A/N: Sorry for the LONGEST WAIT. I haven't got back to writing since I took summer classes and I was still having a writer's block and also I am experiencing some One Tree Hill deprivation since the season is over. But thank God I am able to update this story since this is one of the stories that I am really having fun writing. I hope you're still up to reading this. Have fun. BTW, thank you for all who've been alerting and reviewing. Sorry I don't have time now to thank each one of you. But please accept my deepest gratitude for even taking the time to read my fics. I love you guys and this is what high school is like for Mitchie and the gang…
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Chapter 10
Now is another day but not any other ordinary day since something special is going to happen. Yep! Well, at least for me and Sierra, it is something special. I mean, it's the Physics exhibit! Hooray! Please… can I see some smile there? (lol) anyways… I am earlier than usual at school and Sierra even picked me up, courtesy of her mom. Apparently, Ben still hadn't shown up even though his mom already knew he's in town. I really don't know the full details, maybe I'll just gossip Sierra later… Yeah, we have to be early there including the other Physics Club geeks. Well, Shane Gray is not part of that circle but he's part of the preparations so he has to be there, early too. Well, we still haven't talked since the 'we're not even friends' scheme that I did. It's kind of a breather though but it also kinda sucked. (Guess why! Pointing to myself)
Now, Sierra's mom just dropped us off at school and now were heading for the gym where the event is going to happen. Some kids were already there setting up their booths. And Shane is also here now… And a smile is forming on my face! Gosh Mitchie! Get a grip!
--
"Hey…" Sierra approached Shane who was the only one at the table that Mitchie's group had reserved. "So, the others are still not here?"
Shane shook his head and added, "Well, the other kids are here but apparently our groupmates are not yet here."
Sierra nodded and looked a Mitchie who was deep in thought.
"Mitch, what's wrong?" Sierra asked.
"Oh my gosh! I left my delta-wye circuit!" Mitchie called.
"What?! Mitch, where is it? At your house? Maybe you can just ask Caity to bring it." Sierra suggested.
"No! You know that it's fragile (A/N: actually it's not since it can be put on a simple breadboard… I just want a freaking out Mitchie lol). And besides, Caitlyn plans on waking up late since classes are irregular!"
"What about Sam?"
"Not even him! He's worse!" Mitchie called. "I have to go home!"
"But Mitch, you don't have car…" Sierra started but Shane interrupted.
"I have… Well, if you want to… I mean I can just shut up for the entire ride…" Shane said sadly.
"Are you sure?" Mitchie asked cautiously. It's really awkward now.
"Of course… We're still groupmates right?"
Mitchie nodded. And they silently went out of the gym and to Shane's car. Mitchie sat at the passenger's seat as Shane closed his door. Then they sped off to Mitchie's house. After getting Mitchie's circuit, they went back to school and saw many students from different schools piling up the gym, starting to set-up their own exhibits. Then like on cue, screaming fans started to hover on Shane's car. Obviously, the students from the other schools know that Connect 3 was going at TONHS and wanted to see Shane since its an open event.
"Ugh. I forgot that this is an open event." Mitchie said. "Sorry…"
"Hey, it's fine. Besides, it's like we're not used to this." Shane said looking at her hoping that she'll look back. But she didn't. "Mitch…" he said.
Mitchie wasn't still looking at him. They're gonna be stuck there for a few minutes or hours until Gary or some other C3 security notices them trapped there.
"Are we going to be like this forever?" Shane asked still looking at her.
"Shane…"
"I know you don't want to talk about it. But, this sucks Mitch. Not talking to you. Pretending like I don't care. It sucks and it hurts. Mitch, what am I going to do without you?"
"Shane, you made that consequence the moment you cheated on me." Mitchie blurted out. Ugh! Here I go again. Am I not over it?
"What?! So this is still about that Jade incident months ago? Or just recently? Because I thought you have forgiven me for that…"
"Yeah. I have but I haven't forgotten Shane. Now that Ben…"
"Oh, so its really Ben?"
"Will you let me finish?!" Mitchie called to him and facing him right now. "Now that Ben is back, more unfinished business and unclosed history had been added to this circle that we have. Shane, Ben left me and he left me during the time I needed him the most! And I was a wreck after that! Then you cheated on me! How can I trust anyone of you anymore huh?"
