Hey! So I was actually going to post this last night, but then I figured that i had promised you guys a longer chapter so this chapter's seven pages in word which is longer than my normal three. I just want to thank everyone who's reviewed, I really enjoy reading your comments! Hope you enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: Same as always. Camp Rock isn't mine. If it were, this story wouldn't be here.

Chapter 9

Despite his efforts during the week Mary avoided Shane at all costs. If she was in a room and he walked in she would suddenly have somewhere she needed to go. If she walked in and he was already in a room and she walked in then she would just turn around and walk out. If he tried to approach her she would find manage to flee before he had a chance. The tension between the two only kept growing and it was frustrating him more than anything. He had finally realized just how rude he had been to her and now that he actually understood her situation better he realized she had every reason to be as evasive as she was…and now that he thought about it, she had tried to make an effort with everyone.

He sighed to himself as he thought about just how helpless she really was at this point in time. Remembering the conversation he and his family had had after everything that night and how in his mind that she was extremely strong for someone in her spot.

"Alright boys, we need to all sit down and explain this situation to you now that it's changed." Said Paul as he and Denise walked in on them lounging in their room later that evening.

"So we need to explain to exactly what happened and why Mitchie is in her situation." Denise said sitting down with everyone else. "You actually probably know part of what did happen. I don't know if you remember, but not too long ago there was a message from a well known and wanted killer in the U.S. for a young high school student from Oregon." The boys nodded their head in response. "Well that girl was actually 'Mary'"

"But she looks nothing like Mary." Frankie cut in. "I thought she said her parents died?" he asked confused.

"Oh Frankie, I'll explain that better later, but to be brief, but the reason it didn't look like her in the picture is because that's what she normally looks like, but she had to change her looks to help herself hide, just like how she changed her name. By doing that it made it harder for the bad guys to find her."

"But what did she do to that man? She couldn't hurt anyone. She's too nice."

"Yes Frankie." Paul cut in, but in her case it's not what she did to this man really, but what he did that she knows. You see, she saw him murder Lucinda Meline, a person well-known, but she got away and because she knows what happened and she can testify against him, put him in jail." Paul added at Frankie's confused face. "Because of this he wants to find her and…hurt her…sort of like how he hurt the lady she saw him hurt." At this all three other boys stiffened as they realized just what their Dad really meant.

"We've known her family since before you kids were born and so when her parents asked us to take her in we didn't question it. Especially because with Big Rob and the rest of the security, we felt she would have more protection here than with another family. We're sorry we didn't tell you boys, but we figured the less you knew the easier it would be." Denise explained.

"Now there are a few things you boys need to keep in mind now that you know." Paul started. "First off, she is still Mary to us. As of right now the man after her is still at large and until he's safely behind bars she will be keeping all pretenses. As far as we know, she is an only child, and her parents were killed in an accident so she's living with us based on her parents will."

"Now I understand you may not all get along with her." He continued giving Shane a pointed look. "But please make an effort for her sake. It's actually harder for her because he's also threatening her family and so they've all been split up, but also, she has no idea if they're okay or not because they're not allowed to have contact until it's all over. As of right now we're her support. I expect all of you boys also to look out for her. Is everything understood?"

Everyone nodded their heads in understanding.

Shane couldn't imagine what it would be like not to be able to be within contact with his family. If her family was anything like hiss, his family was his everything, they were always there for him.

Running his hand through his hair he sighed again. He wanted desperately to be able to actually talk to her and tell her how much he rergretted how he'd been to her and that he wanted to start fresh. He wanted to be able to get along with her like he had when she had first arrived.

"Shane! Would you please focus!" Nate shouted at him as they sat together on their bus discussing ideas for the name of their new album.

"Sorry Nate." He mumbled.

"What has gotten into you lately?" Jason asked. "You've been even more out of it than normal."

"Haha." He laughed drily. "I don't know you guys." He confessed. "I want to make amends with Mary, but she won't give me the time of day to even try! I really do feel bad about what I've done to her. I mean it wasn't appropriate before we understood the situation, but even more so now. Plus, I was thinking about what you said Nate and well…" he trailed off blushing.

"Finally he gets it!" Nate exclaimed.

"Yeah." He said softly. "I'm afraid I screwed things up too much though. I mean, if I can't even get her to give me the time of day so I can apologize and ask to be friends, well then what hope is there that she'll actually like me as maybe something more?"

