Essential Circuitry

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Camp Rock or the Jonas Brothers. Camp Rock belongs to Disney and the Jonas Brothers belong to themselves.

Characters: Shane, Jason and Nate

Words: 1, 234

Author's Notes: Sorry this took so long. There's a lot going on at my place at the moment but I was determined to write this today. Thanks to you all for being so patient!

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It was nearing sundown when Nate finally made his way up from the isolated jetty he had found earlier in the afternoon. For most of the time he had been down there, he hadn't been able to shake the feeling of being watched, although he simply attributed that to his nerves. Either that or his cabin mates were spending their time spying on him. Unlikely.

Nate had to admit, his cabin mates didn't seem that bad in all honesty. While Jason had been a little weird or perhaps eccentric, it wasn't as though he was unpleasant. And while yes, perhaps his other cabin mate, Shane, had come across as a bit of a jerk, Nate knew it was his own behaviour that had sparked such a reaction. He hadn't exactly been the most friendly or hospitable person.

Glancing up and seeing everyone else heading for the mess hall, Nate assumed that it must be dinner time. Following the crowd, the younger teenager did his best to blind in, wanting nothing more than to not stand out.

"Nate!"

The cry caught his attention and Nate's head snapped up, trying to locate the source of the sound. His eyes quickly landed on Jason who was waving at him from a table in the corner, Shane sitting opposite him. Realising that no one else was going to call him to over their table, Nate made his way over to the older boys.

"Hi," he said quietly, ducking his head.

"Hey!" Jason replied cheerily. "Where did you run off to?"

"I just…I was around," he murmured, sitting down on his own side of the square table.

"That's cool," Shane shrugged in a blasé manner. "Jason and I just had a mini-jam session and then I showed him around."

"Did you know that Camp Director Brown is his uncle?" Jason asked, sounding stunned.

"Your uncle runs this place?" Nate repeated, eyes wide.

"Sure does," Shane answered, linking his hands behind his head. "And he told me that you were keen to be here," Shane continued, raising an eyebrow. "Not the way it looks to me. So, what changed in those…nine days?"

Nate flushed, hoping he wasn't about to be caught out. "Nothing," he lied.

"Yeah well, just so you know, you don't have to be scared because you're little," Shane told him.

"Excuse me?" Nate demanded, unable to stop his hackles from rising. "You think that because I'm thirteen I'm little? And just so you know, I am not scared, especially not of you."

"Whoa, whoa, okay!" Jason hastily intervened. "Let's just pretend that nobody said anything. Let's think about music and dinner and birds! Or dinner," he finished sheepishly, seeing their pointed expressions. "Dinner's always good, right? You know, food?"

"I guess," Nate admitted, a shy, soft laugh escaping him.

"I don't really know if you can count the stuff we get served here as food," Shane grimaced. "I came here last year to help my uncle out and I can tell you, I have never had so much bad food in my life. I'm still seeing a therapist."

Nate smothered a giggle behind his hand and Shane prided himself on the accomplishment. Nate didn't seem like too bad of a kid, just like Jason had predicated, and his face lit up whenever he laughed. Not to mention he liked Shane's jokes, which was always a plus in his books.

After that initial interaction, the conversation started to flow more smoothly between them, though Nate was mostly silent. It was very rare for him to contribute in any way and Shane merely put it down to the fact that he was shy. Nate did appear to be enjoying himself though, so he and Jason must have been doing something right.

"Getting back to music," Shane said, folding his arms on the table-top after their plates had been cleared away, "Since this is a music camp and all, which of you is going to-"

Shane was cut off as Dee caught everyone's attention with a loud shout.

"Hey all you campers!" she yelled, grinning broadly. "It's time for your Opening Night Jam. Who wants to be the firs-"

Dee didn't even get to finish as Shane erupted from his chair, flying down to where she was standing. Amused laughter followed him as various campers congratulated him on his enthusiasm. Nate looked on in wonder, wondering how Shane could be so confident and nonchalant. Didn't he know that performing was terrifying? Make one mistake and it could all come crashing down.

"Hey everyone! How are you all doing tonight?"

Apparently not.

One look at Shane's vibrant expression and dancing eyes and Nate could tell that in front of a crowd was where Shane felt most at home. As Shane let the responses come back at him, he grabbed an acoustic from one of the displays on the walls.

"I thought I'd do something a little different," he explained, pulling up a single chair, followed by a mic stand. "I know you're all expecting a big number and a grand performance but I'm not going to do any of that. I'm just gonna give you Shane."

Mutters flew around the room, many in approval, others not, but all of them ceased when Shane started strumming, eyes closing as he lost himself in the music.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

I've been roaming around, always looking down at all I see
Painted faces fill places I can't reach

You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody

Nate felt his eyes widen, exchanged an astonished glance with Jason. The way Shane was playing and singing, it was just flawless. The entire room was silent, watching Shane with baited breath, clinging onto his every note, every lyric.

Someone like you and all you know and how you speak
Countless lovers undercover of the streets
You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Off in the night, why'd you live it up, I'm off to sleep
Waging wars to shape the poet and the beat

I hope it's going to make you notice
I hope it's going to make you notice
Someone like me
Oh, oh, someone like me
Oh, oh, someone like me, somebody

Shane's voice echoed off the walls, emotions coming out plain and clear. Everything he was, everything he kept hidden inside, it was all now on public display in the form of his music. What Shane was giving them was raw. He was baring his soul to them, and each and every one of them was being drawn to it, like a moth to a flame.

I'm ready, I'm ready
I'm ready, I'm ready now

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, someone like you, somebody
Oh, oh, someone like you, somebody
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

I've been roaming around, always looking down at all I see

Shane gave one final strum and then looked up at his fellow campers expectantly. Cheers erupted and everyone clapped enthusiastically, well beyond impressed. Jason was up on his chair yelling and Nate gave soft, quiet claps.

He knew now: Shane might be a lot of things, but if there was one thing he was, it was talented.

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A/N: and here is the unveiling of chapter 4. I wrote it today at work so it may not be all that great but I hope you manage to enjoy it anyway. So, Shane and Nate are sort of starting to get along and Jason is just being himself. And also, the first jam. I can tell you now, picking the songs each of them were going to sing at each jam was by far the hardest part when I was planning this. Please comment and let me know what you thought; your feedback is greatly appreciated!

DG777