A/N: Thanks again for the reviews and alerts. And a special thank you to lovelovelove-TS (Leesh) for the song suggestion. The lyrics were so perfect and the scene practically wrote itself. So, thank you. And now...Opening Jam.

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 4

"Thank you so much Mitchie. That song is perfect. And Caitlyn, thank you too," Bailey said. "That mix is amazing. You are really talented."

"Thanks," Caitlyn said, blushing a little from the high praise.

"I keep telling her that," Nate said, joining them. "But what mix are you talking about?"

"For Opening Jam tonight," Bailey said. "I couldn't find a song and then Mitchie offered up the perfect song and then Caitlyn manipulated it to be exactly what I wanted. I can't believe how talented everyone is here."

"Mitch, you're performing tonight?" Shane asked.

"No, Bailey's going to just use the recording of my song," Mitchie said.

"No!" Caitlyn exclaimed.

"Yeah, you have to sing it," Bailey said.

"Bailey, this is your performance," Mitchie said. "I thought that was why we recorded the vocals."

"No, you have to sing for me. Please?" Bailey asked.

"But people are supposed to be watching you," Mitchie said.

"They will," Caitlyn said. "You can stay by me and sing and the spotlight will be on Bailey."

"Dude, once she starts dancing no one will be able to pay attention to anything else," Shane said.

"Yeah, she's amazing," Jason said.

"Are you sure?" Mitchie asked. "I don't want to take the attention away from you."

"It's your song, Mitchie," Bailey said. "It wouldn't be the same if you weren't up there singing it tonight."

"Alright," Mitchie said, finally caving.

"Hey, you know what this means?" Caitlyn asked.

"What?" Bailey asked.

"We have to go find something to wear," Caitlyn said, excitedly.

"Ooooohhhhhhhh," all the boys whined. "Why?"

"Because we have to look good," Mitchie said, kissing Shane's nose.

"But you're going to take hours," Shane whined.

"I'm sure it won't be quite that long," Bailey said.

"But it's almost dinnertime," Nate said.

"Well, I've got an outfit in mind for myself. Let me go to the studio and grab it. I'll meet you girls in your cabin so you can find something that coordinates," Bailey said. "And we'll be in the cafeteria for dinner in less than an hour, I promise."

Nate and Shane kissed their girlfriends and the boys headed off to the cabin. Bailey retrieved her outfit from the studio and when she arrived at Mitchie and Caitlyn's cabin, clothes were already strewn all over the beds.

"Oh boy," Bailey said. "Maybe we'll be a little late."

The girls laughed and the three began going through the outfits on the bed.

**********

"You look hot babe," Shane said when Mitchie and Caitlyn arrived at Opening Jam later that night.

Mitchie was wearing black skinny jeans, with high-heeled knee-high boots over them; a red satin shirt and a black vest. Her hair was down in light waves and her makeup had been done very dark and her brown eyes really popped.

"Wow," Nate said, taking in Caitlyn's appearance.

Caitlyn was wearing red skinny jeans with a black top, but probably more shocking was that her normally curly hair had been straightened, and there were red streaks in it.

"We were bored," was Caitlyn's reply. She had to admit that she liked the way she looked, but she was still a little bit uncomfortable with the stares they had gotten on the walk over.

"You look amazing," Nate whispered in her ear as he kissed her cheek.

"Thanks," Caitlyn said.

"So where's Bailey?" Jason asked.

"Jason's got a crush," Shane said in a singsong voice.

Jason shot him a glare, but the group smiled. He was going to cave eventually and actually admit it.

"She walked over with us," Mitchie said. "I think she went to ask Brown when she was supposed to go on because she has to stretch beforehand."

"Hey guys," Bailey said, joining the group. She was wearing a gray flare dance cover up, which was basically a knee length loose fitting zipper up jacket that hid her costume. "We're on last, so I've got some time before I have to stretch. I figured I'd check out the other campers."

"Ooo, you guys got bumped," Caitlyn said with a laugh, knowing Connect Three was supposed to close the show.

"No, Brown wanted us to open this time," Shane said. "Get started with a bang."

"So we should get back there and get ready. It looks like Dee's heading to the stage to get started," Nate said.

"Have fun," Mitchie said, giving Shane a kiss.

"Save us seats," Jason said.

"Hey all," Dee said. "Welcome to another summer at Camp Rock. For those of you who are returning campers, welcome back. To you newbies, you're going to have a great summer. Now, to get things started, we've got three of our instructors, though I'm sure you know them better as Connect Three."

The intro elicited screams from the girls in the audience and Bailey, Mitchie and Caitlyn smiled.

"Is it always like this for them?" Bailey asked, with a laugh.

"Louder," Caitlyn said. "At least this year, most of the campers will be used to them being here."

"Yeah, Shane told me that last year he spent the first three days either running or hiding," Mitchie said with a laugh.

Bailey laughed and shook her head as the crowd got louder when Shane, Nate and Jason walked onstage.

