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As soon as our eyes made contact he evilly grinned at me, he knew who I was. He probably knew he ruined my life that one night too. His skin still a crisp golden color from summer, his normal brown hair was a shade lighter thanks to many of his days spent out by the lakes and the lavish vacations his family took to different beaches throughout the summer. Two years later and he was still the star of the football team as he had been his sophomore year. Only this time, he's on a full ride scholarship to the University of Florida. I knew if I had reported the rape right after it happened I knew he wouldn't be on a full ride scholarship at the moment, that his life would be ruined but only psychiatrist and therapist had known about the rape.
I take the only available seat thats located diagonally in front of him to the left, it sucked having to be so close to him, but at least I won't have to look at him. I knew he remembered who I was, I felt during the whole class him staring coldly at me. If I were able to have a few words spoken to him it would be that he had robbed me of my innocence that should have never been taken from me. The whole class, I felt as if the giggles coming from him were from him telling all of his friends what happened that one night.
The bell for first period rings releasing us from class, on my way to the next one, I check my phone to see I have an unopened text from Shane, Hope you have an amazing first day of junior year, enjoy it because it will fly by. I smile at my phone and it didn't take long for someone to notice.
"I wonder what person would keep in contact with her," I heard one whisper, I tried to just keep walking and ignore the comment, however, it took everything in me not to run in the bathroom and stay there for a few moments to escape everything.
I then remembered I did not text Shane back just quite yet, Will do Pop Star, I can tell this year will already be a long year... I type referring to first period, I miss you like crazy.
It seemed like a full week had gone by before the school day had ended. The only highlight was I at least had lunch with Sierra, we had used that time to catch up more about our summer. I didn't have a bus to take home, since I lived 'too close' to the school, so I began the mile walk home in the August heat. I took this time to think more and more about Shane, I truly did miss him. He was the best thing that has ever happened to me in my sixteen years and I couldn't wait to see him next. I couldn't wait to feel his warm lips pressed up against mine and his arms around me holding me tightly.
I arrived home and saw both my parents cars were gone knowing they were off somewhere with their jobs. I walked into the kitchen turning on the tv in there and switching the channel to Hot Tunes.
Young Rock Star Shane Gray and the rest of Connect 3 were out spotted walking around L.A., it was said they had just left the recording studio out there. Did the summer Shane spent at Camp Rock was enough to save Connect 3? It seems like it, the Connect 3 lead singer had a smile plastered across his face and even stopped to sign multiple autographs and take photos with younger fans, something he hasn't been spotted doing in a while. When questioned about what helped him change his act, all he responded was "someone special brought me back here."
I smiled dumbly to myself, the smallest things that boy does make me smile. I was pulling out my phone to call him before my phone rang with Shane on the other line.
"I just saw you on Hot Tunes," I exclaim to him. I hear him chuckle on the other line.
"Wow nice to talk to you too," Shane sarcastically replies.
I blush. "Sorry, its just so weird seeing you on Hot Tunes, like I forget that you're some world famous pop star sometimes."
"I try to forget that too sometimes," He laughs, "Our first show is in California in a couple of weeks and I was wondering if you wanted to come to it, its on a Friday night so you don't have to worry about missing school."
"I would love to," I reply instantly not also thinking to what I was agreeing to. "I just have no idea how my parents will respond to this," I kept on ranting to Shane before he interrupted me.
"Mitchie, if I was with you right now, I would kiss you to shut you up,"
Shane and I keep small talking for a few more minutes before he informs me he has to go. We tell each other bye and I can't help but to smile to myself. The Hot Tunes report about Shane was over but I couldn't help to smile to know he was mine. Although the rest of the world had no idea about the two of us. I knew how brutal the paparazzi has the potential to be, so in a way, I am thankful Shane wants to protect me from that, on the other hand, I wish everyone knew about us.
That night at dinner, I played around with my food, trying to muster up the courage to ask my parents if I could fly across America to see Shane in concert.
