Hey all! Sorry for the longer wait on this chapter. Classes started back up and between taking 5 of those and working 30-35 hours a week it takes up quite some time haha. Also I do live in Florida, so the past few weeks have been pure hurricane preparations/recovery thanks to Irma. I live in Central Florida so when Irma looked like she was going up the east coast, that was good news for us, but when she kept shifting west that's when I got really nervous as we would expect a direct hit, but then she kept shifting west and it was good news for us, but last minute she didn't shift west as expected but instead went north, the eye hit probably about 20 minutes from where I live and a tornado hit down a mile or two from my house. Somehow, I never lost power, which I was incredibly thankful for as some people still do not have power at all. It was incredibly sad seeing all the damage to the Keys and other areas when at my house one of our fences came down and we just had a ton of debris and no damage. The community I live in, everyone pulled together to help out one another and that was beautiful to see. Praying that Maria doesn't hit us. Anyway, enough of my blabbering, here's the next chapter haha.
I was still in shock over the new Hot Tunes broadcast. I knew it would not take long before the media would figure out who I am. I didn't realize I had my eyes completely glued to the tv until my mom snapped her fingers in front of my eyes.
"Mitchie?" My mom asks, slight concern in her voice, "Are you okay?"
"Oh yeah, there's just a story about Shane and I on Hot Tunes this morning." It felt weird saying that, it was almost as if I was this new celebrity.
My mom sat down next to me at the table, coffee at hand. "What have they been saying?" My mom asks. She asks out of curiosity, but I'm sure a part of her is also asking for my sake, making sure that if there were terrible things said, that she would be there and I wouldn't have to deal with it alone.
"Nothing really, just speculation if I'm the girl who has changed Shane's attitude." I reply taking a bite out of my toast. She seemed content with this answer, she picked up the newspaper and started to read it. I was wondering if her and Dad had discussed about me going out to California, I knew that this would be a good time to ask, since Dad was already at the store so it would just me and her. By the time I could muster up the courage, she already spoke up.
"We better get going if you don't want to be late to school," She said before ushering me into the car, I knew I could ask on the car ride, but suddenly my courage left.
I had texted Shane about the story on Hot Tunes, but I knew he and the band a few days off so he was probably still sleeping, catching up on much much needed rest. Plus, I'm sure he got back to his hotel pretty late last night after our little date.
Once I exited my mom's car, no one seemed to pay any more attention to me than normal, thank goodness no one watched Hot Tunes this morning, or if they did they didn't recognize the girl Shane was with was me, and for that, I was thankful. I wasn't sure how I would handle my new found fame that occurred literally over night.
I was starring at a few of the Connect 3 posters I had in my locker, before I noticed Sierra come up to me. I knew I needed to tell her about Shane and I before she found out from the media or overheard people talking at school, it would devastate her if it wasn't me who told me.
"I guess Shane Gray is taken now, might as well stop starring at the poster of him and the band. I saw the photos of him and the girl on Hot Tunes this morning," She says in a joking tone.
I try to laugh as genuinely as possible at this, but this also means she watched Hot Tunes this morning. "There's actually something I wanted to talk to you about," I say. I see her smile drop and concern plaster on her face, "No," I say and smile, "It's good. Really good. But once I tell you you have to promise not to freak out."
"Of course I promise. But I have no idea what you could possibly tell me that would cause me to freak out." She states. It's true, overall, her whole demeanor was rather calm. There was very little that caused her to freak out or to remain not calm. But I knew this news would be one of the exceptions.
"Okay, so remember how Shane Gray was a counselor at Camp Rock?" I ask Sierra.
"Don't tell me you two are best friends and you haven't told me this whole time," She joked.
"No, even better. I'm dating him."
The look on her face was priceless, she was stunned but wants able to form any words. I can tell on the inside she is freaking out, but on the outside she's stunned and doesn't know what to do or what to say.
"Say something," I say laughing.
"Sorry, I just can't believe you're dating the Shane Gray." She comments
"He's just 'Shane' to me. I don't know, he's a good guy. We wanted to keep our relationship a complete secret for as long as possible, but after the photos from last night were leaked, Shane said its only a matter of time before the media finds out who I am and my life has changed forever."
