Caitlyn slouched over the piano, her eyes closing slowly.
"Hey! You can't fall asleep on me, Birthday Girl! We have a lesson to teach." Mitchie yelled, nudging her arm.
Caitlyn yawned, opening her eyes. "But I'm just so tired!"
Mitchie chuckled. "It's not my fault somebody stayed up all night making out with her boyfriend."
"Shut up..." Her friend replied, sitting up straighter when their students arrived.
Mitchie giggled and clapped her hands loudly, gaining the attention of the class of 20. "Hiya! I'm Mitchie and this is Caitlyn. She's a little tired because it's her birthday but I'm sure if we could go around and sing our names, she'll wake up."
The class giggled as Caitlyn playfully rolled her eyes, expectantly waiting for the class to finish singing their names. Of course, there just had to be one Tess Tyler wannabe in the class.
"Kiara!" The blonde sang. "As in Key-ara."
Mitchie and Caitlyn shared a wary glance.
"Well, thanks guys for waking up our resident sleeper," Mitchie said. "I will put you guys in pairs and you will work on a group performance to perform at Camp Fire Jam. It's a new jam and it's going to be awesome! So...," she trailed off when Shane entered with a shy smile.
"Mitch? You're needed in the kitchen."
Mitchie frowned before placing her instructor's pad down and glanced at Caitlyn.
"Go on, I'll be fine."
Her friend nodded and followed Shane out, wondering what was up.
"Well, it's just us..." Caitlyn mumbled, picking the pad up. "Okay, if I give you a pairing, I expect you to stick with them."
And when she paired Kiara with the resident shy and quiet student, the blonde just had to react. "I don't want to be paired up with Sally!"
"It's Sabrina." The quiet girl spoke up.
Caitlyn sighed, placing a hand to her hungover head. "Look, I didn't choose the pairs so don't shoot the messenger. If it's such a problem, how about you both go solo?"
"No..., it's fine." Kiara gritted out. "I guess she can do as a backup singer."
"That's insulting. Apologise to her, please." Caitlyn raised an eyebrow.
Kiara rolled her eyes, turning to face the small brunette. "Sorry."
"Thank you. Now, your pairings are duets so that means that both parties are equal. If there is no sign of equality, you'll be disqualified." Caitlyn announced just as Mitchie rushed back in and grabbed her handbag. "Okay, start preparing!"
She went to the corner with Mitchie who looked worried. "My mom burnt her hand. It looks serious but she's playing it off."
"Go, I'll be okay with the bottle blonde sixteen-year-old," Caitlyn assured her friend.
"You sure? I'll be back as soon-"
"No, stay with your mom. I'm fine! Plus, I have my dance class after this so you'll have to get Nat or Mara to cover for you."
Mitchie winced. "They're both pre-occupied."
"Shane isn't."
"I can't ask him to-"
Caitlyn sighed. "When will you let bygones be bygones? I forgave him for ruining my sister's bridesmaid pictures by dying my hair green so why can't you forgive him for dumping you in Paris on your anniversary."
"Just because of the reasons you stated!" Mitchie said with a smile. "Plus, he was acting really shady about it and he won't tell me why."
"I'll get Nate to get it out of him. Now go and ask him!"
Mitchie blushed. "He's waiting outside."
"Then go!"
Her friend raised her hands up, her bag over her shoulder and left with a grin.
The redhead turned and faced her class. Well, this was going to be a long day.
...
"Thank God the campers are asleep!" Shane sighed, throwing himself on his bed.
Jason laughed. "The JRs were surprisingly better this year."
"Probably because my son was one of them." Nate boasted, throwing him a pillow for Kelly.
Jason shrugged. "He's no Jimi Hendrix but he'll do."
His brother gasped. "Excuse me! I have been teaching the kid how to play guitar since he was three! I think we can safely say that he's on his way to being legendary!"
"I wonder how Connie is." Shane changed the subject.
