Author's Note: I know Dana wasn't involved in "It's On," but I always found it strange that the competition was never addressed between her and Nate. I also think Nate should have been more conflicted about the challenge, so that's how I'm writing this part of the movie.

Also during the start of Dana's POV, I'm addressing why Tess was late to rehearse with Luke. Partly because I'm curious when it comes to stuff like that, but mostly because I'm enjoying writing Tess and Dana. They've become surprisingly fun for me, LOL.

And um just like the previous chapter, this story is now earning it's T rating. Like the adorable times a bajillion Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel on Glee) said via twitter sometimes people just like to wonder...Or in this case Nate and Dana's eyes like to wander – see what I did there? Genius, I know. LOL.

Nate's POV

I had never felt nervous in front of Brown before, but as his brown eyes – the same eyes my mother had – stared back at me, I felt like I was going to throw up. I knew he wasn't happy about Dana sneaking out in the middle of the night to come see me and if I was in his position, I wouldn't be happy either.

But his constant staring and the dead air that hung in the room from his silence, were starting to get to me and I couldn't take it anymore.

"Are you just going to stare at me? Or are you actually going to tell me how unhappy you are?"

My eyes went wide after I snapped at him. That was something I didn't expect to happen.

Not to mention, it was eerie how much I sounded like Shane when I did it. And that was definitely not something to be proud of. He was the snapper and the over reactor, I was the sensible, quiet one.

What the hell was going on?

Swallowing slowly, I let out the breath I had been holding ever since I made the long trek from my cabin to Brown's office and I apologized. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, Brown. I really didn't mean it. I just...I want to get this over with, you know? It's not like I don't know you're unhappy with me."

My uncle's stance softened and he let his arms fall away from his chest. Sitting on his desk, he let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. "I'm not necessarily unhappy with you, Nate. If anything, I'm unhappy with this whole situation that Axel has put me in by opening Camp Star and then of course pulling that stunt at his bonfire – you know stealing nearly all the staff I had left. And I know what you and Dana have going on – whatever it is – doesn't have anything to do with me and Axel, but you two should probably cool it. The last thing I need is Axel coming over here all riled up about my nephew corrupting his innocent little girl, not that you would do something like that, but still..."

"You don't have to worry about that." I interrupted him dejectedly. "After last night, things don't need to be cooled down. It's pretty cool already."

"Pretty cool already?" Skepticism was in both Brown's voice and on his face. "From what I saw last night, I would have to disagree."

"Nothing happened after you left." I assured him, crossing my arms over my chest. "And I don't think anything will happen."

I paused for a moment before I sighed heavily, "Honestly, though, I'm not even sure I'll see Dana again. After drying off, she just ran off so you can relax, Brown."

"I'll never relax when it comes to Axel Turner. Never."

"We're not talking about Dana's Dad, we're talking about Dana and she's nothing like him. But like I said, you don't have to worry about the two of us. Can I go now? I really just want to get back to doing the counselor thing. Surprisingly I'm actually enjoying teaching the drum class. The campers are really good this year, really good."

"Oh, don't be so down, chum. As the old saying goes, there are plenty of fish in the sea. More importantly, there are plenty of fish that aren't related to your dear old Uncle Brown's sworn enemy. You'll like those fish better, I promise."

I knew Brown was trying to get me to smile, but his corniness never did before and it wasn't going to now.

Not when it came to Dana.

But that didn't stop me from giving him a brief upturn of my lips before leaving the office.

*~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~*

"What did Brown want?" I heard Shane ask after I shut the door to Brown's office behind me.

"Do you have to ask?" I grumbled, sitting next to him on the steps. "It's not like you don't already know."

"For the record, I didn't tell him anything about the Camp Star girl whose bracelet hit you in the eye at the bonfire." Shane assured, holding up his hands defensively.

Taking a deep breath, his eyes locked with mine and he speculated, "He obviously figured it out on his own. And um, seriously, bro it's not like you were doing a great job of hiding it. I totally knew you were staring at her when you were supposedly doing lifeguard duty the other day."

"It doesn't matter if you said anything or not. I've already screwed everything up. So how about we don't talk about this ever again? I would feel a lot better if we never did."

