Going Platinum, (4 page)

“Oh, not unless you count reading about her in the pages of
Music Beat
,” Mitchie said. “And about how much she misses you.”

Shane turned to face Mitchie, his brown eyes serious. “Believe me,” he said, “Faye and I are long over. We haven't spoken in months.” He looked at Mitchie's face. “I'm sure she is just coming for the potential headlines. You aren't upset, are you?”

“Not now,” Mitchie answered, smiling broadly. Suddenly she felt like she could breathe again. Shane and Faye were history. And she and Shane were solid. She almost giggled with relief. Instead, she changed the subject. “But I
am
nervous about the tryouts for Brown's birthday. I haven't won a jam yet. I'd really love to be one of the performers Friday night.”

A smile spread across Shane's handsome face. “With your song, you have an excellent chance,” he said. “I've got to run up to the office. I'll catch you later, okay?”

“You bet,” Mitchie said, waving good-bye. She swung her guitar over her shoulder and rushed to her dance class, humming her song the whole way. Things were looking up.

C
HAPTER
F
IVE

T
he next morning, the vibe on the stage by the lake was a little different than it had been the previous day. Instead of reading magazines, gossiping, and suntanning, most of the campers had gathered to rehearse their songs before Dee arrived.

Peggy tapped her foot and tried to stay calm. She hoped that Dee would hurry up. She didn't want to lose her nerve!

Mitchie was just as nervous. She was pacing up and down the sandy lakefront area.

“Hey, Mitchie, are you ready?” Caitlyn called, running up to her friend.

“I don't know,” Mitchie answered. “There's so much pressure!”

Caitlyn grabbed her hand. “You are going to be fine. More than fine. Your song is amazing. You had everyone talking yesterday.” She smiled encouragingly. “You're really good, Mitchie. This jam is yours. First, you just need to get past Dee.”

Hugging her guitar, Mitchie looked at Caitlyn. “Thanks,” she said. “I appreciate the support.”

“Hey, Dee is here!” Lola shouted. She waved her arms to get Mitchie and Caitlyn's attention. “Come on, let's get this party started!”

Dee was walking up the path with Shane. They were talking and laughing as if nothing special was about to happen. Mitchie took a deep breath as the two took their seats. This was a moment she'd been waiting for . . . it was her chance to shine with all the stars at Camp Rock.

“All right, folks,” Dee called. “I have the list here from Shane, so let's start. I'll listen to all the songs and let you know the results at dinner tonight. The top four singers will head to the theater for rehearsal directly after dishes are cleaned.”

“We are so there!” Sander said as he traded a high five with Barron.

Peggy twisted a strand of her long black hair around her finger. She wished that she felt as confident as Barron and Sander. She sat a little taller in her seat and tried to concentrate on her breathing. I am Margaret Dupree, she said to herself. I can do this! When it was finally her turn, she began to sing. At the end of the song, Dee wrote comments without looking up from her clipboard. Peggy walked back to her seat and let out a deep sigh. She had done it. Now she would just have to wait and see.

“Mitchie Torres, you're next,” Dee said.

Mitchie took her spot onstage. She put her hand on the neck of the guitar and began to pluck out the first notes. Glancing up, she caught Shane's eye. He winked at her, and suddenly she felt a surge of confidence. This was her place, her time. She began to sing.

When she was finished, Dee wrote more notes. What did Dee think? Mitchie wondered as she put her guitar back in the case. Fingers crossed, she slid next to Caitlyn to listen to the others perform.

Mitchie stared at the afternoon light sparkling off the lake. In a few hours, she'd know if she was going to be one of the final four to perform. She pulled her brown hair up into a ponytail. It was going to be a long day.

T
he mess hall was extraloud that night. It was the eve of Shane's big party and B's Jam—no one could be quiet.

Finally, after everyone had eaten, Dee got up and took the microphone. “As I'm sure you know, I've got an announcement,” she shouted to the crowd. In record time, the room grew quiet. Dee smiled. “That's more like it,” she remarked. She held up her clipboard and without further ado, read the names of the finalists.

“Peggy, Sander and Barron, Lola, and Mitchie,” she said. “You have all been chosen for the annual B's Jam tomorrow night. As I told you earlier, rehearsals are in the theater directly after dinner.”

As soon as Dee was done, Mitchie leaped out of her seat. Turning, she hugged her friends and then caught Shane's eye. He gave her a thumbs-up. Mitchie smiled.

“We're in!” Lola squealed. She grabbed Mitchie's and Peggy's arms. “Can you believe we are all in this together? Wild!”

Peggy was in shock! She had not moved since her name was called. Finally, the words sunk in, and she let out a squeal. Making it to the finals in B's Jam was almost as great as winning Final Jam. “We're in! We're in!” she chanted.

From her seat, Tess grumbled. “Whatever,” she said, shrugging. “Who wants to be in an acoustic jam anyway?”

“I thought you did,” Ella said, skillfully applying her lip gloss without the aid of a mirror.

Tess shot her an evil look and stormed out of the mess hall.

Peggy had to smile at Tess's dramatic exit. Her song had been typical—over the top and showy. For B's Jam, it didn't fit. Of course, Tess didn't see things that way. She was
always
supposed to win.

After all the dishes were cleared away, Peggy, Lola, Sander, Barron, and Mitchie ran over to the theater. It was great to be back in the space where Final Jam had taken place. Mitchie felt like she was floating.