"Oh yeah, was it very bad?" Nate asked.
Shane shrugged. "Some blistering but Mitchie texted to say that she'll survive."
"Thank God because I need another Torres burger down my stomach and so does Kelly!" Jason said, kissing his daughter's head. "Hey, do you know what's up with Wendy? She's been acting really weird lately."
His younger brothers shared a glance then shook their heads.
"Nope,"
"Oh, okay." Jason frowned. "So, what are you guys doing for my 30th?"
Shane rolled his eyes at yet another sudden change of topic. "That's for us to know and for you to find out in December, bro."
"And don't forget I'm turning 25 in November!" Nate said. "My birthday should be your priority!"
"Speaking of birthdays, shouldn't your girlfriend's be your priority today?" Shane smirked.
Nate looked at the time. "4 hours until midnight. Well, I'm off. Bye!"
Kelly, being the little cute girl she was, happily waved him off, making her father and uncles laugh.
"Now, since Nate's gone, tell me the truth, Shane. Do you know why Wendy's acting strange?"
Shane sighed, deeply. "She wants a divorce!" His brother blurted out.
Jason grimaced. "I kind of knew. I just... I saw her leave your cabin the other night and got really suspicious. She seemed conflicted."
"Yeah, because you have a little girl to think about. Divorces are not easy. Look at Mom and Dad."
His older brother sighed, biting the inside of his cheek. "But we were all old enough to understand why, though."
"I guess... Dad's splitting up with wife number 3 now." Shane told him. "Seems like I'm the only one who actually follows our parents' lives. Nate just sort of left without a goodbye and became the bachelor of the century and you left for Vegas and never came home. I felt alone even though Fel and Amy were with me. Do you know that Amy's in university, now? Damn, I remember when she was born and Nate asked when the doctors were taking her back."
Jason grinned. "Then after Amy, Felix came and Nate begged the doctor to stop taking our money for 'these babies'."
"I wish we could turn back time."
"To the good old days..."
"Let's stop quoting Twenty-One Pilots, huh?" Shane chuckled, happily accepting his sleeping niece into his arms. "I just can't believe that I'm an uncle."
"What I can't believe is that you and Mitchie are still not together. It's been nearly a week, normally you would be all over each other after your multiple break-ups."
Shane winced. "This time's different, Jay. I really hurt her."
Jason decided to move the subject again. "Speaking of dad's soon to be ex-wife number 3, don't we have a half-sister?"
"Chantelle? Chanel? Something stupid like that?"
Jason laughed. "It was Lauren."
"Oh."
"You're thinking of your ex-girlfriend."
"Oh. Again. Damn, how can I confuse a three-year-old for an ex?"
Jason shrugged. "Unless you sleep with children, which is very disturbing to think about considering that you're holding my daughter, it's strange."
"Yeah, you're right. Oh! Felix's heading to university this year!"
Jason shook his head. "I really am getting old if my youngest sibling is going to university and I'm turning thirty this year."
...
"How's your mama?" Caitlyn asked, wiping her makeup off.
Mitchie yawned, stretching as she laid on her bed. "She's alright. It was just some-"
Her sentence was cut short by knocking on their door.
"Come in!" They sang.
Nate peeked through, smiling when he saw his girlfriend in her natural state. "Hey, Beautiful."
"Hey, yourself, Handsome."
"And that's my freakin' cue to leave," Mitchie smiled, heading to the bathroom with her pajamas.
Caitlyn sat on her bed and patted her side for Nate to join her. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just wanted to spend the remaining four hours of your birthday with you."
She nodded with a blush. "Oh yeah, I remember that you wanted to show me a song? Before we got disrupted?"
"Oh! Uh, it was nothing. Just about an ex. Stupid really, it doesn't mean-"
"Let me hear it." Caitlyn cut in.
Nate blushed and pursed his lips in deep thought. "Only if I get a kiss."
