Sing Your Heart Out - Chapter 6

Just to let you all know before reading this chapter what year everybody is in for this story. I have decided that Shane is going to be the same age as them. Also just to make it easier I am going to use American school grades in this story even though it's an English school as the sections Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior work best for the story. And they are all going to be Juniors I think I said somewhere in the story that this was Miley's second year here so let's just say she joined the school as a Sophomore but the rest of them have been here since Freshman year.


Miley's P.O.V:

I woke up to the sunlight shining in through the curtains, a true rarity for September in England. Usually by now you wake up to dark grey skies and rain splattering against the windows. Mitchie and Taylor were still sleeping peacefully in their beds, tired out from the night before and I looked at the alarm clock to find out the time and whether I should consider waking up the sleepy heads before we're late for lessons on the first day…

9.30AM! I slapped my head lightly as I remembered us coming home last night and rushing to get into bed, carelessly forgetting to prepare for the next day.

"Mitchie! Taylor! It's ten flipping am in the morning. Lessons started 2 hours ago. We're late." I shrieked in panic, startling Mitchie in the bed next to me and causing her to roll out of bed, looking up with such wide eyes that I couldn't help but let out a giggle.

"Miles please say this is just a prank. Sure, I'll be mad at you for waking me up so badly, but I'll get over it. Detention on the first day of school without even attending any lessons however I don't think I can handle." Mitchie pleaded.

"Mitch I'm sorry I wish I was playing a joke but seriously I'm not – look at the time." I sighed and ran into the bathroom with the clothes I'd quickly found. I brushed my teeth in record time and I slipped on a short denim skirt with black tights, a plain white vest top and a thin black cardigan. As soon as I opened the bathroom door Mitchie pushed through and closed the door in a rush.

"Tay, come on get the hell up! We're already in some deep trouble." I said and pulled her up out of her bed despite her protests.

"I'm way too tired Miles. Please just a few more minutes." She whispered, rubbing her eyes slightly.

"No you can't you'll be awake in a minute. Just wait for Mitchie to be done in the bathroom I'll sort your clothes out." I suggested.

"Thanks Miles – you're the best."

"I know, I know." I grinned and took out a blue and purple checked top with some dark skinny jeans and purple ballerina shoes and threw them to her waiting arms.

With perfect timing Mitchie came out of the bathroom and I gently pushed Taylor in.

"Ugh! Miles I can't believe we've done this. But I don't get it. Why hasn't Shane or somebody come looking for us? They would have had time between first and second lesson if they ran quickly and it'll be break now." Mitchie moaned, combing through the tangles in her hair angrily.

"I dunno Mitchie, maybe he was kept behind after the lessons or something. He's got to have a good reason."

"I guess so. Does this look okay? I really don't want Mr Moorstone on my back again for 'Inappropriate clothing for education'" Mitchie motioned to her outfit with a perfect imitation of our head teacher.

I turned around from putting some black ankle boots on and looked at her. She was wearing dark skinny jeans with a black and white striped tight t-shirt with black ballerina pumps and a grey wool cardigan.

"Mitchie it's fine. He only said that when you turned up in your clothes from a party the night before because if you changed you'd be late."

I laughed remembering the sight of Mitchie rushing into the classroom wearing a silver glittery dress with her hair and make-up still perfectly done from the previous night and the only change being a pair of grey converse on her feet. Unfortunately for her Mr Moorstone chose that lesson to check up on our class or she would have escaped with a few raised eyebrows from staff until she could change at break time and some snickers from other students.

"That's all well and good for you to say Miley Ray Stewart. You didn't have to waste your break time with a lecture on how to dress and behave in the correct manner at school. And anyway you're looking cute today. Would that be for a certain Grey brother?" Mitchie said smirking knowingly at me.

"Umm Mitchie Shane's my best friend, he really doesn't care what I wear. He's only got eyes for Taylor." I smiled innocently at her deciding to play dumb.

"Miles you can't fool me, I'm your best friend for a reason. I saw you and Nate texting each other across the table last night. Don't get me wrong it was adorable – it was just surprising."

"Fine okay I was texting him. But it was only to be polite. I couldn't ignore him when he was sitting right across from me and he saw for himself that I received his message." I insisted.

"Whatever you say honey. But I can see what's going to happen. Nate is going to see what a beautiful, talented and great girl you are and he's going to fall head over heels in love with you. And you might just too. Who knows?" Mitchie carried on just as adamant as me.

I shook my head lightly. "Mitch you really need to get some help for these weird thoughts that pass through your head. Nate Grey and me? Seriously – don't ever say that aloud where other people can hear."

