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, Nate and Jason

Words: 1, 859

Author's Notes: can I apologise again for the ridiculously long delay? I spent what felt like ages on this last night, only to come back this morning and discover I'd only written two paragraphs. -.-' I got the rest of it out today though so it is all good. Hope you like it! :)

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The count down was on for Final Jam. With only one week left until show night, everyone was throwing themselves into action. Dances were being choreographed, songs were being written and tweaked, and campers everywhere were working on banners, costumes and whatever other form of decoration they could think of.

Shane was always in the middle of it all. He flew from group to group, grinning broadly at every new discovery he made. This was what he loved: seeing music being created and then lived out according to its creator's dreams. His face was a permanent smile, white teeth shining against his tanned skin.

"This is so awesome!" Shane declared as he walked back into Cabin Coda, flopping onto his bed.

Nate looked up from where he and Jason had been quietly jamming together on the floor. "Thanks for being descriptive," he drawled, though his humour was evident by the way his eyes shone.

Shane mock-scowled at him. "I mean this," Shane explained unhelpfully, waving a hand in the air dismissively. "You know, everyone coming together because we all love the same thing. I can't wait for Final Jam."

"It is gonna rock," Jason conceded, nodding his head appreciatively.

"It does sound pretty cool," Nate agreed shyly, ducking his head when his friends openly beamed at him. Even Nate was powerless against the lure that was Final Jam.

"As cool as it sounds, we still don't have a song," Jason pointed out. "We can't perform if we don't have anything to perform."

"And you realised that all on your own," Nate smirked, giggling slightly at his friend's shocked expression.

"Hey!" Jason protested indignantly. "Just because I love birds doesn't mean I'm dumb. I have brothers and sisters. Thinking is kind of a must. If you don't, they control you." He shuddered at what were obviously memories.

"…I really don't think I want to know," Shane said slowly, Nate raising his eyebrows too. "Why don't we go to the lake?" he suggested, effectively changing the subject. "We can go there and talk about songs we wanna do. Besides, it's cooler down there."

No one was going to argue that point and they were soon trekking through paths they had long since memorised. Shane was a blur of movement, so energetic he was almost hyper. Nate, and even Jason were, by comparison, merely lumbering along. Although, since both teens had acoustics on their backs they were being much more careful.

"You guys are so slow!" Shane whined dramatically as he pranced ahead.

Nate just shook his head in response, Jason poking out his tongue. Shane mimicked the gesture before breaking into a dead run and pelting down towards the lake shore that was only a few metres in front of them. Too late did he catch sight of the tree branch that had plainly fallen down in the night. As it was, his foot snagged it and he was sent somersaulting through the sandy shore.

"Shane!" Nate and Jason called in unison, running as fast as they were able to.

"Well that was fun," Shane grumbled as he pushed himself up, shaking his head and sending sand flying in all directions.

"Are you okay?" Nate demanded worriedly, eyes wide with fright.

"I'm fine," the fifteen-year-old muttered.

"That was seriously awesome!" Jason exclaimed, grinning a tad bit madly.

Shane scowled at him. "Thanks for the concern."

"I thought you said you were okay," Nate remarked cheekily.

That left Shane floundering and all he could think to do was pout indignantly, flicking his hair out of his eyes. As he did so though, a small stream of sand fell onto his face. Running a hand through his dark locks, Shane's expression could only be described as horrified.

"My hair is ruined!" he huffed, brushing as much sand out of it as he could. "Do you know how long it's going to take me to get all of this out? You guys have to let me know if you see someone coming. I can't be seen with hair like this!"

"Dude, it's summer camp," Nate scoffed. "No one cares what your hair looks like."

"I care!" Shane protested valiantly. "I cannot be seen like this."

Nate giggled, raising his eyebrows at Jason. "Not he 'won't' be seen like this; he 'can't' be seen like this."

Shane wanted to pout at his friend and whine and moan but really, he couldn't. The fact that these teasing remarks were coming from someone who, only even a week or so ago, was too scared to say anything even remotely joking for fear of offending people made it all worth it. He couldn't find it in his heart to complain and he had no desire whatsoever to scold Nate, no matter how much in jest he meant it, because he knew that, if he did, Nate would be retreating back into his shell instantly.

"Okay!" he suddenly declared, startling his friends who had been playfully bantering back and forth – no doubt at his expense. "Let's go and sit somewhere private so we can discuss ideas."

"Private?" Jason repeated, though he was already following Shane without thought.

Shane shot him a dazzling smile. "We don't want anyone to steal our ideas."

"I think we actually need ideas to steal before people can steal them," Nate deadpanned, dropping onto the wooden pier and setting his guitar in his lap.

"Do you always have to be right?" Shane complained, copying him and flopping down, Jason doing the same.

"So…" Nate started. "Any ideas?"

"Plenty," Shane crowed proudly. "It's just up to us to decide on one we like. But it needs to show who we really are. It needs to be real. If it doesn't tell people who we are and what we are, then there's no point."

