Nate's POV
The next morning after the bonfire debacle, the whole camp seemed to be subdued.
Even Jason.
And subdued was not a word I would use at all to describe my oldest brother. Not even when he was sick.
After putting on my hat, I was about to walk out of the cabin I shared with my brothers, when Jason's voice stopped me. The tone he used was sad and it made him sound far away, even though he was really right behind me. "You don't think..." He started, pausing only to swallow thickly. "That what happened with nearly all of the counselors leaving for Camp Star, will shut down the camp do you?"
I didn't want to admit it out loud but that thought had crossed my mind more than once the previous night. I was logical to a fault and Brown had mentioned that he was already short staffed. Sighing heavily, I answered Jason's question honestly, "I hope not," and then we walked out of our cabin together with Shane following close behind.
Somehow despite the subdued mood, the lunch cabin was all a buzz with rapid chatter, but everyone was basically having the same conversation. One person would ask if the camp was going to close and then the other would tell them just what I told Jason earlier, that they hoped it wouldn't.
I hadn't been around her all that much but I had learned quickly that Mitchie was an eternal optimist. She had been listening to the same conversations as everyone else, but was obviously tired of hearing about the camp potentially shutting down.
Earnestly, she told everyone, "Brown is a smart guy. I'm sure he'll figure something out."
"Thank you for that vote of confidence, Mitchie," Brown mused, his voice grateful but showing signs of wear as my Mom would say. "I guess I don't have to get everyone's attention. The good news is – and this really warms my heart – we lost very few campers last night."
The mood changed slightly as everyone clapped their hands and the dreary looks on their faces showed signs of happiness. Despite the fact that I was clapping along, I held back somewhat because I knew with good news always came bad news. I just hoped the bad news wasn't the news everyone was dreading – Camp Rock being shut down.
"But," He said with obvious resignation. "We lost quite a few of our remaining staff, which means and I can't believe I have to say this, Camp Rock is closed. Effective immediately."
Like wild fire gasps of horror and shock spread throughout the group of campers and the mood changed immediately. If anything, it was worse than before Brown had just made his announcement about closing down the camp. My chest felt tight and my stomach tumbled uncomfortably at the look on my Uncle's face – he just looked so defeated while at the same time he had to make this okay for the campers, more so than making it okay for himself.
"No, no, you have to believe me," He pleaded – no, more like begged. "Truly, I've got no other option. I'll start calling parents as soon as we're done here, which I guess is now. I'm sorry."
He shook his head sadly and then made his way toward the exit of the cabin. "Brown, wait." Shane called out before turning to me and Jason. "Come on guys." He urged earnestly and we quickly followed our Uncle with Mitchie's Mom, Connie hot on our heels.
*~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~*
Even though Shane had been the one to tell us to follow Brown outside, he was just as unsure of what to do as Jason and I were. It wasn't easy seeing our Uncle so upset. Usually he was an easy-going happy go lucky kind of guy; not unlike Jason, but now he looked like his whole life was crashing around him and it kind of was. Camp Rock was what he lived for, what he built his livelihood around now that he wasn't performing music and it was over. Just like that.
"What are we supposed to do?" I asked Shane.
I didn't mean for my voice to sound so harsh, but it was his idea to follow Brown out here.
"I don't know." He hissed back, obviously angry at the harshness of my voice.
"Well, we have to do something." Jason proclaimed. "We can't just let him sit there like that – all upset. Mom would kill us if she knew we didn't at least try and help."
Sighing, I lifted my hat from my head to run my fingers through my curls. I couldn't think of anything that would make the situation better and Shane looked like he was drawing a blank too, but suddenly Jason's face lit up and his eyes sparkled.
"I know!" He shouted triumphantly. "A birdhouse! Giving Brown a birdhouse will definitely make him feel better. If I was as upset as him, that's what I'd want and Mom always says I'm just like Brown. It's perfect!"
It was hard not to roll my eyes and I could see Shane getting ready to snap at our oldest brother, when Connie's soothing voice entered the fray as she put a loving hand around Jason's shoulder. "A birdhouse sounds wonderful, Jason, but I don't think that's exactly what your Uncle needs right now. Why don't you boys go back inside and I'll stay out here and talk with him, okay?"
"Are you sure he doesn't want a birdhouse, Connie?" Jason asked skeptically. "My Mom has been telling me since as far back as I can remember that I remind her so much of Brown, and he does like birds too."