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it? I mean I'd be happy to help you out. I do," He said in what I'm sure he believed to be a suave voice. "Have a way with the ladies."

I rolled my eyes and remarked dryly, "What does Mitchie see in you again?"

"That depends," Both Shane and I turned our heads at the sound of his girlfriend's familiar warm tone. "Was that a rhetorical question, Nate? Or do you really want to know?"

"Personally speaking, that was a rhetorical question, Mitchie. But since I was just getting ready to leave, you can share all of my brother's amazing," The sarcasm in my voice had her painted lips stretching into a brighter smile as she laughed. "Qualities with him."

I was halfway down the stairs, when her arm shot out to stop me. "Not so fast."

Arching an eyebrow, I asked, "Not so fast? Aren't you here to see Shane?"

"Not exactly." She admitted somewhat sheepishly, her doe eyes drifting down to her feet.

"I'm here to see both of you, actually. Last night during the campfire, Peggy, Barron, Sander, Caitlyn, Ella and I were all talking about the bonfire at Camp Star and how we wished we had stood up to them. You know showed them that Camp Rock was just as good and that we didn't need all that flashy stuff. So I came up with this idea...To um," She paused to take a deep breath. "Switch up Final Jam this year. Instead of all the campers performing, it would be us vs. them."

My stomach suddenly became twisted into the tightest knots it had ever been. Camp Rock vs. Camp Star? Was she serious?

"I think that's a great idea." Shane spoke up, making my eyes go wide. "This could really help Camp Rock and Brown too; we both know that he's been wanting to get back at Axel for years now. He tells us every Thanksgiving and Christmas."

"You're awful quiet, Nate..." Mitchie said hesitantly, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

Swallowing hard, I couldn't deny that Shane was right. If Camp Rock came out on the right side of this Final Jam thing, everything could change. It would be great for the camp that Brown had worked so hard to build up from what I remember to be a loan from our parents and not much else. But challenging Camp Star to this battle of the bands or whatever, would mean going across the lake and the possibility of seeing Dana again.

And if I did see her again, what was I supposed to say?

Letting out a rush of air, I nodded and said with more resolution than enthusiasm, "This doesn't happen often, but I agree with Shane. I think your Final Jam idea is great."

Before I knew what happened, the petite brunette let out an excited yelp that made me wince and then she leapt at me with a force I didn't think her small frame was capable of. To keep both of us from falling down, I wrapped my arms around her and gently patted her on the back before releasing her.

"What?" Shane asked indignantly. "I don't get a hug?"

Mitchie laughed before bounding toward him. I could see the apples of her cheeks flush as she peered up at him through the dark fans of her long eyelashes and as she rose on her toes, I shook my head and walked away to give them their privacy.

*~N&D~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

I didn't know why I even bothered looking for anything to wear.

Today wasn't going to be any different than all the days before. I was going to go up to the platform and I was going to play my piano. It's not like any international pop stars with soft, really pretty brown eyes, heart-shaped lips that twisted into adorable half-smiles and thick, dark curls that I wanted to run my fingers through were going to show up.

Sighing, I shut the closet that was on my side of the cabin and decided to ruffle through my suitcases. Finding a pair of cropped navy sweat pants and a white deep v-neck graphic T-shirt with a large lily on the front that looked like it was painted with water colors, I decided why not? I didn't have to dress in preparation for anyone seeing me, so why act like it?

It would be a miracle if I ever saw Nate again, anyway.

Slipping my feet into a pair of blue suede Puma sneakers, I twisted my hair absently into a ponytail and prevented any strands from escaping with two blue headbands. Not bothering with any lipgloss or blush, I was about to make my way outside, when Tess' forceful voice stopped me.

"Stop right there, Turner!"

Turner? I thought absently, Since when does she call me Turner? Wait a second, she doesn't even call me Dana.

Turning around, I found the petite blonde in what had become a familiar pose. Her hands were poised on her hips while her pouty lips were pursed together and her oceanic eyes were narrowed in disapproval.

"Unless you've suddenly taken up running, it's my duty as your quasi-friend or roommate or whatever, to stop you from walking out of this cabin looking like..." She paused and wrinkled her perfectly upturned nose as she finished with disdain, "That."