"I'm truly happy for you, I hope you know that," Sierra replies. She knew of my struggles of making friends and the bullying, I think she's glad I finally found a guy who likes me back for who I am and how I made new friends over the summer. No matter where my life takes me and wherever Sierra's life takes her, I know we'll stay close friends.
The rest of the school day was just plain old school. Dreading my next class and keeping my head down avoiding eye contact while walking the hallways. I wish I a class with Sierra, she would make everything a bit more bearable. Although it is still early in the school year, I overheard some of the senior girls talking about homecoming this year. Which got me thinking. Would Shane and I attend homecoming together? Or would I just attend with Sierra a few of her other friends like normal? I really hoped Shane would be able to make it here if we were able to, I've always wanted to attend a dance with a guy.
It was nearly two months later, I somehow managed to convince my parents to let my fly all the way across the United States to see Shane and the rest of Connect 3 perform. Shane had already informed me one interview we'll do together, officially confirming our relationship. Somehow the media has yet been able to identify me, so I know as soon as Shane and I have that interview my life will officially change. The flight from Pennsylvania to California takes a good five and a half hours, which left plenty of time to start some homework. Moving around the seat made me realize I wish I had let Shane buy me the first class ticket he had wanted to buy me, but I had insisted that I can buy my own ticket, which of course I chose economy seating, working minimum wage does not allow for many luxuries.
Before I knew it, the pilot had announced we were landing in L.A. just like it was planned. I couldn't help but wonder if the paparazzi had followed Shane to the airport, it was rare these days he was able to go anywhere without pictures surfacing on the internet of him of his daily activities.
Once exited the plane I head over to luggage pick up and turn my phone off airplane mode and waited for a text from Shane letting me know where he was. Waiting for my suitcase seemed like it took forever. I looked around at all the other people in the airport also waiting for their luggage, some were families with young kids, and my mind couldn't help but to wander to the future. Would Shane and I still be together? Would we end up married and have kids together? I smiled at the thought of Shane becoming a father, I knew he would be an amazing one. Others impatiently looked at their watches, probably on a time limit as they needed to hurry on about their day.
I was lost in thought until I heard a familiar voice come up from behind me. "What are you thinking about?" I hear the voice say and pretty soon his arms are hugging me from behind. I smile knowing immediately who it was, I turn around in Shane's arms and bring him into a tight embrace never wanting to let go of him.
"I've missed you so much," I confess with my eyes closed and my head still buried into his chest. I pull away and look into his eyes, I didn't realize a single tear had escaped from my eye until one of his fingers brushed it away. I stood on the tips of my toes to reach his lips with mine. It was just a quick peck before I noticed all the flashes coming from a far.
"Come on, lets go before they get even crazier," Shane whispered into my ear and I nodded my head in agreement. Shane took my suitcase while I carried my purse, he kept a tight arm around me the closer and closer we got to the paparazzi the tighter I felt his grip get. "Just ignore everything they say or ask," Shane instructs and I nod my head in agreement. It's my second time dealing with the paparazzi and it feels just as overwhelming as the first time. I'm thankful to have Shane by my side as the paparazzi does not seem to phase him at all.
Shane over here!
What's your name miss?
How old are you?
Shane, so this is the girl that transformed you over summer?
She doesn't seem to be a celebrity.
With each question, I felt Shane start walking faster and I had to pace to keep up with him. We walked through the parking garage of the airport until we got to his car, he opened up the passenger door for me and then he got into the driver's side.
"Well that was pretty crazy," Shane says breaking a silence.
I chuckle at that, "How are you so calm around all those paparazzi? Like I don't think I could have made it through without you right there," Shane shrugs.
"I guess because its been part of my life for so long I'm used to it. So I meant to tell you earlier, but we have an interview to publicly announce our relationship, I figured it would probably be better that we do it and release your name ourselves rather than the media finding it out. We have time to grab lunch real quick before we head to the studio."
