Author's Note: Wow... I take it you all really enjoyed that last chapter, so full of drama as it was? I can't believe I got thirty-nine reviews for the last chapter, so I'll just say thank you to SaphirePhoenix, Remember When It Rained, katie (anon.), SecretSoltice, Banana Bun, Konnichiwa Minna, zannessa-all-the-way, pyrolyn-776, brucas224, hollywoodgal205, Tifahh, Maiqu, epobbp, StargazingHighschooler, EllsBells08, xoxojoejonas, NorthernLights25, KungFuDuckie-x3, SuperKawaiiGal, creative-writing-girl13, blonde-gal, JaBoyYa, .x.WEiRD0-SECRET-GiRL.x., McMuffin, monko25, jensfer, whiteclick101, xXriujooXx, Laylora, Runaway Rockstar, im to lazy to write i story, Tally B., HCSBForever, have-a-cookie, nrisley19892007, House.Cam-xx, MidnyghtVampyrezz, -Me-Is-Coolio-, and BlackMidnight1. I'm really glad you all continue to enjoy this story so much!
This is the punishment chapter... (cackles evilly)
And it takes place from Mitchie's POV, just so you know, since there have some questions as to why she didn't speak up sooner, etc.
Hope you enjoy!
Second Chances
by PiperPaigePhoebe01
Chapter Six
Shane, Mitchie, Lola and Caitlyn all began talking at once. Brown tried to follow them all for a moment but raised his hand once he realized he couldn't, effectively cutting off all of their stories. Wordlessly, he gestured for the rest of the stunned class to leave—they did so, brushing past the foursome as they went. A few of them actually congratulated Caitlyn on their way by, to Mitchie's surprise.
I can't believe she slapped him... even though he did deserve it.
"I can't believe any of you," Brown said. "I have never seen anything like this in all the years I've been here. This is the only time I'm actually willing to be uncool."
Mitchie reluctantly looked at Brown. She took back what she said last year—this was the harshest she had ever seen Brown look, including the time he thought Mitchie and Caitlyn stole Tess's bracelet. She had thought Brown was always fun and laidback, but apparently not today.
"He deserved it," Caitlyn whispered darkly, and Mitchie heard herself agreeing with her.
He's taken it too far now. I have no clue why he's holding this stupid thing over my head. Caitlyn's right, he's not worth my tears. If anything, I should have been the one to slap him.
"What was that?" Brown asked.
"I said, he deserved it," Caitlyn said in a louder voice. "It's his fault for not letting go of what happened last summer. I would slap him again if I could."
Brown glanced at Shane, noting the red hand-shaped mark blossoming on Shane's cheek. Mitchie was surprised to see it that red—Caitlyn hit him that hard?—but didn't let it show on her face.
"I can't let any of this go," Brown said. "Shane, I take it you said something about Mitchie and Caitlyn responded. There was a fight involved, which ended with Caitlyn slapping Shane." He turned to Lola. "Is that true?"
"Not something directly about Mitchie, but—" Lola began.
"You know what I say about 'but's," Brown said. "So, Shane said something not directed at Mitchie, and Caitlyn retaliated?"
"Only because Shane was spouting all this 'holier-than-thou' stuff about 'being true to yourself' and how you had to be 'true to yourself'—he obviously did it just to make Mitchie feel bad!" Caitlyn snapped.
Brown nodded. "I can see that," he responded. "Ever since Shane arrived here this summer, he has been bitter, but that doesn't excuse your behavior. You've all reacted out of turn, and you'll have to be punished."
"What?" Shane said, speaking out for the first time. "Uncle Brown, I never said that to make Mitchie feel bad."
"But you did say it, didn't you?" Brown said. "You did react, did you not?"
"Well, yes, but—"
"No 'but's," Brown said. "You are all at fault, some of you less than others, but you all need punishment."
None of the foursome responded, not even Lola, even though she didn't do anything. Brown seemed to be waiting for something, but what that something was Mitchie couldn't guess. She glanced around, at Shane's incredulous and annoyed look, Caitlyn's defiant look, and Lola's look of surprise and anticipation. For a moment, there was silence, until Brown spoke again.
"All of you need a lesson in being civil," Brown said. "Since it seems like all of you won't get over your differences and work all this out unless you're close, I'll be reassigning you all to the same cabin."
"What?" Shane said for the second time that day.
"Are you kidding?" Caitlyn added.
"Do you want them to kill each other?" Lola burst out.
Brown turned to Mitchie, who hadn't said anything. The idea still hadn't settled in—was she really going to share a cabin with Shane? What was going on? Wasn't there a rule against both genders sharing a cabin?
"Mitchie," Brown said. "You're the only one who has been quiet. What do you think of this whole thing?"
"Isn't there a rule against boys and girls sharing the same cabin?"
Brown nodded. "Interesting how that's the only thing you have to say," he said. "Yes, there is, but considering I doubt anything... unsuitable will happen between any of you while you work things out, I'm willing to bend the rules."
"I don't think this is a good idea," Mitchie said.