"I have a question," I speak aloud. My parents also look up from their plates to meet my eyes. "Shane invited me to his concert in California in a couple of weeks, he said its on a Friday night and I was just wondering if I could go?"
My parents looked at each other and sighed, "Mitchie thats a very big request," My dad is the first to speak, "You wanting to fly across the country for this boy, we know you love him now, but we don't want you moving so fast in this relationship. The type of lifestyle he has just doesn't match the lifestyle you're used to, and your mom and I are both worried where this relationship is headed."
"Shane is an incredible person," I mumble before excusing myself back upstairs to my room.
I decide to work on some homework to distract myself from the thoughts.
My parents said they would talk about me attending your concert...I have no idea what answer they'll say. I type out to text Shane. As I glance at my clock on my nightstand it only reads 9:00, although early for me, I decide to head off to bed, knowing that 6:00 am will come too soon in the morning.
I toss and turn in my bed, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. I thought I was ready for bed, but the tossing and turning proves otherwise, that was until I heard my door open. I immediately shut my eyes, judging by the footsteps they sounded like my mom's. She took a few more steps before she was next to my bed, she leaned down to kiss my cheek and to brush a few stray hairs out of my face. "I know if we let you go to California, we can trust you." She whispered before leaving my room and shutting the door behind her.
The next day I walk into first period, already dreading it knowing who was in there. I try my best to ignore him, but knowing my back is toward his, makes me feel like vulnerable prey. I try to shake the feeling, but can't help but to feel disgusting around him.
"Alright class, there's going to be a small group project out of class project due next week. It'll just be short powerpoint and then a presentation in front of the class." As soon as Ms. Petterson mentioned a group project I crossed my fingers praying that Nicholas and I wouldn't be partners, but as my luck would have it we ended up as partners. We drew names to decide on partners. I was totally fine with doing all of the work for the project if it meant solely that Nicholas and I don't have to meet up outside of class.
The rest of the school day passes by rather uneventfully, I headed straight to work after to prepare for my after school shift, I was thankful that tonight was one of my shorter shifts I worked and not one of my eight hour ones. I was working in the drive thru area, we were a bit slower for the time of day. I was counting down the minutes until I clocked out. I heard the door open and some of my coworkers gasp, I figured maybe a dog walked in, as we were a pet friendly restaurant. I continued focusing on bagging until one of my shift managers, Sarah tapped me lightly on my back.
"Hey Mitchie, someone is here to see you,"
I smiled, it was pretty unusual for me to get a visitor, but I figured it was probably Sierra trying to make me feel better. After all, I had told her about how I was dreading today's shift and complained to her more about it. But to my surprise it was someone I would never have guessed in a thousand years.
"Shane!" I practically scream. I want to run and jump into his arms, but I contain myself and fast walk and throw myself into his arms. I noticed he had red roses in one of his hands. However, the roses did not stop him from wrapping his arms around me. He rubbed my back with the hand that didn't contain the roses. I could stay lie this forever, wrapped in his arms like this. The feeling I had right now did not compare to anything, I felt so safe, like nothing bad will ever happen to me. "How did you manage pulling this surprise?" I ask him still astonished.
"I have my ways," he replies and I raise an eyebrow at him. "Okay, fine. We have an interview with Good Morning America in two days and well I was able to convince my manager to let us come up a bit early and have some down time, its amazing what I can convince the label to let us do now as long as I promise not to go back to my old ways."
I look up at him and brush my lips gently against his, "This is the best surprise ever, thank you." And I meant it, it was an amazing surprise.
My manager had informed me if I wanted to leave a bit early I could, as we were slow it would help keep labor down if I was off the clock. Shane and I walk to his Range Rover, he opens the passenger side door for me before he slips into the driver side. Shane begins driving, I had no idea where he was taking me, or even if he had any idea on how to navigate around here.
"Where are we going?" I ask looking over at him. He smiles but shakes his head. His smile, it kills me every time. "Come on, you have to tell me."
We keep on driving for about an hour, making small talk, catching back up with each other lives. At one point he grabbed my hand and rested our intertwined hands on my thigh.
