I´m sick and wanted to update!
The next day classes started and Melissa and I walked into our first singing class. A pretty Hispanic woman stood at the front of the room, listening to an MP3 player. As people started filing in she stood up, removing the ear buds. ¨Hello! My name´s Ella and I´m your singing instructor! So who´s first?¨ I raised my hand.
¨Ah great! And your name is...?¨ I swallowed nervously as I stood up.
¨Hayden.¨ I said shortly and then began to sing. As I sat down the class broke out in an enthusiastic applause and I smiled embarrassedly.
¨Well well well... That was very good.¨ Ella smiled at me and I grinned back at her. Melissa excitedly tapped my shoulder from behind and I turned around.
¨That was great girl!¨ She laughed. After class I approached her and she looked up at me curiously.
¨Hi...I was wondering if I could ask you something.¨ I asked her cautiously. Ella nodded with a bright grin and I continued. ¨Did you go to camp here?¨ She nodded again. ¨With Caitlyn Geller?¨
¨Yes I did. She and I weren´t the best of friends until my third year here. I don´t know whatever happened to her...¨ She trailed off with a dazed look.
¨Oh. Did she have boyfriend here or anything?¨ I asked my final question.
¨Not during camp that I knew about. Why? Do you know her someh-¨ But I dashed out of the room back to my cabin. I wrote down Ella´s name in the book I was keeping about information.
My next class was a dance class taught by Shane and Mitchie Gray. I was so excited to meet them, it looked like Mitchie and my mom had been really good friends. I walked into the room and took a seat beside Melissa.
¨Stand up and form into three lines of seven.¨ Shane barked and Mitchie touched his arm. ¨Please.¨ He smiled weakly at his wife who kissed his cheek sweetly.
I hurried up into a line and began to copy their steps. I really showed off all my moves and knew that they were watching me with interest. Shane whispered something to Mitchie and she nodded. Once the class ended I purposely forgot my bag and
ten minutes later I hurried in.
I felt a little awkward as they broke apart. ¨Er I forgot my bag.¨ I walked over to the window where it was sitting.
¨You´re a good dancer.¨ Mitchie complimented me. I smiled and shifted my bag on my shoulder. ¨You really remind us of a great dancer we used to know.¨ She continued.
I sat down across from them. ¨Oh really? Who?¨ I asked innocently and the two exchanged a sad smile. ¨What? Come on tell me!¨ I insisted.
¨Just a friend who went to camp with us. She was a great dancer.¨ Shane told me repetitively, rubbing his head as though he was embarrassed by something.
¨Was?¨ I questioned.
¨You should get to your next class.¨ Shane said with an air of finality. I looked between them and nodded, hurrying out the door. I walked into my cabin and wrote down the comparison of me and my mother inside.
At lunch as I walked in I saw Melissa sitting nearby. I grinned at her and made my way towards her, clumsily bumping into someone. ¨Er sorry.¨ I muttered, my cheeks pink from embarrassment.
¨No problem.¨ The counselor smiled at me. I swallowed. ¨It was my fault.¨ He handed me my bag that had fallen to the floor. I thanked him quietly and walked as quickly as possible to Melissa´s table.
¨You talked to him!¨ She squeaked. I nodded and looked at him over my shoulder.
¨Yeah. I did.¨ I smiled.
The next day I went swimming before my first class and when I got out of the lake I saw the counselor leaving his cabin. I ducked behind a bush, unsure of why I was hiding, until I heard what he was saying on his cell phone.
¨No, I haven´t heard from Caitlyn in years. Why does it matter?¨ He kept walking, clearly agitated and oblivious to me standing so close, hidden by the leaves.
I walked out and watched him walk farther into the camp. That afternoon was when things really got interesting. I entered my guitar class and there he was, with another guy, both strumming guitars thoughtfully. Nobody was around so I stood there, confused.
¨I thought the class started at two...¨ I trailed off and the two smiled at me.
¨Three thirty.¨ The taller of them stood. ¨Have you played before?¨ He asked me.
I shook my head, feeling my cheeks redden. ¨No problem! Come on, Nate and I will help you.¨ He picked up a guitar sitting nearby and handed it to me. I sat down between them and they began to teach me.