"Of course you don't," he said, "but you haven't got a choice. Either you work out whatever's got you all at odds, or one or all of you leave Camp Rock. I won't have this sort of drama going on every day."
Mitchie took a deep breath. Brown was giving them an ultimatum: either she or Shane left Camp Rock or they agreed to sharing a cabin together. She wasn't sure about Shane, but she knew what she was going to choose.
"Fine," Mitchie murmured.
"Good!" Brown said. "Shane? Caitlyn? Lola?"
"Fine," Caitlyn and Lola said as one.
That only left Shane, who was looking positively murderous as he glared at his uncle. It looked as though he was about to explode, but he kept himself together. Shane thought for a moment, then ground out his agreement.
"All right, then," Brown said. "It's settled. Except there's one more punishment to give out, unfortunately."
The foursome once again snapped to attention. At this punishment, it seemed like Brown was particularly unwilling to give it out, but apparently, he had no choice, because he turned to Shane and opened his mouth.
"Shane, this whole dramatic episode happened during your class," he began. "I would've liked to think you had enough self-control not to let it get that far, but you did. I think it would be better if you turned that class over to me."
"Are you firing me?" Shane said incredulously.
"Not in those words, but yes, unfortunately," Brown said. "It may be temporary. I'll take over your class until you can grow up and act like the instructor you are—until then, I'll find someone to run your class."
"I can't believe this," Shane said, his tone angry. "I can't believe this is happening."
"Too bad, because it is," Brown said. "Now, I think I'd better show you to your cabin. It's right next to mine, so if you try to kill each other in your sleep, I'll know and be able to stop you."
Mitchie knew the comment was meant to be funny, but no one laughed—they just nodded. Brown waited a few moments for someone to speak up, but when nobody did, he headed out of the cabin, the foursome following behind him. Mitchie followed behind Caitlyn, who was looking down at the ground, her feet hitting it so hard Mitchie almost believed Caitlyn was imagining it to be Shane's face.
Mitchie rolled her eyes at that thought, following Brown down the long dirt path to his cabin, then a little farther beyond, to the unoccupied cabin right next to his. This cabin looked small—Mitchie felt it was too small to fit two people, let alone four—but as she entered, she saw why. Most of the cabins were only one floor, but this was two, stairs leading up to the second floor.
"There are two beds on the first floor and two on the second," Brown said. "You'll have to decide who will be on which floor."
"I call second!" Mitchie and Shane both said before they realized the other had. With nearly identical looks of horror, they looked at Brown, who had a scheming expression on his face.
"Well, that's settled too," Brown said. "Mitchie and Shane took the second floor, which means the first is free for Lola and Caitlyn. I hope this is the last time I'll have to discipline you four."
And with that, Brown left the room, leaving the four to look at each other.
It looked like no one knew what was going to happen next and, if Mitchie was honest with herself, she didn't want to know what was about to happen.
-
A half hour or so later, Mitchie dropped her bag on her bed, looking around the small room she was going to be sharing with Shane until they worked out all their differences. She did have to say it was nice and cozy, even though the presence of Shane's guitar and bags on his bed wasn't particularly one to jump around and be excited about.
She shook her head.
At least she wouldn't have to worry about getting into arguments with him, right? Or crying about him whenever he refused to listen to her story and stormed away?
Right.
"At least I hope I'm right," Mitchie said, walking down the stairs to the first floor. Caitlyn had asked her to meet up with Peggy, Ella and Lola down at the docks before they went down to their next vocal class, and she didn't want to be late.
She expected they were around down by the docks, so she was incredibly surprised when she found Caitlyn sitting on her bed, an anxious look on her face. As soon as Mitchie touched down on the first floor, Caitlyn jumped up.
"Mitchie! I just realized something!"
"Yeah?" Mitchie said, confused. "What is it?"
"Well, Shane is living with us now, right?"
Mitchie nodded.
"And he's still looking for that mystery girl, which is you," Caitlyn said.
"Yeah, Caitlyn..." Mitchie said, not understanding where she was going with this.
"Everywhere we look, people are looking for you, the mystery girl Shane must like," Caitlyn said. "We're planning on revealing you to him at Final Jam, but we can't let anyone find out it's you before that, least of all Shane, so we decided to practice only in our cabin so that no one could overhear and tell Shane it's you."
Mitchie let out a gasp—she now knew where Caitlyn was going with this.
"Oh no."
"Yes," Caitlyn said. "Shane being in our cabin and not having classes to go to anymore means that he'll be here pretty much twenty-four seven, so that means that—"
"—we won't be able to practice for Final Jam without him figuring out it's me," Mitchie finished.
This... just added a whole new level of complications to our entire plan...
-
Author's Note: Hmm. Shane being in their cabin really does put a damper on their plans, doesn't it? Hope you enjoyed that new level of complication to this story!
And also, for those people who also follow No Way to Hold It In: Would you want to have another chapter of that story or would you rather me write a one-shot or two that have been rolling around in my head? Because my inspiration for this story and other one-shots are growing, and my love for No Way to Hold It In is fading slightly, so it really depends on what you'd like. So: one-shot or new chapter? Thanks for any opinions!
And again: Please review this chapter!