I looked down at myself before looking back at her, coming to the conclusion that there wasn't anything wrong with what I was wearing.

Rolling my eyes, I told her, "You may want to impress everyone with your perfectly coordinated outfits, but that's not something I'm interested in doing. It's summer camp, not a fashion runway. Sweats, a T-shirt and sneakers are perfectly fine. I'm sure there's someone else around here who has a real fashion emergency that you can help."

"Seriously," She stressed the word emphatically. "You'd let Nate see you like that? Are you insane? You're not even wearing lipgloss! And your hair? So not cute. It looks like you swooped it up because you forgot to wash it."

Don't hold back, Tess, a voice inside my head said. Tell me how you really feel.

I don't know why I decided to tell her about what happened with Nate the night before, but I did. Walking away from the door, I sat down on my bed and I had to admit (even if it was internally), she surprised me by sitting with me.

"He was there when my canoe pulled up to the docks and even in my pajamas, ballet flats and hoodie, he told me I looked beautiful," I could feel my lips turn upwards at the memory. "We didn't talk all that much, but we came so close to kissing and then his Uncle Brown caught us. He didn't say anything, which was nice and um...After drying off outside the cabin he shares with his brother Shane, that was sort of it. I didn't want to get him in any more trouble than he was already in, so I came back."

"So?" Tess questioned with a scoff. "That doesn't mean anything. Well, the almost kissing means something, but all that other stuff, please." She waived her hand dismissively. "Forget about everything that happened after Brown showed up. He almost kissed you and it's not like he would do that and just forget about you. This is Nate Gray, we're talking about. He's the sweet, sensitive one, remember?"

It was hard not to roll my eyes at Tess' description of Nate. She had to know, I knew she got it out of some stupid magazine like Tween Weekly or J-14. "He can be sweet and sensitive and have really pretty eyes, but that doesn't mean I'm going to see him again. And even if I did, does it really matter what I'm wearing?"

Unlike me, the pretty blonde didn't hold back her eye roll. "It always matters what you're wearing. Always. Which is why you're changing out of that monstrosity and putting on something that will make you look H-O-T, hot. And don't even try to say no. I'm like Kurt Hummel, I live for makeovers."

"Tess..." Her name left my lips in a warning tone, but that didn't stop her from leaping off of my bed and moving to stand in front of my closet.

With lightening speed, my clothes were being tossed out and I could only sit on my bed, immobile in disbelief at what was happening. I groaned as she tossed out a sweater dress I had packed for cool nights and insisted, "I can pick out my clothes just fine on my own. I really don't need your help."

"Ha!" She snorted. "What you're wearing says otherwise, Turner. Just be thankful I'm doing you this favor. The last thing, I'm sure you want is to look any less than radiant in front of your Romeo. He may have said you looked beautiful last night on the docks, but come on! He's lovestruck or whatever. That means him calling you beautiful doesn't count."

"Gee, Tess, you sure know how to make a girl feel good."

"It's not my job to make you feel good." She sighed as if she was making a grand sacrifice. "I'm here to make you look good. And I just found the perfect outfit that will do the trick. Nate's eyes are soooo going to bug out of his head when he sees you. I mean seriously, I don't know why you insist on covering up your legs in those awful leggings and tights you wear. I'd kill for your legs. Seriously."

*~N&D~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 couldn't help but squirm as I stood in front of Tess wearing the outfit she had picked out.

Normally I wouldn't squirm in a soft cardigan with a pair of distressed denim shorts, but at Tess' assistance and my reluctance, I wasn't wearing a shirt underneath the cardigan – just a bra – hence the squirming. I felt vaguely exposed and as her hands came up to undo several buttons, I batted them away, harshly.

Staring her down, I took advantage that I stood at least a head over her and shook my head adamantly. "I don't think so, Tyler. Is it not enough for you that I'm only wearing a bra?"

She scrunched up her perfect nose for a moment and with a huff, she told me, "It wouldn't kill you to unbutton a couple of buttons."

Pulling on the bottom of the cardigan, I desperately wanted to reach for the camisole I could feel underneath my bare feet, but I didn't. Instead I twisted my hair out of its ponytail and took off my headbands, letting the thick locks fall down my back and shoulders in their normal way. That made me feel a little bit better, but I was still a little self-conscious.