I began noticing we're getting more into downtown Philadelphia, where the night life takes place. All across there's shopping plazas, restaurants, bars and clubs. I was surprised Shane had decided to take us some place where paparazzi would easily be able to find us, especially after going through lengths to keep our relationship hidden.
"This is the restaurant I want to take you to," Shane says after driving by the restaurant to a nearby parking garage. I couldn't catch the name of it, however it looked like a cute restaurant. A porch up front as well as a balcony. With lights strung all around. "I hope you like Italian," He continues. After searching for a parking space a few floors above the ground level.
Shane and I both exit his car and he immediately grabs my hand once again. He puts on a hat as well as pushes up his sunglasses, although it wasn't dark quite yet, he still looked a little odd wearing the sunglasses. Shane tells the host it will be the two of us before he leads us to a rather secluded table in the restaurant.
"I hope you enjoy," He says and leaves, but not before winking at me. Shane had also noticed the host winking at me, causing us both to laugh. While looking over the menu, I couldn't help but notice Shane playing around with his purity ring that rested on his left ring finger. I couldn't help but to feel guilty that I am not pure, not like him. That I wasn't able to fulfill that promise to Shane of staying pure just for him. And it hurt knowing that I somehow have to tell Shane one day not only about my past struggles dealing with my eating disorder and self harm addiction but also of my rape. Shane must have noticed something was wrong because his arm reached across the table grabbing my hand.
"Are you okay, Mitchie?" He asks, I shake my head immediately, I felt a tear fall down my check and go to wipe it but Shane once again beats me to it. Before I had the change to respond, our waiter had came along to take our drink orders.
The whole dinner was an absolute fairy tale, Shane paid for the dinner, I practically begged him to let me pay for some of it at least but he insisted he took care of the whole thing. We found ourselves wandering the streets, browsing in and out of shops. We both spent a little extra time in this little bakery. We bought too many cookies and oreo balls to count. "Shit," I hear Shane mutter as we were walking towards the exit door of the shop.
"What?" I ask confused but also with worry in my voice.
"The paparazzi are here. We'll head back to the car, don't respond to any of their questions," I nod at Shane's requests. Shane wraps a tight arm around me before we exit the shop.
Shane who is this girl?
Is this the girl that is responsible for changing you?
What's your name young lady?
She doesn't look like the normal type of girl you would date, Shane.
Ouch. That last comment is what stung me the most. Shane and I hurry back to the parking garage in search of his car. Luckily, none of the paparazzi had decided to follow us, unfortunately for us though, they had more than enough photos. So much for keeping our relationship a secret. I couldn't imagine doing that everyday though, having the paparazzi follow you everywhere, it's almost scary.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that Mitchie," Shane speaks up after a few moments of silence.
"Don't worry about it. It was bound to happen sooner or later, right?" I reply, leaning over to kiss his cheek.
"The band managers are probably going to be calling after they see this story. They'll want me to confirm this relationship. Do you want us to confirm it or we can not respond to any comments about it or we can even try to deny it." Shane kept rambling on thinking of ways to get us out of this now mess.
"I guess we can confirm the relationship, there isn't a point in lying now that there is solid evidence." I shrugged my shoulders.
Shane drops me off at my house, but not before officially meeting my parents for a quick chat. Apparently, he had also contacted my parents asking their permission if he was able to take me out on a date. I was silently hoping that this would prove to my parents that we were both responsible to handle this California trip together.
My mom was all smiles, she wanted to know every detail of the date, I promised I would fill her in in the morning, as I was exaughsted. I nearly fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.
The next morning as I was eating breakfast at the table, I see a breaking story from Hot Tunes as airing:
Does Shane Gray have someone special in his life? The reporter starts, It seems so. A close look at these photos of him and an unknown girl last night show the two nice and close. Is this the girl that helped Shane clean up his act recently?
I gasp at this story. It's official, the whole world practically knew about us. Although I knew this day would come, I was hoping it would happen later rather than sooner.