AN: I know, I'm evil for leaving you with a cliffhanger like that, so I decided to keep going and write a couple more chapters before I take off tomorrow morning (I'll be gone until next Monday, so unless I can get Internet access, let alone computer access, I won't be able to update anytime soon). I hope you like it. And if you're wondering, I haven't even packed yet, and my parents are yelling at me. But I don't care, I had to get this out of my system.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Camp Rock and the Jonas Brothers. But only in my dreams.
Previously…
"Sorry to interrupt," Brown said, walking into the room again. He'd covered his face with his hands before entering. "Your parents called. They'll be here tomorrow, so be ready to explain yourselves."
"WHAT??" Shane and Mitchie broke apart, shocked at the news.
Chapter 28 – Meet The Parents (Part 1)
"I said…" Brown repeated, this time a little louder.
"I got it, Uncle B," Shane said, annoyed. He started pacing around the room. "What am I gonna do?"
"What is it? What's wrong?" Mitchie said, looking worried.
"My parents. They never really accepted my "musical aspirations", as my dad would say." Shane ran his hand through his hair. "And now, they're not going to be happy that I'm pulling another stupid stunt, trying to run away from the limelight. My parents would say that I asked for this, so I should be a man and accept the consequences." Shane clenched his fists, and Mitchie could tell he was really angry.
"What are you talking about?" Mitchie wondered. "You do that every day, facing people who are always watching your every move, looking for the chance to make a big deal out of each and every thing that you do. And you never break down, you're always confident, poised, you always know what to say and do, and people should realize how difficult you have it, always having people watching you. Especially your parents."
"I wish my parents could be as understanding as you are," Shane said. "Maybe if Brown could talk to them, make them see what I have to go through every day. Then maybe they'd understand."
"I'm sure they will," Mitchie said, trying to sound positive. But on the inside, she wasn't so sure.
The next day… (AN:Shane convinced Brown to let him recover at home, so he got released from the hospital early. What Brown doesn't know is that Shane snuck out to the studio, so that he could finish writing and mixing one of his band's songs. And Mitchie and the guys came with him.)
"Hey Mom, Dad," Shane said, putting on a fake smile. "How are you?"
"I should be asking you the same thing," Mr. Gray looked sternly at his son. "Losing your temper, walking off your photo shoot, or whatever it is you call it, almost losing your contract…And now, crashing another person's car while trying to escape from paparazzi? What are we supposed to do with you?"
"Dad, don't start," Shane said, bracing himself for the verbal assault he knew was coming. He sat down on the
"Don't start? I should've started a long time ago with you. You need to grow up, open your eyes. Not everything is about you. You think you're #1, but you're not. You threw your life away for some so-called career, and now this? Your mother and I didn't raise you up just so you could throw it all away." Mr. Gray raised his voice, clearly upset by the sequence of events.
"I never threw it away, Dad," Shane said, his temper beginning to show. "Like Uncle Brown said, I just got caught up in the fame, but I'm better now."
Mr. Gray laughed harshly. "Better? You call this better?" He looked at his wife, who remained silent. "When are you going to realize that you have no future? At least, if you keep doing what you're doing."
"You mean, doing what I love?" Shane asked, his eyes flashing. "I'd give up my future if it meant doing the one thing I'm good at, performing on stage and having fun, night after night."
"Life isn't about having fun," Mrs. Gray added, as Mr. Gray was too upset to talk. "It's about making the right choices, whether we want to choose them or not. Your father's right, dear. Maybe you should listen to him."
"Yeah, I'll listen," Shane said, heading for the door. "As soon as he comes to his senses."
"Shane!" Mrs. Gray said, shocked. But Shane kept going, never looking back.
"Coming here was a mistake," Mr. Gray shook his head. "I should've known we'd never be able to convince him."
"Of course we will, dear," Mrs. Gray tried to assure him. "Shane just needs a little bit more time. He'll come around."
"I hope so," Mr. Gray said sadly.
Mitchie passed by as Shane's parents were talking. Suddenly, she came up with a great idea.
"Brown, can you do me a favor?" Mitchie burst out, after running around and finding Brown in the hallway.
"For you? Of course I will. What is it?" Brown looked suspicious. Mitchie told him, then Brown's eyes twinkled. "Yes, I think that'll work. Go get the guys together. I'll get the others."
"With pleasure," Mitchie grinned, making sure to leave out the fact that they were already there too. She went to find the guys.
"Hey, Mitchie," Nate greeted her, as Caitlyn was helping him set up the audio equipment.
"Hey Nate," Mitchie said, her eyes sparkling in excitement. "Wanna have a little jam session later?"
"Sure, I'm always up for that," Nate said.
"And Caitlyn, I'll need you to work the soundboard," Mitchie instructed.
"I'm all over it," Caitlyn said.
