Woahh people update soooo much on this fic! In like 4 hours my fic was already on the second page! I was like daymm people won't know i've updated :P

HAHA

Anywayyyy Thankyouuu for Reviewing, brings a smile to Melrose's face (OMG used my real name... i must be sick :P)

Introducing;

Chapter Nine.

Mitchie smiled happily, dipping her legs in the pool. She'd always envied Mrs Paterson's pool next door to her; and being friends with the new owners turned out to have quite a perk. She leaned back on her elbows turning her face towards the sun, letting it heat her up.

"BOMBS AWAY!"

She snapped her neck and screamed as both Jason and Shane hurled themselves into the pool, it happened to fast for her to move away; so the next thing she knew a wall of water came crashing down on top of her.

Screaming as the cold water drenched through her clothes she glared at Jason who got out and repeated the dive. She put one foot up on the edge of the pool to steady herself before she got up but before she got the chance she felt two hands grasp her legs firmly.

"Shane!" She cried suddenly realizing what he was going to do; the next minute she was underwater and kicked up off the pool gasping for breath.

"Jerk!" she yelled slapping his chest, but smiled none the less. "I thought you needed cooling down... you looked hot up there," he said innocently smiling down at her, she wasn't sure if what he said was an innuendo but decided he just didn't chose his words carefully.

Oh my god!

The thought suddenly occurred to her as she had both her hands pressed against his bare chest; that he was in fact bare chested. Feeling her face grow hot as she looked up at him, trying not to let her eyes lower to examine the rest of his exposed body.

"What?" he smiled as she let out a giggle, looking up at his hair she'd noticed it was sticking out every which way. "You look like a tornado's swept through your hair," she laughed reaching up and flattening it around his face.

"Thanks," he grinned pushing a lock of hair out of her face as well. She felt her breath catch in her throat as he tilted his head closer to hers, his eyes locking with hers, looking at her so intensely she felt as though he could see right through her.

"I-" she tried to fill the silence as his face got nearer with every passing second. However she needn't have bothered as Jason yet again jumped into the pool and a wave of water crashed over the two interrupting whatever moment they were having.

Gasping from the shock of the newly cold water cascading down her body Mitchie stood back her hands dropping from Shane as though he was scolding her. "I... urm... I-better get changed," she stuttered wading out of the pool and climbing up the ladder.

"Hey Mitchie?" Shane called out, both his hands on top of his head, looking guilty. "I'm sorry for last night," he called out hesitantly extremely aware both his brothers and his Mom was present as he apologized. She opened her mouth silently, shocked he'd apologized he really has changed, she thought then broke out in a smile. "It's fine Shane, see you later," she called back waving at him. As he smiled back she took a second to appreciate his half naked form.

The water trickling down his toned stomach, his skin tanned from Camp Rock. A thing that Mitchie was incredibly jealous of; her skin didn't tan one bit, in fact it seemed to do the opposite and go even paler.

"Mitchie... Mitchie..." Mrs Gray's voice snapped her out of her daze, she looked at Mrs Gray and nodded, then sneaked a look back at Shane who was smirking at her. Blushing she quickly made her way to the house where Mrs Gray was standing by the door.

"Are you going home?" Mitchie nodded smiling gratefully as she was handed a towel. "Yeah if that's okay?" she questioned feeling she had to ask Mrs Gray permission to do anything nowadays.

"Oh yeah thats fine, just dinners at 7 tonight," Mitchie smiled handing back the towel, "okay I'm tutoring Shane this afternoon anyway so I'll be back round about 4?"

It was only 11 in the morning so she had 4 hours to catch up on homework and have some quiet time, maybe I'll try write a song... she chewed her lip, she hadn't picked up her guitar since the summer and now found she was dying to play it.

"As high as the moon,

So High were my spirits,

When you sang;

Out my Name...

And coming from you,

It was enough just to he- Shane!"

Mitchie nearly dropped her guitar as she spotted Shane grinning at her from her kitchen door. She was sitting on one of the stools eating her favorite peanut butter sandwiches when inspiration suddenly struck and the words came to her. Thank you Muse, she'd smiled quickly jotting down the lyrics and figured out a melody on her guitar.

