Is It All Just Pretend?
Chapter 9: Have to know.
Mitchie groaned as she felt a sharp pain erupt within her skull, her back hitting the shockingly cold floor of the balcony. Mitchie opened her eyes slowly, carefully letting them adjust to the searing light that protruded from a lamp. She could vaguely hear someone yelling at her, a blurred figure moving in front of her. Mitchie clenched her teeth as the pain began to subside, cautiously propping herself up on her elbows.
Mitchie opened her eyes a little wider as she quickly placed the voice, she could see Ruby clearly now, her furious face twisted into anger and wrath, her mouth opened widely as she continued to scream profanities in Mitchies direction. Her fists were balled as she held them sturdily by her sides, her high-pitched speech of hatred piercing through Mitchie's muffling bubble.
"You're just a gold digging whore. You just want Shane's money, you only want his fame. And trust me bitch, he doesn't want you for real reasons either, he just want's you for sex." Ruby screamed, her hair falling over her face as she leaned forward, her eyes portraying the evil that settled dauntingly within the women.
"Mitchie!" Mitchie tore her eyes away from the shrieking blonde, laying her eyes upon Shane who had suddenly burst through the doors, his body frozen as he looked from Mitchie to Ruby and then back again. "What did you do?" He bellowed his voice deep and unnerving.
"I-I, she attacked me Shane!" Ruby squealed, leaping over to Shane and wrapping her arms around his neck, attempting to pull him away from Mitchie who was still strewn across the floor.
"Get off!" Shane shouted as he struggled free of Ruby's grasp. He immediately bolted over to Mitchie, kneeling by her side as he studied her body, concern and fear flowing undisguised from him. "Are you ok?" He asked softly, his hand grazing over the small bruise that was beginning to form upon her cheek.
"Yeah" Mitchie said sincerely, her breath increasing under his intense, troubled gaze.
"Are you sure?" Shane questioned, his face leaning a little closer to hers, inspecting her cheek.
"I'm fine, really." Mitchie stated, Shane's touch causing her body to numb, the pain dispersing. Shane nodded at her, his eyes glistening because of the light, because of…..tears? He stood up abruptly, leaning forward and helping Mitchie to her feet, his arm wrapping protectively around her waist as he pulled her closer.
"How dare you" Shane spat, his eyes darkening as he looked over at Ruby.
"She- she attacked me" Ruby attempted again, her mind seemingly only be able to produce one single sentence, one single lie.
"You really expect me to believe that?" Shane shouted, letting go of Mitchie and striding a little closer to the cowering blonde. "I heard what you were saying to her" Shane stated, shaking his head in disgust. "And I thought you couldn't sink any lower" Shane said quietly, his features stony, possessing an anger that frankly, terrified Mitchie.
"But she's using you Shane, can't you see that! She's using you for your money," Ruby cried, clawing her manicured fingers through hair.
"What is wrong with you?" Shane questioned, an acidic laugh falling unfavourably from his lips. "You'll do anything to get what you want won't you?" He spat rhetorically, shaking his head in pure disbelief.
"No Shane, look at her, she doesn't deserve you" Ruby said, pointing at the shivering brunette. Shane turned to look at her, his enraged and loathing demeanour melting away as he saw her flawless face.
"She's not a gold digger, Ruby! And don't even think I don't know what you're doing! I heard what you said about me as well!" Shane bellowed, taking another step forward. Ruby winced as she remembered her previous words, her lips pursing as she contemplated an excuse.
"I'm trying to use her for sex? I can tell you now that that is the furthest thing from my mind! I love Mitchie more than anything in this entire world, she is the best thing that I have, and life just wouldn't be worth living without her! So you can try to break us up, but you won't Ruby, no-one can, I would rather die that be without her." Shane stated, his voice lowering in volume as he continued, his eyes glued hatefully upon Ruby, unable to see the stunned look that now inhabited Mitchie's face.
"Shane-" Ruby started.
"Just leave it Ruby, you're a selfish, pathetic little girl who throws a tantrum when she doesn't get what she wants! I can't stand to even look at your face anymore....Go!" Shane shouted, Ruby's guilty features quickly transforming into a scowl, her lips pursing tightly.
"You'll pay for this, no-one shout's at Ruby Jackson!" Ruby exclaimed, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she turned around, strutting confidently back into the building, on hand held upon her hip in a surreal dramatised manner.
"Mitchie, I'm so sorry" Shane whispered, his back facing her as he drooped his head slightly.
