AN: OMJ, you guys are awesome! I never expected anyone to review, and, well…4? I'm stunned…seriously. Wow…I'm speechless…

I know I usually mention the reviewers from last chapter right about now, but you know who you are, and you know you're all awesome and the best reviewers ever. And thanks to all my wonderful subscribers/people who added me to their alerts list. You're the best :-)!

Now who wants to find out what happens next? Well then, you'd better be reading it right now (speaking in Brown's accent, of course. That'd be the only way it'd work, wouldn't it?).

Disclaimer (I always forget this part): I own nothing except my own ideas.

Chapter 28

"OK, spill," Caitlyn commanded, as Mitchie flopped down on her bed face-down. "And stop crying. No guy's worth it. Especially not Shane."

"Y-Yes…h-he…i-is…" Mitchie tried to say, hiccupping as she spoke. "I love him. And he hates me!" Mitchie started wailing.

"I'm sure Shane doesn't hate you. He loves you," Caitlyn said softly, glancing at Liz for help.

"Caitlyn's right," Liz said, looking concerned. She was so worried about Mitchie that she forgot about her own situation with Jason and Ella. "So what happened?"

"I don't know," Mitchie said, trying not to cry. "First Shane doesn't kiss me, then he says he's had a bad day, then he says he can't trust me anymore…And I didn't even do anything wrong!" Mitchie started sobbing again, as Caitlyn and Liz rubbed her back comfortingly.

"Shh, Mitch, it's OK. I'll take care of Shane," Caitlyn promised.

"You're not going to kill him, are you?" Liz's eyes were as round as saucers.

"As much as I'd love to, no. But I am gonna love torturing him. I think I'll start with his hair products," Caitlyn's eyes glinted maliciously.

"Caitlyn, don't," Mitchie pleaded, looking up from her tear-soaked pillow. "Just find out why he's acting like this."

"Fine," Caitlyn sighed heavily after glancing at Mitchie for a moment. "You take the fun out of everything. Liz, maybe you should stay with Mitchie for a while?"

"OK," Liz said, happy to help.

Caitlyn walked over to Connect 3's cabin, and stopped when she heard Tess' voice floating out the window.

"You know you can always count on me, Shane," Tess replied smoothly, laying her hand on his arm.

"Thanks, Tess," Shane said, looking distracted. "I just don't know what to think."

"Maybe you need to get some air or something," Tess suggested. "Maybe we could walk around the lake. Would you like that?"

"You know, that's a great idea," Shane said. "I think that's just what I need. Thanks, Tess."

"Anytime," Tess purred seductively.

Caitlyn hid behind a bush as she saw Shane and Tess walk outside. Tess was holding onto Shane like he was her lifeline, and from the looks of it, Shane didn't seem to mind a bit.

"I can't believe it," Caitlyn said, shocked beyond belief. She decided to put a stop to it.

"Hey, Shane, Tess," Caitlyn silently made her way towards them before she announced her presence.

"Caitlyn," Tess barely nodded after turning around and seeing her there.

"Hey," Shane smiled at Caitlyn, who smiled back.

"Tess, Brown said he needed you to help him with something?" Caitlyn blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

"OK," Tess shrugged before walking off. "We'll take that walk later, OK?"

"Sure," Shane smiled. "Bye, Tess."

"Bye," Caitlyn waved until Tess turned around.

"So, you ready for…?" Shane was going to ask about the upcoming jam, but Caitlyn cut him off.

"How could you do that to Mitchie? With Tess?" Caitlyn fumed, beginning to pace.

"OK, first, Mitchie did that to me. And second, Tess is just being nice," Shane defended himself, although his eyes were starting to flash in anger.

"Tess? Nice? Since when?" Caitlyn laughed harshly. "You know Tess is after something, probably you, and I can't believe you can't see that she's trying to get you all to herself. Don't you care about Mitchie at all? Don't you care how Mitchie would feel if she saw you and Tess together?"

"That's funny. If I remember correctly, Mitchie didn't care enough about me, or she wouldn't have cheated on me with some random guy," Shane's voice rose.

"You know better than I do that she wouldn't do that," Caitlyn said, defending her friend. "Mitchie loves you, and you love her. Don't you?"

"Wouldn't she?" Shane's eyes were mixed with doubt, anger, and maybe a little fear. "And I do love her. But if she likes another guy…"

"Mitchie? No way!" Caitlyn exclaimed. "You and Mitchie are like…Jason and birds."

"Then why wouldn't she answer my question?" Shane sighed, then looked insulted. "HEY!"

"Oops, sorry," Caitlyn giggled. "Force of habit, I guess."

"Yeah, right," Shane mumbled, looking hurt. "What should I do?"

