AN: OMJ, I can't believe how many people reviewed! You guys set a new record…14 reviews for 1 chapter! I can't believe it! OMJ!! I'm so excited, I'm gonna go run out in traffic…wait, there are no cars in Oklahoma. Lol. I should really stop drinking coffee, because I add like 50 sugars in every cup I drink (what can I say? I like my coffee super sweet). (starts doing flips like Nick did last night).
Anyway, now I know how the Jonas Brothers feel when they win something. Speaking of which, I can't believe how many awards the Jonas Brothers won. They definitely deserve to win the awards for choice breakout group, love song, music single, song of the summer, male red carpet fashion icons AND male hotties. THE JONAS BROTHERS ROCK, and I LOVE THEM! (I can't help it…I love those gorgeous, amazing, awesome, insanely talented guys. They're so hot, and cute, and oh man, I'm seriously obsessed. I'm so in love…with all of them!) Except Frankie, he's way too young. But Frankie's such a cutie. It's in his Jonas genes.)
And is it me, or were you all surprised that the Jonas Brothers didn't thank God (like Miley did), even though they're supposed to be Christian (and their dad used to be a pastor)? Does that mean they're letting fame go to their heads? Or does that mean they just didn't want to bring it up? Because they've said in the past that their faith is really important to them, but if it is, why didn't they say anything when they went up to thank everyone for getting them where they are? What do you think? I think they should have said a little something, because a lot of people look up to them, and they're really good role models, whereas Miley (also Christian) did a lot of questionable things, and she thanked God (which kind of gives Christians a bad image). I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, because I'm wondering why they didn't say anything about it.
I can't wait for their album to come out…1 week! As Jason would say, "YEAH!" Lol.
As always, I want to thank the following people for reviewing (hmm…I sound like I'm accepting an award, which I'm not, but anyway…):
Lilyana, I know exactly what you mean. I'd love to see Tess get what she so obviously deserves.
Andy the Christmas Tree, I seriously can't get over your name. I love it, it makes me smile. And who knows… I might or might not add you into the story (there's an idea, a reviewer getting to punch Shane for hurting Mitchie…hmm…)
ersy, wait and see. I think you'll agree that it gets better.
Tinatheturtle, don't worry, you'll see. Eventually (I'm working on it as I speak. I mean, type. Lol.).
ut123, that's exactly what I was going for. Soap opera-ish, but not too dramatic. Still believable, yet has enough stuff happening to rock our socks off. Lol.
epobbp, you got me. I got so caught up in writing about the room arrangements that I knew I forgot something. Let's just say Caitlyn stayed with Mitchie, but after the argument they had, she stayed with Ella. And if you see any other discrepancies, be sure to let me know. I tend to miss these things, because I go off on a different topic. I can't help it, I just love to talk all the time, and don't always think before I write. I'm working on it though.
xxorangexxmonkeyxx, I'm working on it. I should have it up soon.
Arya, I couldn't stop laughing when I read your comment. I loved the way you described Tess…"That back stapped cold harded BEEP!" I was rofl when I saw that. But you got it just right.
iDreamt, no, don't pull out Shane's hair (I know you wouldn't). I love Shane's hair. Even if he is the biggest jerk ever for kissing Tess. But maybe, just maybe, he has a reason for doing it?
AlexaJ, lol. I love your comments, especially this one. There wasn't any part of it that didn't get me laughing for an hour. I had to stop reading your comment, just so I could write this chapter without laughing so hard I was crying.
Nikkieee02, I'm on it. Here it is, the long-awaited new chapter (OK, maybe not so long-awaited, but it's up).
OneWIshMakeItCount, I couldn't agree more. But first, there are a few things that need to be done. Read on to find out…
JoeJonasMySuperman, I love your username. He's every Jonas fan's Superman. Oh snap, now I have the song Crank Dat playing in my head.
Othfan67, don't do that. I'm coming, I'm coming. Just a few more seconds, OK? Lol.
One last thing…the words in italics are mostly Mitchie's flashbacks, if not places or times of day.
OK, a few more things. Did any of you watch the Teen Choice Awards last night? If you saw the parts with the Jonas Brothers in them, did you love the part where they got to "fly"? And the part where Nick does his move? I thought those rocked! And I so got it on tape.
Yeah, I know…this is the longest AN ever…I'll stop ranting and shut up now.
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Connect 3, Camp Rock, or anyone else. If I did, there'd be Smitchie, Naitlyn, and Jason/Liz (me). But I do own an occasional OC or 2.
