AN: Thanks to SapphireJKH for being my only reviewer. And thanks for letting me keep the cookies. Just think of me as Cookie Monster (I love chocolate chip cookies, macadamia nut cookies, sugar cookies, M&M cookies...Just don't get me started on cookies. I won't be able to stop).
To everyone who reads this, this chapter's for you. I hope you love it!
Chapter 14
"Oh no…" Nate said, interrupting their make-out session. He glanced at his watch, and his face paled.
"What is it?" Mitchie said, noticing the worried look on Nate's face.
"Curfew's in 5 minutes…Brown will kill us if we don't get back to our cabins," Nate said.
"Dude, that doesn't apply to us. We're counselors," Shane said.
"Yeah, but they're not," Caitlyn said, pointing at Liz and Jason.
"JASON!" Nate said, trying to pry Jason away from Liz.
"One more minute," Jason said, trying to get in as many kisses as possible. He wrapped his arms around Liz again and tried to stay glued to her.
"No, NOW!" Nate said, as he, Caitlyn, and Mitchie tried to pull Jason away.
"Fine," Jason said, once he fell down on top of them.
"Get off us and go!" Caitlyn hissed. "Brown will kill you if you don't get back this minute."
"OK, OK, but can't I walk Liz back first?" Jason pleaded. "I want to say good night to her."
"Liz, Jason says goodnight and goodbye. There, you said it. Now go!" Nate commanded.
Jason pouted, but gave Liz a quick goodbye kiss before leaving. He also tossed her a sad glance as if to say he'd miss her.
"Liz, what are you waiting for? You need to go back too," Mitchie said.
"You won't tell anyone, will you?" Liz said, worried that her relationship with Jason would become front-page news.
"Cross our hearts," Mitchie said, motioning with her hand.
"And hope Shane dies," Caitlyn added teasingly.
"HEY!" Shane protested, as Nate rolled his eyes and dragged him off to check on Jason.
The girls went back to their cabin in silence. As soon as they got inside, Mitchie turned to Caitlyn.
"Do you think she'll be OK?" Mitchie said, referring to Liz.
"I know she'll be," Caitlyn said. "And anyone who comes between them is going to get it from me."
"I'm sure they will," Mitchie laughed. "Come on, we'd better get some sleep. We've got a long day ahead…"
"You're telling me," Caitlyn yawned. "I've got to dance all day tomorrow. Not that I don't love it, but it's exhausting…Night, Mitchie."
"Night, Caitlyn," Mitchie said, shutting off the light.
The next day…
Brown pulled into the driveway of a two-story house, and drove up to the front door. He got out, walked to the door, and rang the doorbell.
The door opened moments later, and Brown was struck by Jason's resemblance to the man.
"You…" Mr. Green sputtered, unable to say any more.
"It's nice to see you too," Brown said grimly, trying to stay polite.
"What are you doing here?" Mr. Green said. "Haven't you done enough?"
"If you mean giving Jason a purpose, or a future, yes, I'd say I've done enough," Brown responded. "What have you been up to lately?"
"Get out," Mr. Green spat out angrily. "And don't you dare tell me that Jason has a future without me. He's worthless."
"Look, I'm not here to argue with you. You of all people should know how talented Jason is. He never gave up on his dream. And it's not too late to give up on yours. Instead of tearing Jason down about his music, you should support him in whatever he wants to do. He's your son. Why don't you get to know him? I know he'd want you to," Brown said, feeling more than a little sorry that he had to be the one to tell Jason's dad that. "And he'll go even further if he knew you supported him."
"Don't tell me what I should or shouldn't do," Mr. Green said angrily. "Like you said, Jason's my son, and it's none of your business what I do with him, or how I discipline him. I'm the only one who tells him what to do. He's enough trouble as it is, especially with that nephew of yours who's always with him. I don't know who's a worse influence on the other…"
"Never mind my nephew," Brown bit back a harsh reply. "The point is, Jason needs you to give him a chance. Just come and watch him perform, and you'll see for yourself how much he loves it. That's the least you could do. Get to know your own son…Be a man, for once in your life."
