AN: I know it's been a while since I last updated, but I've been really busy traveling. My family has some friends who I'm really close with, and who've taken care of me since I was really little. And I just recently found out that one of them has a terminal illness (meaning they're going to die soon), and I'm just really sad right now. In fact, I'm going to see them tomorrow (Monday). I'll probably be an emotional wreck, and cry my eyes out when I see them, but I promise to update as soon as I can (after I post this chapter).
On a happier note, have a great Labor Day, everyone!
Oh yeah, one more thing. Some of you have asked about Zack and Mark. Just think of Mark like a total nerd, with the glasses, and the pocket protector, and a squeaky voice. Not to mention the suspenders and plaid shirt. No offense. I can be a nerd too sometimes. But at other times, I'm like Zack, confident, athletic (OK, I'm not that athletic, but do like to play some sports), and I'm nowhere near as hot as I think Zack should be. Picture Zack as a guy with short light brown hair, kind of like Joe (Jonas), only not as creative or as good a singer/musician. More like a jock/big man on campus, complete with a 6-pack...abs, and muscles like Nick J. Or should I say, Joe? After all, he did beat his brothers in that Tug of Four thing on the Disney Channel Games. But that's probably because he's into exercising every day, running, lifting weights, etc. I only know that, because I saw the Health Kick episode on the Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream series. But enough ranting about Joe (for now, anyway. And Kevin and Nick too. Even though I love all 3 of them. OK, I'll stop now. Maybe I'll drink some more coffee. With plenty of sugar. Lol. I know, I'm really hyper right now, so please excuse me.). And Mark is like your average science geek, only with darker wavy hair, and glasses (complete with tape around the middle), and everything else I mentioned. I hope that cleared things up for you. Now, read on...
Chapter 32 – Camp Rock Switch Up
"Hey, Itchy Mitchie," Tess smirked as Mitchie came over to her and Shane's table. Mitchie was about to take Tess' plate and dump it all over her, just like Caitlyn had, but was shocked momentarily when Shane spoke up.
"Tess, that was really rude. Apologize to my girlfriend right now," Shane said harshly.
"No," Tess stood her ground.
"Tess…" Shane warned, his eyes flashing.
Tess rolled her eyes. "Why do you like Mitchie when you can have me?" Tess folded her arms, pouting.
"Why would I want someone like you when I can have the girl of my dreams? And she's not the least bit mean, unlike you," Shane pointed out.
"Hello, I'm the girl of every guy's dreams. And that goes double for you, the hottest pop star on the planet," Tess boasted.
"You might be right about me being the hottest pop star on the planet, but this pop star's happily taken," Shane grinned at Mitchie before scowling at Tess. Tess glared, then smiled evilly as she came up with one of her brilliant ideas.
"Oops," Tess said sarcastically, taking her glass and spilling it all over Mitchie.
"TESS!" Mitchie shrieked, as red juice splashed all over her.
"I can't believe you did that," Shane shook his head at Tess. "Mitchie and Caitlyn were right. You really are a..." Shane couldn't bring himself to say it, knowing his uncle would ground him for life if he overheard Shane saying it. "Mitchie, here, let me help…"
"Ms. Tyler, I'd like to have a word with you…" Brown said, walking over. He didn't look happy.
Tess sat in her seat, not looking at anyone, while Shane helped Mitchie to the restroom.
"Here, let me help," Caitlyn said, shooting one last glance at Nate, who was laughing at something Ella said.
"Thanks," Mitchie said, as Shane smiled at her, then kissed her.
"I'm sorry for what Tess did," Shane said. "She's out of control."
"It's not your fault," Mitchie said, glaring at the back of Tess' head.
"Yeah, it is," Shane said. "I know why she's acting the way she is. I've been there, and I can help her. Even if it takes a little bit longer to do it."
"Maybe Brown can help you," Mitchie said.
"Yeah, I'll need all the help I can get," Shane mumbled, as Caitlyn pulled Mitchie toward the restroom to wash up.
Meanwhile…
"So, Zack," Sierra said loudly, hoping to get Mark's attention. He was sitting with Peggy, and they were having a great time.
"Hmm?" Zack couldn't take his eyes off Peggy, and he was watching Peggy flirt shamelessly with Mark.