"That was awesome," Shane stepped forwards into the kitchen and sat opposite her, cheekily stealing one of her sandwiches. "Hey! And it's nothing, I doesn't even... relate to anything," she said closing her notebook.

"Doesn't it?" he teased raising an eyebrow, she blushed slightly and turned away so he couldn't see. "It was really good Mitchie, I love hearing you sing," he admitted picking up her guitar and began to strum gently.

"Sorry I forgot about math tutoring, I let the time slip," she said abruptly putting her notebook on the side, and rinsing the empty plate and glass she'd used.

Shane laughed setting her guitar down, "obvious change of subject, but i'll let it slide," he winked following her out of the kitchen and up to her room. "Come on," she murmured entering her room and pointed to her desk chair. "Sit!" she ordered, he raised his eyebrows questioningly but obeyed anyway. "Demanding," he muttered smiling at her.

"If I'm going to have to spend more time, going over one of the most boring subjects with you, you're sure as hell going to listen!" she crossed her arms standing beside him. "yes miss," Shane joked holding up his hands. She tapped her finger on the paper in front of him and opened up the text book.

"Do those 5 equations," she said turning away and laid silently on her bed.

A while later she leaned up on her elbows and bit her lip as she looked at him. The butterflies were definitely back as she studied his face. His forehead was creased with concentration, or confusion she wasn't really sure. Though she was going for the latter as he chewed on his lip, his hair falling in his eyes as he tapped his pencil repeatedly against the paper, sighing loudly.

"I can't do this!" he finally snapped frustratedly, slamming the text book closed, making her jump in alarm. "Shane," she got up placing a hand gently on his shoulder to calm him, "I'll help now," she offered to which he scoffed, "wow finally realized why we're doing this?!" he spat then slumped in his chair, rubbing his forehead tiredly.

"I'm sorry, math just gets me so worked up," he said banging his head on the desk. "It's not hard once you get it," she smiled softly then told him to budge up on the seat.

So they spent the next 2 hours going through the equations, Mitchie realized just how patient she was, with Shane constantly groaning and muttering how 'retarded' he was under his breath. Finally after forcing Shane to listen to what she was saying instead of daydreaming looking out the window he grinned in triumph as he completed the first set of equations she'd set him.

"You're the best," he grinned hugging her tightly, "I owe you like, a million," he whispered still not letting her go. Gingerly she lifted her arms and hugged him back, loving the feel of his heart beat against her body.

"Yeah you do pop-star," she laughed as they finally stepped apart. "Well I'll start right now, let's hear that song, I'll help with the melody." He suggested but not waiting for an answer he ran downstairs, grabbing her notebook and her guitar he fled from the house laughing loudly as she tried to chase him. "Shane..." she whined stepping into his house but instead was greeted by Nate.

"You look happy," he noted then smirked, "nice attire," she grimaced looking down at herself, still in the shorts and tank she'd changed into after getting out the shower she suddenly felt exposed. "Nice afro," she hit back grinning as he narrowed his eyes at her. "I'm proud of my 'fro" he said sticking his nose in the air.

"Yeah it suits you curly," she stepped past him then stumbled as he pushed her shoulder. "Oh no you didn't!" she waggled her finger putting on a strong American accent. "Oh yes I did," he replied darkly before ducking into the living room as she started towards him, squealing like a little girl.

Mitchie laughed shaking her head as she was left alone in the hallway, too easy, she thought continuing up to Shane's room, eager to get her stuff back. Who know's how much of her lyrics book he'd already read

"Shane your turn to say Grace," Mrs Gray stated as they all sat down at the table ready to eat their dinner. Shane smirked at Mitchie as she accidently brushed against his leg, although in his mind he probably thought she was 'feeling' him up, at least thats what his expression entailed.

Mitchie kept her head bowed her hands clutching Nates hand, and ever more awkwardly; Mr Grays. Hearing Shane begin his prayer she peered up at him from under her lashes. His eyes were closed and his lips were curved into a smile as he talked; just looking at him brought a smile to her lips. She gasped inaudibly as his eyes fluttered open and met hers, his smile growing wider.