"Do you know where Jason is?" Mitchie said, already having an idea.
"He's outside, watching the birds…" Nate said. They all laughed, then Mitchie took off.
"Hey Jason," Mitchie said.
"SHH!!" Jason put a finger to his lips and whispered to her. "Don't scare the birds."
"OK," Mitchie whispered back, playing along with him. "Wanna have a jam session later with Nate and Shane?"
"YEAH!" Jason shouted, then looked scared. "Oops, sorry birds. I didn't mean to scare you. Don't fly away and leave me!"
"They won't, see?" Mitchie said, as 2 birds flew around them, then landed on Jason's shoulder. They looked at him, and Jason stared, transfixed.
"Wow, they're beautiful," Mitchie admitted.
"That's why I love them," Jason said. The birds stayed a moment longer, then flew away to the birdhouse Jason had set up.
"And they love your birdhouse that you made for them," Mitchie was surprised. At least 20 birds had gathered at Jason's birdhouse.
"Yeah, isn't it awesome?" Jason said proudly.
"Yeah, it is," Mitchie said. "Come on, you have to practice for later."
"Oh yeah," Jason said, suddenly remembering. "Let's rock and roll!"
Jason took off running back inside, and Mitchie ran to keep up.
At the rehearsal…
"OK guys, one more time. It has to be perfect," Shane said for the 3000th time.
"We know," Nate grumbled. "Relax, Shane, we got this down cold. I could do this in my sleep."
"Yeah, you could," Caitlyn said dreamily, gazing at Nate. Nate blushed.
"OK, guys, let's focus," Jason said, trying to sound serious. Everyone laughed except Shane.
"Guys!" Shane was nervous. He wanted his parents to give his music a chance, and this was his one shot.
"What?" Jason looked confused. Nate groaned again, and threw Shane's tambourine at Jason. "OW! What was that for?"
"OK guys, it's showtime," Shane said, starting to get butterflies. He never got nervous in front of thousands of fans. But now? His heart was beating 3000 times a minute.
"Shane, it'll be OK. You'll rock like you always do," Mitchie smiled at Shane, giving him one quick kiss.
"I can do this, I can do this," Shane repeated to himself. He groaned. "Who am I kidding? I can't do this!"
"Yes, you can, and you will. And you'll show your parents how good you are, and how much you love it, and they'll love it too. They won't be able to help themselves," Mitchie said firmly, willing Shane to agree with her.
"I don't know about this," Shane muttered.
"You'll never know unless you try," Mitchie said. "Now, go!" She pushed Shane toward the door, and outside to where his parents were waiting with Brown. Shane shot her a glance as if to say, "Help me!"
"Will this help?" Mitchie said, going over to Shane and kissing him breathless.
"Yeah, I'm good now," Shane smiled, as his eyes glazed over.
"OK, now go and rock it," Mitchie commanded, as Shane took the stage.
"Hey, Dad, Mom, I know this isn't the type of music you normally like, but I wanted to sing for you, so please listen, OK?" Shane said, as his parents sat silently.
Music…
Turn on that radio
As loud as it can go
Wanna dance until my feet can't feel the ground (feel the ground)
Say goodbye to all my fears
One good song may disappear
And nothing in the world can bring me down (bring me down)
Hand clapping
Hip shaking
Heartbreaking
There's no faking
What you feel when you're riding home
Yeah, yeah
Music's in my soul
I can hear it every day, every night
It's the one thing on my mind
Music's got control
And I'm never letting go, no no
I just want to play my music
Whoa (music)
Got my six string on my back
Don't need anything but that
Everything I want is here with me (here with me)
So forget that fancy car
I don't need to go that far
What's driving me is following my dreams, yeah
Hand clapping
Earth shaking
Heartbreaking
There's no faking
What you feel when you're on a roll
Yeah, yeah
Music's in my soul
I can hear it every day, every night
It's the one thing on my mind
Music's got control
And I'm never letting go, no no
I just wanna play my music
I just wanna play my music
Can't imagine what it'd be like
Without the sound of all my heroes singing all my favorite songs
So I can sing along
Music's in my soul
I can hear it every day, every night
It's the one thing on my mind
Music's got control
And I'm never letting go, no no
I just wanna play my music
Music's in my soul
I can hear it every day, every night
It's the one thing on my mind
Music's got control
And I'm never letting go, no no
I just wanna play my music
All night long
Yeah
As the last notes faded into silence, Shane looked at his parents, who were busy talking. His hopes fell, and he remembered how Tess looked when she messed up in front of her mom at Final Jam. Maybe his parents would see how much it meant to him to perform, and give his music a chance.
AN: To be continued…in a few minutes (smiles). Please review this chapter first, OK? I don't want to see 0 reviews for this. So review this chapter first, then Chapter 29. 3rd reviewer gets special mention. So go review, OK?