AN: Yep another chapter in a short amount of time, enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Camp Rock or 'Someone To Fall Back On' by Aly Michalka
The next morning the gang gathered on the girls' bus. After the show Eric had informed them that the 'label' had taken the decision to ease off on the rules slightly, meaning they were free to travel on whichever bus with whomever they wanted (and didn't have to hide it). Everyone but Marie was gathered in the seating area. The youngest Austen had gone straight to her room when they boarded, leaving the others confused.
"Does anyone know what's wrong with Marie?" Jason asked. Her mood hadn't improved during the course of the show nor when they returned to the hotel. Jason had tried to talk to her but she'd told him to leave her alone before slamming the door in his face.
"She won't tell me. I don't get it, she never normally acts like this." Eliza sighed. Nate gave her a sympathetic smile. After their talk the other day, he realised how much knowing something was wrong with Marie, but not what, would get to her.
"I tried to find out last night but all she would tell me is that she didn't want to talk about it, though she did say something about how people should be more careful what they say." Caitlyn was concerned about her close friend. She was so used to seeing Marie happy that to see her so upset was quite a shock.
"Maybe I should try talking to her again?" Jason suggested. He was pretty sure whatever was wrong was his fault. She'd been perfectly happy when he'd been with her before seeing his parents and she'd seemed more upset with him than anyone else.
"In all honesty Jase, I think that would be a bad idea. She just needs some time to calm down. Trust me by the time tonight's show starts, she'll be fine." Eliza said confidently.
CR-CR-CR
A few hours later they'd arrived at the Wachovia Centre in Philadelphia. Upon arrival Marie had once again walked off, shutting herself away in Eliza's dressing room and refusing to come out. Whilst everyone was concerned about her, they were getting rapidly bored of her attitude. Eliza wanted to confront her sister but she didn't have time. As they pulled up at the stadium she and Mitchie were forced to do a last minute interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer. Now, as the interview was drawing to a close nearly an hour later, the two girls were growing bored.
"Okay, favourite show so far?" the reporter asked. She was clearly running out of interesting questions.
"For me it's got to be Vancouver. The crowd there were so enthusiastic and I think it's when everything finally hit me, I really am living my dream." Eliza responded.
"How about you Mitchie?"
"Personally I really enjoyed Poughkeepsie, though I'm looking forward to heading to my hometown in a few weeks." Mitchie said as Tabitha knocked on the door and entered quietly.
"I'm really sorry to interrupt but the girls need to get ready for sound check." She explained.
"That's fine. I think I have all I need. It was a pleasure meeting you girls." The reporter said.
"Likewise." Eliza and Mitchie shook her hand before following Tabitha out of the room.
"Mitchie, Eric wants you on the stage now; apparently we're running late already." Tabitha explained, "And Eliza, you've got some visitors in your dressing room." The girls thanked her and went their separate ways.
Eliza was confused about who would be waiting in her dressing room. No one had said they were coming to visit at this show. She pushed the door open and there, sat on the sofa's talking to Marie were Frank and Sandra Austen. Eliza squealed and ran across the room, throwing her arms around her mother.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, surprised, as she moved to hug her father. She didn't notice the 'we'll talk about this later' look her father gave Marie.
"We thought we'd come and stay with your grandparents and take the chance to see you all perform." Frank explained as Eliza sat beside him.
"You should have told me! How did you get tickets? I thought this show was sold out?"
"It was but we managed to persuade Eric to squeeze us in." Sandra explained. Their family had never been apart for so long but they easily fell back into conversation.
"You need to meet the others!" Eliza suddenly exclaimed having realised her parents had never met the people she now thought of as her best friends.
"Do we have time? You don't need to be getting ready or anything?" Frank asked, glancing at his watch, not wanting to disrupt his daughter's pre-show routine.
"They'll probably need me at sound check soon but they'll come get me if so, it's fine." Eliza explained. She led them to the guys dressing room, forcing Marie to come along ("In case I have to go, don't want to leave mom and dad alone with people they don't know" she reasoned.) She was about to knock when Mitchie arrived at her side.