"No…the least I could do is escort you off my property," Mr. Green declared, his eyes glittering dangerously. "Either you get out right now, or I'll throw you out. Your choice…"
"No, mate, it's your choice…" Brown repeated before he left. "Just don't regret it…" He turned away, not glancing back.
Mr. Green stared at Brown's retreating shadow, his expression unreadable.
At breakfast…
"Ooh, I'm starving," Jason said, as Nate slid into the seat next to him. "What're we having?"
"Eggs," Nate joked, as Jason looked horrified.
"NOOOO!" Jason jumped up, knocking his tray over onto Nate and spilling his pancakes and syrup all over him.
"Dude, I was just kidding," Nate said, looking at the pancakes and syrup all over him.
"NO YOU WEREN'T!" Jason said, backing up quickly. He bumped into the person behind him, and they bumped into Caitlyn and Mitchie, who bumped into Liz.
Liz held onto her tray tightly as she carefully stepped over everyone who was still on the floor, complaining.
"LIZ!" Jason exclaimed happily. "Come sit with me…I mean, us." He corrected himself, noticing people whispering and looking at them.
"Um, sure, OK," Liz said, feeling embarrassed by all the attention she was getting. She set her tray down. "I'll be back in a second…" She went over, and helped Mitchie and Caitlyn up. They went and sat next to the guys. Liz sat between Jason and Mitchie, who sat next to Shane, who sat next to Nate, who sat next to Caitlyn.
"Thanks a lot, Jason…" Caitlyn said irritably, glancing down at her shirt, which was now smeared with syrup and bits of pancake. "This was a Caitlyn original…"
"Yeah, and you made it better than it looked. Great job, dude," Shane smirked, as Caitlyn looked steamed.
"Oh yeah? At least my shirt looks better than your…" Caitlyn was cut off by Mitchie stuffing a sweet roll in Caitlyn's mouth.
"Caitlyn, aren't my mom's sweet rolls the best?" Mitchie said, as she tried to change the subject.
"Yeah, they are," Caitlyn admitted, scowling as she pulled it out of her mouth.
"Wait…" Jason said, coming to a realization. "Mitchie, did your mom make the eggs? I hope she didn't."
"No, Jason," Mitchie said, secretly hoping her mom didn't. She'd have to tell her mom not to admit that to Jason, even if she did scramble the eggs for their breakfast. "Just the sweet rolls, orange juice, sausage links, and muffins."
"Mmm…" Jason said, as he bit into a chocolate chip muffin. "These are my favorite!"
"Really? Mine too!" Liz looked surprised.
"Wanna share a muffin?" Jason said, cutting his muffin in half and giving it to Liz.
"Are you sure?" Liz said uncertainly. "It's your favorite kind…"
"And there's no one I'd rather share it with," Jason said, pushing it towards her. "Go on, take it."
"Thanks, Jason," Liz felt her heart flip over and over again as she took Jason's muffin.
"Tramp," Tess hissed as she passed by with her posse.
"Look who's talking," Caitlyn came to Liz's defense. "And what do you mean, anyway? Liz is so not a tramp, unlike you."
"You haven't heard?" Tess sneered. "It's all over the news. Not that you keep up with it, anyway…" She flung a magazine at them, and smirked when they read the headline.
HAS JASON FOUND HIS LOVEBIRD? Jason Green, one-third of the world-famous teen pop-rockers, Connect 3, was recently spotted kissing an unnamed girl at Camp Rock, his bandmate and major heartthrob Shane Gray's uncle's music camp. No word yet on who this girl is, but stay tuned, there's more to come…
"No…" Liz looked horrified. "How did they find out? This can't be happening…"
"If you mean your clothes, your hair, your face, your nails, then yeah, I'd say it definitely happened," Tess said heartlessly, snatching her magazine back. "I'd give you the name of my stylist, but you're not worth her time. Or mine," Tess snapped her fingers and walked away, her posse following her.
"What am I going to do?" Liz wailed. "My parents are bound to find out any time now…"
"Don't worry, we'll think of something," Mitchie said, trying to sound positive, even though she wasn't fooling anyone, least of all herself.
AN: To everyone except SapphireJKH (OK, SapphireJKH too), please review. It'd mean the world to me…really.