Apparently being a parent gave you the ability to be super patient because instead of snapping or rolling her eyes like Shane and I would, Connie just smiled warmly at Jason and ruffled his hair. "I'll tell you what," She said. "After I'm done talking to Brown, I'll ask if he'd like you to make him a birdhouse. Until then head back inside with your brothers. Maybe you and the rest of the campers can put your heads together and try to figure something out."
*~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~*
I know Connie suggested that my brothers and I put our heads together with the rest of the campers, but didn't she know that with her own daughter around we wouldn't have to?
Mitchie came up with a perfect idea.
She suggested that she and Caitlyn, Peggy, Ella, Barron and Sander along with me and my brothers all become the counselors Brown desperately needed to keep the camp open. Not only would it take care of the staffing issue, but he wouldn't have to pay us – since the campers had already paid just to be there for the summer and me and my brothers were family.
Giving the happy brunette one of my rare smiles, I told her honestly, "That's a great idea, Mitchie. A really great idea."
Her cheeks flushed slightly and she smiled back at me. "Thanks, Nate. I'll go tell my Mom to send Brown back in so we can tell him the good news."
Once Brown walked back into the cabin, he found all of us standing side by side with the signature maroon Camp Rock counselor hats on our heads. It was understandable why he was confused since he probably expected a cabin full of sulking and depressed teenagers. Instead we looked eager and ready.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Well, you said you needed some new counselors," Mitchie said, stepping forward. "So...I found you some."
Slowly a smile spread across Brown's face and although it didn't last long, I could tell by the tint of his eyes that he was going to go along with the plan Mitchie had presented. "Well, then I guess I should call this staff meeting to order!"
*~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~*
After ending up in the dancer's cabin when I was supposed to be in the drum cabin and everyone else messing up their assignments on the schedule Mitchie made up, we figured everything out and things appeared to be on the right track.
I knew I shouldn't want to try and see Dana again or even catch a glimpse of her – she was Axel Turner's daughter – and if it hadn't been for him, there wouldn't have been a staffing issue at Camp Rock in the first place, but that didn't seem to matter as much as it should have.
Without a second thought, I found myself a pair of binoculars from one of the drawers inside the activity cabin and decided to take a chance and head out to the lake. Shielding myself behind several trees, I put the binoculars to my face and found her sitting behind a white piano on some kind of platform thing near the amphitheater where the bonfire had been.
I could hear the melody she was playing as her fingers expertly floated across the keys and with the afternoon sun high in the sky, the chocolate color of her thick hair seemed to shimmer, as she moved her head in concentration. I hummed along with the melody and couldn't help but imagine sitting next to her as she excitedly told me about what she was playing – her peach lips stretched into that smile from the night before and her chocolate eyes sparkling happily.
Just the thought of her looking at me like that had my heart skipping beats. But that was nothing compared to the jolt I got from hearing someone call my name, "Nate?"
Jumping up, I realized they were probably wondering what I was doing at the lake hiding behind a pair of trees with binoculars in my hands. "Yeah?" I asked before turning around and realizing it wasn't a generic someone from camp but my brother.
"Shane!" I shouted, my eyes going wide. Clearing my throat, I tried to sound as casual as I could and not like someone who was doing something they weren't supposed to. "What's up bro?"
I winced as the sentence fell from my lips. I definitely wasn't portraying the casualness in my voice that I had wanted to, and if it wasn't obvious just by the sound of my voice, it was obvious from the look on Shane's face.
"What are you doing?" He asked skeptically before looking down at the schedule in his hands.
Thinking on my feet wasn't exactly my strong suit, but in this situation, I didn't have much of a choice. Glancing at the binoculars in my hand and then the clipboard I had in the other, I told him, "Uh...Lifeguard duty! The schedule's a mess but you can't be too careful."
Lifeguard duty? That's what you told him! Lifeguard duty! He's never going to buy that. You're an idiot, inside my head I was berating myself harshly while at the same time trying to come up with a better excuse as Shane looked at me critically.
Turning back to the lake, I brought the binoculars back to my face and said in what I hoped was a convincing way, "Just one last look..." before I paused to take in the sight of Dana at her piano again and finished with the customary, "All clear," and then I rose out of my crouch and took off before he could question me about what I was really doing.