Chapter 18: The Morning After (Part 2)
Mitchie sat on Ella's bed, strumming her guitar. She thought back to all the times she shared with Shane, both good and bad…
Shane took the oars and rowed out to the middle of the lake. They sat together, deep in their thoughts, until Mitchie couldn't take it anymore and broke the silence. "What are we doing here?"
"I…um, well," Shane mumbled, trying not to get nervous, but failing miserably. "Mitchie, I want to tell you something, but I don't know how to say it."
"What is it?" Mitchie looked worried.
He took a deep breath, then slowly blew out. "I like you, Mitchie."
"I like you too, Shane," Mitchie said.
"No, I mean, I like you. As more than a friend. I didn't know how to tell you before, because we've become really good friends, but I don't want things to change between us. Have they?" Shane asked hopefully, taking her hand in his.
"I…I don't know," Mitchie breathed out. "Shane…I like you too. But…"
"But what?" Shane said, pulling his hand away from hers.
"I don't think I like you…the way you like me. But I don't know for sure…" Mitchie said sadly.
"No, I think you do know, you just don't want to tell me because you think you'll hurt me. Again." Shane paused, then continued. "You know what? This was a mistake, coming out here. I think we should just go back to camp and pretend this night never happened. And until you know what you decide, about us, I don't think we should spend time together for a while."
"Shane," Mitchie said, tears falling down her face.
Shane ignored her, and rowed back to the pier. As soon as it hit the ground, Shane got out of the canoe and took off, never once looking back.
Mitchie remembered how she felt when she'd hurt Shane then, and she hated the feeling. She wondered if Shane felt the same way now, or if he really did start to like Tess. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.
"Mitchie?" Shane asked, snapping Mitchie out of her thoughts.
"Hmm?" Mitchie said, right before Shane kissed her, long and hard.
"Shane, no!" Mitchie pushed him away, as Shane's eyes filled with tears.
"Mitchie, don't," Shane pleaded. "I can't help it, I love you, and I can't live without you.."
"Shane, I'm sorry, I can't do this," Mitchie said, choosing her words very carefully. "I thought we were friends."
"We were, but you know what I realized? I can't just be friends with you. I can't be this close to you and not be with you," Shane said, his eyes pleading with hers. "I felt this connection to you, like when we connected at the end of Final Jam. I've never felt a connection that strong with anyone before. When you started singing, I was blown away by your voice, the one I couldn't stop hearing in my head, the one I've been searching for ever since I first heard you singing. And when you joined me on center stage, and we held hands, it was like this electric shock went through me, when we first touched. I've never experienced anything like it, not with anyone else. Mitchie…" Shane choked out. "Please…"
Mitchie took a deep breath, let it out, and looked up. Her face was full of certainty, and her decision was finally made. It was time to let him know exactly how she felt about him. "Me either."
Mitchie leaned in and kissed Shane, just like the way he'd just kissed her.
After a while, they broke apart. "Mitchie, are you sure?" Shane said, still amazed that she'd kissed him.
"Yeah," Mitchie said, still in awe that she just kissed her idol. "I think I am."
Mitchie smiled sadly as she remembered how good it felt to be in Shane's arms, and feeling his lips on hers. She wished she could be in them now, until the image of Tess popped into her head. Mitchie sighed, and grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it. She let out a muffled yell, and threw the pillow aside. She thought back to the time when Tess kissed Shane for the very first time…
"NO!" Mitchie cried, sobbing now. "It's over, we're done."
"Mitchie, please, I can explain," Shane repeated, trying to catch up to her.
"I think you've let your lips do enough talking," Mitchie spat out angrily.
"No, I haven't," Shane said, finally catching up. He grabbed Mitchie and spun her around. Caitlyn and Nate just stood there, watching their conversation.
"Let me go!" Mitchie struggled, as Shane held her firmly.
"She said, let her go," Caitlyn echoed. Nate agreed.
"Not until you hear me out," Shane said, looking Mitchie in the eyes. "Mitchie, please believe me. I don't like Tess like that, I never have, and I never will," Shane rambled.
"Yeah, Mitchie, Tess kissed Shane. It wasn't the other way around. Shane really loves you," Nate affirmed. "He always talks about how much you mean to him, and if it wasn't for the fact that he sometimes gets this spacey look on his face during rehearsals, we wouldn't know what was wrong with him."
"Come on, Mitchie, you know Shane wouldn't hurt you. Especially not with Tess," Caitlyn added.
"It didn't look like that at all. It looked like you wanted to kiss her. Like you enjoyed it," Mitchie said directly to Shane. She began to cry again.
"Me? Enjoy kissing Tess? No way! Mitchie, trust me, I didn't enjoy it at all. I couldn't. Every time I see another girl, I always think of you, and only you. I think about your smile, your laugh, the way your voice sounds…you're it for me. There's no one else I'd rather be with than you," Shane held Mitchie's hands and looked at her, love in his voice.