I nodded in agreement, Shane had one handing on the steering wheel and with his other hand he takes his hand and gently takes mine resting both of our hands on my upper thigh. I can't help but to smile at this small gesture. What in the world have I done to deserve Shane Gray?
Shane took us to a small restaurant located on the beach. It seemed to be a cute little mom and pop restaurant where all the locals go and where they have the daily regulars ordering the same every day. I told the waiter I was paying the bill and with much protest from Shane, I paid. He kept saying because I was visiting I shouldn't have to pay for our lunch, but I kept insisting.
Back in the car, Shane and I were heading to the studio were our interview would be filmed, we were releasing all of this through People, the interviewer would be a younger lady named Sarah. Shane explained how when we would first arrive at the studio we would be rushed into the makeup and hair department before we would be on set. It amazed me at how much Shane knew about this whole process of what goes into an interview.
Shane and I entered the building hand in hand, I could help but to turn my head in every which way, although we were still only in the lobby, the detail of the studio amazed me. There were literally tv's everywhere, magazines everywhere, this new atmosphere amazed me. Shane nodded at the receptionist before another man greeted us and took us down a hallway leading to the hair and makeup department. An elder lady quickly took me from Shane's side and brought me into the makeup room, I looked over my shoulder in hopes that Shane was following me into the same room, he gave me a reassuring smile before he headed his own way into another room.
I sat down in front of a full body mirror, nearly every hair product and hair tools one could imagine sat in front of me. I didn't have any say in my hair style, I figured she would keep it straight, since my hair was already straightened and she would just have to run a few touch ups on it. It took me by surprise when she started to add some curls. It took about twenty minutes for the hair stylist to perfectly curl my hair, she also was the one who did my makeup, she kept it light and minimal looking making me look like my age rather than make me look older. We didn't say anything to each other the whole time and the longer I sat there with her doing my makeup, the more awkward I felt.
I was dressed in a pink seersucker off the shoulder top with white jeans and pearls. I couldn't help but when I saw myself in the mirror, I actually looked pretty.
She motioned for me to get up and to follow her, I followed her onto set where Shane and the interviewer, Sarah, greeted me. Sarah stood up to shake my hand before I sat down. Shane looked normal, he was still in the same clothes that he arrived in, his hair still the same, the only difference was the pimple that was once on his forehead was now covered by makeup.
"Is there anything that you guys want to keep off limits during this interview?" She asked looking at both Shane and I. Shane looked over at me and I shook my head. I had nothing to hide and neither did he.
Shane and I were sitting on a rather small love seat, our shoulders were practically touching from sitting so close together, his hand cradled mine and rested on his lap. I looked down at our hands and smiled to myself.
"With all the recent speculations about Shane Gray's new girlfriend, they both have decided to come out publicly to announce their relationship. So why don't you introduce yourself and tell us a little about you," Sarah said looking over at me.
Shane squeezed my hand reassuring me. "Okay, well, my name is Mitchie Torres, I'm 16 and I'm a junior in high school. I love singing and writing my own songs. That's really all there is to me," I smiled and laughed at Sarah not knowing what else to say. I didn't exactly have the most interesting life to begin with.
"So Shane," Sarah says, now shifting her gaze over at him. "How did you and Mitchie exactly meet?"
"Well as pretty much everyone knows, I was sent to Camp Rock to have an attitude adjustment," I was hoping that Shane would leave out the part of me lying to everyone, last thing I wanted was the whole world to think I'm a liar. "I had heard a girl singing and it kind of reminded me of my old music, the type of music that made me fall in love with making music. I had ran into Mitchie a few times during camp and she was different than all the other girls, she didn't freak out that she was talking to Shane Gray, I felt myself around her. For whatever reason, I didn't find out Mitchie was the girl until after Final Jam when I interrupted her singing and we just started singing as a duet and well here we are now." Shane looked over at me and I smiled at him, I couldn't thank him enough for not telling the full story of how we met and we got together.
Sarah kept asking a few more questions, about Shane and I as well as about our relationship.
"Just one more question," Sarah states smiling widely, "We all know that Connect 3 does wear the purity rings, is that something that you both want to honor, waiting to marriage?"
