Okay this chapter is completely 103 dedicated to Writing Sia because she helped me and gave me an amazing idea for this chapter! Thanks Sia!! Oh don´t own anything you guys should know this by now. So because this chapter would be soooo amazing I´m splitting it up so its not like 30,000 words lol. I´ll update the next part tomorrow!
¨Good morning Brown.¨ Mitchie sat down across from him at the table.
¨Ah good morning Mitchie you´re up early! Have fun at the party last night?¨ He put a spoonful of oatmeal into his mouth. Mitchie nodded and got out a box of cereal and poured it into a bowl. ¨That´s good that´s good.¨ he said grinning.
¨So where´s the next show?¨ She asked from the refrigerator where she was getting some milk. Brown seemed to be concealing a smile. ¨What??¨ She pried.
¨Okay okay! The next show is in Linden New Jersey! Shane´s hometown! His parents wanted to see him for his birthday and I think he misses them too! And you can meet his parents!¨ Mitchie´s smile grew. Shane was going to be so excited!! ¨Promise not to spoil the surprise?¨ She mimed zipping her lips and went to go get dressed.
Over the next few days there were several instances when Mitchie was absolutely dying to tell her boyfriend but held her tongue. ¨Uncle Brown when are gonna get to New York for the next show?¨ He asked one day while he and Mitchie were writing lyrics together.
¨Not sure.¨ He replied turning away with a tiny smile. Shane looked out the window. ¨Uncle Brown...Where are we?¨ Shane stared him down. Mitchie turned away, pretending to drop the song book. She crawled on the floor, laughing quietly. ¨We´re having a concert at the Linden city park!¨
Shane´s eyes widened and Mitchie slowly stood up. ¨Surprise Shane!¨ She hugged him and he hugged her dazedly. ¨We´re going to Linden?¨ Mitchie nodded slowly, trying to figure out his reaction quickly. ¨We´re going to Linden!¨ He picked her up and kissed her excitedly.
¨Did I just hear you say we´re going to Linden?¨ Nate´s curly haired head stuck out of his bunk. Linden was his hometown as well. Shane nodded, his hair swinging as well. ¨Sweet!¨ He exclaimed excitedly.
¨We´re going to Linden?¨ Jason was now looking at them. Both of them nodded happily. ¨Awesome!!¨ He exclaimed. Caitlyn walked from the back room her laptop at her side.
¨We´re going to your home town? That´ll be fun!¨ She kissed Nate´s cheek.
Ella closed the bathroom door, a hairbrush in hand. ¨Where are we going?¨
¨LINDEN!¨ Everyone yelled.
She stepped back. ¨Woah, okay!¨ She laughed and everyone joined in.
Later that day the bus pulled into the Gray´s driveway, although half the bus was in the street. And already people were already milling around it. ¨Alright why don´t you boys say a few words to the crowd while the girls I get our stuff together.¨ Jason Nate and Shane stepped out, waving to all the people.
After a few minutes they returned and helped unpack. Everybody grabbed their bags and they were relieved to see that the crowd was gone. ¨Shane! Oh baby boy!¨ A woman who uncannily resembled Shane stepped out of the house running towards him with open arms.
¨Mom!¨ He dropped his bags and embraced her.
¨Major mommys boy...¨ Nate whispered in Mitchie´s ear. She barely pushed his arm.
¨I think it´s sweet.¨ She told him quietly.
¨And you must be Mitchie.¨ Mrs. Gray hugged her next. Mitchie laughed and hugged her back. ¨Shane has told his father and I so much about you! And that voice! Oh darling you sound amazing on that CD he sent us!¨
¨Thank you Mrs. Gray! It´s so nice to meet you!¨ She smiled as Mrs. Gray stepped back.
¨Oh enough of this Mrs. Gray stuff! Call me Jen!¨ Mitchie broke eye contact with her and smiled.
¨Oh-kay...Jen.¨ She said carefully.
¨In in in! Time for a nice home-cooked meal! You haven´t been completely feeding them fast food have you Brown??¨ And he avoided her gaze.
¨No...Not completely...¨ She groaned and pulled them all inside. ¨Now kids this is Shane´s father Richard!¨ A man who also looked like Shane was setting the table for dinner. He hugged Shane quickly.
¨Missed ya kid.¨ He mussed up Shane´s hair who swatted his hand away after a second.
¨Missed you too dad. Well this is everyone Mitchie-my girlfriend. Ella-Jason´s girlfriend. And Caitlyn-Nate´s girlfriend.¨ He shook each of their hands greeting them individually.
¨Oh Nate...There´s somebody here for you.¨ Richard pushed a door open and a tall brunette haired woman walked out.
¨MOM!¨ Nate ran into her arms. She laughed and played with his curly hair.
¨Nate sweetie! I missed you!¨ She kissed the top of his head.
¨Right, and I´m a mommys boy.¨ Shane muttered to Mitchie who laughed under her breath.
The mother and son stepped back and Nate´s smiled stayed on his face. ¨Mom this is everyone!¨ He introduced everyone person by person.
They all sat down at the dining room table, Jen scooping heaping mounds of food on all their plates. They ate with constant conversation, Jen occasionally asking Mitchie questions about her and her family and such. ¨Off to bed all of you!¨ Jen, Richard, Brown and Nate´s mother Ana pushed them off to bed.
The house pretty enormous since Nate had bought it for his parents when their first album went platinum. Everyone had their own bedroom though the girls rooms were close. And the guys room were on the other side of the house! That night Mitchie awoke to her cellphone vibrating on her bedside table.
