A/N: Hey all. Thank you to all my readers requesting an update. I'm sorry I haven't been able to do so consistently, but my boss is just weeks away from sending his book to his publisher and I've been spending hours everyday editing chapters. Good news is, it's due to the publisher late next week and then I'm officially free, LOL. So hopefully that'll mean more consistent updates. I do go back to school, I'm in my last year of law school, at the end of August, but I'm a night student and I'll have plenty of time to write (even in class, LOL). So anyway, super long A/N over. Thanks all for reading!

Kadence

Disclaimer: Camp Rock and its characters are the property of the Disney Channel. I own nothing…I merely borrow for my amusement, as well as yours.

Chapter 11

Since the kiss, Mitchie had avoided Shane at all costs. But this afternoon the group had a rehearsal at Idol and Mitchie would be forced to interact with Shane.

Now Mitchie was standing on the Idol stage with Connect Three and Idol's host, Ron Oceancrest.

"Okay, so you'll be performing your song "Broken Wings" first. Now, just so I know how to announce it, is that your new single?"

"No, it's a song I wrote, actually in the middle of my meeting at Lava Records," Mitchie said with a laugh.

"You improvised a song in the middle of a meeting with a major label?" Ron asked, shocked.

"What can I say? I'm a risk taker," Mitchie said, shrugging her shoulders.

"And a musical genius," Nate said.

"Aw, thanks Nate. But it takes one to know one," Mitchie replied with a laugh.

"Alright, I'll leave you guys to run your song," Ron said.

Nate quickly went over some details with their band, before turning his attention to Mitchie, Jason and Shane.

"Okay, so Mitchie, you're going to start; Shane, you've got the second half of that verse; then Mitch, you and I have the bridge and everyone on the chorus. Everybody's got that?"

Mitchie smiled and rolled her eyes at Nate's take-charge attitude. He was every bit the leader of Connect Three.

Her eyes caught Shane's and he smiled at her. She smiled back, but quickly turned away.

Mitchie knew she had to deal with whatever was going on between them, but her head and her heart were pulling her in two different directions.

**********

"That sounded great guys," Ron said. "Thank you so much for taking the time to do the show."

"It's our pleasure," Nate said.

"Yeah, we're happy to do it," Shane said.

"Mitchie, boys, that was excellent," Brown said. "Now, we've got a tour meeting and a meeting with your stylist, so pack up quick."

"We'll see you for your radio show tomorrow," Nate said.

Mitchie and Connect Three were doing Ron's morning show to talk about their appearance on Idol later in the week.

"See you, bright and early, tomorrow," Ron said. "I'll bring the coffee."

"Bye Ron," the others said as they made their way off the stage.

**********

A short time later, Mitchie, Shane, Nate and Jason were standing in an empty conference room at Lava Records, dressed in their Idol clothes, while their stylist, Michelle, made last minute adjustments.

"Now, obviously I don't want you to be identical, but I don't want you to clash either," Michelle said. "Stand next to each other so I can see how you all look together."

The boys were all wearing some degree of grey pants: Nate was wearing a grey jacket and tie; Jason was wearing a vest with his button down shirt; Shane was wearing a purple tee shirt and a grey suit jacket, though his outfit had a metallic look to it, making it appear more silver than grey. Mitchie was wearing a short silver dress and silver heels.

"Okay, that looks good," Michelle said. "Mitchie, are you going to be comfortable in those shoes on stage?"

"Yeah, it should be fine," Mitchie said. "These heels aren't as high as some of my others."

"Alright then," Michelle said. "Go get changed and give those outfits back to me so I can put them in their garment bags until Wednesday."

"Hey, uh, Mitchie?" Shane said, catching her arm before she could leave. "Can we, uh, can we go somewhere and talk after this."

"Yeah, I think that's a good idea," Mitchie said.

**********

Thirty minutes later, the two were in Mitchie's kitchen. Caitlyn had gone next door to the Grey's house with Nate and Jason. Mitchie was currently feeding Sky a jar of baby food, peaches, while Shane made sandwiches for Mitchie and himself.

"Mitch, I've hated the way we've been avoiding each other this past week," Shane said. "And I know it's my fault that things have been so awkward between us."

"This wasn't your fault Shane," Mitchie said. "I…you were being honest about your feelings, and I just…I panicked."

"I know, but I…I know how much your life has changed over the past few months, and I shouldn't have tried to complicate it further," Shane said.

"Shane, I know that's not what you were trying to do," Mitchie said. "Look, I want you to know…I do feel the same way, Shane. I know there's something between us. And I definitely want to see where things go."

"Well, that's a good start," Shane said.

"But," Mitchie said.

"Or not," Shane said.

"It's not bad, Shane, I promise," Mitchie insisted. "I just…my friendship with you, Nate and Jason is very important to me. Not just because we work together, but because you guys, and Caitlyn, have become my best friends, and I don't know what I would do if I lost that. And I'm just afraid that if we do this, Shane…if we go down this road together, as a couple, and it ends badly, I'm going to lose my friendship, not just with you, but with Nate, Jason and Caitlyn. And I don't think I can handle losing anything else. Especially something as important as my relationship with all of you…especially you."

"I know you're scared, but how will we know how great it can be between us if we don't try?" Shane asked.

"That's not my only concern Shane," Mitchie said. "We have to consider Sky in all of this. She is my daughter now. And while nothing will change right away, eventually, if things are serious enough, you become an instant father. I can't ask you to do that."

"You're not asking me to do anything," Shane said. "I know that you and Sky are a package deal and that's never been an issue. I've never had a problem helping you take care of her. The only thing that may change is what Sky calls me."

"Wow," Mitchie said, her eyes filling with tears. "Are you sure about this?"

"I've never been more sure of anything," Shane said.

"Okay," Mitchie said, taking a deep breath. "Can you give me some time to think? I'm not saying no, I just…I need to take a few days to convince my head that my heart is making the right decision. Part of me is still terrified that I'm being selfish, asking you to get involved with me, knowing I have Sky. But the rest of me doesn't care. My heart knows that I have feelings for you."

"I can handle that," Shane said. "Take all the time you need. As long as I know that you and I are going to happen, whenever it happens, I can wait."

"Thank you," Mitchie said, kissing his cheek.

**********

Early the next morning, Jason was drinking a coffee, while Nate and Shane were downing cans of Red Bull. Mitchie was occasionally taking sips of her tea while feeding Sky a jar of bananas.

They were currently sitting in a greenroom at the radio station, waiting to do Ron Oceancrest's morning show. The group was noticeably less tense than they'd been previously, and everyone was relieved that Mitchie and Shane had finally talked.

"Five minutes," a station intern said, sticking his head into the room.

"Hey messy, can I have that spoon back please?" Mitchie said, laughing as Sky grabbed the spoon from her and attempted to feed herself.

"Are you giving your mommy a hard time Sky?" Shane asked, reaching for the spoon so Mitchie could clean the baby with a wet rag.

"Oh, you are all sticky baby girl," Mitchie said, wiping Sky's hands and face.

The others watched the sweet exchange as Mitchie and Shane worked together to clean Sky up after a messy breakfast. Brown had been concerned about Shane's closeness with Mitchie, but knew the boy was an adult and could make his own decisions. Mitchie was good for him and if they chose to be together, Shane could clearly handle the responsibility that came with Sky.

I'm already in the middle of Chapter 12, so I promise it won't be so long between updates. Thanks for sticking with me!

Thanks for reading!

Kadence