T W E N T Y - E I G H T


_No one's P.O.V_

The prom was only days away, yet the atmosphere of Silver Palm high school wasn't exactly light enough for any parties, especially one of the biggest celebrations of the school year. Many students and even some teachers had notices the changes between a certain group of 6 teenagers.

Particularly in Shane Gray. His grades had never been low to begin with, but now Shane had become head of the senior class with straight As on his work. He arrived just on time to every class, treated the teachers with the best respect, and tried his very hardest to be the best he could be.

One pair of deep brown eyes had been watching it all every second. She noticed every time he would walk in the class minutes before class began instead of after. She saw how sweet and respectful he treated everyone. But mostly importantly those eyes could see the real Shane Gray that wasn't hiding anymore. Now all eyes could see him instead of just two.

Digging through her locker for her Biology book along with her homework, Mitchie sighed. It was that time of the school day again; last period. Biology had never been her strongest subject but that wasn't the reason for her unwillingness to attend.

It would mean suffering another hour of sitting next to Shane as the teacher droned or even worse, they watched a movie in the dark. Mitchie could never forget last Thursday as they watched an old, boring movie with the lights off and blinds close. She was about to just throw her head back and scream or jump out her seat and pounce on Shane, so close and warm at the small desk.

Slowly, she was healing. She and Shane hadn't exactly spoken a one on one conversation but it wasn't too awkward. Let's get this torture done with Mitchie grumbled internally and slung the black strap of her book bag over her shoulder, slamming her locker shut.

Just a few feet away, Shane was watching her. He wondered why she looked ready to run in traffic as she slammed the hideous door of her green locker and stomped to class. He winced realizing it was Biology. Though it was never said aloud, it was obvious to him both teenagers hated that subject now. He hated having to sit so close knowing his presence was hurting her but most of all he wanted to just touch her and hold her, making the pain just go away.

Shane sighed as well but followed the rest of the students into the classroom ready to prepare his mind to not leap over the desks and kiss her senselessly.


"I'm just gonna get some water!" Alex called to Miley as the brunette began her walk to class. She nodded and began down the hallway as the other 16-year-old headed to the water fountain.

Alex held back her deep brown almost black locks as she sipped the icy water and felt a presence behind her. Leaning back up, she swiped her hand over her mouth and turned around instantly putting annoyance over her features yet her heart fluttered.

Justin sheepishly waved making Alex try her hardest not to giggle. Alex Russo does not giggle like Miley or Mitchie. "Hi." The elder boy mumbled glancing at his sneakers.

She rolled her eyes. "Hi, what do you want now?"

Justin immediately snapped his eyes up at her pissed tone and sighed. She was always in a bad mood with him and he couldn't stand it. "I want us to be friends, Alex. Is that really the most horrible thing in the world?"

Alex scoffed, folding her arms tightly across her chest. "I don't want us to be friends, Justin so just leave me alone!" She swerved past him and began marching down the halls secretly wishing things were different. She really missed him.

"Wait!" Justin yelled running over to block her feet from moving. "Look just tell me…what did I do? I mean Nate and Shane were bigger jerks that I was to you, but they get forgiveness and I get the attitude!"

Alex looked away from his ocean blue eyes, feeling discomfort creeping up her stomach. He was right, though she hadn't exactly forgiven Shane but Nate did get her help and sympathy more than once. But it wasn't her fault! Nate needed her and he had no one else!

"Please," Justin pleaded cupping his cold hand over her cheek and tilting her face to link their eyes. "Don't you miss…everything?"

Alex snorted, slapping his hand from her face and took a step back. "Don't give me this shit, Justin! Where the hell were you months ago when I did miss you? Fucking Stella or whatever chick, that's what you were doing! Don't come along out of nowhere expecting me to just forgive you!"

"Please Alex I'm trying!"

"Couldn't you 'try' before?! What the hell do you want me to do, Justin? Get down on my knees and cry about how much I missed what we use to have?! I'm not gonna do that, now leave me alone!"