"Aww," Caitlyn gushed, as Nate smiled at Mitchie, trying to comfort her.
"I'm sorry, Shane, I can't. You keep breaking my heart, and then you come back and want to make up, but I can't keep going back and forth like this," Mitchie said, retreating to the other side of the cabin. She sat with her back to him, and sobbed in the corner.
Mitchie sobbed as she played that particular memory over and over again in her mind. She couldn't keep letting her heart rule her head, even if it was with Shane Gray. Maybe it was time to talk to someone who would know what to do.
As if on cue, Brown knocked on Ella's door. "Mitchie, are you all right?"
Mitchie tried to compose herself quickly, and put on a brave face. She wiped away her tears, then went to the door.
"Hey, Brown," Mitchie said glumly as she opened the door.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry to say this, but you look absolutely awful," Brown said, concerned.
"I look better than I feel," Mitchie said, sniffling.
"Do you want me to yell at Shane for you?" Brown said, hoping to get a smile out of Mitchie. He didn't.
"No, it's OK, I was just going to talk to you, actually," Mitchie admitted. "Brown, is it just me, or did I make the wrong choice?"
"Sorry?" Brown looked confused.
"I meant, did I make the wrong choice in coming on tour?" Mitchie clarified.
"I wouldn't say that, exactly. You took a chance, put your heart on the line, and had it handed back to you in pieces. It happens to the best of us," Brown said. "Trust me, it'll get better. Maybe you need to talk to him, let him know how you feel. If you want, I can go with you."
"No, I'm good. Could I get my old room key back? So I can talk privately with him?" Mitchie said, a plan beginning to form in her head.
"Of course," Brown smiled. He always knew Mitchie would figure things out and do the right thing. She was exactly the kind of girl he wanted Shane to be with. He pulled out Mitchie's key, and hugged her. "Go get 'im, love."
"Thanks, Brown," Mitchie flashed a smile. This time, it was genuine. She knew she'd made a friend for life, and that she could come back to talk anytime with Brown, about anything.
But before Mitchie went back to her old room, there was something she needed to do first.
"Hey, Peggy, do you have a minute?" Mitchie spotted Peggy down the hallway.
"Sure, what's up?" Peggy said, noticing the frown on Mitchie's face.
"I was thinking…" Mitchie began. "Did you tell Ella that Caitlyn only likes Nate because he's famous?"
"Um…" Peggy paused, then continued. "Yeah, I did."
"Why would you say that?" Mitchie said. "You know it's not true."
"I know, it's just…" Peggy said, not wanting to continue.
"Just what?" Mitchie probed.
"Caitlyn found out that I like one of Tess' back-up dancers, and she was going to tell Tess." Peggy finished. "And then Tess would say that I shouldn't like him, and she'd try and find me another guy, when I don't want to go out with anyone but him."
"Why don't you just stand up to Tess?" Mitchie wondered. "She's not the boss of you."
"You're right," Peggy said. "It's just…Tess makes me do things that I don't always want to do."
"That's what Tess does, it's how she is. But you don't always have to listen to her," Mitchie advised. "Just do your own thing, whatever makes you happy. And if Tess doesn't like it, who cares what she thinks?"
"I know," Peggy said. "Thanks, Mitchie."
"Hey, that's what friends are for, right?" Mitchie smiled.
"Yeah, and friends help each other out," Peggy said. "Speaking of which…" Peggy took off.
Mitchie wondered what Peggy was up to, then she shrugged and went to her old room. She quickly packed her things, and scribbled a note. Just before she walked out the door, she took one last glance at the room, then went downstairs to the front lobby.
"Could you please make sure that Brown Cesario gets this?" Mitchie told the receptionist.
"Yes, of course. Who may I say is passing this message to him?" The receptionist said politely.
"Just say…a friend," Mitchie said, as the receptionist took her note.
Mitchie stepped out into the bright, sunny day, and began to feel her broken world coming back together again. She pulled out her phone, dialed a few numbers, and waited for the person to pick up.
"Hey, Mom…" Mitchie smiled as she heard her mom's voice. "Everything's great, but I really miss you. Can I come home? OK, I'll see you in a few hours. Love you. Bye."
Mitchie called a cab, went home, and prepared herself for what she knew would happen the next day.
AN: So, I know this chapter didn't have Smitchie or Naitlyn, but I felt like I needed to get this out. What's Peggy up to? What was in Mitchie's letter? What will everyone say when they find out? Only I know, so the sooner you review, the sooner you'll find out. So please review! I live for them!