"Are you sure I look okay?" I asked in a small voice that made me cringe.

"You look great. Now go put on the black rain boots I saw near your bedside table. Rain boots aren't just – you know – for rain this season. Trust me."

My brows furrowed as I took in the sight of the rubbery boots laying near the aforementioned bedside table and for some reason my eyes found the clock in the room, which only made my brows furrow deeper. "Uh, Tess," I said slowly. "Don't you have to meet Luke for something? Isn't that what you were complaining about this morning while we brushed our teeth after breakfast?"

"Oh, yeah," She replied, sounding bored. "I totally forgot about that. Oh well, it's not like he'll die if I'm a little late. Before I go, no matter how badly you want to, don't put on the cami that's underneath your feet. You'll throw off the whole look and it's probably wrinkled by now anyway."

Forgoing her suggestion of rain boots, which did not make sense to me at all, I settled for a pair of flip flops and then made my way out of my cabin and to my usual perch at my piano on the platform near the amphitheater.

*~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~*

Nate's POV

It was hard not to be unsure about this whole Camp Rock vs. Camp Star challenge thing as I made my way across the lake with everyone who definitely was more enthusiastic about it than me.

Though, the logical part of myself had a point – why be worried about what Dana was going to say once she knew what was happening (and she'd know) – when I wasn't even sure if I'd see her again?

But knowing that didn't stop this lingering feeling that was nagging at me. It was the feeling that I didn't want to upset her. That I didn't want this thing to impact what she thought of me.

Although, I couldn't understand why I was I so worried about losing something I technically didn't even have?

Sighing, I took off my hat and ran my fingers through my curls and just as I put it back on my head, I heard

Shane ask, "Are you okay, dude? And don't do what you always do and sigh before you say you're fine. I want you to tell me the truth, Nate."

He paused like he thought I needed his words to sink in, even though I didn't. Then he asked me again, "Are you okay?"

I didn't sigh but I still told him I was fine, which lead him to stopping right where we were instead of continuing on with the rest of the campers and crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at me pointedly.

"I told you that I'm fine, Shane, what more do you want from me? I'm here and I know why we're all doing this, okay? I want Camp Rock to be here for as long as Brown wants to run it. I don't want anyone to force him to shut it down. Some of my best memories were spent here just like yours and just like Jason's, so don't imply that I'm not all in. Cause I am."

Sharply, I turned away from my older brother and as the resounding cheers of "Camp Rock!," rang out from the other campers as they clapped in unison, I kept their rhythm with the drumsticks in my hand and yelled along with them.

Once we made our way down the hill, it was hard not to go along with the impulse that told me to look for Dana, but instead of finding her familiar head of shimmering chocolate hair, there was only Tess and Luke, and I couldn't help the relief that flooded my frame in an instant.

As nervous as Mitchie had seemed when she told Shane and I about her idea, she definitely wasn't nervous now. It was like looking at another person as she took confident strides toward Tess and Luke, who were obviously surprised by the bold move we had all made.

"Yeah, that's right, we're here on your stage," She told them. "So you guys didn't really give us a chance to answer back last night, but guess what? That's going to change."

Backing up to her original position as head of the formation the campers made, she issued the challenge of, "Camp Rock vs. Camp Star: The Final Jam, what do you guys think about that?"

It was obvious by the way, Tess and Luke stepped back to be with the other Camp Star campers who were on the stage, that they were willing to take her challenge. Behind my drum kit and away from where the real fireworks were, I still scanned the scene for Dana, and I couldn't help but feel better that she wasn't around to see all of this.

My concern for what she would think, fell away, however when I heard Barron call out, "Drums!," which was my cue and I began attacking my preferred instrument with passion and precision.

"A little guitar, please!" His best friend Sander shouted as Shane and Jason began to play and then Mitchie's voice rang out with, "I hope you're ready for the time of your life..."

*~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

Show me, show me, show me...Show me, show what you got...Come on, come on, come on...Come on, ready or not...La, la, la, la, la, la...Let me see how you bop...It's on, it's on, it's on...