Nate and Jason looked thoughtful for a second. "Maybe that's all you need to do right now, just ask to be friends. Show her the real you and let her understand that she can view you as someone to trust. As for dating her-" He stopped short as the boys heard the front door of the bus open and Mary and their Mom walk in with the groceries they had bought to fill the nearly empty cabinets on the bus.

Getting up the boys were quick to help them bring the bags in and empty them all. Shane making sure to help Mitchie and let his brothers help their Mom.

Not paying attention Mitchie and Shane both reached in the bag at the same time and stopped short as, instead of picking up the can of soup they'd been reaching for, they instead had grabbed each other's hands.

Freezing Shane just stood there not moving afraid of what would happen if he did, but almost immediately Mary pulled her hand away and instead reached for something else and continued on.

As everyone was finishing up Shane grabbed Mary's arm gently.

"I know that you've been avoiding me, but is it possible if we go and talk in the back room? I really have some things to say to you." He questioned softly

Pulling her arm back roughly she just looked at him for a second. "Whay can't you just say what you have to say here with everyone else in the room? I'm sure it's nothing new." She replied bitterly.

Sighing in frustration he shook his head lightly. "Please Mary, I promise that it's not going to be the type of conversation you think it's going to be."

She stood there biting her lip in thought for a second before slowly nodding her head and heading towards the back.

Closing the door behind him Shane turned to see Mary looking back at him skeptically.

"Look," he started. "I know things with us haven't been good at all, and it's basically my fault for that, but I want you to know that while you did have a point in saying that I had to have been somewhat thinking the thoughts I've had or I wouldn't have spoken them at all, I can tell you now that I'm really sorry for the way I did act, and I was completely mistaken. If you want to know the truth, I'd really like to show you more of the person you first met when you arrived, the real me. Would you give me a chance to try and be your friend Mary?" he said looking around the room, but meeting her eyes warily as he finished.

She looked back at him and unreadable expression on her face. Biting her in contemplation she looked at the ground for a second before looking him in the eyes. Shane held his breath as she open her mouth to speak. "Thank you for the apology Shane." She paused for a second to gather her thoughts. "As for being friends Shane, well that's what I've wanted all along, but you have to promise me that you'll be who you really are, not the jerk you have been to me so far. I really liked who I saw in you the first day."

He nodded and grinned widely pulling her into a bear hug and picking her up off the floor for a few seconds.

Squealing in surprise she laughed at his excitement.

"So if we're going to be friends now I guess we should start at square one. Hi, I'm Michelle Karinhe Torres. Nice to meet you." She held her hand out for him to shake, twinkle of laughter in her eyes. "But for now, you can just call me Mary." She winked.

Laughing he took her hand. "Shane Adam Grey."

The two were quick to settle themselves on the floor as they began to get to know each other.

Hours later and the two were still in the back room talking. Mitchie lay on her stomach at the foot of the bed one arm bent and supporting herself on the floor, while her chin was supported by the other while her feet were moving back and forth in the air slowly. Shane meanwhile was sitting Indian style leaning back on his arms while he continually shook his head trying to get his bangs out of his face even though they continued to fall back minutes later.

"So tell me Mary, what's your family like back home?"

She gave a sad smile. "Well there are my parents, Connie and Steve. My mom owns a catering business and my dad owns a hardware store. They've been together for 27 years. I have and older brother Jonathan who's 22 and a junior at the Phoenix University of Business. He plays soccer and also plays the guitar in a band with some of his college buddies. He's the one who taught me to love music the way I do. You've actually seen a picture of him, the first day I arrived. He was the one standing with me in the picture on my night stand. He's my best friend, and honestly, it's really hard without him because I've always been able to go to him for anything."

"Wow. I'm sorry. I can't imagine how hard it must be without your family. "I'm sure wherever they are though they're thinking of how much they love you. Especially your brother seeing as you two are as close as you described."

She smiled at his attempt to cheer him up. In the past few hours she had come to realize that she had seen almost nothing of the person who was really Shane Grey, and that she'd honestly been missing out.

"So tell me, why did you hide your talent from us?" he asked curiously.

"What talent? " she asked, but then realized he was talking about her music and blushed dropping her chin as she looked at the ground. "That? Well honestly, if you want to know the truth, before you guys my brother and my parents were the only ones who knew I sing. And that's only because I've been raised on music. I started dancing when I was five years old, started taking guitar lessons at age eight, and started voice lessons and age nine. Personally, though I didn't say anything because well one, singing for me, while I love it, I don't see it progressing any further than being a hobby for me, as much as I wish it were different, and two, in spite of everything that's going on now, I just figured it would be best not to say anything to you guys. Plus, you guys are talented musicians, and I'm the girl who sings in the shower."