"How's everybody doing?" Shane asked. "Welcome to Camp Rock. We are going to be your music instructors for the next eight weeks. But for now, we are going to be your entertainment. This is a new one, and it's our first single off our new album, out next month. It's called Paranoid. We hope you like it."

The boys played their new single, putting on an amazing performance, singing loudly and dancing all over the stage. The crowd was really into the song and it looked like Connect Three was going to have a hit on their hands.

"Wow," Brown said. "Sounds like we can expect big things with this new album. Give it up for my nephews, Connect Three."

The crowd cheered and the boys bowed and headed offstage. Nate and Jason put their guitars away and grabbed some water before the boys made their way to the seats with Mitchie, Caitlyn and Bailey.

By the time they'd gotten there, Lola had finished her act and Barron and Sander were up next.

"Great job," Caitlyn said, kissing Nate as he sat down.

"Yeah, I love that song," Mitchie said, doing the same with Shane.

"Thanks," they all said.

"That sounds different than your last album," Bailey said. "Are you guys experiencing some growth in your sound?"

"I love this girl," Nate said.

"Yeah, we love to try new things with each album, and now that we're in control, instead of the label, it's a lot easier," Jason said.

"Well, it sounds great. I can't wait to hear more," Bailey said.

"Uh oh," Caitlyn said. "It looks like Tess has some new sidekicks this summer."

"You know, I really thought she had changed," Mitchie said.

"I guess since she kind of got left in the cold, she went back to what she knows best," Caitlyn said.

"What do you mean?" Bailey asked.

Mitchie proceeded to explain what had happened between her and Tess the year before and how Tess seemed to be acting nicer at the end of camp.

"I wonder what happened," Mitchie said.

"I guess since you experienced some fame when your duet with Shane was released and Peggy got a role in the Broadway show, she got a little jealous that she didn't get noticed at all," Caitlyn said.

"Well I guess we'll steer clear of her this summer," Mitchie said, watching as Tess sauntered across the stage singing the same song she'd attempted to sing at Final Jam the year before.

**********

Twenty minutes later, Bailey excused herself to head backstage and stretch. Mitchie and Caitlyn followed so Mitchie could warm up her voice.

"We've got one last performance for you all tonight," Brown said. "She's our new dance instructor and I wanted you all to see what she can do. Please welcome, Bailey Madison, with the musical stylings of Mitchie Torres and Caitlyn Gellar."

By now, the sun had set completely so the spotlight on the stage looked a lot brighter. Caitlyn, with her keyboard and laptop, was stage right, with Mitchie right next to her. The spotlight was turned off and Bailey took her place at center stage.

The music started off slow, and Bailey began with a beautifully extended arabesque.

To love again
To love again
To love again
To love again
To love again

As the lights came up, Bailey performed some ballet steps and turns, as the first verse of Mitchie's song had been made a bit slower. She was dressed in a black short shorts and a black satin empire-waist top, with black and red chiffon scarves falling at various lengths above her knees. Instantly, the crowd was locked on her.

Drowning in tears, that won't be me
I will soon be, free from the chains of all this pain inside
And though I cry it won't be long
'Til I regain my strength to know I can go on

She performed a jump and the music began to increase in tempo as Caitlyn picked up the percussion beat that she'd infused with the song.

I will find my way through the heartbreak
I will not give up on love
I believe...

Bailey's movements became more modern, though the grace from her ballet skills was still obvious.

I will learn to love again
I will learn to trust
Once this heart can start to mend
I will learn to, learn to love again

All of these tears, time will dry them
I will survive them, and make through into another day
All of this pain, time will heal it
There'll be a time sometime I know I won't feel it

As Bailey continued to dance, she got lost in the lyrics of the songs, and it was about then that she realized how fitting they were for her situation. Using the emotion, she threw herself into the dance, her eyes filling with tears.

I will live through life without you
After the hurting is done
I believe...

I will learn to love again
I will learn to trust
Once this heart can start to mend
I will learn to, learn to love again

She utilized the full length of the stage jumping and spinning, dancing from one end of the stage to the other.

And I will find someone who deserves my touch
After all the hurt is through
I will be so over you
I will not give up on love
I believe, yeah...

The music slowed a bit for the last chorus and Bailey returned to some ballet moves, doing a turn into another long arabesque stretch.

I will learn to love again
I will learn to trust
Once this heart can start to mend
I will learn to love again

She went into a chassé and then performed a grand jeté, a beautiful, long jump, as Mitchie reached the climax of the song.

I will love again...

As the music slowed again, Bailey had returned to center stage and was doing continuous spins, remaining in place and using her left leg to propel around more than a dozen times until she planted her foot at the end of the song.

To love again

To love again
To love again
To love again
To love again

By now, overcome with emotion from the lyrics of the song, Bailey had tears streaming down her face. She bowed as the crowd applauded and cheered, but quickly took her exit, walking offstage calmly before finding a corner to hide in backstage as she slumped the floor and fell apart.

Song credits: Paranoid(Jonas Brothers) and I Will Learn to Love Again (Kaci)

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews and alerts. Please continue to let me know what you think.

Kadence