From my perch on the platform, I realized the melody I had been playing on my piano was being drowned out by something much louder – singing. The song wasn't one I recognized, but I brushed it off. I

knew Tess had gone to see Luke after she left me in our cabin so I figured they were engaging in some sort of diva-off, not unlike Kurt and Rachel from Glee did during its first season; only I was sure neither would purposefully throw it for the greater good.

As the singing grew louder, it didn't take me long to figure out that more than two people were singing.

Turning away from my piano, I saw campers from Camp Rock engaged in what looked like to be a scene that was reminiscent of The Jets vs. The Sharks from Westside Story with Tess and Luke and some of the other campers from Camp Star.

I couldn't help but be confused at what exactly was going on down on the amphitheater stage, so I decided to move a little closer and investigate. I swallowed as I ducked behind one of the bushes that lined the hill that would take you down to the stage, my eyes immediately finding Nate behind his drum kit. My heart pounded against my ribcage as I watched him expertly pound the skins of the drums.

It was hard not to get caught up in the sight. Most fans of Connect Three liked when he played the guitar or piano, I liked seeing him behind the drums, though.

Getting lost in the sight of him playing the drums, didn't last long. As the song came to a crescendo, I suddenly saw my Dad walking toward the stage as he clapped his hands. He stopped near the fifth or fourth row of seats and took off his sunglasses, and from my hiding place, I could practically see the wheels turning in his head and I suddenly felt nervous.

"I'm impressed." He announced, surprising everyone on the stage , I'm sure. "A little healthy competition is exactly what we need. A champion," He emphasized the word, making me cringe. "Always needs a good sparring partner!"

I giggled at the look of pure confusion on Luke's face, when he asked, his voice colored with shock, "We do?"

Ignoring him, he walked a little further down and in a casual tone questioned, "So...You really think you can take my guys on, head to head?"

Scoffs rang out amongst the Camp Rockers and a brunette that I didn't recognize answered him confidently and succinctly. "Anytime, anyplace." She assured.

As if she hadn't spoken, he was rattling off ideas, "Maybe use our amphitheater..."

The next Rocker who spoke was one I did recognize, even if it was in a vague way. She was Mitchie Torres, Nate's brother, Shane's girlfriend. Even though, she wasn't famous, it wasn't hard to place her as the "ordinary girl" who had captured the once difficult pop star's heart the summer before.

"It doesn't matter where." She said. "We just know that Camp Rock, is gonna blow you guys away."

"I'm sure an audience would be a better judge of that." My Dad offered, making my stomach sink.

"Bring it on!" A chestnut-haired girl in pink sweat pants shouted amiably. "You can pack it with anyone that you want!"

And that's when my Dad went in for the kill, and if it was possible, my stomach sank even further. "What about a world-wide audience? How about we put this little competition on TV? Have the public decide who's really the best."

After he made his suggestion, which he knew they wouldn't be able to say no to, I held my breath in hopes that cooler heads would prevail, even though I knew I was just wasting my time.

*~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~N&D~*

Nate's POV

My heart stopped as Axel's words rang repeatedly in my ears. What about a world-wide audience? How about we put this little competition on TV? Have the public decide who's really the best.

As much as I believed in what we were all doing, the painfully logical part of me knew we didn't stand a chance against Camp Star.

In front of a world-wide audience, the music and the soul and the heart could only take you so far. All anyone who was watching on TV would see was the pyro, the stage (that was so obviously theirs), and the dozens of special fx they would have and conversely they would see everything we didn't.

I knew how much Mitchie wanted to save Camp Rock – how much we all did, really – but they had to know the same thing I did.

Her confidence from earlier was wavering and she looked almost as sheepish as she did when she first told Shane and I her idea for this whole thing. Her voice quivered just a little and I guessed she realized what I had already. "Uh...I don't really know about this..."

Her hesitation earned a chuckle from Luke who needled her by saying, "Not such a big talker now, are you?"

She glared at him, but didn't say anything as Peggy's voice rang out, "But that would be so cool!"

"The whole world would see us!" Caitlyn yelled as her encouragement to Mitchie.

"Uh..." She started to say just as Sander reminded her urgently, "Come on, Mitchie, this could be huge!"