"I don't get why you hold yourself at such low standards Mary. You're truly gifted and my brothers and I all think you stand a really good chance of having a successful music career. And plus, if you weren't good at singing, why would your parents have kept you in voice lessons all this time?" he asked, and she just laid there unable to come back with a response. Thankfully though, she was saved by a knock on the door.

"Mary? Shane?" Jason asked through the door.

"Hmm?" Shane replied.

"Are you guys alright in there? You guys went in there almost three hours ago and we haven't seen you since. We were afraid you might've killed each other."

Getting up the two walked towards the door which Shane opened.

"We're fine." He answered. "We just were taking the time to get to know each other." The two walked back out to lounge an joined everyone, smiles on their faces.

Backstage, Mary skipped happily through the halls to the boy's dressing room. It seemed as if everything were falling into place. She didn't have to worry about keeping her secret around them anymore, and she was finally getting along with all of them. Actually, in all truth since she and Shane had had their talk, she had grown to be closest with him out of everyone in the family.

Humming their song Sorry she pushed open the door to find the boys all sitting on the couch looking extremely bored with whatever they were watching. Smiling she waved to them.

"Hey Nate, hey Jason, hey Frankie." She greeted walking over to them.

"What?" Shane asked mocking hurt. "No hi for me?"

Giggling she plopped herself on his lap causing him to grunt. "Hey Shane."

"That wasn't exactly the greeting I was expecting. You do realize I'm not a chair right?" he responded.

"But you're comfy!" she explained.

He just sighed and rested his head on her shoulder so he could see over her.

Laughing she squirmed in his arms.

"What are you laughing about?" He asked her.

"You, you're breathing on my neck and it tickles."

"Oh really now? So then, if I do this-" he poked her in the side and she squirmed again. "-aha. I think I found somebody's weakness!" he taunted playfully poking her again.

"Shane!" she squealed.

Just then Paul walked in. "Alright boys, it's time for you to head to your dressing rooms to get ready for the show."

Nate and Jason moved to leave, but Shane stayed where he was.

"Umm, Mary? That sort of means you need to move so I can get up."

"Awww…" She whined but stood up anyway. "You're no fun." She mock pouted.

Smiling her gave her a side hug. "You keep telling yourself that even though we both know you love me." He smirked pulling away.

"Yeah, you and your big ego. " She mumbled. "Now go get changed!" she said slapping his arm. Make me proud out there tonight!" She shouted after him as he exited the room.

Faintly she heard him reply from the hall, "I always do!"

Laughing she shook her head and plopped down on the couch next to Frankie and grabbed the remote.

"Hey Frankster. What do you want to watch?" she asked him.

"SpongeBob!" he replied. She laughed and put it on before sitting back and enjoying the chance to be mindless for a little while.

Just as the two were getting ready to head to the side of the stage so they could watch the boys, one of the stagehands came in and handed her a letter.

"Here, we found this out front by the gate."

Frowning she took it from him. It was addressed to her as Mary, so it had to be someone she had met only recently. Thanking the stagehand and telling Frankie to go ahead and that she'd be right behind him she looked back at the envelope in her hands unsure of what to do.

Sighing she flipped it over and ripped open the top. Inside was a folded up piece of what paper. Her face paled and her eyes widened as she took in the sentence in big bold font on the paper.

You can run, but you can't hide Mitchie.

All she could feel was the sudden wave of panic wash over her. Trembling she clutched the letter in her hands she felt herself mindlessly walk through the halls to where she always stood with Denise, Paul, and Frankie to watch the show.

Taking in her appearance Denise was quick to acknowledge her. "What's wrong Mary?" she questioned worry lacing her words.

Wordlessly Mary held out the letter for her.

Quickly scanning the page Denise looked up at her again, her expression nearly mirroring that of Mary's.

"Paul." She choked out. "Some look at this."

Coming over he took the letter from her weak grasp and the two women watched as his features hardened.

"This means we're going to have to take some extra measures, starting with getting you your own personal body guard."

Putting his hand on Mary's shoulder he said, "Try not to think about it for the time being, enjoy the boys show and we'll talk about it after."

Nodding her numbly she turned towards the stage, the boys performance the last thing on her mind.

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