"Shane" Mitchie said tenderly, walking in front of Shane and placing her hand cautiously upon his shoulder. Shane's head lifted up slowly, his eyes locking onto Mitchies, his eyes questioning. "I- I- have to go" She blurted out before swiftly turning around and running back into the ball and through the crowd.
"Mitch?" Shane called slowly, his brows furrowing as he watched the silk dress disappear into the crowd of people. "What?" Shane asked no-one in particular, bewilderment coursing through him as he attempted to decipher her hasty departure.
Mitchie ran through the loud, chattering guests, her heels bounding against the flooring, her mind racing over everything that had just happened. Her breath was short and sharp, blood pumping ferociously through her veins. Had he meant it? Was it an act? She found herself mumbling the questions to herself, every brain cell in her head working furiously to understand Shane's speech. She could hear a muffled cry of her name, the sound of her heart beating rapidly against her chest dominating her ears. Her eyes vaguely soaked in the hundreds of people who surrounded her, her feet desperately trying to avoid the extravagant dresses, the extravagant shoes, women taunting her with their beauty and their figures. Mitchie's slowed down for a second, her eyes locking onto a person who looked remarkably like Tess Tyler, she shook it off, deciding even if it was, she definitely didn't want to see her.
Mitchie carried on running, her feet gliding down the steps and finally cascading against the street. She stopped, reducing her speed to a fast paced walk, she couldn't run anymore, she could barely breath. Mitchie stopped completely, collapsing on a near by bench, closing her eyes and burying her face in her hands.
This is it, it had become too tough, too severe, too agonisingly painful. The words haunting her, confusing her more than ever. His tone of voice, the look in his eyes, convincing her he had meant what he said. But still, she knew, she knew it couldn't be true, she knew it was all an act. But still she hoped, preyed that he was being sincere.
"Mitch?" Mitchie looked up, Shane's shadow engulfing her body, his figure tall and broad as it stood in front of her. "What happened?" He questioned, kneeling in front of her and removing her hands from her face.
"Nothing" She whispered instinctively, silently congratulating herself for not succumbing to the tears that were pushing their way up her throat. She was sick and tired of crying over Shane, her unrequited love and this rediculous façade completely exhausting her.
"Mitch?" He added, his eyebrows raising as he looked over her.
Tell him how you feel.
"I'm sorry, I just- it got on top of me. I tend to panic in arguments" Mitchie lied, inwardly cursing herself. Why did she find it so hard? No matter how many times her mind urged her to admit her emotions, even structuring the perfect sentance but her tongue just wouldn't oblige.
"Oh" Shane said, rising up and sitting down next to her.
"Yeah, stupid I know, I just felt like I needed to get out of there, but I'm fine now" Mitchie stated, offering Shane the largest smile she could possibly manage.
"Good to know……I'm sorry" Shane whispered as his eyes fell upon the bruise that spanned across her cheek.
"Don't be" Mitchie replied, once realising what he was regarding. "It's not your fault" Shane turned to her immediately, his eyes drowning in the sorrow he felt yet a slight slither of a smile looming across his lips. "I mean it Shane, it's not your fault. Besides, you came and you saved me" Mitchie said with a large smile, resting her head solemnly upon his shoulder, her body practically exploding as she felt his arm wrap securely around her. Mitchie took a deep breath, the bewilderment and mere hope being too much for her to handle anymore, she couldn't stand the unanswered questions anymore, she had to know.
"It was…very convincing I must say" She whispered, wincing at how ridiculous she sounded. But it was out there now, maybe that mere sentence could feel her with bliss, giving her her dream ending, Mitchie held her breath, her eyes analysing each movement. This was it….
"Well, I'm not just a singer Mitchie, I'm also an astounding actor" Shane replied with a bitter laugh, letting out a deep, shameful sigh as he did. Why couldn't he just tell her? Why couldn't he admit that every word had been the truth, every ounce of fear and concern that had overwhelemed him was completely realistic?
But maybe, just maybe, Shane would have rethought his choice of words if he had known that it was those very words that broke Mitchie's heart beyond repair.
A/n: Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh!!! Over 100 hundred reviews!! *Collapses on the floor*
Thank you all so much. You are simply amazing!!! Each one brings a huge smile to my face, and they really do make my day! :) Oh and in answer to one of my reviews, I'm thinking only a few more chapters in this story, definitly two, maybe three. So the ending is close.
Thanks again, reviews would be awesome, so if you have the time...you know what to do!