"Depends how 'stupid' your song is."
He laughed, kissing the side of her head. "Got me there,"
Nate slipped his hand into his pocket and retrieved his smartphone, quickly putting in the pin number and getting his voice recordings up.
"Just... listen. I had my old PA sing some parts but it's just for the 'feel' of it, okay?"
"Okay..." Caitlyn whispered with a small, tired smile.
[Nate:]
Oh damn, oh damn, oh damn
I'm so perplexed
With just one breath, I'm locked in
Oh damn, oh damn, oh damn
I'm so perplexed
On that, it's almost shocking
I know, I know you know you're scared
Your heart, your mind, your soul, your body
They won't, they won't, they won't be careful
But I guess that you don't know me
Cause if I want you, and I want you, babe
Ain't going backwards, won't ask for space
Cause space was just a word made up by someone who's afraid to get too...
Close, ooh
Oh, so close, ooh
I want you close, ooh
Cause space was just a word made up by someone who's afraid to get close, ooh
Oh, so close, ooh
I want you close, ooh
Oh, I want you close, and close ain't close enough, no
[PA:]
Oh man, oh man
I am not really known for ever being speechless
But now, but now somehow
My words roll off my tongue right onto your lips, oh
I'm keeping cool while you keep smiling
Saying all the things I'm thinking
Oh man, oh man
I am like you so I want proof I'm what you're feeling
Cause if I want you, and I want you, babe
Ain't going backwards, won't ask for space
Cause space was just a word made up by someone who's afraid to get too...
[Both:]
Close, ooh
Oh, so close, ooh
I want you close, ooh
Cause space was just a word made up by someone who's afraid to get close, ooh
Oh, so close, ooh
I want you close, ooh
Oh, I want you close, and close ain't close enough, no
Cause if I want you, and I want you, babe
Ain't going backwards, won't ask for space
Cause space was just a word made up by someone who's afraid to get too... close
Close, ooh
Oh, so close, ooh
I want you close, ooh
Cause space was just a word made up by someone who's afraid to get close, ooh
Oh, so close, ooh
I want you close, ooh
Oh, I want you close, and close ain't close enough, no
Oh, I want you close, and close ain't close enough, no
"So..., how was it?"
"Honestly?"
Nate nodded. "You can tell me anything. If it sounds like shit or anything."
Caitlyn sighed. "I wish I was your PA right now," she grinned.
"You...!" Nate sighed a breath of relief.
"It was great, emotional and just... beautiful, babe. I guess it reflects on us."
Nate turned to face her with a frown. "How do you mean?"
"I'm afraid to get close to you in case my heart gets broken in the process. I tell you things that take me years to tell everyone else. I just... I trust you but I can't allow my heart to completely love you yet. I'm ill, you know that and maybe you'll leave me for someone who's normal so I have to make a little space between us in case that ever happens. I need to be prepared in a way so I don't go completely mental... Do you understand, Nate?"
Nate was too stunned to reply and Mitchie entered the room, her smile turning into a concerned frown.
"You guys alright there?"
Caitlyn shrugged. "I don't know. Are we, Nate?"
"I...," Nate gulped. "I get you. I-I understand. My mom felt the same way about my dad. Heck, my sister feels the same way, that's why she's still single so I'll give you space but I don't think you realise that you're some sort of drug and these past years have felt like withdrawal. I missed you so much and now that I've got you back, I want to be as close as possible but if you want space to breathe than I guess, I can live with that. You're what's important..." Nate mumbled, wiping her hair from her face.
Caitlyn gave him a small smile. "Thanks for understanding. Now, on a happier note... B&J's and Netflix on my laptop?"
"You know it. Mitch?"
Mitchie rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'm going!"
"No! Want to join us? I'll even probably let you two do my makeup or something."
Mitchie grinned, jumping onto Caitlyn's bed to hug them both.
"You two are the best couple who knows how to handle a third wheel!"