Disclaimer: See chapter 1

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Chapter 36

The Punishment of Three

"Is it me or do those two actually look a little lost?" Barron leant over the table to point to Peggy and Ella between Jason and Shane's shoulders; prompting them to look over at the pair he was referring to.

Somehow the seven of them had managed to squeeze round a six people table. (It should have been nine of them but Lola had been sent to the medical cabin when she had started to sneeze and cough unexpectedly and Andy had been called to Brown's cabin to take an unexpected landline call from his grandparents.)

Nate, Jason and Shane, with Mitchie on his lap, were sitting on one side of the table, (a minor argument had occurred between brother and boyfriend over whose lap she was actually to sit on but she had gently slapped them both around the back of their heads before sitting on Shane's lap). Caitlyn, Barron and Sander had taken up the other side.

Peggy and Ella were sitting at a table in the corner of the mess room, talking quietly and doing their best not to notice the looks that were being thrown them by campers that they had helped Tess tease. They may not have taken part in a lot of what Tess had thrown at people who she thought were beneath her in status and talent but they had most definitely not stopped her either.

At least, not until Mitchie had arrived at Camp Rock and stood up to her.

Mitchie leant her chin on Shane's shoulder as she looked over at them, and then sighed turning back, leaning into the man holding her. "That's because I think in some way they are, Barron."

Caitlyn turned her attention to the brunette (silently amused at the way Shane now rested his chin on Mitchie's shoulder.) and rested her hands on the table in front of her. "Okay our very own Ms Confucius and just what brings you to that conclusion this time."

Barron and Sandy copycatted her, bringing their own hands onto the table and put on the faces of students about to listen to the master.

Behind Mitchie, the three members of Connect 3 looked at each other as if to say. 'What on earth is going on?'

Sander caught the look and nudged Barron who promptly nudged Caitlyn who nodded in understanding. "Guys, let's just say that Mitch has this uncanny ability to interpret just what a person is thinking at the precise right moment."

She looked deliberately at Shane; his eyes had suddenly widened in understanding and she nodded, merely saying, "Exactly."

Shane tightened his hold around Mitchie's waist, surprising a squeak from her. She turned to look at him and he promptly brushed a butterfly kiss against her lips.

"Thank you but..." She stuttered slightly.

"Play Confucius, Mitch," He murmured, brushing a second butterfly kiss across her lips. "And do what you do best, be yourself."

"Okay, a little confused but okay." She replied, still a little puzzled but putting it aside as unimportant. She turned back to find that not only had the other three returned to their pious student poses, they had been joined by Nate and Jason as well and she promptly giggled.

"Peggy and Ella, Mitch," Shane reminded her softly, as he rested his chin on her shoulder once more. "Why do you think they are lost?"

Mitchie rested her hands on his; her smile fading as she returned to the two girls in almost isolation. "Look at them, guys, when was the last time that you saw either of them without Tess."

"To be honest, I don't think I can." Caitlyn said after a moment as she considered the question. "They were hanging around her when I first got caught up in the queen bee's web."

Barron and Sander nodded in agreement and said at the same time, "Fact."

"You said it yourself, Cait, she targets those with talent and intimidates them into joining them so that she can be the star. As long as they accept that, well, she kind of treats them as friends." Mitchie linked her fingers with Shane as she leant back further into his embrace. "They've allowed themselves to become followers rather than individuals and now they are paying the price."

"I don't understand." Sander said, leaning his head to one side as he considered what she had just said. "How are they paying the price? Tess is the one that been limited to her cabin and not allowed out except for her classes, and even then she's not allowed to speak to anyone. Surely that's a blessing in disguise."

Mitchie sighed. "Sand, you can't hang around trash for too long without being covered in the smell as well."

"Now that really was Confucius." Nate murmured as understanding flowed like a breeze around the group. "I see what you mean. Basically, Peggy and Ella are decent people but because of the way that they behave with and around Tess, they're coated with the same stigma."

"Thank you grasshopper," Mitchie bowed her head slightly, earning an appreciative grin from her brother.

"And because they are basically good people, unlike a certain person they hang around with, they are now feeling the scorn and disgust that is associated with her." Caitlyn sighed as well. "At least they also saw Peggy trying to stop her as well."

"But the punishment remains." Jason added. "It's a start but at the moment, it's not enough."

"Jake's right... for once," Mitchie hit Jason's hand away from her before he could tickle her, aided by Shane twisting slightly so that he was unable to reach her. "Until they break away from her, and it has to be them that make the break, Peggy and Ella are going to continue being covered with the same tar and feathers."

"So ended the lesson," Barron murmured.

"All bow before the wisdom of our own personal Confucius," Nate added, grinning as a blush began to bloom on Mitchie's face and she buried her face against Shane.

"And on that note, I'm taking Mitch away." Shane released her waist and then cradling Mitchie in his arms with her face still buried against his chest, a broad grin on his own face as she couldn't see it, he rose to his feet. "Don't come and find us."

"Don't say things like that when I can hear you." Jason moaned and covered his ears making the others laugh as they watched Shane carry Mitchie out of the mess hall.

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And this is for all those who wanted to know what Tess's punishment was but I felt it needed to be a little wider than that.

I hope you like the way I tried to combine the seriousness and the humour, oh yes and the little bit of Smitchie in there as well.

As always, looking foward to hearing what you have to say