"Liza, they need you on stage and I'd go quickly if I were you, Eric's not in the best of moods." Eliza nodded in understanding, when Eric was in a bad mood it was not a good idea to be late.
"Ri, can you introduce mom and dad to everyone?" Eliza asked, then turned to her parents, "I won't be long, I promise." She rushed off missing the unhappy look Marie gave her. She sighed, following Mitchie into the room.
CR-CR-CR
Fifteen minutes later Eliza was back and had sent the boys on their way for their own sound check.
"They seem like lovely boys." Sandra responded when Eliza asked what they thought of the Greys.
"It's odd how similar they are to you." Frank continued.
"Er, dad." Eliza started, trying to stop her dad from saying anything else whilst Caitlyn was still in the room.
"I know that's a dumb comment, I mean with you being related to them and all it's not a surprise but..." He stopped suddenly when he heard a gasp come from behind him. He turned to see a shocked and confused looking Caitlyn staring at him.
"Only Mitchie knew dad." Marie stated.
"I am so sorry." Frank apologised to his older daughter. After warning her numerous times about being careful what she said and who she said it in front of, he'd managed to screw up in less than an hour.
"I can pretend I didn't hear that, if you'd rather?" Caitlyn said, realising she'd overheard something she wasn't supposed to.
"No, it's fine, don't worry." Eliza said. In a way she was relieved that all the girls now knew, it would make it much easier if she ever wanted to discuss it on long bus journeys.
"It's not like it's going to be a secret much longer, not after last night." Marie commented in a harsh tone. Eliza glared at her sister. She'd told Marie not to let her parents know about her confrontation with Paul and Denise. She knew she wasn't in a good mood, but Eliza was surprised Marie had blurted that out so deliberately.
"What happened last night?" Sandra asked, concerned.
"Nothing, it's not important." Eliza said, though she was sure her parents wouldn't drop it so easily.
"Eliza Amanda Austen."Frank said, knowing the use of her full name would make his adopted daughter cave, "You tell us right now what you did." He demanded.
"Why must you treat me like a five year old?" Eliza sighed, annoyed her dad had used her middle name. "If you must know, I spoke to Mr and Mrs Grey about our 'situation'. I know it's their right to choose when to tell the guys the truth and decide how they tell them, but it's the guys and my right for them to know. All I did was mildly threaten them to try and persuade them to tell the truth before the tour ends." Eliza explained.
"Mildly threatened?" Marie scoffed. "Yeah, it was so mild it nearly landed you with a black eye." Although Eliza was glad her sister felt like talking again, she really wished she would shut up.
"It wasn't that bad." Eliza said, trying to calm her parents down. "Anyway, back to what we were talking about," She turned to Caitlyn, "I don't mind that you know, I wanted to tell you but it's meant to be a secret. Just promise you won't mention it to the guys, otherwise I could be in quite big trouble." She explained.
"No worried, I'll keep quite. I wouldn't know what to tell them anyway, I'm pretty confused." Caitlyn responded.
"Eliza's adopted, she's not really my sister. Nate, Shane and Jason are her brothers but they have no clue as Paul and Denise decided that she wasn't worth telling them about. Not that confusing really." There was a stunned silence after Marie finished her blunt explanation. A gradual smile crept across Caitlyn's face as it fully dawned on her what Marie had just said. Eliza, on the other hand, exploded with anger.
"Marie what the hell is your problem? I get that you're upset, though what about I have no bloody clue, but you have no right to act like that towards me when I've done nothing wrong. I know you're supposed to be my younger sister but I thought you were a bit more mature than that." Eliza yelled. This is why she and Marie always discussed everything; otherwise one of them went too far. Marie stood, a mixture of hurt, guilt and genuine sadness in her expression.
"It's a good thing I'm not actually your younger sister, isn't it. I'm going back your dressing room, please, just leave me alone." With that she left the room. Guilt gripped Eliza. She hated it when she hurt Marie. Their parents stood, giving Eliza a disappointed look.
"We're going to see if she's alright. The show starts soon so I guess we'll see you afterwards." Sandra said. She understood that it was usual for sisters to fight but she wished they wouldn't always use their fake relationship to fuel the fire.