Mitchie scowled and stuck her tongue out at me. At that moment Taylor burst out of the bathroom and shouted, "I'm ready!"

"Good. Then let's make an appearance before the punishment get's worse. Who's our tutor this year?" I asked as I pulled them both out of the bedroom and locked the door.

"All three of us have got Miss Hudgens for a form tutor. And this year our class stays the same for all our lessons so our form just goes to the different teachers for each class. That means we're together for everything." Mitchie grinned and Taylor squealed in delight. I just smiled softly at their excitement.

"Oh my god guys that is SO great!" Shane's in ours as well, and Jake. Unfortunately I heard Nate and Lucas say that they've got Miss Hudgens for a form tutor." Taylor looked at me sympathetically.

Of course, I thought. Taylor is completely unaware that there was a kind of truce between Nate and me last night.

"Oh Taylor don't worry about that. I don't think there's going to be any problems between Miley and Nate. But she can explain everything to both of us later." Mitchie grinned victoriously at me and grabbed mine and Taylor's hand and begun to run to our classroom.

As we ran into the classroom, slightly out of breath we saw everybody look up with amusement.

"Ah girls! We were just wondering where on earth you had got to. We were just about to send Shane out to look for you." Miss Hudgens smiled at us welcomingly.

"Sorry Miss. We forgot to set our alarm." Mitchie muttered apologetically and me and Taylor both nodded our heads in agreement with Mitchie's statement.

"Okay girls don't worry about it – you've not missed much as you're off schedule today to get settled in and get everything sorted. Could you just stay behind for a few minutes afterwards though?" she asked.

"Yes miss." We said and walked towards our assigned seats. Luckily for us our surnames are close together as Stewart, Swift and Torres so we get to sit together quite close to the back.

I sighed as I sat down. I knew what was coming. Miss Hudgens may be a great person and she's an amazing drama teacher. But she can't let us off completely. It will go on the computer that we weren't here for the lessons before break and she has to be able to say that she dealt with it. In other words we have detention.

It seemed that everybody had completed all the jobs in the first two periods and there was going to be an important assembly halfway through this period. After she had told the class just to relax and talk for awhile she came over to us and explained everything that she had told the others at the start of the day.

"Hey girls as you've probably guessed I'm your form tutor. Now there have been a lot of changes this year to the system so I'll just explain them quickly. Each form has their own classroom that they will come to each day. I will register you and then your English, Maths, Science, History and Geography teachers will come to this room and teach you. For ICT, Drama, Music and Art you will go to the specific rooms for them. That's nine lessons a day so they're shortening the lesson periods down to 45 minutes. The school day will start at 7.45am with registration for 15 minutes. Then there will be two lessons and a break from 9.30am until 9.40am. Then you will have three lessons until dinner from 11.55am to 12.55pm. In the afternoon there will a quick registration for five minutes, then two lessons, a ten minute break from 2.30pm to 2.40pm and the school day will finish at 4.10pm. I know it's going to seem like torture but you must know that Hartbridge isn't going to take it easy on you. Oh I almost forgot – your Physical Education day is Wednesday. This means that when school ends you will have an hour of sport which is essential."

"Yay – sounds like bundles of fun!" Mitchie said sarcastically.

"Just give it a go Mitchie. I know it's not like most schools and I know this is going to push you but I know you three are capable. The last change this year is that as everyone has their own classroom with their own desk the school has got rid of lockers and brought in desks with number combinations to hold your books in. For you guys this week is going to be extra hard because you're going to have half an hour of detention every day. Tonight you can get onto sorting your desks like everybody else did this morning. Oh and on Wednesday you will have to come to detention after your Sport lesson. For now you girls can go catch up with any friends of yours and in a few minutes we'll be going down to the auditorium as the head had an important announcement." Miss Hudgens finished off and smiled sympathetically and turned to go back to her desk.

"Wow! They are some big changes." Taylor exclaimed as we turned our chairs into a circle of three.

"Yeah, it's going to be really hard. Especially as we're going to have homework on top of that and any extra practises for any sports or clubs." I groaned.

"At least we know why Shane couldn't come and get us – it's the change in schedule. And knowing him he had something on at break." Mitchie said, happy that her friend wasn't partly to blame for the week of detention.

"Hey guys – did I just hear my fabulous name." Shane joked, grabbing a chair and joining our group.

"Yeah, Mitchie earlier was panicking so much at being late and she wondered why you hadn't come and got us. But now Miss has explained the schedule we know why. So you're off the hook." I explained.