My heart that I believe had stopped, was suddenly lodged in my throat as I waited for her answer. There was no way she was actually considering taking Axel up on his offer. She had to know that this was just his way of getting back at Brown, of making her boyfriend's uncle look like a joke. She had to.

But apparently she didn't. Instead of saying no or telling him she'd let him know what Brown had to say about it, all she said was, "You're on."

Everyone's cheers and hollers filled the amphitheater with noise, but the only noise I heard was the rattling of my drumsticks as they fell out of my suddenly limp hands from the shock of what had just happened.

With all of the commotion happening, I almost didn't hear the harsh whisper of, "Pssst!" coming from behind me. Confused, I turned to look over my shoulder and crouched behind the stage was Dana. My eyes went wide and my heart that had been in my throat seconds before, was suddenly rapidly pounding against my chest.

What was she doing? I thought as panic raced through me. Didn't she know what just happened?

"Come on," She urged, her voice still tinged with a harsh whisper. "We can't talk here. But I um...I think we should."

I knew I shouldn't want to follow her, but her expressive eyes were pleading and I couldn't stop myself.

Honestly though, I would have followed her anyway just because she was willing to talk to me after the fiasco that was the night before, which instead of ending with a kiss (like it could have), it ended with her running off.

Standing amongst the bushes near the backstage area, I was swallowing hard and my heart was pounding against my chest for different reasons than before. It was hard not to notice the severe V the navy of her cardigan made against the milky skin of her upper body and for the first time (last night not withstanding), my eyes were drifting away from hers because I knew the only thing underneath her cardigan was her bra.

I could feel my cheeks and neck heating up as my eyes moved lower down her body and took in the sight of her lengthy legs. I had seen her wear shorts on the day, I made my way across the lake, but that day she had been wearing tights; today her legs were bare. I swallowed again when I realized so were most of her thighs given the length (or lack thereof) of her denim shorts.

When my eyes met hers again, I couldn't help but wonder if she knew that I had been staring. Silently she answered my question as I saw the apples of her cheeks flush with a warm pink tint, and while I should regret where my eyes had been, the pink tint to her milky skin only made her more beautiful and I couldn't.

"So..." I said before my voice trailed off as I realized too late that I didn't know how to start this conversation.

"If I could have stopped my Dad from going on with his whole thing about putting the competition on TV, I would have. I swear! It's just that – you know – if I had tried to stop him, what could I say? You know the boy you told me you didn't want me talking to – well, I'm still talking to him and oh yeah, I almost kissed him and the camp your in competition with means everything to him so I don't think you should do this? Is that what I was supposed to say? Cause I think both of us know how well that..."

"Dana!" I shouted her name, which effectively stopped her rambling.

Giving her one of my rare smiles – this one even showed my teeth (something that was extremely rare) – I told her as warmth erupted in the pit of my stomach from taking her hand in mine, which I didn't even realize I did until I felt her fingers wrap around mine, "It's cute when you ramble, but you don't have to worry. I know why you didn't say anything. Just like you know why I didn't."

She nodded and with her free hand, did what I had been wanting to do for awhile, tucked her shimmering strands of chocolate hair behind her ear. "Yeah." She murmured, the softness of her voice, skating along my nerve endings. "So um...This whole competition thing, it's not going to change anything that's going on with us, right? I mean we're still going to give 100% and all, but you're like not going to hate me or anything right?"

I gave her hand a squeeze and held her eyes with my own. "I could never hate you. With as big of a disaster as I've been around you, I'm just glad you're still talking to me. I didn't think that was going to happen after last night – you still talking to me, I mean, but I'm glad you are."

*~N&D~N&D~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

Eventually, I knew I wouldn't be surprised at how easy it was to get lost in Nate's eyes, but right now, I was still a little surprise at the lack of wandering my own did; especially when they had every reason to wander. But the memory of feeling his hard frame against mine and how the softness of my breasts meshed against the solidness of chest, was exactly the encouragement my eyes needed to wander.

The way the light-weight cotton stretched over the expanse of his chest, made the solidness I had experienced, visual and the definition of his arms was highlighted as the sun's warmth beat down on the somewhat neutral tone of his skin.