"I get where you're coming from Mitch… So if you really want space, I'll give it to you. But always remember that no matter how many times you push me away. Or how many times you say that you don't need me to be your friend, I'll always be here for you. I'll always be here to protect you and to love you even if it's from a far. I just hope that even these things you'll not try to hinder me doing, or else I'll breakdown Mitch. Breakdown to an abyss where no possibility of ever coming back." Shane said to her fighting back the tears that are trying to escape from his eyes.
Mitchie just sat beside him totally speechless. As much as I want to hug you, kiss you or feel you in me Shane, I just can't. I'm sorry.
Just that instant, the tensioned aura came to a stop as Gary opened Mitchie's door to signal them that all is clear.
"Hey…" Gary greeted the two. They just smiled weakly at him and went out of the car. Shane went on ahead to the gym with two bodyguards behind him while Mitchie got stuck behind with Gary's questioning look.
--
"Gary, I don't have time to talk…" Mitchie said as soon as she realizes that Gary was about to speak.
"Mitch, I am not yet even saying everything."
"But I know you, daddy G… I can see it in your face that you want to ask me something about Shane."
"It was you who said that not me."
"Ugh! Gary. Why are you so evil? Fine! I'll tell you…" Mitchie said and pulled him to sit under a tree nearby.
"I know you can't resist me…"
Mitchie just rolled her eyes. This is the source of the multiple egos of Shane.
Mitchie explained to Gary everything that has happened since the last time that they talked. She told him about her feelings for Shane and why she's having a hard time managing her feelings for him.
"Awh… baby girl, come here." Gary said as he pulled her to a hug since she was starting to cry. "Hey, listen to me, you are a strong girl okay? It may not be an overnight decision but I know you'll get pass through this. You are smart, baby girl, you know what to do… I don't have to say anything because I know in the end, you'll choose what is best and I know that whatever decision you make, it's going to make you happy. And for the record, I'm here for you. Okay? Remember that…"
"Thank you daddy G…" Mitchie smiled. "I missed calling you that…"
"I miss hearing that from you too…" Gary said and hugged her again. "Common' wipe those tears, it'll going to be a long day for you…"
Mitchie nodded and smiled and Gary escorted her inside the gym to work on her project.
--
The gang were already there before lunchtime. Jason tried to help Sierra with whatever she was doing but ended up helping Shane since he was having a hard time over the machine that he was assigned to monitor. Mitchie was having the busiest task ever. She was handling her own project and also trying to help her groupmates. She was the one presenting the solo project since when it comes to physics she was better at it than Sierra. And if ever she goes to college and doesn't end up on the music industry, she would have loved to pursue Physics at MIT. Good thing that she was also the one presenting alone since Ms. Gomez hinted her that MIT reps are coming.
Then by lunch they gathered at the cafeteria joined by Ben and Sam. The program was about to start in an hour and Mitchie was starting to get nervous. Ben was across her on the table while Shane was on the other corner. Ben noticed Mitchie's nervousness so he pushed his fries to her.
"Hey, get some I know fries takes your jitters away." Ben told her.
Mitchie looked at the fries then at Ben. Mitchie smiled and grabbed some. It was true. Mitchie was not really a potato fan but when it comes to jitters, fries are one of the things that keeps her calm.
"Thanks. I never thought you'd remember." Mitchie told him after finishing a bunch.
"I never forgot anything about you Mitch." Ben said. "So, um I hope that we could talk Mitch…"
Mitchie nodded. "We could talk right now." Then they stood up and went away from the gang. Shane saw the entire exchange and sighed deeply. Mitchie saw Shane sigh and felt sad. She knew she was being unfair to him but she can't really help but cut some ties that she has with him. Truth be told, she was still hurting. Ben is also a part of that hurt but she decided to really close the deal with Ben now. She knew that it's Shane that she loves and forgiving Ben completely may help her totally forgive Shane.
"Hey buddy… It's going to be fine." Jason told his brother Shane.
