Stay Strong Chapter 2, a camp rock fanfic

Summary: When Sam finally gets to feel the pressure of the press and paparazzi, what will she do to get herself to focus? How will Nixie help, why are there chocolate chips cookies, and what's up with that damn blue truck? Read along to find out!

Rating: T, just to be safe.

Pairings (if any): Shane/Mitchie; Sam/Nate.

Disclaimer: It's too late at night for me to put out a witty disclaimer. So, I'm just saying that I don't own Camp Rock and that it's REALLY hard to spell when you're tired. Without further ado, and my rambling, I present the second half of Stay Strong. Read on!

Stay Strong

Sam was nervous now, pacing Nixie's foyer with the guitar and song in hand. She'd played it once for Nixie and then gotten the courage to call Nate and tell him where she was. Without hesitating for a second, Nate had assured her that he'd get there… Well, he said that he would get there as soon as he lost his tail of paparazzi. The longer it took, however, the more panicky Sam got. Nixie was upstairs, calling Mitchie and Shane to tell them that she found Sam and letting them know that they could get back on track with their date. Sam paced again, from the large stairwell to the large oak from door. She could now tell you exactly how many steps it was for her.

It was fourteen.

She exhaled, feeling her nerves tingle in her stomach and flutter down to her toes. Nixie skipped down the stairs and put a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to soothe the slightly freaked out brunette. Sam merely jumped and then sat down on the stairs. The doorbell rang. Instead of answering it, Sam put her head between her knees. Nixie knelt down beside her, "Sam, do you want me to let him in and keep him occupied while you de-nervify yourself?"

Sam sent her a look of pleading, "Would you?" she asked, before adding, "And 'de-nervify' is not a word." She put air quotes around the word and watched as Nixie stuck out her tongue, proving her maturity.

Back to her calm, happy-go-lucky and comforting personality, Nixie placed her hand on Sam's shoulder again, stood. "Answer the door and suck it up, Buttercup," she suggested as she walked towards the kitchen to cook something, looking over her shoulder to ensure that Sam stood.

Calling, "I will Blossom," over her shoulder at Nixie, Sam walked towards the front door to see that Nate was backed against it with reporters on every side of him. Without thinking about Nate, Sam close the door just as Nixie, poised with a broom, walked back into the foyer.

The tiny brunette marched right up to the door, opening it, pulling Nate in effectively and shooing at a reporter with the heavy duty broom angrily. "This is private property! Leave us alone!" before she walked right back in and slammed the heavy door in their faces. Still holding the broom, Nixie said, "Have fun you two. Stay safe!" and disappeared into the kitchen again.

Nate, looking slightly shaken, was right by Sam's side, "Are you okay?" he asked, concern making his voice thick with many different emotions, "Did anything happen? Did the paparazzi get to you?" he took her hands and pressed one to his face, heedless of the guitar the swung behind her uselessly.

Sam shook her head and then looked at him. "Am I okay?" she asked, her tone slightly disbelieving, "I wasn't the one pinned to the door by the reporters. Are you okay?" she felt her heart drop when he nodded, paused, and shook his head no. Her grip on his hands tightened as she said, "What do you mean; no? Did anyone hurt you?"

Nate shook his head.

"Well," Sam began, her tone still incredulous, "What do you mean; no then?"

Nate pressed her hand to his heart, "I was so worried about you."

Sam felt her heart soar again, and she pulled him behind her to the couch that she often occupied when she was at Nixie's. "Sit there and listen to this." She pulled the guitar around her, placing her hands carefully on the instrument. "I wrote this today… After Nixie found me and brought me here." She took a deep breath and began to play.

I was walking down the street yesterday
I just wanted to be alone.
You hadn't seen me for the past couple days
And I didn't answer my phone.

She could see the hurt in his eyes as the lyrics to her song rang true to him. But she pushed on, needing to get the lyrics out and into the air. It made her heart ache to know that she had caused him pain. But she pushed on, hoping that she'd be able to finish the song without releasing her pent up emotions in an array of glistening and watery tears. She would be strong. For herself and Nate. She could make herself remain solid and strong. And she would. She continued.

I told you I was shoppin' with my friends,
And I told them I was hangin' out with you,
But when you called them,
You found out I lied to you.

Everyone says that fame is great
But that's not really true.
The paparazzi follow me everywhere
Even when I'm not with you.
They're just waiting for me to mess up
And do somethin' wrong.
I thought this would be really fun
But I was wrong... And I need to stay strong.

Her voice almost broke, but she saw that Nate was hanging onto her every word and she saw Nixie, dishcloth and all, standing at the doorway watching with an encouraging smile on her face. Sam strummed again and continued, with both of her eyes closed. Nixie could see the steely determination that Sam had in the girl's position. She was playing for Nate and Nate alone. Nixie exited the room, just in time to see -- and hear -- Mitchie and Shane burst through the backdoor. Nixie smacked Shane with her dishcloth and the three sat quietly in the kitchen, conversing.

I sat on the sidewalk and let myself cry
Tryin' to tell myself that everything was fine.
I sat there for awhile, just thinking 'bout my day
I got up and went to our favourite café.

I was sitting at a booth when Nixie came over
Saying you'd called in a panic.
You wanted to know where I was,
So I wrote you these lyrics.

