Go ahead, please. Tell me I'm the worst person ever. I need a title for being the slowest updater. I AM SO SORRY! Ive had writers block, and I just wrote this out real quickly two days ago, and I don't have time to edit. ): IM SORRY IF ITS SO BAD IT MAKES YOU WANT TO NEVER COME BACK TO THIS STORY AGAIN. And I'm so sorry, I don't have time to do individual thank yous this chapter. But all of you who reviews/favorited/alerted thank you SO MUCH. When you press that button, you just made a difference in my life (: you guys are so important to me for the things you say and encouragement you give me. When all else in life sucks, I shall turn to you guys. Haha okay well on with the story. Its kinda rushed, im sorry): hopefully itll be enough to last until chapter 23 (:

Disclaimer: I don't own Another Cinderella Story or Camp Rock

Chapter 22:

Alex POV

"Mitchie, I can't do this!" I said for the fifteenth time that minute and stalked towards the staircase. But Jason and Shane were there, blocking my escape. "Come on, Mary! You'd been at this for half an hour!" Shane whined. "Nate won't eat you! I promise." I frowned and crossed my arms across my chest.

"Hormonal girl feelings Shane. You wouldn't understand." I said hastily, trying to push my way through the two of them. "Not so fast!" Tami and Mitchie whisper yelled and pulled me backwards.

"It's going to rain!" I pleaded desperately. "The thunder would be so loud I'd have to ask him out shouting. I can't do that!" Mitchie laughed. "I'm sure you'll manage."

" I hate friends who care." I muttered to them. "Good to know." Tami smiled sweetly and stopped me outside Nate's door. "Go on Mary." She said encouragingly. Mitchie winked at me and grabbed Tami's hand, heading for the staircase and leaving me standing in the hall alone.

"We'll be downstairs!" She squealed excitedly and all four of them disappeared from sight. The way they acted, it was as if they were the ones asking someone to be their date for the dance, not me. Was it normal for girls to ask guys anyway?

I clutched onto the CD nervously. Well, Mary. Never know unless you try. I mean, this is Nate. The one guy you've ever met who made you feel something. He's something special. He protects you. He likes you even if you have nothing. I breathed in. The sound of thunder outside the window shocked me and I jumped. Suck it up, Mary. Nate's worth this.

Slowly, a grin spread across my face. You can do this. And with a shaking hand I turned the doorknob.

His bedroom seemed empty. Strange, Shane had told me Nate was in his bedroom. I walked in cautiously and closed the door quietly behind me. "Nate?" I asked. I heard some noises coming in from the bathroom and felt myself violently blush. Don't tell me he was showering! But then, I heard some rustling movement from the bed and turned my head. There was Nate, in his bed, and he was sitting up, staring confused at me.

"Mary?" I gripped my CD nervously. If he was on his bed… then who was in the bathroom? I didn't have time to ponder much, since the door opened and I jumped back.

"Oh, Nate, I thought you said everyone else went out!" A shrill voice exclaimed.

"Tess?" I whispered, my voice cracking. What was Tess Tyler doing in Nate's bathroom, wearing a bath robe of all things? I stumbled backwards against the door and turned to Nate, confusion on my face. "Nate?" I whispered. "What's she doing here?" Nate seemed as shocked as I was. Good acting, I thought to myself bitterly.

"I have no idea. How the heck did you get in here, Tess?" Nate asked angrily. Tess blinked innocently. "You invited me Natey." And then she daintily hopped on the bed and wrapped her arms around Nate's neck.

Tears were already falling down my face. This couldn't be happening. Everything couldn't have been a lie. It couldn't have been a lie! I clutched at my chest desperately, feeling a pain there that seemed to burst inside me. The CD in my hand felt like it was melting. I was such an idiot.

Nate pulled away from Tess's grasp. "Mary! This isn't what it—"

"Looks like." I whispered through my tears. "I know." I turned around and flung the door open, the light from the bedroom filtering out into the dark hall.