"...And forgive our guest for touching me up during Grace," he added at the end, causing Mitchie's jaw to drop in embarrassment and Mr Gray to yell out at his son. Mitchie ate in silence along with Nate and Jason as Mr and Mrs Gray continued to chastise their son for his 'inappropriate and crude' behavior. Finally as Mitchie was starting to get a rather bad headache they excused Shane, she watched him go feeling guilty although she did nothing wrong.

He looked back over her shoulder and gave her a faint smile before Mr Gray snapped again, "Your room boy!"

"Sorry about that Mitch," Nate muttered as he came up beside her; slightly scared of the adults she'd insisted on doing the dishes, Nate decided to help as well.

"Don't worry, I feel bad for Shane," she said back just as softly, all to aware that they were in ear shot of his parents.

"They don't know he's changed," Nate started as Mr and Mrs Gray walked out into the backyard. "Mitchie you only knew him briefly when he was a jerk, but we had to live with him. He was so lost and out of control, our parents slowly gave up on him. They haven't bothered to realize he's changed, so when he does something stupid like that; they flip." He explained disheartened, Mitchie found she was almost on the brink of tears.

How could they give up on him? She couldn't imagine what it would feel like if her own parents just gave up on her. She silently thanked God that she'd been blessed with such wonderful parents, though the thought brought a painful jolt to her. It'd been another 2 days since she'd last spoken to her parents.

Maybe they have given up on me...

"Go see if he's okay for me?" Nate asked taking the dish from her hands, "he gets pretty upset," he said smiling encouragingly at her as she made her way out of the kitchen. "Mitch?" He called out before she left completely, sticking her head round the corner she smiled "yeah?"

"You've helped him so much... you've helped all of us, I'm so glad you came into our lives Mitchie Torres."

"Shane?" Mitchie crept into his darkened room, she saw a shadow on the bed and stepped over carefully until she was sitting on the end of his bed. "Go away Mitchie," he mumbled, she would've been upset had she not heard the sadness in his voice.

"No my room to now," she smiled laying across the end of his bed, her feet dangling off the sides.

"Stubborn," he muttered sitting up slightly. She could just make out his face in the darkness, his eyes shining as the dim light from outside reflected in them. "I'm sorry Shane," she said, she heard him sigh deeply; "nothing to be sorry for," was all he said laying back down, but moving his feet so he didn't kick her.

"Maybe you should try harder to show them..." she whispered her voice drifting off as she considered how he'd react to her words. He was silent for a while before speaking, his voice so low it was hard to hear.

"You don't know what it's like; everything I do... they don't care. They just think I'm a disappointment and probably wish I was never bor-"

"Don't say that!" Mitchie hissed, bravely she got up and crawled up to his side, now laying down beside him, her head level with his shoulder. "I can't help it Mitch, why can't they be like your parents? They care so much about you!"

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," she said weakly, tears coming to her eyes. "What?!" Shane said incredulously shaking his head, "Mitch," he smiled softly seeing the tears roll down her cheeks. "They care so much about you, everyone does... I know I do," he leant over and brushed the tears away from her cheeks, then putting his arm around her he hugged her to him.

Looking up at him she smiled, "Shane... even if they don't, I care a lot about you too," she whispered, "really?" he asked, the smile returning to his eyes. However Mitchie lost the nerve to just nod and replied, "y-yeah and Nate does, and Jason..." she bowed her head not daring to meet his eyes. "Thanks Mitchie." Was all he said giving her a quick squeeze.

He released her from the hug but his arm remained around her shoulder, and her head resting against his chest.

"You're welcome pop-star," she whispered happily before drifting off to sleep.

End of chapter Nine.

Haha hope you thought it was... okay? Alright? Wiiiiiiicked? or did it suck?!

Personally I liked this chapter, well the ending was kinda personal to me

and their parents are my creation and i wanted some mean characterrrs so i just added them :P

Also I'm adding more characters sooon once Mitchie starts schoool lol

Thank youuuuuuuuu very much for reading

Please Review and I hope you liked =]

Rose x