*~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~*
After relieving myself of my fake lifeguard duty, I made my way to the drum cabin where I was scheduled to teach a class. Lucky for me most of the kids who signed up were really good and there wasn't a lot of teaching involved because selfishly, I was filled with the urge to actually go across the lake and talk to Dana – not just you know watch her from behind a couple of trees like some creep.
"All right!" I called out loudly from behind all the noise the students and I were making as I taught them how to keep the time for "Play My Music." "That's it! Now pick it up! Bring it home!"
As the final clash of the cymbals reverberated off the walls, I took stalk of the reverberation and acknowledged with a nod of my head that they sounded good. Really good, actually. "I knew you could do it!" I told them, in what I hoped was an encouraging manner.
"Now it's getting a little late," I said glancing down at my watch. "So what do you say we all go and enjoy some free time?"
I stuck around just long enough to hear the campers cheering and high-fiving each other before I rushed off to grab my binoculars and a canoe so I could make my way across the lake.
When I was half way across the lake, I brought the binoculars back up to my face and much to my chagrin Dana was no longer alone at her piano. She was surrounded by other campers from Camp Star and while it didn't look like she was teaching a class, she was clearly involved with something.
Briefly, I thought about turning back, but decided against it. The sun was doing that thing to her hair where it shimmered in the light and the sight was just too hard to turn away from, so I just kept staring.
"Hey, man!" Sander's familiar jovial voice suddenly called out, making me jump like I had when Shane unexpectedly called my name earlier. Without waiting for me to acknowledge him, he asked, "What are you doing?"
"Why does everyone keep doing that?" I wondered aloud in a sharp tone that I could tell he picked up on when he said, "Sorry," even though I knew he really wasn't. "We're just doing our part as activity directors."
Warily, I asked, "What's the activity today?"
"Wakeboarding!" He shouted and that's when I realized that he was sitting on the back of a jet ski.
Somehow I could see the wave coming at the speed it was going while at the same time it appeared to be in slow motion and before I could even finish screaming in horror, my canoe flipped over and suddenly I was soaking wet.
Great, I thought sarcastically as I finally made it all the way across the lake, you're on your way to making another great impression on Dana, aren't you? Ugh. At this rate you might as well light yourself on fire in front of her. That might work out better.
*~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~*
Dana's POV
Somehow even from my perch on the platform where my Dad kept my white piano that he brought all the way from our house in the Hills back in L.A. (it was so I wouldn't get homesick), I could hear the harsh sound of a splash happening in the lake and for some reason, I decided to investigate.
I didn't know why I was compelled to see who fell into the lake or whose canoe had toppled over, it's not like I was a trained lifeguard or that I was going to jump in after them. But neither of those facts stopped me from moving away from my precious piano and making my way down the slope that took me to the edge of the lake.
It wasn't possible that somehow I knew it was his canoe that had toppled over. I mean I wasn't psychic or anything like that – not even a little like Rachel Berry claimed on Glee – and I was pretty sure that we didn't have that "I can feel you through walls" connection already that Sonny and Brenda from General Hospital, my Mom's favorite soap opera did.
But it was like I knew, when I reached the edge of the lake that I would find a soaking wet Nate Gray waiting for me.
My heart was skipping beats and I tried really hard to ignore the fact that he was wet, but I wasn't succeeding as well as I wanted to because I could feel my neck and cheeks heating up. Warmth quickly bloomed in the deepest part of my stomach and I could feel a tingling sensation rush up my spine as I found myself being able to smell his clean soapiness amongst the strength of the pine trees.
More slowly than I intended, my brain got back on track and in a rush I asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm great." He answered, sarcasm radiating from his tone.
I knew it wouldn't end well if my Dad caught me talking to him, but he didn't appear to be in a hurry to get back to the other side of the lake so after he sat down, I sat down next to him. I hoped I wasn't trying to be too casual (inside my stomach was filled with the same swarm of butterflies from the night before) as I wondered aloud, "Uh...I don't suppose you came over her to see anyone in particular?"
I tilted my head to the side and batted my eyelashes briefly in what was supposed to be a flirty way of encouraging him to admit what I hoped in my heart was true, that he got in a canoe and came all this way to see me.
"No," He answered and I tried hard not to let my disappointment show. "Just getting some exercise."