"Hello?" Sierra waved her hand in front of Zack's face.
"Oh, sorry, Sierra," Zack said distractedly. "Would you excuse me for a minute?"
"I've been excusing you all night," Sierra muttered under her breath, as Zack immediately got up to talk to Peggy.
"Hey, Mark, can I talk to you for a minute?" Zack said, grabbing his brother roughly.
"Ow! Hey!" Mark said, rubbing his arm where Zack had grabbed him. "What's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me? What are you doing talking to Peggy?" Zack said angrily.
"The last time I checked, this was a free country," Mark protested.
"It's not that free. You can't go around trying to steal my girlfriend," Zack pointed out.
"You're one to talk," Mark said. "I've watched you flirt with Sierra all night."
"What's the problem, bro? Are you…jealous?" Zack said, enjoying his brother's pained expression.
"That depends…what do you think of me and Peggy? You know, as a couple?" Mark challenged. Peggy had been encouraging Mark to stand up to his brother more often, since Mark was usually the one getting picked on by Zack.
"I don't know, you seem a little flat to me," Zack commented as he put his brother in a headlock.
The two brothers wrestled as the waiters shouted at them to stop fighting. People sitting nearby were watching, either too horrified to speak up, or getting up and moving away so that they wouldn't be knocked over.
"Guys, don't," Peggy and Sierra begged. The boys stopped as they looked at Peggy and Sierra.
"Mark said he liked you, Peggy. Do you like him?" Zack narrowed his eyes at his brother, then silently pleaded with Peggy to say no.
"No way! No offense, Mark, but I like Zack more," Peggy said honestly. "But it doesn't matter anyway, Zack likes Sierra."
"No I don't," Zack protested. "I mean, yeah, Sierra's cool, but I like Peggy. I was just…"
"Just what?" Peggy said suspiciously.
"He was just trying to make you jealous by talking to me," Mark spoke up, as Zack whacked him on the back.
"Ow! Quit hitting me! I'm telling Mom!" Mark whined, as Zack laughed out loud.
"That's right, go ahead and moan. That's what you always do. My little brother, the crybaby," Zack mocked.
"Don't you call my boyfriend a crybaby, you…you," Sierra fumed angrily.
"Hey, don't start with MY boyfriend," Peggy warned.
"Guys, guys, just drop it, OK? Go on and get back to your boyfriends and girlfriends," Caitlyn prompted, coming back from the restroom. The four of them glanced at one another, then switched tables so that Zack and Peggy sat together, and Mark and Sierra sat together.
"Thanks, Caitlyn," Sierra said, then took Mark's hand.
"No problem," Caitlyn smiled. "I'm a sucker for happy endings. I just wish…"
"Wish what?" Jason wondered, coming over.
"Nothing," Caitlyn said quickly. "Never mind."
"OK," Jason said, completely unconcerned about what was going on. "Is Mitchie OK?" Jason wondered.
"Yeah, she's fine. But Tess won't be…" Caitlyn said, still angry at Tess.
"Good. Tess is mean," Jason said. "She's always trying to break Ella and me up."
"Don't worry, Jason. You and Ella will be back together in no time," Caitlyn said, staring at Nate and Ella talking. "I'll make sure of that."
"I hope so," Jason said sadly, watching Ella laugh at something Nate said. "Thanks, Caitlyn."
"Hey, that's what friends are for," Caitlyn gave Jason a big grin, and Jason smiled back. "As a matter of fact…" Caitlyn got up, and walked over to Nate and Ella's table.
"Hey Nate, Ella," Caitlyn stressed Ella's name particularly loudly.
"Hey, Caitlyn," Nate said back.
Caitlyn thought she noticed a flicker of regret on Nate's face. Or did she just imagine it?
"Um, Ella, Jason wants to talk to you. Do you mind if I talk to Nate?" Caitlyn said directly.
"No, go ahead," Ella said, getting up and practically running over to Jason's table.
"Nate, we need to talk," Caitlyn said, getting down to business.
"Yeah, we do," Nate said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Caitlyn said, suspicious.
"You tell me," Nate folded his hands, looking like a businessperson about to negotiate a deal.