Shane just weakly smiled at him as he looked at Mitchie and Ben walk away from the group. "Um, I have to go…"
"Where are you going?" Jason asked. The gang also were waiting for his answer.
"Relax guys, I'll be back by the time the fair's been kicked off. I need to get some air…"
The gang understood him and let him go.
--
"So…" Ben started but Mitchie cut him off.
"Please let me talk first." Mitchie said and continued not letting Ben reply. "I'm over you Ben. Wow…" Mitchie said to herself. "I never thought it would be that easy…"
"Maybe because it's the truth." Ben said sadly.
"Maybe. Yeah it is. I mean. There never really was an US." Mitchie said and continued. "You left me and it hurt me a lot since it was during the time that I needed you the most. But I got over it now, I thought I didn't but now I think I have long ago got over you…"
"And it's because of Shane."
Mitchie nodded. "Truth be told, he turned out to be the man that I've always wanted. Someone…"
"Someone who will not give up on you… Who will not leave you…"
Mitchie nodded. "Sorry…"
"Mitch, you don't have to say sorry. I know it was my fault. And I think I made the right choice because if I didn't left, I would just be unfair to you. I am broken at that time Mitch. I wanted to know my father and it's unfair to you to be there physically but not really there emotionally. And I am happy that you found Shane. I know he'll make you happy. I can see it in him… I see the way he looks at you… It's full of love and adoration and care… the same look I saw that you gave me before that you are giving to him right now…"
Mitchie smiled.
"Mitch, can I ask you a question? When you said that I left you during the time you needed me the most, it was during Max's death, did you really cut yourself?"
Mitchie looked at him. And nodded. "I guess Sierra told you. But yeah I did. And I know it was stupid. I will never do it again. I was just so depressed. Max died and I think I blamed myself for it. Then you left without even saying goodbye. It was just all too huge to take them all in. But I am stronger now and I will never do it again. I promise…"
"Good. Because I really don't want to lose another good friend. Max died young and you are still not that old enough to be taken away from me, Sierra or your other friends…"
"Thanks Ben. I feel lighter now that we're okay. Atleast I don't have to let you go…"
"But I hate to break it you Mitch… You are being stupid letting him go…"
"Ouch!" Mitchie smacked him playfully. "You didn't have to hit my nerve!" Mitchie laughed. "Thanks Ben. And you are right. Maybe this talk is really necessary for me to help let go and forget the past. Good thing you came back. And I hope this time you'll really stay… Sierra and I were a wreck after you left actually including Sam." Mitchie giggled.
"Yeah. And stop giggling! We're not gay…"
"I'm not saying anything!" Mitchie continued to giggle. Then Ben tickled her sides. "Stop it!" Mitchie cried.
"Not until you stop teasing us!" Ben called.
"Fine! I'll stop… But please give me sometime to calm down." Mitchie said. And Ben let her go. "Or not!" Mitchie stuck out her tongue and ran back to the cafeteria followed by Ben.
"You are so dead meat Mitchie Torres!" Ben called after her.
--
The ceremony was about to start. Mitchie was going to give her speech for the opening remarks as the head of the project. Then after wards she's going to present her solo project.
"Where is he?" Mitchie asked Caitlyn who was beside her at the front row of the rows of chairs before the gym's stage.
"Shane?" Caitlyn asked and Mitchie nodded, "He said he'll be back by the time the exhibit has been kicked off. I guess he wants to wait until your busy entertaining the MIT reps before he comes back."
"He's avoiding me now?"
"Mitch, remember it's you who told him to stay away from you…"
"Yeah you're right. I guess I just am nervous now and fries aren't the ones that can calm me…"
"You want me to call him?"
"No, no… He needs space and I also have to work out my stage jitters even though he's not here…"
Caitlyn nodded and clapped as soon as Mitchie was called upstage. "Good luck…"
"Thanks…" Mitchie whispered to her and went up stage.
Mitchie first look at the audience but no luck, Shane wasn't there. Good thing her friends are down there smiling at her. Then she started her opening remarks.
Nate then called Shane since Caitlyn told him to. Shane picked up and asked why he called.
"Dude, where are you?"
