AN: Thanks to the following reviewers…
JoeJonasBiggestFan, I wish I could give you a hint as to what happens, but you'll just have to read and find out for yourself.
DemiLenaJonas, it's just like you said…"Everything is not what it seems". And there's plenty more of that coming up soon, so stay tuned for more drama. Oops, I said too much already ;-).
SapphireJKH, I'm just getting started. There's plenty more where that came from.
And thanks to everyone who's still reading this. You are the best!
Chapter 27
"Jason?" Caitlyn said, running up to Connect Three's cabin. She pulled out the extra key that Nate gave her. Jason was always losing his keys, so Brown had made extra ones for him, and both Shane and Nate had given a set to Mitchie and Caitlyn. "I really need to..."
Caitlyn stepped inside, taking in what she saw.
Nate's bed was perfectly made, while Shane's was rumpled and Jason' bed had birds all over his blanket. But the cabin was completely empty.
"Maybe he went bird-watching…" Caitlyn murmured, then walked back out.
Meanwhile…
"I love you so much, Lizzie," Jason sighed happily, wrapping his arms around Liz and looking deep into her eyes. "You get me better than anyone, and you don't make fun of me or make jokes about birds, like my friends do."
"Why would I do that?" Liz said, meeting Jason's gaze and blushing. "I can't believe you'd love someone like me."
"Why wouldn't I?" Jason bent down and kissed her. When they came up for air, Jason continued. "You're smart, beautiful, talented, sweet, and you love birds almost as much as I do."
"You really think so?" Liz couldn't believe it. "I'm not really that smart, or beautiful, or..."
Jason kissed her into silence again, and then Liz broke it off. "I mean, you could be with so many other girls who are more beautiful, more talented. Why me? I'm really not that great."
"Yes, you are," Jason insisted. "Because you're my lovebird."
"No, she's not," Ella bounded up to them. "Jason, I am!"
"Jason, what's she talking about?" Liz started backing away, looking shocked.
"Don't you remember, honey?" Ella cooed, going up to Jason and throwing her arms around him. "We dated for like the longest time, and we had to break up because of the tour…"
"We did?" Jason looked confused. "I don't remember…"
"Of course we dated, silly," Ella laughed, throwing her head back and shaking her long, luscious hair. "We were together for 2 years. And now that you're back…"
"I guess you want to be back with your ex," Liz said, tears beginning to roll down her face. "So you'd probably want this back then." She pulled off the ring that Jason had given her, and threw it at him.
"Lizzie, wait!" Jason said. "I'm sure we can work this out somehow."
"Oh, Jason," Ella laughed again, smiling widely and playing with his shirt. "You're just so cute!"
"Um…thank you?" Jason looked completely confused.
"Do you like my nail polish?" Ella said, waving her fingers at him so he could see. "Do you think this is a good color on me?"
"Um…OK?" Jason guessed, and looked relieved when Ella squealed and hugged him.
"I knew you'd love it!" Ella gushed, and hugged him again. "And I love you!"
"Wait, do you like birds?" Jason suddenly blurted out. Ella froze for a second, then remembered what Tess had told her.
Flashback:
"If Jason asks you whether you like birds, just play along. He'll ramble a lot about them, so you don't have to say much. Just say yes if he asks you if you like them, and no to whether you like cats or anything that eats birds." Tess instructed.
"OK…Thanks Tess!" Ella smiled brightly, trying to remember everything.
End of Flashback
"Birds? I love them!" Ella tried to sound really excited, and hoped Jason couldn't see past her act. "They come in so many colors, and they sing, and…"
"YEAH!" Jason said. "Birds are the best, aren't they? They're really pretty, they eat worms, they sing beautifully…"
Ella let her mind wander as Jason went on and on, and she couldn't wait until everyone at camp knew she was Jason's girlfriend.
Meanwhile…
"I knew this was too good to be true," Liz sniffled as she packed her things. "I never should've…"
"Should've what?" Mitchie said from the doorway.
"Should've believed Jason when he told me he loved me," Liz said, beginning to cry again.
"Liz, what happened?" Mitchie said, her eyes full of concern.
"I don't want to talk about it," Liz sniffled again, trying to control her emotions.
"I'm sure it'd help," Mitchie encouraged.
"I said, I don't want to talk about it," Liz repeated more firmly.
"OK, but I'll be here if you need to talk," Mitchie said. "Please don't go, Liz."
"I can't stay," Liz said, her heart breaking. "I need to talk to Brown, and then I'm leaving."
"But…" Mitchie was at a loss for words.
"Mitchie, you've been really nice, and so has Caitlyn, and I want to thank you both for that. But I have to leave now…I can't stay here anymore." Liz paused, snapping her bag shut and looking at Mitchie with a tear-streaked face. "I guess this is goodbye."
"Liz, no," Mitchie pleaded, but Liz wouldn't listen. "You have to stay…We can work this out…"
Liz stiffened, remembering Jason's words, which were now coming from Mitchie. "I'm sorry…I have to go."