Alex shoved him away and began speed walking to get away. Tears were beginning to spike her eyes and she refused to cry in front of him, in front of anyone. But Justin wasn't having it. He sprinted down the hall, snatching her hand and gently rotated her to meet his eyes again, but not letting her look away.

"You think I'm so stupid don't you?!" Justin hissed. "You think I didn't notice all those times you were staring at Shane and how you always talked about him?! I did see it Alex and dammit it really hurt seeing you want to be with him when we were fucking dating! All summer I had to put up with it because I loved you but once we got here, I was done. Yes, we were idiots and got involved with all that popular shit but you didn't exactly try to help anything Alex! I'm not blaming you; I'm saying this is also your fault here, ok? You hurt me, I hurt you, can't we just move on?"

Alex shook her head, refusing to listen to the truthful words that poured from his lips. "Things aren't that simple, Justin."

"But they can be. Friendship is all I want. You can have that with Nate, right? Why can't we? Please let's just try and see where this takes us."

She pursed her lips and exhaled. "Fine, come over tonight and…we'll make plans or whatever." Alex mumbled wiggling away from him and back to her class, already late.


Shane bid his 'good afternoon' to Mr. V and idly looped through the desks to reach Mitchie. It was like their love, so many obstacles in the way he had to dodge and push though but eventually he would reach her and they could be together, maybe.

Until then, Shane dropped his book bag and flopped down playing with the material of his long sleeve, gray shirt. To waste time, Mitchie went through her book bag until the lights unfortunately shut off and Mr. V popped the DVD in.

Damn it! Mitchie shrilly thought and sat back up with a wistful peek at her partner. Shane pretended to watch the film, letting Mitchie stare at him like he knew she was. Like before, it made him giddy and get this adrenaline feeling pump through his body, but this time he didn't turn around and try to kiss her even if his body was screaming to.

Only 15 minutes into class, Mitchie asked to go to the bathroom and fled the room taking sharp breaths to calm herself. She felt so stupid not being able to breathe around him. Mitchie leaned against a nearby locker massaging her temples just wanting to run home.

Seconds later Shane walked through the now open door and trailed over to Mitchie with puckered, sad eyes. Inhale and exhale Mitchie, don't gaze into his eyes like that! She reprimanded herself but it was unavailing.

Shane tried his best to not smirk like before at how she gawked at him. It made it that much harder to not kiss her. Abruptly Mitchie snapped her head away, shaking it back and forth and whispering to herself "What am I doing?!"

He half-smiled. "Being stubborn like you always are." He replied, though the question wasn't for him.

Mitchie frowned peering back at him. "What?"

Shane cracked his lips into a full, amused smile ambling over to her so she cornered against the lockers, a replay as his hot breath blew over every inch of her now freezing skin with goose bumps, but in reality he wasn't even trying to do anything.

He stared down lovingly at her, not caring if he wasn't supposed to. "You're being stubborn about your feelings. You know, you don't have to always be so strong all the time, Mitchie."

The way he breathed her name, made her whole body shiver starting with her heart. She stared back up at him with painful, but beautiful eyes. "Yes I do, Shane. I have to be strong, because you won't. You're too accepting of your feelings—"

"But I don't push them away. Dammit. Mitchie let yourself feel something!"

"I do feel things."

Shane chuckled bending closer than what was safe for either of them. She already couldn't breathe, what else did he want to take away? "Like what?"

Mitchie roughly bit her lip knowing she shouldn't say what she was thinking but for once followed Shane's ways and said it anyway. "I feel like…I want to kiss you."

Shane closed his eyes after she whispered that, their memories popping every other thought from his head. Suddenly his hot desire he wasn't supposed to be feeling was back, suffocating him. He wanted her again.

"Oh," Shane mused. "Well I feel like I want to kiss you back…touch you and hold you, kiss your mouth, tongue, then slowly down your neck and suck until you moan, and move to your—"

"STOP!" Mitchie screamed feeling dizzy from the things he painted in her head. Shane finally let himself smirk again at her flushed cheeks and shallow breathing. He loved to see her as crazy as he was for once.