"Mary!" Nate called, and I could hear his footsteps on the carpet following after me. But I didn't turn back. I wanted to so bad. But I couldn't. He'd trick me again. I rubbed my tears away and hurried down the stairs, the sound of his footsteps growing louder.

My heart was beating so fast against my ribcage. "Don't let him catch me!" I screamed at Mitchie, Tami, Shane and Jason as I ran past them. "Mary? Mary! What happened?" And soon Mitchie and Tami were up on their feet, chasing after me.

I turned for a brief moment and saw all five of them following. I ignored them all, I couldn't deal with seeing anyone right now, and ran to the front door, pulling it open and rushing into the rain. It felt so good to be out of the house, letting the rain mix with my tears.

I shouted as I ran away from the house, running to nowhere. I didn't know where I was headed—I just needed to get away from Nate. And just like that, when the mere thought of him entered my mind, I stopped running.

My clothes were now soaked through to my skin, and my hair stuck to my face as the rain pelted down on me. I was still clutching the CD for dear life. Slowly, with a shaking hand, I reached up and pressed down on my chest where my heart was still beating erratically.

And soon I was jerking violently with sobs. I didn't understand this. I had barely even known Nate for two weeks. Then, why was this so painful? What was happening to me? I couldn't breathe right. What was this? I hadn't felt this heartbroken since my parents died.

I dropped to the sidewalk, bringing my legs to my chest. "Why?" I shouted into the rain, my voice lost in the rumble of the thunder. "Why does it hurt so much?" I yelled. "Somebody help me!" I screamed. But it was useless. No one would ever want to help me, except Mtichie and Tami. I was just the charity case. Just a fling.

I sat there for a while, just shaking, letting the water roll down my skin. Finally, I heard footsteps running towards me and soon, Tami and Mitchie had come, bringing a large umbrella that towered over the three of us.

"Mary! Thank god! Do you know how late it is? And there's thunder. We've got to get you back." Tami said, supporting my shoulder as she and Mitchie pulled me up. When I was finally standing, I nearly collapsed on them both. "I don't want to go back." I whispered.

"Mary! Don't be difficult." Mitchie said, struggling to balance me and the umbrella. I looked at Mitchie and Tami, and realized they were both getting wet too. I was such an idiot, dragging them both into this mess.

Ignoring the searing pain in my chest, I slowly let them lead me to the house. When we reached, Nate was standing in the driveway, soaked to his skin too. When he caught sight of me he immediately rushed forward. "Mary, are you okay—"

"Don't touch me!" I said and stumbled backwards. "I don't know why I like you so much." I shouted at his face, wincing at his pained expression. "And I don't know why this hurts so much because it shouldn't!" I screamed again, my voice cracking.

Nate reached his arms out to me. "Mary, I had nothing to do with it! I swear, Tess planned it all and—" I scoffed. "So she just broke into your room?" Nate nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

I shook my head sadly. "I can't believe you'd lie like that." I took one more glance at his face, now twisted with sadness and anger. "Mary, just listen. Give me five minutes!" But I couldn't. I didn't want any more lies. There was only so much hurt I could take before I broke.

I climbed into Tami's truck silently, Tami and Mitchie following me. I ignored Nate, who was pounding on the window, desperately trying to open the passenger door I had locked. "Drive, please." I whispered, before breaking out into tears. Tami pulled away while Mitchie engulfed me in a hug.

"It's going to be alright, dear. Just let it out."

But it wasn't going to be okay. I could feel myself breaking already. Just… falling apart.

And the only one who could piece me back together was far behind me, standing in the driveway as I disappeared.

This chapter was one of the shortest yet, but I thought I owed you guys a bit ): im sorry the most dramatic chapter was written the worst ): Im so sorry, but writers block was killing me and I didn't want to keep you guys waiting.

Tell me how you feel about it please. You all know how I feel about reviews by now (:

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