"Liz!" Mitchie said, trying to stop her.
"I have to do this, Mitchie. Just let me go, OK?" Liz said, her tears beginning to fall again.
"Liz?" Caitlyn said, coming in at that moment. "What's wrong?"
"Everything," Liz said, bursting into tears again and running away.
"Come on…" Mitchie grabbed Caitlyn's wrist, and they took off after her.
Meanwhile…
"So, Phase 1 complete?" Tess asked Ella.
"Huh?" Ella looked up from her nails, and looked at Tess, confused.
"Did you break Jason and Liz up?" Tess rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, but I still don't see how that helps you and Shane," Ella complained.
"Trust me, you will," Tess smiled again. "Come on…Phase 2 is about to begin."
"Huh?" Ella looked clueless.
"Just come on," Tess grabbed Ella's arm and practically yanked her out the door.
At the mess hall…
"Oh, hi, Shane," Tess purred as she purposely bumped into Shane, who was walking hand in hand with Mitchie. "Mitchie, nice shirt. Do you mind if I ask Shane a question about class?"
"Thanks," Mitchie looked uncertain, and was a little relieved when Shane squeezed her hand and smiled at her, then kissed her on the cheek.
"Don't worry, Mitch, I'll just be a second, OK?" Shane reassured her, giving her a loving look.
"OK, I'll go get us a table," Mitchie said, walking off. "Bye, Tess."
"Bye," Tess said, inwardly gloating as she imagined what would happen next.
"So, Tess…" Shane looked uncomfortable in her presence. "You had a question?"
"Not exactly," Tess admitted. "It's just…"
"What?" Shane said, looking impatient. "Look, if you're trying to…"
"I'm not," Tess responded. She glanced around, then leaned in, her voice almost in a whisper. "Shane, I think Mitchie might like another guy, and I think that guy might like her back."
"WHAT?" Shane exploded, his eyes blazing. "Who is it? I want answers, NOW!" He glared at the other campers who were passing by and staring at them, then lowered his voice. "Who likes Mitchie? Besides me, of course?"
"That's just it. I don't know," Tess said. "I'll keep my eyes and ears open though. And I'll definitely let you know if I hear something."
"Thanks, Tess," Shane said through gritted teeth. "It's nice of you to help."
"Oh, and one more thing," Tess added, just as Shane was about to walk away. "Let's just keep this between us for now. Mitchie can't find out that I know about her little secret, OK?"
"Fine. Whatever," Shane mumbled, looking around and wondering if Mitchie's potential crush was in this very room. Whoever he was, he was a dead man. "Can I go eat now?"
"Sure, go right ahead," Tess smiled sweetly at Shane, then went to tell Ella what she just did.
"Hi, Shane," Mitchie went to kiss her boyfriend as he slid into his seat. "What did Tess say?"
"Oh, nothing. You know how Tess is…" Shane said, avoiding Mitchie's attempt to kiss him. "She…"
"Is everything OK?" Mitchie frowned as Shane looked away, avoiding her eyes.
"Just having a bad day, that's all," Shane said. "How's rehearsal with Nate going?"
"You know how Nate is…" Mitchie began, then stopped. "Why do you ask?"
"Did anything out of the ordinary happen?" Shane pressed, his eyes locked on Mitchie's.
"With Nate?" Mitchie said automatically, then berated herself for bringing up that conclusion.
Shane paused, as if waiting for her to mention another possibility, but she didn't. "Or with anyone else?"
"What are you getting at?" Mitchie looked suspicious. "Why do you want to know, anyway? Did Tess tell you another one of her lies?"
"As a matter of fact, she didn't. And why are you avoiding my question? I thought we shared everything. You know, I thought we had an open and honest relationship."
"We do," Mitchie insisted, looking hurt. "At least, we did. I thought you trusted me."
"I did…" Shane said, looking down. "But if you can't even tell me what's going on with you, how can I?"
"I don't have to tell you every little thing that happens to me, OK?" Mitchie's voice rose, as everyone started staring at them, and whispered to one another, pointing at the couple. "You don't own me, and I don't have to report to you. I can do whatever I want."
"Or whoever?" Shane looked hurt, but not as much as he did the next second, which was when Mitchie slapped him.
"How…dare…you," Mitchie seethed with anger. "I would never do that with someone else. I'm not that kind of person, and you know it."
"Do I?" Shane said, looking at Mitchie with disgust. "After what I've just heard, I'm not so sure." He threw his napkin on his tray, stood up, and walked away.
"Whoa," Caitlyn said, accompanied by Liz. "What just happened?"
"Mitchie?" Liz said, shocked by the tears now running down Mitchie's face.
"He said I…I didn't…" Mitchie broke off, as her friends came to hug her and drag her away.
"Not here, you don't," Caitlyn said, as Mitchie burst into tears.
AN: Please don't hate me…for what just happened in the story, or for not posting in forever. I'll try to update sooner. As in, maybe once a week…? I'll try, but I'm not promising anything.