Dee was waiting for the performers at center stage.

“Congratulations,” Dee said. “You all wrote amazing songs. I believe that this is going to be one of the best jams we've had. I'm really excited.”

“Me, too!” Peggy shouted.

“So let's pick numbers out of this hat to see the order.” Dee held out a Camp Rock baseball cap and passed it around. “We'll run through each of your songs tonight so you get a feel for the place and its acoustics without any other instruments or synthesizers.”

After they each picked a number, the order was decided. Peggy would go first, then Barron and Sander, Lola next, and Mitchie last. Peggy and Lola were both playing piano, and Sander and Barron weren't using any instruments. Mitchie was the only one with a guitar.

They ran through the first two songs.

Since everyone else was still at the evening activity, the theater was quiet. There were only rows of empty benches. But as Mitchie got up, Shane walked in and sat down on one of the side benches. Mitchie was relieved to see him. His presence gave her confidence. She had just opened her mouth to sing when there was a commotion at the door. A few people were walking in from outside. Dee went over to ask them to keep quiet.

“Go ahead, Mitchie,” Shane called out. Mitchie nodded and started singing.

“And it's here where I can breathe.

Where I can be me, and I am free.

This place, it's not mine or yours forever.

But let's stay and live on borrowed time

for a while.”

She kept singing, hoping that her concentration wouldn't be broken by the commotion. But it was impossible. She lost her place and forgot the words to one of the verses.

“Keep going, Mitchie,” Dee encouraged. “I'm sorry for this rude interruption.” She glared at the girl and the three men beside her who had disrupted things.

By then, Shane had stood up. “Faye?” he asked, squinting. “Faye, what are you doing here?”

Mitchie's heart slammed against her chest. Faye Hart was here? Already?!

“I was trying to surprise you!” the pop star shouted. She flicked her long, stick-straight blond hair away from her face. “Who knew that this theater was harder to get into than Cool Jay's party on the Strip?” She barreled past Dee and went over to embrace Shane. Her strappy, gold high-heeled shoes clicked on the wooden floor.

Laughing at the girl's exuberance, Shane gave Faye a big hug hello. But a look from Dee prevented them from speaking. Without another word, they went and sat down. The three men remained at the back of the theater.

“I'm so sorry, Mitchie,” Dee said. “Please start at the beginning.” Then she turned to Shane. “And please, no more interruptions.”

Now Mitchie was feeling not only very nervous but very annoyed. Why was Faye already at camp? The party wasn't until tomorrow night. And why was she practically sitting in Shane's lap, drooling all over him?

When the song was over, Faye leaped to her feet. “That song had such a great vibe to it,” she cooed. “Dean, wasn't that good?” She turned to one of the three guys now huddled by the door. The tallest one must have been Dean, because he stepped forward.

“Very cool,” he said. “Good lyrics, and I like the melody.”

The other two men nodded.

Faye walked over to Mitchie. “I really loved it. And I want to have it. How much would it cost?” She stood at the edge of the stage grinning sweetly up at Mitchie. Mitchie was pretty sure Faye was somebody who usually got what she wanted.

Hugging her guitar close to her, Mitchie stared at Faye. “Well, I'm not sure it's for sale,” she finally replied.

“What?” Faye squealed. “Oh, come on.” She narrowed her eyes. “Do you know who you're talking to? Do you know what it would mean if
I
sang
your
song?”

“I've got a pretty good idea,” Mitchie mumbled. She jumped off the stage and went over to put her guitar in the case.

“Hey, Faye,” Shane said, stepping in. “Come on, leave her alone.”

Annoyed, Faye spun around. Her blue eyes had gone from warm to icy. “I'm serious, Shane. I'm scheduled to perform at your party tomorrow night. I'd love to sing this song. Wouldn't that be so perfect for
me
to sing that to
you
here?”

Mitchie wanted to shout, No! That would be all wrong! Faye's sound was full of synthesizers and pulsing dance beats. “This Place” was not her type of song at all.

“Seriously, I really,
really
want to have it,” Faye said to Mitchie, switching back to an overly sweet tone. “I think this could make a great single on my new album.”

The three guys at the door pulled out cell phones as though they could instantly make this request happen.

“Well, you have until tomorrow morning,” Faye barked when Mitchie didn't say anything. “I'll have Dean write up the papers.” Faye tossed her shiny hair from side to side. Then she focused her blue eyes on Shane. “Come on, sweetie, I have some presents for you in my car.” She reached out and grabbed his arm. Before Mitchie could even utter a word, Faye had pulled Shane out of the theater and into the dark night.

“Whoa,” Barron said, when she was gone. “That was intense.”

“I can't believe Faye Hart wants to sing
your
song, Mitchie!” Peggy exclaimed. “Aren't you totally psyched?”

“I don't know,” Lola said before Mitchie could answer. “That girl looks like trouble to me. And Mitchie's song is not her style at all. Personally, I think that she just wants Shane to look at her the way he was looking at Mitchie when she was singing it!”

Mitchie's jaw dropped. “What?” she asked, wrenching her gaze from the door Shane had disappeared through. Could Lola be right? Was Faye jealous of
her
? How could that possibly be?

“Yeah,” Sander said, nodding his head thoughtfully. “I could believe that. But if that girl is going to write a check for the song, I say take it to the bank!”