Shane moved back up, and Mitchie cursed colorfully in her mind realizing her eyes were focused on his lips when they both stood at their normal height. "Now you know how it feels."

His smirk fell as he leaned in to sloppily kiss the corner of her mouth, not on her lips and disappeared into the classroom as soon as she reopened her eyes.


_4 Days Later_

_Shane's P.O.V_

For the first time in what felt like years, pure happiness glowed through my body. Today, Jason was coming home.

I pulled into a parking spot beside the large -- creepy – hospital surrounded by numerous colors of cars and a field of old, oak trees as if it made it friendlier. Nate and I climbed out, practically bouncing to the silver, for once welcoming, elevator doors. Finally I felt the old brotherly bond I had with Nate returning even if it was temporary.

We jogged into his cold hospital room with mint green walls like the hallway of Mitchie's house that now seemed soft instead of terrifying. All the cards and flowers my older brother received were packed away in a light brown, cardboard box by Jason's freshly made bed.

The bathroom door clicked open and I smiled seeing Jason out of his hospital gown and in regular clothes. Nate and I tackled him, the three of us laughing like brothers again instead of a broken family. At least something was stable when everything else was falling apart.

We made small talk as the doctor was getting some papers that needed to be brought home for mom or dad to sign and the nurse was running her final check up on my brother. There was a beautiful light of bliss in his greenish hazel eyes that made me smile. It felt so good to see him happy.

So be something

The words of the letter circled my head for days, and I never let it go. I was being something, something that Mitchie could call a friend and be proud of. I wasn't going to be such a horrible brother. I was being something Nate could talk to and trust and love and that Jason could also be proud to claim as his little brother. When either of them needed me, I would always be there.

For school, I was definitely doing all it took to be a good student. I didn't care if Mitchie wasn't watching – though I wished she could see –. I was also doing this for myself. I wanted to be proud of myself too. Before it all seemed ridiculous, but next year I was going to college and I was getting a job to help out my parents. It was time to stop looking at life like it sucked and then you die, because life was hard but it also goes by too fast and you lose people, so I was making the most of it.

As for Mitchie, I loved her so much it hurt like hell. I couldn't keep her away from my thoughts or every night from my dreams. No matter what may happen, she will always be in my heart, inspiring me to be something good.

"Ok Mr. Gray." Dr. Samuels smiled, wrinkles crinkling around his mouth and cheeks. "You're free to go."

Jason thanked the doctor, took his papers, and my brother was finally free. We walked away from that hospital for hopefully the last time. Jason nearly pounced on my car, laughing with tears in his eyes. It broke my heart seeing how much he missed life. It reminded me to appreciate what I did have.

Nate laughed rubbing his back and they got in. I smiled to myself and climbed in as well, roaring the car to life and left the parking lot to the free roads away from my brother's prison. I let him listen to his favorite songs, smiling. But he completely shut off the radio and fixed himself in the passengers' seat so we could talk.

"Ok I've missed a lot, I can definitely see that. Please fill me in."

Nate grinned. It felt good too, to see my baby brother smiling again. Every since the dance, he had changed back to the same guy that made sarcastic jokes and was obsessed with music and of course everything Miley. I really owed a lot to her and Alex, but mostly Mitchie. She didn't just save me; she saved my life in a different way.

"Well Alex, Miley and I are best friends again, with Mitchie and I got like my first B on a test so I guess that's good. But what's really amazing is Shane! He's like the best student of the whole school now." Nate gushed like a school girl. If I wasn't blushing so bad, I would have laughed at how much he could resemble Miley.

Jason smiled softly, pride in his younger brother shimmering in his eyes with his happiness. Before, I use to look up to dad, thinking he was the coolest guy, but after mom had to start working all the time, he changed and starting taking it out on Jason and I. Now, my older brother was my role model, forever.