"I'll apologise later, I promise." Eliza said, hugging her parents. She knew she was in the wrong but she also knew Marie would need time to cool down.
CR-CR-CR
"Is everyone enjoying the show tonight?" Cheers filled the stadium in response to Eliza's question. "I want to dedicate this next song to the person who helped me write it. We may fight but no matter what, I'm always here for you." The piano chords that Marie had written started to play. Eliza hoped her sister was listening backstage.
I'll never be
A knight in armour with a
Sword in hand
Or a kamikaze fighter
Don't count on me
To storm the barricades and
Take a stand
Or hold my ground
You'll never see any scars or wounds
I don't walk on coals
I won't walk on water
This was the first song they'd worked on together. Sure, the label had changed the production of it after the first verse and chorus, but she'd fought to keep the start as Marie suggested, simple. As she sang the song she meant every word, especially the chorus.
I am no prince
I am no saint
I am not anyone's wildest dream
But I will stand
Behind and be
Someone to fall back on
People asked her so often why she wrote this song from a male perspective. In truth, it had just felt right. They'd grown up reading fairytales with male protagonists and it was something they'd always talked about, why was it that men always saved the day, especially when a few times men had really hurt the Austen sisters. Eliza had wanted to comment on this stereotype and had chosen to do so by writing it as a guy, even though the song was always going to be hers.
Some comedy
You're bruised and beaten down
And I'm the one
Who's looking for a favour.
Still honestly,
You don't believe me but
The things I have
Are the things you need
You look at me like I don't make sense
Like a waste of time
Like it serves no purpose
I am no prince
I am no saint
And if that's what you believe you need
You're wrong
You don't need much
You need someone to fall back on.
It didn't matter that her and Marie were fighting. Whatever was wrong with Marie, Eliza knew she would be there for her sister when she was ready to let her in. She'd wanted to talk to Marie before going on stage, but there wasn't time. The minute her set ended, she was going to be in her room, apologising.
And I'll be that
I'll take your side
If I'm the only one I'm used to that
I've been alone
I'd rather be
The half of us
The least of you
The best of me
Every time she sang the bridge, she thought about how lucky she was to have not only Marie in her life, but her parents as well. She couldn't imagine life without them, and she was glad she hadn't had to experience it. Eliza always wanted to be part of their family, even if the truth eventually came out; she'd always stay Eliza Austen.
And I will be
I'll be your prince
I'll be your saint
I will go crashing through fences
In your name
I will I swear
I'll be someone to fall back on
I'll be the one who waits
And for as long as you let me
I will be
The one you need
I'll be someone to fall back on
Someone to fall back on
One to fall back one
"Always Marie." She whispered before continuing onto her next song.
CR-CR-CR
The show was over, Eliza and Marie had both apologised and their parents had left, promising to return early in the morning before they left for their next destination.
"Eliza." Caitlyn called, trying to attract her attention as she headed back to her dressing room to gather her stuff. Caitlyn had been trying to find a private moment to talk to Eliza all night, not having a chance until now.
"Everything alright Cait?" Eliza asked, turning to face her.
"Can I talk to you? In private?" She motioned to Mitchie's dressing room which they were stood beside. With Marie still locking herself away in Eliza's and Mitchie hanging out in the guys, they knew it would be empty. Eliza followed Caitlyn and took a seat, assuming this talk would be about the earlier revelation.
"I need to talk to you about Marie." Caitlyn stated.
"What's she done now?" Eliza sighed, suspecting that Marie had started another argument with someone.
"She hasn't done anything, at least not yet. I overheard her talking to your parents earlier." Caitlyn paused. She wasn't sure she should really tell Eliza this when she herself hadn't been meant to hear, but at the same time she wanted to stop Marie and she thought Eliza was the only one who could achieve that.
"What did she say?" Eliza asked, hoping she was about to find out what was wrong with Marie.
"She asked your parents to take her home. She said she doesn't think she wants to be on the tour anymore."
AN: Yep, short and a cliff hanger. Next chapter will be up in a day or two I promise. Let me know what you thought.