"Somewhere…"
"Don't somewhere me now… Come here fast! Mitchie needs you…"
"Why what happened? Did something wrong happened to her?" Shane asked alarmed.
Nate thought of lying but he knew that his brother really is a big dick if he finds out that he is lying so he told him the truth. "Well, she's having her stage fright and she doesn't need the fries to calm her down…"
"What do you mean?"
"Shane, for a big brother, I think I am smarter than you are… Oh right, I am… The deal is… she needs you okay? You are the only one who can calm her down on stage…"
"Nah. Ben is there… He can do that job and besides Mitchie clearly told me that she can't trust me… and so how can she trust me now that I can make her calm? Dude, I have to go bye…" Shane hang up to avoid more arguments from Nate.
Nate sighed and shook his head to a no a Caitlyn. Caitlyn sighed and just look at Mitchie again. She was stuttering at times and nervousness was completely running through her veins.
--
Mitchie then ended her remarks and started to explain her delta-wye circuit and its purpose. She took a deep breath and looked once again to the crowd and this time, there she saw him. He was standing by the gym's doors leaning against the wall.
Mitchie smiled at him and it felt like she was alone there at the gym with only Shane listening to her. She was able to present her project well and even received a standing ovation from the audience and from the MIT reps. But when she looked back at Shane's direction he was gone.
Was I dreaming?
--
"No you weren't Mitch…" Gary told her by the time the gym was empty and Gary and the gang were helping them clean up.
"I wasn't? Then where is he?" Mitchie asked. She told Gary everything about Shane's appearance during her presentation.
"He… He left for California right after…"
"What? But he has detention so he must be here!" Mitchie called not stating the real first thought that came to her mind… I have to talk to him so he must be here! I have to tell him that I am ready… for US!
"Is it really the detention or you've got something to tell him?"
"You know me too well, so why bother asking…" Mitchie ended their conversation and walked away from Gary sadly contemplating on what to do.
Mitchie sat at the bleachers alone until Caitlyn, Nate and Jason sat with her.
"Hey buddy…" Nate sat beside her and said. "Actually we really have to go to California tomorrow but Shane decided to go ahead first. He said he just want to clear his head."
Mitchie nodded sadly. "So when are you coming back?"
"Next week… They're going to miss the Formal." Caitlyn said sadly. Nate told her that yesterday and she was trying her very best to not think about it. She really loves balls and formals and it just suck that she won't be coming to her first TONHS Formal with her boyfriend.
"Hey… I told you I'll try my very best to come." Nate told her as he pulled her to a hug.
"I know… but it's a small possibility." Caitlyn said sadly.
"I'm sorry…" Nate whispered.
Caitlyn nodded and fought back the tears that were forming in her eyes.
Mitchie and Jason looked at their friends sadly. Then Mitchie asked, "What are you going to do at California?"
"We have to meet with execs since they plan on making the tour we had last summer into a movie." Jason explained.
"Really? And it would take that long?"
"Yeah. We have to shoot some scenes for the trailers and check on some behind the scenes. They might show some scenes that aren't supposed to be shown so we have to be there…"
"That's cool. So you'll miss the formal… what about Sierr, Jase?"
"Well, we talked about it a long time ago and you know Sierra, she hates Formals so it's cool." Jason said.
"Right. I remember. Formals make her nauseous. She's really anti-social and biased when it comes to balls. She thinks they're waste of money since its just all dancing and stuff…"
"That's right." Jason laughed. "Actually, we share the same belief."
"Good thing for you two." Mitchie told him. "So, I guess, Caitlyn and I will go to the formal by ourselves."
Caitlyn nodded. "Yeah. And we're going to have a great time!"
"That's good babe." Nate told her and kissed her cheek.
When everything was good, Mitchie, Caitlyn and Jason rode with Nate and Gary while Sierra and Ben rode with Sam. Then they went to Mitchie's house to grab some dinner.
--
Connie prepared the table for Mitchie's friends. Then she served the dinner. She was done eating with Mitchie's father so she already went up stairs to join her husband and instructed the girls to clean up after.
The gang sat around the table and started to eat. The girls were starting to gossip and the boys also talked about their own stuff then Mitchie decided to turn on the TV to watch HotTunes.
