I'm a finalist in the Indie CR Awards! Thank you for everyone that's voted so far, could you please, maybe, do it again? Tell me in a review that you have done and I'll send you a virtual ice-cream. Thank you guys!

The link is in my profile again!

Mitchie had been locked in her room for all of five minutes when Caitlyn arrived. The younger girl had run almost the entire way home, sprinted up the stairs and slammed the door behind her. She was lying on the floor in rather an odd position, her arms extended at an awkward angle under the bed as she fumbled for something there.

"Mitchie I know you're in there!"

She jumped. Had Caitlyn followed her then? Mitchie had not allowed herself to think that she might be more important that precious Charlene and had expected Caitlyn to turn up in several hours, maybe not even until tomorrow.

"Mitch, come out!" Mitchie didn't respond. "What's wrong, Mitchie? Why did you leave?"

Mitchie sighed. Her fingers clamped around the object she had been searching for and she gave a saddened smile as she pulled it out and brushed the thick layer of dust off.

She hadn't played her guitar in years. It had been a hobby of hers as a child but she had been teased about it in her early teens and had thought she had grown out of it. But even when she hadn't played the instrument in months, it still help a place in her heart. It had retreated under her bed when she was about fifteen and she hadn't touched it since.

As she gently plucked a few simple chords, surprised that she could still remember anything, the hammering on her door ceased. Caitlyn pressed her ear to the hard wood and listened carefully as Mitchie began to mumble the words to her favourite song.

"Sometimes you think you'll be fine by yourself

'Cause a dream is a wish that you make all alone

It's easy to feel like you don't need help

But it's harder to walk on your own

You'll change inside when you realize

The world comes to life and everything's bright

From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side

That helps you to find the beauty you are

When you open your heart and believe in the gift of a friend

The gift of a friend

Someone who knows when you're lost and you're scared

And there through the highs and the lows

Someone you can count on, someone who cares

Beside you wherever you'll go

You'll change inside when you realize

The world comes to life and everything's bright

From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side

That helps you to find the beauty you are

When you open your heart and believe in the gift of a friend

And when your hope crashes down

Shattering to the ground you, you feel all alone

When you don't know which way to go

And there's no signs leading you home, you're not alone

The world comes to life and everything's bright

From beginning to end when you have a friend by your side

That helps you to find the beauty you are

When you open your heart and believe in

When you believe in, when believe in the gift of a friend."

Caitlyn was stunned. She hadn't ever heard Mitchie sing like that before. She had been a decent singer as a child, but the raw emotion in her voice as she had sung now was unbelievable. Once she had settled into the music, she had taken off, flying through the song with more power than Caitlyn thought she possessed.

"Cait?" Called Mitchie tentatively. "Are you still there?"

"Y-yeah, I'm here."

"Good." The door swung open and Mitchie was standing in front of her, smiling sheepishly.

"Mitch, I-."

"I'm sorry Caitlyn."

"What for?"

"For- I... I was jealous. I was jealous of you and Charlene and how close you were despite the fact you haven't been together in years. To be honest, I was worried that I might loose you. I thought that you might realise Charlene was a better friend than me."

"I would never do that Mitchie!"

"I- I know." Mitchie wiped a tear out of the corner of her eye. "I realised that just now. You're my best friend, I can count on you for anything and everything, I know I don't have to doubt you, I just.. I don't know. But I realised that Charlene is leaving in the near future so if you want to spend time with her, I'm fine with that. You don't get to see her enough."

"Mitchie, I'm not going to spend all my time with Charlie. She's amazing and I love her, but you're better. You know more about me that she ever did; she doesn't even know I'm dating Nate. You're my best friend Mitchie, and you have an amazing singing voice. Did you know that?"

"I'm not that good!" Mitchie cried out, blushing.

"Yes, you are. You'll never believe me, so I won't even try, but you have the best voice I've ever heard."

"No, I don't."

"You do. Now, do you mind of we have this argument on the way back to my house? My Mum's cooking and I want breakfast!"

"Well, I suppose I could come back."

"Yes! C'mon." Caitlyn hooked her arm through Mitchie's. "So, bestie, what did you get me for my birthday?"

"Not telling. It's at your house, you can wait and see."

"But it's my birthday!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Doesn't it give me special privileges or something?"

"No, it doesn't,"

"Oh, but-."

Mitchie chuckled. They were walking up the middle of the street, arm in arm, playing around and joking. She had already regained the relaxed, calm feeling she had when she was with Caitlyn, being herself, not worrying about upholding an image.

"And it's only ten in the morning." She muttered under her breath.

"Huh?"

"Oh, don't worry!"

Next chapter: Caitlyn's Birthday part 3! I was going to finish her birthday in this chapter tonight but I'm so tired that I'm not going to.

Let me know if you've voted, I'll love you forever! (I don't mean that literally)

**Spwarkle**