While that wasn't the answer I was hoping for, I wasn't going to let the conversation just end. Since he mentioned he was taking the opportunity to get some exercise, it lead me to asking, "Do you you play a lot of sports?"
"Canoeing that's um pretty much it."
My brief disappointment was quickly lifted with that comment and I could feel my lips forming into a smile. We had something in common. "I'm not really all that sporty either," I admitted. "I mean I played soccer when I was little but who doesn't it?"
Instead of saying anything, he just nodded and that left me to figure out a way to keep the conversation going. If I didn't keep it going, I would be compelled to reach out and brush away the wet hair away that was clinging to his forehead. Or worse, I would move closer to him in an attempt to really get the chance to inhale the cleanliness of the soap on his skin and that seemed super creepy, and the last thing I wanted was to freak him out.
I didn't know why I decided on confessing my stupid dream of being a dancer to him would be a good way to keep the conversation going but the words fell from my lips before I could take them back. "So um...I really don't know why I'm telling you this but I am. I don't really work a lot with the counselors here – I mean my parents have pretty much taught me everything I know about music, but if I could I'd take one of the dance classes here. Being a dancer is sort of my nerdy super secret if I could be anything dream."
I could feel the flush on my cheeks and neck deepening after I made my confession and in an effort to learn more about the very handsome boy sitting next to me, I asked him what he would be if he could be anything.
"I don't know." He told me with a shake of his head. "I never thought about it."
I gave him a knowing grin and tilted my head in a way I wanted him to think was cute as I said teasingly, "Probably because if you could be anything, you'd be you."
He let out a short chuckle – one that sounded rich and warm (like honey) and nothing like his singing voice that was kind of raspy and raw – and I couldn't help but follow suit with a short bout of laughter. When I stopped laughing, I fiddled absently with the sleeve of my thin sweater and remembered what I spent doing the night before after Tess and I had gone to bed.
I had turned on the book light my Mom gave me so if I wanted to read at night, I wouldn't have to flood my entire cabin and I could get away with being sneaky and (stupidly) in permanent marker like some crazy fangirl, I wrote his name on my wrist.
And for some reason, I decided to tell him that. Because that's not going to freak him out or anything.
"You want to know something really stupid? I was goofing around and I accidentally sort of wrote your name on my hand but used permanent ink by mistake." During my confession, I lifted up my sleeve so he could see my handiwork and to my surprise he wasn't freaking out.
It was as if his fingers were moving in slow motion as I saw them reaching out to touch my wrist. His voice sounded like he was in awe and it took on the raspy tone it did when he sang, making my whole body grow hot in an instant. "No one's ever written my name on their hand before."
"It's really more my wrist." I told him, brushing off the intensity of the moment with some seriously awkward laughter.
He laughed a little too and I didn't know how it was possible but after his laughter stopped and he said my name, "Dana," my temperature seemed to rise even more.
"Yeah?" I asked quickly, desperate to know what he wanted to say to me.
Then before he could say anything, we both heard the sound of someone calling my name from a distance, "Dana!"
It didn't take me long to realize it was my Dad and suddenly I went into panic mode. "Oh God, that's my Dad." I half-gasped half-whispered, rushing to stand up. "Ugh, I'm so sorry but I'm not supposed to be talking to you. Hurry go."
I felt horrible for making him rush away, which was the last thing I wanted him to do, but I didn't really have a choice. If my Dad saw me talking to him, he would be beyond pissed and my Mom was back home, which meant there was no one around to keep him in line. I winced as I watched him lift the canoe up and crawl underneath so he was basically sitting in the water and I wished there was something I could do, but there wasn't.
I could hear my Dad call my name again and quickly I reached for the canoe's paddle and stood up with a sweet smile on my face saying, "Hey!" Realizing I sounded loud – too loud to be more exact – I lowered my voice and said lamely, "I uh found this canoe..."
"Ugh," My Dad said in obvious disgust at the sight of the Camp Rock logo on the side. "It's one of theirs. I'll have an attendant fish it out."
He was about to put his sunglasses back on and leave, when he stopped and with his brows furrowing asked, "What's that on your wrist?"
Quickly, I pushed my sleeve back down and in a teasing way I brushed off his inquiry, "Nothing."
Apparently it worked because he just gave me a smile (one that said he knew I was lying) and walked away, leaving me thankful that he didn't push me because I really didn't want to get in a fight with him about Nate; especially with my Mom on the other side of the country.