"Really," Jason directed his smirk over to me. "That's great, Shane. How's Mitchie?"

I know he didn't mean to upset me with that question, but it was the last thing I wanted to talk about. My heart was still sore from the whole thing. Frowning I kept my eyes on the silver BMW in front of us. "We don't talk anymore, Jason."

"And why not?"

I harshly bit down on my lip, trying to sooth my tempter that craved to break free.

So be something. So be something. So be something.

The words of her letter circled my mind. Yes, calm down Shane. Act as if Mitchie is watching you. "Because…it's awkward. I don't know." I fumbled over my words, the heat expanding in my face. I thought back to just a few days ago in the hallway and my heart felt like it was about to collapse from how fast it was going. I remember being more turned on than I had ever been and of course wanting to kiss her so bad my throat ached with a hallow burn.

Jason shook his head, continuing to smirk at me as I paused at the red right. "It doesn't have to be that way, Shane. You told me you loved her, but you're still letting her slip away."

I groaned to myself. "It's…I tried talking to her but she's so afraid so just let herself feel whatever it is she's feeling. Mitchie…she just doesn't want to trust me. But I know I'm never going to hurt her." I promised myself that.

Nate frowned from the backseat. "But Shane she has a right to be afraid. You did hurt her before." He argued sadly. I clutched the steering wheel with my brothers' eyes warily on me.

"But it was all an accident. I wasn't even thinking about the bet after I told her about Mandy. Why should it matter why we started talking again? It's not like I lied directly to her face about it. She knew from the beginning what I was after."

Jason placed his hand on my shoulder, like a father would with his son. Jason was a father to me. "Then tell her that. If that's what you believe, what's stopping you from fixing things? It's not going to be easy, but you have to prove to Mitchie that you do care, so you will never hurt her, and that you're not just going to give up on her because it's hard not to."

"But how?" I whispered feeling lost all over again. When I had to apologize to Alex, Mitchie was there to hold my hand, reassuring me that everything would be ok. Now I had no one to help me or to promise me the outcome would be good.

I had to do this alone.

"Prom is coming up soon, why don't you go with her?" Jason suggested. My heart forgot to beat. Going with Mitchie to the prom? That's insane! Someone as special and beautiful as her would not want to spend the most important night of her high school life with me.

"No." I answered in a firm, end of discussion tone. I'm not going to humiliate myself asking her so she can laugh or completely shut me down. My heart is already fucking broken, why do they think it's a good idea to poke at it?

Nate sighed. "Come on, Shane! It may not seem like it, but Mitchie loves you too and I know she would want to be with you that night, just like you guys skipped the dance together."

I barked a bitter snort. "Yeah and that night turned out fabulously."

"Things were different then, Shane." Nate tried to reason – tried being the operative word. "You gave yourselves a lot of time to think between those weeks. You already kissed her so it's not like you have anything for her to freak over."

Well that was one point, but I didn't even want to go anyway. Dancing wasn't my specialty and of course Taylor would be there, seeing Mitchie and I and who knows what would happen then and it would be really awkward slow dancing together…but holding Mitchie in my arms as she wore a beautiful dress to match how gorgeous she was and swaying on the dance floor knowing I got to be the one to share the experience with her, didn't sound bad at all.

"Just ask her, Shane. I have a feeling she'll say yes. But of course we need to make it romantic so I'll call Danielle and Nate you can get Miley to get her dress. We have a lot of planning to do."

Here we go again. What the hell did I just get myself into?


OMG the 3rd to last chapter (possibly) that insane! Well we still have a few things to accomplish but I hoped you liked the little bit of "Jalex" I put in there for you guys. Don't worry Niley is not done with yet. I'm super sorry for not being able to update in a while. I'm currently in my hotel in Marco Island called the Sea Winds but I managed to get enough internet to update. Yay! =)

Questions:

Should Mitchie say yes or no to Shane?

Should Nate ask Miley to the prom?

How will Mitchie react to all of this?