She blurrily looked at the screen and tried to take in the message.
Meet me in the kitchen
Shane
She swung her legs out of bed and shuffled downstairs, careful not to wake his parents. As she walked into the kitchen she saw Shane sitting at the counter shirtless with pajama pants on, a glass of milk sitting in front of him, a milk mustache on his face. ¨Hey baby.¨ He smiled.
She walked over to him, wiping the mustache off with a wipe of her finger. He laughed. ¨There you go.¨ She sat next to him.
¨Cookie?¨ He held out a chocolate chip sweet treat. She took it with a grin and dunked it in the glass. She took a bite of it and Shane reached out, his fingers caressing hers.
¨How does it feel to be home?¨ She asked him after a moment. He leaned back and sighed, a smile covering his face again.
¨Oh my gosh Mitch, so good. you have no idea. I cant believe I´m back in Linden. Wait until you meet some of my old friends. It´s gonna be a blast!¨ She laughed and nodded her head.
¨I´m glad you´re happy Shane. I´ll see you in the morning okay?¨ She slid off the chair, giving Shane a kiss and intended to walk away. But Shane linked his fingers with hers and continued the kiss until she finally pulled away. ¨Good night.¨ She walked back upstairs.
He laughed and finished his snack and headed back up to his own room.
The next morning Mitchie joined everyone at breakfast at nine thirty. ¨Rich sweetie did you pick up any more sugar?¨ Jen called while rummaging through the cabinets. Rich looked down guiltily and walked up behind her giving her cheek a kiss.
¨Noo, but would you like some now...?¨ He turned her around giving her a deeper kiss. ¨Mom dad come on! we don´t need breakfast and a show! Unless you want to see breakfast again!¨ Shane moaned hiding his face in his hands. Mitchie laughed and pat his back.
¨I´ll go to the store and pick some up!¨ Mitchie volunteered. Jen smiled.
¨Oh dear that´s sweet but you don´t have to do that!¨ She handed the keys to Rich who was getting ready to leave.
¨Please Jen I wanna look around a little more!¨ She pleaded. Jen smiled and thought for a moment.
¨Well okay! Links Market is just down the street. Shane why don´t you go with her?¨ Shane nodded and looked at himself and then Mitchie.
¨Right after we go get dressed.¨ Mitchie nodded and joined him walking upstairs.
They returned in a few minutes and Shane put on some sunglasses before they left. Nobody was really out so they walked, talking about anything and everything. Their entwined hands swung between them and finally they arrived at the store. They grabbed the sugar and stood in line to pay when suddenly Mitchie´s phone rang.
¨Hello? Oh hi mom!¨ Shane smiled and told her to step outside, there was better service. She nodded and stepped out, talking to Connie Torres.
¨Oh my god who is she supposed to be?¨ an obnoxious voice asked to a smattering of giggles. Mitchie turned, her straight hair spinning as well. ¨Well first of all I´m pretty sure she bought that outfit at Walmart and has anybody heard of braces?¨ The girls shrieked with laughter and kept walking.
Mitchie´s jaw dropped. ¨Uh mom, I´ll call you later.¨ She snapped the phone shut and crossed the street in just a few strides. ¨Who do you think you are insulting me like that?¨ She crossed her arms. The girl looked surprised that Mitchie had the guts to stand up to her.
¨Uh I was just being honest.¨ the girl´s head bobbed a little as she talked and Mitchie rolled her eyes. ¨Maybe you could pick up on a hint.¨ The girl´s friends nodded their heads in agreement, their mouths pinched in what seemed to be some kind of attitude.
¨A hint at what? That you´re a jerk?¨ Mitchie countered. ¨Buh bye.¨ Mitchie re-crossed the street and entered the store back to a smiling Shane.
¨Hey! So how´s Connie?¨ He asked kissing her cheek.
¨Oh she´s good, she sends her best.¨ She replied; not seeing a need to tell him about the strange encounter.
¨Glad to know she´s doing good, well let´s head back.¨ He put his arm around her waist, the bag of sugar in the other hand. They walked back laughing and talking about the upcoming show. They entered the house and handed the sugar to Jen. She thanked them and they went into the family room where Rich was tuning a guitar.
¨Do you play too Mr. Gray?¨ Mitchie asked, sitting down between Ella and Shane. Rich began to play. ¨Wow! You´re great sir!¨
He smiled and responded: ¨Well thanks Mitchie that´s really nice of you!¨ Shane kissed her cheek and turned on the television.
¨Mitchie? Could you help me please?¨ Jen´s voice called into the den. Mitchie stood up and entered the kitchen. Jen was leaned over a large bowl, flour splattered on her face, her gaze glued to a cook book.
¨Hey what do you need help with?¨ Mitchie asked seating herself at the counter. Jen looked up from the cook book and smiled.
¨Well you know Shane´s birthday is coming up...¨
¨And you want help planning a surprise party for him!¨ Mitchie finished with a grin making Jen look at her bemusedly.
¨How´d you know?¨ She leaned against the cabinets and Mitchie shrugged.
¨I´m good at finishing sentences¨ Shane´s mother laughed and began adding ingredients to the mix.
¨So will you help?¨ Jen asked adding half a cup of sugar, spilling a quarter of it on the counter. ¨I´m not much of a cook so I may need a lot of help in that department.¨ and Mitchie laughed and nodded her head. ¨Okay now get back in there before he get´s suspicious.¨
Mitchie looked at her skeptically. ¨Have you met your son Jen?¨ The older woman laughed and gently pushed her back in.