*~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~*
I felt a little stupid for staring longingly at the canoe but I couldn't help it, I knew he was still under there and just knowing we were that close had my stomach flip flopping and my heart beating fast. Just as I propped the paddle against the canoe, I could hear footsteps approaching and mere seconds later I found Tess' ocean blue eyes staring back at me.
Her hands were on her hips and her pouty lips were twisted into a frown. She apparently wasn't pleased about something. "Where have you been?" She snapped, eyes narrowed for dramatic affect. "We've got vocals at the same time and the counselor won't start until you show up, for some reason. So come on, let's go! Just because you're Axel's daughter doesn't mean the rest of us have to wait on you."
"Sorry," I hissed as I walked away from the canoe. "I was enjoying a walk and I lost track of time. Starting the vocal class a little late isn't the end of the world, you know."
"Ugh." She huffed angrily. "Look, you can enjoy your walks and standing behind your keyboard or sitting on a piano bench, but that's not why I'm here, okay? I'm here because I want to be center stage and not have to take a backseat because everyone should have a chance. If that's what I wanted, I would still be at Camp Rock. So unless you want me to make your summer a living hell – and I will whether your Axel's daughter or not – show up on time. You may have time to waste, but I don't."
Every instinct in my body told me to get in her face and tell her to back off, but the last thing I wanted to do was cause trouble. After the summer, it's not like I was going to see her again so what harm would it do to let her diva out and rant?
Not enough to make me actually punch her like I kind of wanted to, I decided as I followed her back up the hill, effectively leaving Nate behind as he sat underneath his canoe.
*~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~*
Nate's POV
While I sat underneath my canoe, I could hear Dana and her Dad talking and once he walked away, I figured I would be able to come back up and hopefully talk to her just a little bit longer, but that didn't happen.
As soon as her Dad left, the sound footsteps approaching caught my attention and I sank further underneath my canoe, but I was still able to make out her heated conversation with Tess Tyler – one of the few Camp Rock defectors to Camp Star. It took all I had not to pop back up and give Tess a piece of my mind for practically yelling at Dana, but I knew if she found out what was going on, she'd definitely tell Dana's Dad who would obviously tell Brown and once that happened, I'd probably never see Dana again, so I didn't say anything.
Groaning, I remembered Dana asking me what I wanted to be if I had the opportunity to be anything and under my breath, I mumbled, "You want to know what I want to be? The kind of guy who can tell you how he really feels."
After a sharp shake of my head, I railed against the shelter that was keeping me hidden, deciding my stupidity was all its fault. "I hate canoes!"
Once I made the long trek back across the lake to Camp Rock, I was shivering from being drenched by the wave and then sitting in the water for so long that I was practically seething with anger at my own lameness. On my way back to the cabin I shared with Shane, I happen to walk (more like trudge, actually) by him and admitted without provocation, "I'm still an idiot."
With a smile and a chuckle, he once again agreed even though he wasn't supposed to. "And I still agree."
His laughter and the way he was looking at me, only made me angrier so I made my hand into a fist and I was just about to go in for the kill when he held up his hands and told me, "Dude, you can't keep hitting me!"
I wanted to hit him – so bad – but I pulled back and he put his hands back down as he said, "Thank you," just before Mitchie appeared out of nowhere and jumped on his back, sending him tumbling to the ground in an unceremonious heap.
Deciding that was punishment enough, I looked down at the pair who were a tangle of arms and legs and laughing happily as they straightened themselves and had to turn away quickly. I mumbled an absent, "Thanks, Mitchie," that was supposed to sound pleased, but watching them only made me feel worse about what happened with Dana.
Even though I wasn't too keen on being surprised, I would have given anything to suddenly have her appear out of nowhere and tackle me to the ground. If she did I would get the chance to smell the freshness of her perfume again and maybe after we untangled ourselves, her hair would have fallen in front of her pretty eyes and I could brush it away so I could finally figure out if the thick, shimmering strands were as soft as they looked.
Yeah, you are still an idiot, I told myself as I shook my head in disappointment while pushing open my cabin's door so I could dry off. A huge idiot.
End Note: I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has put this story on alert, reviewed it or added it to their favorites. It means more than I can say - since I know Nate and Dana aren't the most popular of pairings. Thanks for your support. I appreciate it and rememeber, you're all awesome, LOL.