After half an hour I put down the guitar with a dramatic sigh. ¨This is a lot harder than I thought it was going to be!¨ I laughed and so did they.
¨Don´t worry you´ll be a pro in no time.¨ Nate assured me with a sweet smile. I grinned.
¨If only it was as easy as dancing!¨ I stood up with a twirl.
Jason laughed and turned on the radio, letting me do my thing. I danced fluidly, laughing as the two cheered and clapped for me. As the song ended the two nodded their heads in unison. ¨Wow you´re good.¨ Nate complimented me.
¨Reminds me of Caitlyn.¨ Jason observed and Nate´s head swung around to face his best friend. ¨Well doesn´t she?¨ Jason tried to defend himself.
¨Just drop it Jason.¨ Nate told him harshly. My eyes widened at his tone and I coughed, to remind them I was still in the room. ¨Oh, Hayden. Sorry, forgot you were here.¨ Nate muttered.
¨No problem!¨ I grinned cheerily, hiding my confusion. ¨So, can you help me?¨ I weakly held up the guitar and the two laughed, nodding their heads. We sat down and played until the class started so then we played some more.
After the class Jason pulled me aside, ¨Hayden, I´m sorry about Nate today, it´s just that you´re a great dancer, just like his ex girlfriend.¨ Jason told me seriously. I couldn´t believe he was telling me this.
¨Oh, I didn´t mean to you know bring back bad memories.¨ I began cautiously. Jason waved his hand.
¨Don´t worry about it Hayden. I just wanted to let you know.¨ He grinned and gave me a hug. I laughed and hugged him back, pulling away I picked my bag up.
¨Thanks Jason. I´ll see you tonight!¨ I waved. I sprinted back and began scribbling down what I had learned in my notebook.
That night it was the Camp Fire Jam and I was going to perform. I put on light blue dress with gray leggings, wedges on my feet. I walked on stage with a couple of girls who had agreed to dance with me. I did a hip hop number
I ended with in a cool pose and grinned, flipping my hair. I scurried off the stage, right into Nate. ¨Good job Hayden.¨ He smiled sadly at me. I hugged the girls who helped me with a bright smile and turned to him.
¨Can I talk to you please?¨ I pulled him away and sat down on a log bench nearby. He looked at me quizzically. ¨I talked to Jason after class.¨ I took a breath, this is the moment I had waited for for fifteen years.
¨I´m sorry to have given you the cold shoulder.¨ He told me, looking away.
¨What was she like? The girl I remind you of?¨ I chickened out, I couldn´t tell him, or ask him yet.
Nate looked at me. ¨Do you think that´s your business?¨ I jumped.
¨I er-I´m.¨ I stuttered, caught off guard.
¨Just keep-¨ But I reached out to touch his arm.
¨Please, why are you so angry?¨ I used the wide gaze and felt him melt, oh yeah I had definitely found my father.
¨Because she left without a word.¨ He said looking at the ground.
¨I´m sorry. But we´re friends right?¨ I smiled weakly. ¨You can talk to me about her too.¨ I looked up at him.
¨Really?¨ He asked and I nodded. ¨Cool.¨ As he walked away I felt a little overwhelmed, the man I was 99 percent sure was my dad and I were going to be friends.
My phone rang and I flipped it open before getting a chance to look at the caller I.d. ¨Hi sweetie, how´s the lake house?¨ My mother´s voice greeted me and I stopped.
¨Oh great! How´s that new song you were working on?¨ I asked her nervously.
¨Fine fine! So I was thinking I´m gonna have some down time next week once I´m home from L.A., why don´t I come and visit you?¨ She suggested and I swear my heart nearly stopped.
¨No! I mean take a break Mom! You deserve it!¨
¨Hayden! Put Mrs. Lawrence on.¨ She snapped.
¨Er but I...¨ I saw Melissa and mouthed what to do.
¨Hello Mrs. Geller!¨ Melissa faked her voice into an exact replica of Tricia´s mothers. ¨Oh, no I don´t think so Caitlyn! Yes maybe some other time! Enjoy the rest of your summer!¨ She clicked the phone shut. ¨Never make me do that again!¨ She pleaded.
