Hey! Ugh I have been INCREDIBLY busy it's unimaginable. I was dragging my laptop with me everywhere and plopping myself on the floors writing this chapt the whole day. I'm sorry it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, but I really have no time to rewrite. Thanks to the people who made me want to sit and type everywhere all day: elisabeth2me for reviewing, live-in-dreamland1 for reviewing (can I just say you are totally awesome for being my most constant reviewer!) 711slurpeerocks (you too! totally awesome for being a constant reviewer!) and to answer your question, Shane knows who Mary is, he just doesn't really have a face to put to the name since he's never met Mary. And, as Nate didn't know his 'mystery girls' name, Shane wouldn't have known that Mary was Nates mystery girl. I hope that clears up some questions (: totally rock awesome people up here^^

Pleas enjoy this chapter, I was kind of tired but I hope its still up to scratch!

Disclaimer: (I forgot to put these in the other chapts) I do not own the characters here of Another Cinderella Story.

Chapter 8: Drama Drama Drama

Why does it always seem that bad things happen to me and only me? Why was I the only one standing in the freezing cold of December soaked to the skin with coke staring into the eyes of a teenage popstar that had haunted my every thought for the past day?

Oh and not to mention the hoard of obsessed girl fans and media that were there to witness—and capture—the whole thing.

"Can't you just leave Mary alone!" Mitchie cried behind me as she struggled to pull the door of Tess's convertible open. Bianca had locked it and now she was staring at Mitchie, her eyes wide with horror, probably praying that Mitchie wouldn't jump into the car herself.

"Buzz off Torres!" Tess shrieked at her.

"Only when you apologize!" Mitchie shouted back, crossing her arms angrily. I tore my gaze away from Nate's and turned around, wrapping my fingers around Mitchie's arm. "Mitch don't do this, I'm fine," I started, my voice shaking from the cold.

Mitchie growled. "That's what you keep on saying, and that's exactly why they keep on doing this to you. Mary, you have to stand up to them." I squeezed her arm, my vision blurry with fresh tears.

"Mitchie. Please, don't do this. Please," I pleaded, trying not to seem too desperate in front of the crowd. She sighed and stepped back, glaring at Tess's sneering face. "She is such a—" I squeezed her arm.

"Mitch…" I warned.

"Possum! I was going to say Possum!" I rolled my eyes. Everyone sighed and the atmosphere slip back to the way it was before Tess doused me. The fans started crowding around Connect Three again, and I stood there, staring at Nate as he tried to push past them to get to me.

I felt my cheeks burn and I looked down to stare at my feet, goosebumps running along my arms. I was freezing.

"Let's get you cleaned up," Mitchie said, pulling on my hand. I smiled at her and shook my head. "Go and talk to Shane. He looks like he's suffocating over there," I jerked my head in Shane's direction, his face barely visible above the rest of the girls.

Mitchie was hesitant. "But…"

"Go." I pushed her a little in Shane's direction. If I couldn't meet Nate today, I was going to make sure that Mitchie met Shane. Mitchie nodded slowly, her face brightening when her eyes locked with Shane's.

I smiled at Mitchie's happiness. At least she was getting her Cinderella story all put together. In my life, the pieces just never fit. Mitchie shot me a I'll-meet-you-at-lunch look before she walked over to Shane.

She pushed right through the crowd and fell straight into Shane's arms. Again with the crazy flashes from the media. I felt a pang in my chest. I wanted something just like what they had. But I was happy for them.

I turned away to make for the side entrance to the school, pulling at my shirt that was stuck to my skin. I was too embarrassed anyway to talk to Nate, not after what happened. What would he say? I couldn't even imagine. Besides, I was a maid, no scratch that. I was practically a slave.

And Nate? He had everything and more. He was famous. He would never see anything in me except a girl trying to be more than she was even capable of.

I shivered again and sniffed, more tears started to roll down my cheeks. I had to get cleaned up soon, or I would catch a cold. Suddenly, I felt something warm and soft—softer than velvet even—brush my bare shoulders.

I stopped walking for a moment, my brain temporarily frozen. I breathed in the soft smell of… was that a cinnamon roll and chocolate chip cookies mixed together? Surprisingly, it smelled good. I breathed in one more time before I turned around to face the owner of the jacket.