"Phew! I'd hate to be in trouble with my best buddies." Shane laughed

"What do you think of the new timetable?"

"It's going to be a nightmare. I've got football practise anyway and then there's going to a load of homework. How are we going to find time to hang out?" he complained.

Mitchie grinned. "The weekends silly. Hey, we could try out for the cheerleading team and then we'd be hanging out then." She joked.

"Mitch! That's a great idea." Taylor squealed.

"Yeah that would be awesome. You guys could cheer me on and then we could hang out in breaks and stuff." Joe agreed

"Guys. Mitch was joking. There's no way we'd get onto the squad and there's no way we'd fit in. Right Mitchie?" I blurted out quickly with the horrible thought flashing through my mind of wearing the skimpy cheer uniform and having everyone's attention on my dancing. I shuddered unintentionally.

"Yeah I mean I want to concentrate on my acting this year. Miss Hudgens said she's going to put on a big musical for the end of the summer term and she's going to be preparing for that in advance." Mitchie backed me up hastily.

"Mitchie you know that's a rubbish excuse. Rehearsals for that will be on different days to sports stuff And Miles pleeeeeease. It'll be great opportunity to gain some confidence and to make some more friends." Taylor begged us with Shane standing next to her looking just as determined to get us to try.

Mitchie and me turned to each other with dismay and after a few seconds we turned back to Taylor and Shane and chorused, "No!"

Taylor began to protest loudly and Shane was almost shouting at us for being 'so stubborn and unwilling'

"Keep it down back there. Anyway we may as well make our way to the meeting now and get in there early." Miss Hudgens ordered. Saved for now I thought as I got up willingly, hoping that it would put an end to the subject.

"Don't think that we're giving up on this!" Shane threatened as he rose up from his seat to follow the crowd.

Once in there Shane immediately ran up to the seats at the back to some of his friends that were already in there and called out for us to follow him. Usually we would say no but seeing as they were the people we'd gone out for the meal with last night I mumbled "Let's just go up there. At least then we can ignore what's being said and talk between us." and began the trek up the steps. Taylor followed behind us and not walking with us to make it obvious that she wasn't happy with our decision.

We sat next to Shane as far away as possible from Nate. Even though we'd been talking last night and we seemed to get on great it was only when nobody was watching and whenever Lucas looked at Nate last night I couldn't help but notice that Nate immediately took care not to be associated with me. Whatever Mitchie said it was obvious that this wasn't the case. He simply cares too much about his status in the school.

As everyone filed into the hall and the seats began to fill up Mr Moorstone headed up onto the stage.

"Okay listen up! As your form tutors should have told you there have been a lot of changes at Hartbridge Boarding School this term. I am confident that these changes are going to improve the standard of this school and I think each student should embrace them. As juniors it is incredibly important for us to make sure that you are up to the standard of this school before you go into your final year with us. This means that we have set certain requirements for you. We want you all to join one extra-curricular club such as a sports team or performing arts group. Finally as you may have heard we are putting you into pairs to write a song and perform it at the school talent show at Easter. At the end of this meeting I would like you to go back to your classroom's and get your assigned pairs from your teacher." Mr Moorstone finished.

I turned and rolled my eyes at Mitchie at the mention of the extra-curricular groups. That's all I need. Now Taylor is going to be even more persistent that we try out for the cheerleading team.

"Before you all go I just want to make it clear that this task is of very much importance to the school and your future here. Hartbridge Boarding School has very high standards. Therefore it is very important for us to test you throughout your time here. People from all over the school can enter the talent show if they choose but for you it is essential. If you do not succeed I am afraid your future at this school will be uncertain." Mr Moorstone announced casting a terrified silence over the students.

All around me people were looking at their friends and talking anxiously, in a state of disbelief.

"Surely they can't do that. Surely they can't just kick somebody out if they can't sing or write a song." I whispered, looking at Mitchie for support.

"Miley you know that's not the case. Everyone here is accepted not just because of his or her intelligence but also because of his or her abilities in other areas such as sport and music. That's why everybody here is so good at everything." Mitchie spoke softly.

"That's not fair." I said.

"Miles don't worry about it. You're incredibly talented. When you play your guitar it always sounds so beautiful and I've never heard a voice as good as yours. And the best thing is nobody knows. This is your chance Miles. It's like your Dad's always told you – Life's what you make it." Taylor quoted and pulled Mitchie and me into a hug.

"They're right Miley you know. You've got nothing to worry about." Shane reassured me, "Now let's go find out our pairs!"