I freeze, I wasn't expecting that question, that personal of a question. We could have said we didn't want anything brought up about sex, but shouldn't that be given? I still haven't told Shane what happened that one night and about Nicholas.
"I do plan on saving myself for marriage, we both want to save that aspect part of our relationship for marriage," Shane answers confidently.
Sarah looks over at me waiting for me to answer, I wasn't able to answer, I tried to form words but my mouth wasn't speaking.
"I'm sorry," Is all I am able to say before rushing out of the studio room. The room let me out into a hallway full of doors leading to who knows where. I wasn't sure if Shane followed me or not, he was probably too disappointed in me to. The thought occurred to me that what if it was being aired live? Shane nor Sarah ever brought up if it was going to be prerecorded then aired or if was airing live. I pray that it is prerecorded and the studio can just edit the last part out.
I manage to make my way to the first floor in the studio and out into the gardens directly behind it. I just stood by myself staring out into the garden, looking at the different flowers and the wildlife that resided there. My tears haven't stopped flowing, I don't think I could stop them if I tried. I am only able to imagine how pissed Shane is at me, I mean I would be pretty mad at me too. But how am I able to tell someone that I was raped when I hardly accept it myself? I didn't want to tell him about my rape for a long time and I also didn't want to bring up mental struggles for a long time as well. I trust Shane with all my heart but I never wanted to look weak in front of him, and breaking down in front of him would make me look weak.
I hear footsteps a distance from behind, "What the hell was that Mitchie?" It was Shane. "When were you going to tell me that you weren't a virgin? How many guys have you been with? Am I just another guy to hook up with?" I shook my head, "You knew staying pure until marriage was a huge thing for me, you could have at least acted like you were a virgin. You're so lucky that that interview wasn't airing live. Hopefully the studio edits that question out but what if they don't?" I couldn't bring myself to look at Shane. I really had disappointed him, he probably hates my guts right now and I can't even blame him.
"Shane," I start and turn around, I see tears pricking in the corner of his eyes as well.
"You lied to me, again." Again. That word hit me like a thousand bricks. I didn't technically lie though, I just never told him. He turned around to leave. "What else have you lied about that I don't know about?" He went to walk away, he was probably disgusted with me, I mean I was disgusted at myself.
"Shane please," I begged him.
He turned around "What?" He said bluntly.
"I never told you because I had no idea how to," I start, still crying.
"So you weren't planning to tell me?" He questioned. "That you thought you could hide this the whole time. Would you have told me if I asked you personally?"
I shook my head, "I was 14, I was a freshman and stupid. I was at this senior party and I felt so out of place there. I was there with Sierra and Sierra's older sister and boyfriend. We ended up finding out the only reason why Sierra's sister wanted us there was so we could drive them home. I went upstairs to hide out in a bedroom for a few hours and so that I could be alone. That's when someone else walked in and I thought it was their bedroom so I went to leave, only he wouldn't let me. I knew who it was when I saw his face, it was a sophomore and he was the football captain and he ra- he ra-," It felt as if I couldn't say the word, that I wasn't physically able to say the word, "he raped me," I choked. That's when I feel Shane pull me in the tightest embrace, "I see him everyday still, I sit almost directly next to him in my first period and he remembers who I am. I can't say anything because I'll ruin his scholarship for football he has,"
"I'm so sorry Mitchie," Shane whispers, "I'm sorry I wasn't more understanding, I'm sorry I didn't give you the chance to tell me. You are the most incredible girl I've ever known. I hope you know you can tell me absolutely anything and you can tell me everything about that night or you can just leave it here. I'm sorry that I had to find out this way and you weren't able to tell me when you were ready. I can't even begin to imagine how much this probably weighs you down. Does anyone else know? Do your parents know?"
He kept asking questions and I didn't answer them, I had no idea where to even start. If I told him all the details on the rape and how it affected me later on, I would end up telling him everything else.
"I'm sorry Shane," I whisper through my tears, he pulls me in his embrace tighter. I loved this feeling of him hugging me so tightly, as if nothing in the world can harm me in this moment.