"Nate?" I asked astonished as I looked up at his beaming face.

"Hey," he whispered back. For a moment I was completely mesmerized. I had never been this close to him before. I was even enveloped in his jacket, his smell surrounding me.

"He… hey," I stuttered back.

We stood there, staring at each other for a while, not knowing what to say. But it wasn't really an awkward silence. It was actually comforting, like our eyes were having the conversations. And between us, I could feel this electrifying connection. I couldn't explain it. It was a lot stronger than it had felt that other day.

A cold gust suddenly blew and I shivered, groaning unconsciously as I shrunk back into the jacket.

"Are you okay?" he asked in a flash, his hands hovering centimeters from my arms, he wasn't quite sure what to do to make me feel better.

I nodded. "So… did you manage to get away from them? The girls… I mean. The other day… you know when we…" I trailed off, breaking our connections as I looked up at the darkening sky.

"Yeah I did. So… I never did get your name." He smiled and another surge of electricity washed over me. I grinned back, soaking in the moment.

I tried to memorize his face as he smiled at me. The way his hair moved in the wind, the long lashes of his eyes. The colour of his irises, deep and hazel and mysterious. It was like a never ending tunnel. The length of his jaw, the way his lips moved when he spoke.

"You never did get my name," I repeated stupidly, then quickly tried to make it sounds like I was teasing him. He smiled at me again, and this time I tried to stay focused.

"And what would you do to get my name?" I asked teasingly.

He cocked his head to the side, pretending to think very hard as he scrunched his eyebrows together. "That is a very good question."

"It is," I agreed impishly, feeling myself relax more and more in his comforting presence.

"I'll just expose you as a big fat meanie to the paparazzi that has been stalking me since I moved here." He grinned at me as he raised one eyebrow.

I laughed and punched his arm lightly. Oh no, was that too flirty? Or too guyish? I blanked out for a moment, wondering whether Nate liked girls that were all about fashion or looks, or girls that were into sports, or girls that washed toilets during the weekend.

"So what's your name, miss?" Nate asked again, trying to fake a British accent as he did a little bow for me. I giggled at how nerdy he liked to act—that was totally unexpected.

"It's—"

"Come here you cutie!" I heard Tess's voice squeal next to my ear and suddenly I was staring at empty space. I snapped my head to the direction I heard Tess's voice and there she was, her arms wrapped around Nate's neck.

And her lips were pressed on Nate's lips. They were kissing. I stood there, rooted to the ground, staring at them as my heart started racing. Tess's hands travelled down his back and wrapped his arms around her waist. They were still kissing.

And it didn't look to me like Nate was trying to resist. I felt more tears roll down my cheeks. I was right. Nothing good ever happens in my life. I shrugged out of his jacket just as Nate pulled away from Tess.

She turned to face me, a big smirk erupting on her face. "Oh hey Mary. I didn't see you there," she said innocently, blinking her eyes at me. I tossed the jacket at Nate and it hit him square on the face.

"Keep it," I said through gritted teeth. His face was flushed and he was breathing heavily. I looked into his eyes, trying to see if he really enjoyed it. They were unreadable.

"Mary," he started as he reached out to me.

I stepped back, shivering from anger and the sudden gust of wind. "Don't touch me!" I choked out between tears. Tessa sneered at me as she pulled Nate back. "She's so not worth it Natey," I could have puked there and then.

I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to get away. I needed to clean up and I needed to get to class and I needed not to exist. "Don't call me that! Get away from me! Mary!" Nate said as I turned away.

I guess I was never meant for a happy ending. I ignored the shouts from Nate that pleaded me to go back. If I listened to him, I really would turn around.

"Mary!" he shouted as he grabbed my hand and pulled me to face him. "Listen to me, please."

I looked away. "Nevermind, go and hang out with your girlfriend. I…"

I could almost imagine Tess laughing at me in the background.

"She's not my girlfriend!" he said angrily.

I pulled away from Nate.

"Keep telling yourself that."

I ran.

So… how was it? Please review, I have a few things I would like my readers to tell me. (: was this what you were expecting? Did you like how things turned out? Or did you want something else, tell me what you were dreaming about! And… do you wanna hear nates point of view of things, or do you want to have some Smitchie time?

Please review okay?

Love
CauseimFearless