I laughed at the antics of this supposedly 16 year old boy and surprisingly found myself almost looking forward to finding out my partner for the project.

We all rushed to the classroom and clambered into our seats waiting impatiently for Miss Hudgens to arrive. The teachers hadn't been given the lists of pairs until the meeting had finished and they had to stay behind to collect the all-important piece of paper. Mr Moorstone is obviously taking it very seriously.

"Hey everyone, yes I do have the list of pairs so just listen up and make no noise until I've finished. That way we can get this done quickly. Okay?" Miss Hudgens said as she walked to her desk. "So the pairs are done as girl and boy and as there are 20 people in our form and 20 people in the other Junior form we will have 20 pairs altogether."

I looked around the room at who my potential partner could be. I noticed that most of the boys in our form were in the football team and there were a few people I did not know.

"Now the pairs are: Jake and Mitchie, Ryan and Claire, Lucas and Alex, David and Lily, Josh and Scarlett, Dan and Isabella, Simon and Gemma, Lewis and Holly, Shane and Taylor and last but not least Nate and Miley." Miss Hudgens announced looking around to see our reactions.

Taylor and Shane were happy dancing in the middle of the classroom, Mitchie and Jake were just talking casually and Lucas was flirting with his partner Alex already. Then there was me. Frozen in my seat with shock and unable to even force a reaction from myself. All I could do was observe everybody else.

Then Nate spoke up. But he didn't make me feel better and he wasn't even coming over to talk to me. He made me feel worse; he made me feel like my world was tumbling down. And he wasn't even talking to me.

"Ugh! Do I have to work with a geek? I mean look at her, does she even try?" Nate moaned to one of his football friends.

"Dude she's not that bad. She was really cool last night." I could faintly hear his friend stick up for me. But that didn't matter. His words are irrelevant; it's Nate's that matter. It's Nate's that hurt.

"Josh don't be stupid. Nate's right, dude go see if there's any way to swap." Lucas turned away from his partner for a second to interrupt with his advice.

"Miley what's wrong? I thought you and Nate were getting on last night." Mitchie asked quietly.

"Yeah, we were. But it was clear it was only for that night. Mitchie I'm a loser. He's a star footballer that everybody loves. We're not meant to get on. And even if I wanted to there's no way it would happen. Do you really think he'd ever risk anything for me?" I replied.

"Miles I'm sorry. But you're just going to have to put up with him enough to get a song and then perform it. Then you never have to speak to him again." Mitchie said sensibly.

"Mitchie how am I gonna survive this? Please help me." I begged.

"I'll be here whenever you need me. I always am." She promised.

Nate's P.O.V:

"Why me?!" I whispered to myself furiously as I grabbed my Ipod and turned it up to full blast, willing it to let me forget the current dilemma.

I looked back at Miley's desk, interested in her reaction to our pairing. I saw her talking to Mitchie desperately and Mitchie attempting to calm her down. It's pretty obvious why Miley is so upset. Me. And surprisingly it kind of upsets me that I've upset Miley. Last night I found out that she's a really great girl. But I can't just get along with her like that. All the lads will laugh at me. I've got no other choice and I wish she could understand that. But I can't even talk to her about it without rumours starting to fly. And then I'll just hurt her even more by denying them. No, it's better if I'm cruel to be kind.

"Miss, is there anyway to swap partners? I just don't think Miley and me will work well together and I don't want to risk my place here at Hartbridge." I asked.

"Nick I'm sorry but there's no way I can just change partners without going to the head. And I doubt even then it could happen. He's put these pairs together extremely carefully. I suggest you try to prove to the school that even if you're put in a tricky situation you can fix things and work something out." She replied with a brisk smile and turned back to her work.

Well I guess that's it then. I've got to work with Miley. But how is she going to react to it? Especially now she's heard me try and switch partners. But more importantly, how am I going to work with Miley on this and still keep myself away from her? Look's like I'm facing my very own Mission Impossible.


Please anyone who reads this press the review button - i'd really appreciate it. If the reviews don't improve i'm just going to have a review limit and if they don't reach it then i wont post i guess. I've literally taken up my Saturday afternoon for this so it'd make me really happy for you to tell me what you think :)

Okay so here's another chapter :) Pleeease review because for the amount of favourites and alerts this story has got the reviews aren't that good. However my reviewers for last chapter were absolutely FANTASTIC : Niley23 Alex, JazzyxNileyxFizzle, WeAreLoveStory and fallingstar2008. This chapter is for you guys :D