I told Shane as Dee prattled off some instructions. Shane and I were too busy having a staring contest that consisted of jealous glares masked by intensity.

"So, you can start brainstorming," Dee finally announced, in a voice louder than her original directions. Shane and I finally brought our gazes away from each other, with our pinkies linked, since I couldn't hold his hand.

"Hi Mitchie," Carter said with another smile as he walked over, before extending an index finger over to a private corner, "We could go over there to start thinking of selections."

"Okay," I said, as Tess walked over. Carter started walking, and as I went to stand up, Shane's pinky was still wrapped around mine.

"What's that about?" Tess asked, while she glared at me. Then, he gaze turned sickly sweet as she smiled at Shane.

"We're best friends," I said, with a fake smiled before, pulling my hand away from his. I followed Carter over to the corner, where I could already see him mentally brainstorming.

"Have any ideas?" Carter asked, as I shook my head. I positioned myself in the seat to look genuinely interested in what Carter had to say, but also glance over at Shane, without it being obvious.

"I used up all my ideas yesterday for dance," I said, with a small smile as Tess flicked her golden locks over her shoulder. I watched as she talked animatedly, while Shane smiled and laughed along with her.

"Okay, well I was thinking something classic, like As Long As You're Mine from Wicked," Carter suggested, as I tried to scrounge up how the song went. It used to be the one song from Wicked, besides Defying Gravity, that I could belt out like my life depended on it.

"That's fine," I said, deep in thought about how the lyrics went. I closed my eyes, and tried to imagine the words surrounding me.

"Are you okay?" Carter asked, as I immediately nodded, pretending that the way Shane and Tess were talking wasn't bothering me. Carter stood up, "I'll go get the sheet music from Dee. I know that she had it somewhere."

I feel like this was a lot of fillers, but I promise it's all building up. Also, 23 review to 200. Do you think we could make it on this chapter?