Chapter Three

High Strung

I hate dreaming. Because dreams make you think something's real. But, it's not. Like last night. I dreamed that Momma and Daddy were down stairs at our old house. Momma was cooking and Daddy was getting ready to go to the hardware store. I felt so comforted. And happy. Then it was all ripped away. I woke to the smell of pine. The sounds of people and music. I rolled over to see Ana had already gone.

Uhg. I rolled over and pulled the covers over my head. I wish the gnawing would go away. I can't face people. I don't want to face people. After five minutes of debating I decided to go and find the kitchen and help Ana.

Walking along the camp paths I noticed boys and girls, voices instruments, laptops, on key, off key. I walked faster. I heard all kinds of buzzing about Shane Grey. Big whoop. He acted like he had a large spiked stick shoved up his butt.

The further within the camp I went the more I wanted to bolt. I saw a group of girls, a blond, and dark skinned girl with long hair, and a ditzy looking chick. The blond was barking orders at the other two about some routine, I shook my head. I would never let a tiny girl like her boss me around. They began to sing and the blond did have a voice, but the girls behind her singing back up made the song sound whole. And my stomach felt like a barrel of acid had filled it. I didn't think being here would hurt so much, but it does.

I could see the kitchen and the cafeteria, where all kinds of hubbub was going on, so
I turned and changed coarse. I walked through the woods toward the lake. I was going downhill and I slipped and landed with a grunt.

"Sorry, mind getting off my laptop," A laughing voice spoke.

I looked up into a curly headed brown eyed girl's smiling face.

"I'm, Caitlyn, but you can call me Cait. This is Ben and Lola, we were just working out here, who are you?"

Man, this chick could talk fast. "I'm Mitchie. Sorry bout your laptop," I said handing it to her.

"Its ok, no harm done." She smiled. She had the frame of a dancer, and her brown ringlets bounced when she moved, "So I'm here to become a famous music producer, Lola wants to be an R&B artist and Ben, is something."

"Hey," he interjected.

"You know I have mad love for you boy," She winked, "Why are you here?"

"Uhm…" I stammered, "My sister Ana is the cook, I'm just here to help."

"Ooo girl, her eggs were amazing," the Lola chick said.

"Thanks, ha, ha" I laughed.

"Why don't you come to some of the classes with us?" Cait offered.

"Uh no thanks," I said biting my lip.

"Why not?" Lola asked.

"Music isn't really my thing." My stomach was doing summersaults.

"Oh, well you should come chill with us at lunch later!" Cait offered.

"I don't know… Sitting with the kitchen help could ruin my rep," Ben smiled.

"What rep?" Lola punched his shoulder.

"Ha, ok I will," I said turning back to the direction of the kitchen.

"Hey, Mitchie," Cait called.

"Yeah?" I turned.

"Nice meeting you."

"You too," I smiled. For once I felt kind of happy.
When I reached the kitchen Ana was in a frenzy.

"Oh thank goodness Chiquita, I need you to put icing on these cupcakes, I gotta go to the produce freezer and get all kinds of things for the salads and stuff." She was talking so fast her head may have spun off.

"Ana, chill. I've got your back." I smiled.

"Thank you Chiquita," She called as she left. I hated that nickname. She called me that because I put the Chiquita banana stickers all over my folders when I was little.

I grabbed some fattening gross looking blue icing and set to work. When stormed in a very angry Shane Grey.

"I need talk with who is in charge." He barked.

"Excuse me?"

"Look, my manager sent over my food allergy list, and seeing as I couldn't stomach my breakfast, apparently you kitchen help didn't pay very close attention."

"Uh, who do you think you are?" I was getting pissed, obviously he had forgotten about nearly killing me.

"I'm Shane Grey," He said speaking very slowly as if I were special Ed, "I'm sure even the kitchen help would know that."

"Really? Never heard of you," which was a lie but no way in hell was I going to feed his ego.

"Well, you must live under a rock, because I'm the lead singer of the most popular band in the world. Connect Three." He stated matter of fact like.

"Oh, that's where you're from? You're cheesy cookie cutter pop lyrics and sound aren't that appealing, and frankly, your attitude really isn't either. So when you want to come back and ask me nicely to talk to who is in charge, be my guest. But for now I'm going to have to ask you to leave the kitchen."

"You can't tell me what to do!" He shouted, "You're just the kitchen help!"

"Actually, the name is Mitchie and I'm a person. Kay? Thanks. Now go away, I have work to do." I went back to putting icing on the cupcakes as he stormed away.

"What was all that noise?" Ana asked with a crate full of goodies in her arms.

"Nothing," I smiled up at her.

Later I went to the cafeteria to find Cait, Lola and Ben.

"Over here!" Lola called.

I started towards them when for the second time today I collided with something and ended on my ass.

"What where the fuck you're going," The blond I saw from earlier snarled.

Instead of feeding salt to the wound, I stood and began to walk away.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!" She said grabbing at my arms with claws.

"What is your problem?" I cried.

"You bumped into me!"

"Okay?"

"Do you know who I am?"

Not this again. "No?"

"I'm Tess Tyler, daughter of T.J. Tyler."

"Uhm, cool?"

"Are you going to apologize to me?"

"Sorry."

Sighing, she walked away. Good. I made my way to Cait's table.

"Hey," Lola looked up as I sat down.

"Saw you with Miss Bitch." Ben stated.

"Yeah, she seems a bit, crazy?"

"You have no idea," Cait said with a smile.

Just then a bubbly red head came bouncing in, and announced something that made my stomach sour…