I laughed weakly and we walked back the cabin.The next morning I decided to skip breakfast and just write some lyrics instead. I had written an entire song when I heard foot steps on the porch. I walked to the door and saw Nate frozen in front of the door.
¨I was just dropping off this guitar for you to practice with.¨ He held up a guitar and I took it thankfully.
¨That´s awesome! Thanks!¨ I grinned toothily. ¨Let´s try it out, you have yours.¨ I pointed to his own guitar hanging off it´s strap on his back. We walked out onto my porch and sat down. He strummed his guitar easily while I had difficulty plucking the strings.
¨Try it like this.¨ Nate showed me and I tried. After an hour of frustration I started to get the hang of it. I pulled out the blue book I had written my newest song in.
¨Think we could try and figure this out?¨ I handed him the lyrics. Nate´s eyes scanned it and he nodded as he read.
¨These are really good. I´m sure we could do this!¨ He and I began to work on melodies. We finally finished and he asked me a question. ¨Are you going to do this for Final Jam?¨
I looked up from my guitar. ¨I don´t know. I might!¨ I grinned excitedly and Nate laughed at my enthusiasm. ¨Let´s go get some food!¨ I jumped up, walking alongside the much taller man.
We walked into the kitchen and a woman offered to get us some sandwiches. ¨This is where I first met her.¨ Nate told me softly, as we ate at the counter.
I looked up from my turkey sandwich. ¨Odd meeting place.¨ I joked. He had a small smile but it faded away as he spoke to me again.
¨Not quite. She worked in here as punishment when she got in trouble for something she didn´t do.¨ He told me. I listened attentively. ¨One night I came in looking for a snack and I met her. Nobody except our best friends knew we knew each other. I loved her. And I thought she loved me.¨
I reached out to pat his arm and he smiled weakly. ¨Look at me. Telling my story to you! You´re twelve!¨ He laughed. I put my hands on my hips.
¨I am very mature for twelve.¨ I pouted and he laughed.
¨Alright well come on you´ve got classes remember?¨ He scooted me off towards the door and I waved goodbye before scampering off to my singing class.
I expected Ella but instead an older man was standing in her place. ¨My name is Brown Cesario and I would like you to get into groups of three.¨ We all shuffled and scraped our chairs across the floor, I ended up singing with some guy named Vince and Melissa.
¨You three up first!¨ He pointed to us. We exchanged nervous glances and stood up at the front of the class. We finished our song and sat down quickly. As I walked out with Melissa, Brown was calling after all of us, telling us what a good job we had done when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
¨Good job Miss Geller.¨ He spoke so quietly I barely heard him. I whipped around and he was already sitting down. People filed past me and Melissa looked at me, confused.
¨I´ll be out in a sec!¨ I called and faced him again. ¨How did you know?¨ I sat across from him and he laughed.
¨Hayden I watched your mother dance and produce for years. I recognize her style anywhere, especially in you.¨ He touched his fingertips together.
¨Please don´t tell anyone!¨ I begged.
¨Why don´t you want anyone to know who you are? Everyone here loved your mother, and would be ecstatic to know that she had a daughter.¨ Brown told me seriously.
¨I came to find my father, or find out who he is.¨ I told him, swinging my legs nervously.
¨Something tells me you´ve found him.¨ Brown pointed out and I shrugged.
¨I guess. But he doesn´t know, does he?¨ Brown shook his head No. ¨Did you know?¨ I asked him quietly.
¨Yes I did, only four people knew and that was herself obviously, your grandparents, and me.¨ He told me.
¨How did you know?¨ I was curious to know.
¨Well she had been sick a lot and I began to notice things. I confronted her about it and she spilled out the entire story to me. She asked what to do and I told her whatever she felt was right. She got upset and I never saw her until you were born. I was called to New York to see Hayden Elizabeth Geller.¨
I smiled and he continued. ¨I visited you and your mother until you were two and she asked that I stop coming, she never wanted to be reminded of Camp Rock again. I obliged and when I saw you dancing last night, well I´m not stupid Hayden.¨
I laughed and stood up. ¨Please don´t tell Nate. I´m going to figure it out.¨ I exited. My hands were shaking as I wrote down everything Brown had said.