Nate could see her every emotion swim in her eyes when she opened them once again. The chocolaty brown orbs were clear, but shining with sadness, worry and fear. Fear of what, he asked himself, before the answer kicked in.

Fear of losing him and embarrassing herself.

Everyone says that fame is great,
But that's not really true.
The paparazzi follow me everywhere,
Even when I'm not with you.
They're just waiting for me to mess up,
And do somethin' wrong.
I thought this would be really fun,
But I was wrong... And I need to stay strong.

Yeah, I need to stay strong.
I need to stay strong.
I need... To stay strong.

With both of her chocolaty brown eyes watering, Sam reached up to unhook the guitar. She then carefully placed the guitar down on the couch, with its final note still echoing through the room mysteriously. Nate had both eyes closed, but once the note had faded, they opened to reveal brown orbs and Sam saw a tear glisten at the corner of his eye. She turned away, wrapping an arm around herself, began to walk to the kitchen; towards the security of Nixie, Shane and Mitchie.

Suddenly, she jumped as a set of arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer. Sam knew that it was Nate and leaned her head back into the crook of his neck.

"Sam," he said; his voice careful not to let his emotions run amuck, "I'm sorry." She frowned, turning in his arms. He tightened his grasp, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I'm supposed to be there for you but I…" he trailed off, let go of her. Soon, he added, "I couldn't even find you." He walked across the room, his feet taking him towards the window but stopping him before them. "I couldn't find you," he repeated, sinking down onto the couch conveniently placed near the window. His eyes closed against the emotions that welled up, keeping his head facing the gorgeous glass which was blocked against the hot flashes of cameras. The emotions swelled, engulfing his mind.

He felt fear from the mere thought of losing her.

He drowned in the sadness her had experienced at not being able to find her.

Most importantly, he dwelled upon the anger at himself for not seeing the signs in his best friend.

A hand on his shoulder confused him more than it should have. "Don't be sorry, Nathaniel."

Turning, he took Sam's hand in his and stood again. "You were the one who sent the bloodhound after me," she added as an afterthought, allowing a smile to cross her face.

There was a bark and a howl from Shane and Nixie, respectively, in the kitchen at that comment. Sam smiled at the sudden relief in tension that the two had just created. She heard the sound of a smack which she imagined had come from Mitchie. She saw that a smile had crossed Nate's face and she framed his face with her free hand.

His hand lifted to rest on her wrist, tightened slightly. "Sam," he said, "I could have lost you." He laid a finger on her lips, effectively silencing her when her mouth opened. "I could have. What if someone else had found you? What if that someone was someone who could have hurt you?"

That was what worried him the most, she noted, someone hurting her. She felt her eyes close in sadness, and she fell against his chest. He wrapped both hands around her, placed his head on her head, and chanced a look over at Nixie. She had a tray of cookies in her hands, oven mitts covering her hands. Chocolate chip, she mouthed to him, come and get some, for you AND her…

Come and get some, he thought. It was a perfect idea. She needed something to make her feel warm inside. But, he wasn't the one to leave her side when he was basically glued to it. She was so worried that he was going to leave her, that it was the last thing on his mind. Nixie, ever the sweet heart, skipped out of the kitchen and popped a cookie in his mouth. He refused to make any sounds of pleasure as the gooey chocolate-ness hit his taste buds. Nodding his thanks, he tightened his grip on Sam. Nixie, deciding that Sam needed some more love, placed a cookie in her mouth.

Sam let a tear out and hugged Nate tighter. He snaked both arms around her waist to keep her close to him. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. The aroma made his mouth water and he compromised by kissing the top of her head softly. Nixie, now joined by Mitchie and Shane, watched carefully. She smiled at the happiness and turned away to let them be alone. Seeing Shane kissing Mitchie had the petite brunette smiling as she turned away and sat on the counter. Shane could be himself with Mitchie, it was something that Nixie knew and trusted.

Meanwhile, Sam and Nate were now sitting on the couch, her right hand intertwined with his left. "Promise me that you'll never leave me?" she asked him as she leaned her head against his shoulder. Nate smiled and turned her head with his pointer finger.

"Of course not," he said and Sam felt her heart soar. It was as if her unsteady world had finally settled. It was the perfect moment.

525, 600 minutes was a long time. But it was not the only way to measure a year.

Oh no. There are many other ways to measure a year.

The most important thing to measure the world is love.

Sam and Nate knew that.

A/N: Okay, okay, okay. I am in a RENT mood today. I just gad to add that to the end. And besides, it's cheesy and cute. Well, I think it is. Or maybe I've been listening to too much musical stuff lately… Hmm…

Anyhow, this is the second half of the story. Read and review, please!

Now for a bunch of thanks:

1. Thanks to Sam for letting me use Sam for my story.

2. Thanks to Sam for writing A Camp Rock Summer.

3. And a final thanks to Sam for becoming my best friend on FanFiction. Thanks a lot man! I'm glad to know you!

Oh, and 4. And thanks to you for reading this!

Check out A Camp Rock Summer if you liked this story. Or even if you hated it. Check it out!

Thanks again, and I sound like a broken record.

Hmm…

Bye!

xoxo, Lys.

P.S.- YZMACLUB!

P.P.S.- OH! I ALSO HAVE TO THANK SAM FOR WRITING AND ALLOWING ME TO USE THE SONG 'I NEED TO STAY STRONG'! IT'S AWESOME!