"Do you like Ella?" Caitlyn blurted out, just as Nate said, "Do you like Jason?"
"No!" They both said, looking relieved.
"Then why were you talking to Ella?" Caitlyn wondered.
"Probably for the same reason you were talking to Jason. To get me upset and jealous. I mean, I was talking to Ella to make you upset and jealous, and you were talking to Jason to get me upset and jealous. And you know what? It worked," Nate said miserably.
"You can say that again," Caitlyn looked bummed, then she whacked Nate on his shoulder. "Why'd you have to go and do a stupid thing like that for?"
"HEY!" Nate said, rubbing his shoulder, where Caitlyn had hit him. "So did you," Nate accused.
"Yeah, I know. You don't have to remind me," Caitlyn said. "Can we just pretend that this never happened?"
"I don't know," Nate admitted. "You really hurt me, Caitlyn. I thought you liked Jason, seeing as you spent so much time talking to him."
"You? What about me? I mean, so what if Ella's addicted to lipgloss? You couldn't take your eyes off her, let alone stop talking to her," Caitlyn shot back.
"You know what?" Nate said, looking into Caitlyn's eyes. "The whole time I was talking to Ella, all I could think about was you."
"Me too," Caitlyn said. "Jason's nice and all, but he's not you. Nate, I…"
"I know. Me too," Nate said, pulling back a little. "But Caitlyn…"
"What?" Caitlyn said, lost in Nate's eyes.
"I don't know if we can just go back to the way we were," Nate said sadly.
"What do you mean?" Caitlyn demanded, getting a little upset.
"You really hurt me with Jason. How can I know for sure that it won't happen again, with some other guy?" Nate looked hurt.
"Oh my Gray, I can't believe you just said that!" Caitlyn exclaimed. "I don't even like Jason like that. And Jason's too obsessed with Ella to like any other girl. You know that. And what about you, huh? What makes you so sure you won't fall for another girl? Like I thought you did with Ella?"
"I don't like Ella like that," Nate insisted.
"So what do you want to do then?" Caitlyn wondered.
"I don't know…maybe we should take a break?" Nate suggested.
"You know what? I think that's a great idea. Here's your break…why don't we make it a permanent one?" Caitlyn snapped, her eyes flashing. She got up and stormed off.
"Caitlyn, wait, I'm sorry…" Nate got up and ran after her, but Caitlyn was gone.
"Dude…" Shane said to Nate, as Nate came back sadly.
"Don't start with me, Shane," Nate snapped coldly.
"OK…" Shane said, backing off.
"Nate, why don't I talk to Caitlyn? Maybe I can sort this all out?" Mitchie offered helpfully.
"No thanks, Mitchie. Caitlyn's made it clear she's done with me," Nate said, collapsing into an empty chair that Mitchie pulled up.
"No, she's not. It's not over yet. I know Caitlyn likes you, or she wouldn't be so angry," Mitchie said.
"Yeah, she is, it's definitely over. I messed up big, and now it's too late to get her back," Nate worried. "Guys, what can I do? I need Caitlyn. I love her," Nate choked out.
"Dude, get a grip," Jason said, coming over. He'd overheard Nate's confession, and couldn't resist rubbing it in every chance he got.
"Right…this coming from a guy who's obsessed with birdhouses and who's always saying, "I need my Ella. I can't live without Ella, I can't sleep without Ella, I can't do anything without Ella… She's the air I breathe…"
"OK, OK, you don't have to get all mean about it," Jason complained. He got up and left.
"Nate, don't worry, I'll get you and Caitlyn back together. You guys were made for each other. Even if you're both too stubborn to realize it," Mitchie promised.
"Yeah, and I'll handle Tess. With Uncle Brown's help, of course," Shane said.
"Hey, at least Peggy and Zack and Sierra and Mark are back together again," Mitchie remarked as she spotted the couples holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes.
"Yeah, we make a great team, don't we?" Shane smiled, then laughed as Mitchie swatted at him playfully.
AN: Next up, Operation Save Tess. Tess is spinning out of control. Can the group save her, or is she too far gone for anyone to reach? Maybe a visit from a stranger will help.
And what about Naitlyn and Jella? Will they ever make up? Or are they split up for good? More on that later. Have a great holiday, everyone!