My temperature rose and my whole body, I was sure (even the parts covered by my clothes) was flushed pink. Bringing my eyes back up to his, I tried to think of something to say before one of us inevitably had to rush off (like always), but my mind was blank. Well, not completely blank. It was clearly too absorbed with the way he looked and the want to finally feel his lips on mine, that conversation wasn't its number one priority.

I boldly moved closer as my hand fell away from his. I missed the warmth and the strength his hand held while it encircled mine, but I wanted to make up for last night more than I wanted him to hold my hand.

Right now him holding my hand wasn't important. And besides hand holding could always (maybe) come later – you know if no one caught us standing amongst the bushes near the backstage area.

I brushed my frame against his and a shudder rushed through me, from head to toe.

The combination from the sturdiness of his waist, to the roughness of his jeans scraping my bare legs and his clean, soapy smell, had my head spinning. I wasn't sure how I was standing as my legs quivered underneath me just like they had the night before and as I leaned in, I was taken by surprise as his arms wound around my back, ensuring that I was completely pressed against him.

My head fell against the crook of his neck and I giggled as I felt one of his hands touch my hair. I knew we couldn't stay like this for much longer, but I had to ask why he wanted to touch my hair.

In the end, I never got the chance because the sound of approaching footsteps caused us to break away. I could see Tess and Luke coming down the steps and I tried my best to ignore the brief sweep of his hand across the small of my back as he made his getaway.

Biting my lip, my eyes fluttered as I tried to commit the warmth and heft of his body against mine. My tongue slipped from my mouth to wet my lips and I had to swallow because my throat was suddenly dry and thick.

And even though, I had objected to Tess' outfit selection, once Luke was gone I would have to tell her thank you. Because I wanted nothing more than to have Nate look at me the way he did after we ended up standing here, again. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, my stomach swooped, goosebumps erupted across my skin and yet at the same time, I was warm all over – from the inside to the outside.

"What are you doing back here?" The raspy tone of Luke's voice drew me out of my head, the sound cracking in the silence the sharpness of a whip.

I blinked repeatedly in an attempt to regain my senses. Clearing my throat, I shrugged my shoulders casually, "I decided to take the long way to the cabins from my perch on the platform and as I came down, I saw that the stage was occupied. So what was all that about?"

Luke crossed his arms over his chest and Tess' oceanic eyes gleamed knowingly as she stood by his side.

"All that?" He questioned, his voice sounded higher – almost like he had been insulted. "All that was us being challenge on our own turf by people who don't want to do anything, that's what all that was. And your Dad – he agreed to the challenge. So that means rehearsal – bright and early – starting tomorrow. Don't be late and don't get nervous."

To my surprise, as he walked past me, he pushed his shoulder into mine. My eyes went wide and I was blinking again, but for an entirely different reason. "So that just happened," I mumbled to myself, shaking my head in disbelief.

"Since Luke doesn't know, it's up to me to add this to his demands of – don't be late and don't be nervous – don't even think of throwing this competition for your Camp Rock Romeo, Turner. You better be sweating, hurting, aching and giving 100% just like the rest of us. Because if you even think of pulling that stunt, I'll run and tell your Daddy everything I know."

Sighing heavily, I assured Tess, "Relax, okay? There's no need for threats. I know what I have to do and Nate knows what he has to do. This whole competition thing doesn't have anything to do with the two of us. I'm not giving anything less than 100%. I want us to win."

"You better." And just like Luke, as she walked past me, she pushed her shoulder into mine.

Looks like quasi-friend was too much of a leap for her, I thought with a disdainful shake of my head. Guess we're back to being silent roommates.

End Note: This note is to alert all of you that we are one step closer to the pinnacle of adorableness, which is of course, Nate singing "Introducing Me" to Dana. Eeeek!

Now here's the scoopage for the next chapter, four words: brotherly bonding and kissing. Yes, that's right I said kissing. I feel like JONAS L.A. (for some reason) is ugh jipping us out of a Nacy kiss and Camp Rock 2 jipped us out of a Nate and Dana kiss so there will be a kiss in the next chapter.

For me, I think it sets up the little mini fight Dana and Nate have before "Introducing Me" better – if you know they had kissed or at least you know hugged. Because for me, not telling her anything about himself wasn't enough for Dana to be mad at Nate.