His cabin mates nodded seriously. Seeing that they were respecting the gravity of the situation, Shane pulled a bunch of papers from his back pocket. Reverently, he laid them out.

"These are what I've come up with so far," he said. "Now, which one do you want to do?"

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The topic had been debated back and forth for a more than lengthy period of time. Once a unanimous decision had been made, practise had immediately begun. Jason and Nate had whipped out their acoustics and set about learning the chords Shane had presented them with. Shane had eagerly sung along, loving the way their instruments and voices just blended so well.

They had practised for so long that night had well and truly overtaken them. Shane had suggested they return to their cabin but Nate had been adamant they continue for "a little longer". While both Shane and Jason knew he was only insisting because he didn't feel confident about being able to perform to their standard, something Nate needn't be worried of, they allowed him to continue, to bolster his self-esteem if nothing more.

Their impromptu jam session had been pulled to an abrupt and non-negotiable halt when Nate had actually fallen asleep. Him falling asleep had not been an issue. The issue had been that, when he had dropped off, he had toppled off the pier. Shane had hastily lunged forward and yanked the young teen to his chest, shouting for Jason to save the guitar, knowing Nate would want it safe.

The sharp jerking motion had woken Nate up, thoroughly bewildered when he found himself on top of Shane, wrapped in the other boy's arms. The thirteen-year-old had stared at Shane blankly until he was finally pushed back into a sitting position, where he was then told what had just occurred. Face burning with embarrassment, Nate had quietly thanked both of them, suggesting that perhaps they turn in for the night.

They had intended to go to sleep – really, they had! – when Jason had heard the distinctive hoot of an owl and practically flew from the cabin, the arm that had taken a firm hold of Nate's wrist forcing the younger teen to follow. With two out of three disappearing into the night, Shane had followed blindly.

Despite Nate's multiple begs and pleads, he had not been let go and had been mercilessly dragged through the forest. Jason did however, at Shane's warning, slow down enough that Nate wasn't constantly tripping over his own feet, the thirteen-year-old almost too tired to function, let alone run and jump various obstacles.

Finally though, Jason had found what he had desperately been chasing all summer. Rather forcefully, something that earned him an indignant glare from Nate, he had pulled them all to an instantaneous stop. Breathlessly, by wonder or exhaustion no one knew, he pointed up into the tree tops and pointed to the still occasionally hooting owl.

"There Nate, there!" he exclaimed in a whisper, excitement impossible to miss. "Do you see it? Do you?"

Nate rolled his eyes but scrutinised the branch that was being pointed out to him. "Yeah," he said after a moment, a tiny smile forming across his face. "I see it."

"Awesome, right?" Jason asked, beaming at him.

"Hardly awesome," Nate told him, half-teasing, half-serious. "But I'll give you a pretty cool at least."

"I'll take that!" Jason chirped happily, turning to stare back at the majestic bird wistfully. "Do you think my mom would let me get an owl?"

"I doubt it," Shane said slowly, clapping his friend on the shoulder and leading him back towards their cabin, Jason complaining every step of the way. "Jason, think of it this way. If you went away again, would you trust your mom to mind your owl?"

The mouth that had been open promptly snapped shut. "No," he admitted grudgingly.

"Then maybe it's for the best that you don't have one," Shane consoled before swivelling his head to check on Nate, who was tiredly plodding along behind them. "Come here Nate," he beckoned quietly, a sympathetic smile forming on his face.

Nate cocked his head in confusion but half-jogged over, not possessing the energy to do more than that. His brow furrowed when Shane crouched down and held out of his arms.

"Come on," Shane called, "Jump on."

"Hey! How come he gets a piggy-back?" Jason demanded, folding his arms sulkily.

"Because you're too heavy," Shane shot back, giving Nate an impatient look when he failed to comply instantly. Sighing exasperatedly, knowing he would never win, Nate finally did as asked, clambering onto his friend's back, tightening his hold as he was lifted off the ground. "Okay?" Shane asked.

"Yeah, fine," Nate mumbled, not entirely comfortable with being carried but also a little bit thankful at the reprieve from walking.

"Good," Shane nodded to himself before starting to walk. As Jason got ever further away, always being distracted by who knows what, Shane tilted his head to glance at his friend. Nate's eyes were already starting to slink shut. "Hey Nate," he whispered, the teen groaning tiredly before answering.

"Yeah Shane?"

"You didn't seem too excited about finally seeing your first real life owl."

"Mmm."

"Any reason behind that?"

"…Birds make me nervous."

Shane glanced at his friend incredulously before bursting out laughing. Of course they did.

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A/N: okay, so when I watched Camp Rock 2 for the second time, I heard Nate say that birds made him nervous. I laughed at that, knowing how much Jason loves them, and so decided to throw it in. But anyway, there's the chapter. Just do you know, there's only one or two chapters left in this, so don't expect anymore terrible drama to come your way.

IMPORTANT: please chuck me your suggestions for a song for Final Jam! I'm really struggling to find a perfect one. Keep in mind that it's Connect 3 performing, not Jonas Brothers! Thanks heaps guys. :)

DG777