"You're asking me?" Caitlyn was stunned.

"Yeah, you're her best friend. What would Mitchie want me to do?"

"Talk to her," Caitlyn responded immediately. "And don't jump to conclusions."

"I guess I could try," Shane said. "Maybe you could come too, just in case."

"In case what?" Caitlyn looked confused.

"In case we need a referee," Shane said, as if that were the most obvious reason. "Come on, we've got a little while before class starts."

"Right behind you," Caitlyn said, following him out.

Meanwhile…

"Liz, what am I going to do?" Mitchie said, her eyes red and puffy now. "Shane will never give me another chance. You know how jealous he gets."

"Of course he will. He loves you," Liz said. "And if you want, I'll talk to him for you."

"No, I have to talk to him," Mitchie decided, although she was a little worried about what he would say.

Just then, Nate walked in.

"Hey Mitchie, Liz. Have you seen Caitlyn?" Nate said, before noticing Mitchie's red eyes. "Mitchie, what's wrong?" He bent down and hugged Mitchie.

"Everything," Mitchie started crying again. She'd looked at Nate, and thought of Connect 3, and Shane. And thinking of Shane, and their fight, made her start crying.

"Liz, would you excuse us please?" Nate said softly.

"Sure," Liz said, torn between wanting to help Mitchie and leaving her alone to cry.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure she's OK," Nate smiled, and Liz couldn't help but believe him.

"I hope so," Liz said, turning around and leaving.

"Mitchie, what is it? What's wrong?" Nate said, his eyes full of concern.

"It's Shane. We fought, and he said he couldn't trust me. Nate, what if he hates me?"

"He doesn't hate you, Mitchie," Nate said firmly. "No one could."

"But he was so mad, and…" Mitchie sat up and hugged her knees to her chest. "What if it's over between Shane and me?"

"Then Shane's an idiot," Nate murmured softly. "Mitchie, you're…"

"I'm what?" Mitchie looked at Nate, wondering what he was thinking.

"It's probably not my place to say," Nate backtracked.

"Go on," Mitchie urged him. "I'm what?"

"You're amazing," Nate finished. "You're talented, kind, caring, loyal, and sweet, and Shane's an idiot if he can't see that."

"You really think so?" Mitchie stopped crying, and Nate handed her some Kleenex to dry her eyes. "Thanks, Nate."

"You don't have to thank me," Nate insisted. "It's true."

"I wouldn't say that, but it's nice to hear," Mitchie said, smiling now. "Thank you, Nate." She pulled him into a hug, and Nate froze.

"Um, Mitchie?" Nate pulled away, getting that feeling again. He pushed it away, and tried to think about Caitlyn.

"Nate, I…" Mitchie looked at him, then away.

"No, listen," Nate said, going around so he could look at her. "Maybe it's me, or maybe it's us working together for these past few days, but…"

"Nate, don't. I can't do this," Mitchie said, looking sad. "I'm sorry, but I love Shane. And you love Caitlyn."

"I was just going to say that," Nate smiled, letting out his breath slowly. "I know we both felt something, but it was just you missing Shane and me missing Caitlyn. If you thought it was more than that, I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Mitchie said, relieved. She grinned, and said, "Friends?"

"Friends," Nate smiled back, pulling her into a hug. "You're one of my best friends, Mitchie, and I wouldn't want it any other way."

"Me either," Mitchie said, hugging Nate hard.

"So, this is who you're cheating on me with?" Shane said, walking in with Caitlyn. His eyes were full of hurt and anger. "My supposed best friend and bandmate?"

"Shane, I…" Mitchie and Nate sprang apart, both looking guilty.

"How could you?" Caitlyn said, her eyes accusing. She glanced back and forth between Nate and Mitchie. "My boyfriend and best friend? I never expected this from either of you. Tess, maybe, but you two? I guess I was wrong."

"Caitlyn, wait, I can explain," Nate said, as Caitlyn turned and ran out. He chased her out the door.

"So the minute after we fight, you're in here trying to hook up with Nate, huh?" Shane said harshly, tears forming in his eyes.

"No, Shane, I didn't," Mitchie said, beginning to cry again. "Nothing happened."

"Save it for someone who cares," Shane laughed bitterly, then turned so Mitchie couldn't see him cry. "We're over. You can tell your new boyfriend that. I'm sure he'd love it. And you can also tell him he's out of the band. And that I never want to see or speak to either of you ever again."

"Shane!" Mitchie said, trying to say something in Nate's defense. "We didn't do anything…"

But Shane slipped out before Mitchie could say anything else, and Mitchie was curled up in a ball, crying her eyes out.

AN: Please review? Even if you hate it?