"… Buzzing News! Shane Gray is in California. Sources have said that he came alone and went straight to a bar and hang out with a couple of friends from the business. Is this the return of the bad boy Shane Gray?"
Then a girl was interviewed.
"I saw him at the bar with a couple of his Hollywood friends like Zac Efron, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas. Vanessa Hudgens and Jade Roberts were there too."
"So, does this mean that Jade and Shane has rekindled their secret love? Watch out for more here on HotTunes next time! This is Stacy signing out!'
Mitchie turned off the TV. Then she faced her friends who were all stunned. She was not saying anything.
"Mitch?" Caitlyn called.
"Huh? What?" Mitchie asked snapping out of her own little world. It was just hours! And now he's off to California with Jade?!
"Are you okay?"
"What? Oh, yeah. Why wouldn't I? I mean, so what if he's with Jade again? I was the one who told him to leave me alone right? So I don't have a right over him." Mitchie blabbered. Yeah but he did say that he'd give me space and still wait for me, right? Or did I missed something from what he said? You are so selfish Mitchie!
"Mitch, its okay to be jealous…" Sierra started but Mitchie cut her off with an… "I AM NOT JEALOUS" look.
"Sierr, please, I am not jealous…" she said calmly.
"Yeah right. As if its not written all over your face Mitch." Sam said.
She just glared at him. "So what if I am? I mean it's my fault that he's in California right now right? It's my fault that he finally decided to give me space… It's my fault that…" then she was crying now. How could this happen? How could he do this to me?
"Mitch, we still don't know the truth and besides there are now pictures. What if they were just in that place coincidentally…" Caitlyn said comforting her. Good thing Nate was able to leave before she could stop him from calling Shane.
--
"Is it true?" Nate asked.
"What is true Nate?" Shane asked curiously
"What we heard in HotTunes… That you and Jade…"
"Oh, that. It's on HotTunes now?"
"Yeah. And Mitchie saw it…"
"What? Hey, tell her that its not true okay? She was hanging out with her friends while I hang out with mine. We didn't even said hi to each other. I didn't even noticed her until Zac said hi to her since she's with Vanessa." Shane explained.
"Okay, calm down Shane. I'll try to tell her that. She's crying you know."
"What? Make her stop please… Wait so does this mean…?"
"Are you really that dumb Shane? Of course it means she loves you dumb ass!"
"What am I going to do?"
"Wait… I guess… Joey is so not going to let you go now since you already decided to stay there even if we were still scheduled for tomorrow."
"Damn… Can you please give her the phone?"
"Okay… I'll try…"
Nate entered the room and handed the phone to Mitchie.
"Is that Shane?" Mitchie asked Nate. And Nate nodded. "I don't want to talk to him."
Then Nate went out and told Shane… "Dude she doesn't want to talk to you…"
Then Shane slammed the phone shut.
--
What is really wrong with me? I mean can't I trust him that much? Am I scared again? Or I just want to talk to him personally? I don't know. All I know now that this day is one of the extreme days of my life. I met some MIT reps and they were delighted with my project and to think I'm still a sophomore. I hope they'll remember me when I became a Senior. Then I sorted out things with Ben. And came to the conclusion that Shane is really the love of my life and now I'm ready to get him back. Extreme right? But it also added a boost of extreme madness to find out that Jade once again is trying to ruin my life. Ugh! What is wrong with her?
I just hope that the Formal will turn out okay and no drama at all. Well, I doubt that… it's the Formal after all!
--
PREVIEW:
Flight LKR45 heading to Los Angeles is now boarding. Passengers, please board the aircraft now.
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Mitchie and Caitlyn roamed around the mall for one and a half hour to find the perfect heels for Mitchie's Formal dress. When they spotted it, they quickly returned to their house to freshen up and get ready for the Formal.
--
"Sam, I—I don't know what to say…" Caitlyn said as she broke of from his grip.
Sam was looking straight at her looking downward eyes. "Caitlyn. Just tell me that you like me too…"
--
Okay. Pause for a moment. What was happening at our Formal? What was happening to Sierra? Is she sick or something?
More drama! Tune in for the next chapter of What High School is Like!