29A/N: Hey guys! This is the revised chapter of Forever & Always, and as you'll see soon it's going to be very different from what I had previously planned. Sorry, no tour for 'Smitchie' at the moment, at least :) Anyways, read it, and let me know what you think!
(P.S The song lyrics are supposed to be centered but since FF is evil... we'll have to deal :)
Disclaimer: *Sigh* I'd forgotten about these evil munchkin things :) No, peeps, I think we've established that I don't own Camp Rock (No, not Camp Rock 2 either) Anyways, enjoy & review?
I'm awake I'm alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
here, right now
I'll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive
xXx It turned out that going to Camp Rock won me the best summer of my life xXx
I spotted Aunt Clara's car the moment it pulled into the parking lot. With it's odd shape, odd color, and odd presence, it caught my attention immediately, as if some sixth sense had kicked in at just the right moment. Or maybe I had eyes in the back of my head (just saying...). It's crazy. I can't believe that the summer was already over, that my journey at Camp Rock had to end so prematurely. I was only just beginning to find myself- to become who I used to be, and already it was time to go. Time for those hard final goodbyes, tie to back up and return to our lives before Camp Rock.
I was both upset & yet happy to see Aunt Clara's car pulling up - as much as I didn't want to leave Camp Rock or all the friends I'd made during my stay here, I couldn't wait to show Aunt Clara who I'd become over the course of the summer. I couldn't wait to let her know that I was alive again, that I was happy. I could see her expression now- the shocked look as her hands flew to cover her mouth, and her eyes watering as she pulled me into a hug. I could see it all happening in my head as clear as day.
"Hey, don't think you can leave without saying goodbye, at the least." A hand wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me backwards into a warm embrace, and someone's head appeared, resting lightly on my shoulder, a sad smile on it's face. I returned the gesture, leaning back into his warm embrace & savoring the moment, closing my eyes & breathing in his sweet scent. How would it feel to not be able to lean on Shane, to see his smiling face keeping me going each day?
"Shane," I breathed, squeezing his hand in mine, slowly glancing up at his beautiful face, this moment forever imprinted upon my memories. "I wish I didn't have to go." I could see that through his joking smile, he felt the same way. I wondered briefly if he would miss me as much as I would miss him. Maybe he didn't need me as much as I needed him. However, since I was unable to read his brainwaves, I figured there was no point in worrying about it. I could tell by the way he was leaning into me, his arms wrapped protectively around me, that he didn't ever want to let me go. If only I could find the words to tell him I felt the same way.
We were a funny couple, as it goes. A world-wide famous Hollywood pop star, and a girl from a small town who's name probably wasn't on most maps. But, as it goes, the saying 'Opposites attract', was probably no joke. We were perfect with each other - just the way that we could stand there, in each other's arms, saying everything we needed to without saying a word aloud was in it self perfect.
"Smitchie..." The joking voice sang from behind us, causing us to break out of our embrace. I rolled my eyes at the petite girl standing in front of us, a smirk playing on her lips as she folded her arms together, her one eyebrow raised. I stuck my tongue out- a rather immature but common gesture for me- and once again wrapped my arms around Shane's waist before replying to her. Shane kept silent, glancing between us with a smile on his face. He did happen to love our random, immature conversations & ways of picking on each other.
"Bye to you too, Caity." I replied, rolling my eyes playfully in her direction, but her smirk only grew wider as she gently hit my arm, a chuckle escaping from her lips.
"Well, anyways, I just wanted to say bye again. I'll let you two get back to your love fest." She joked, and I frowned sadly at her as I pulled her into one last hug, squeezing her tightly. I'd miss her so much- she had become my only girl best friend- when others had ignored me & left me to wallow in my own depression, she'd been there to pick me up & dust me off. With a second glance behind her shoulder, she left Shane & me standing alone, once again. I glanced up sadly at Shane, a sigh escaping from my lips.
"I wish we could just stay here forever - I wish we never had to say goodbye to this amazing place." A mournful expression on my face, I glanced around at the cabins in the distance, along with the small stage in the back, at the place I'd come to call home. The place where I'd re-discovered myself. The place that I now had to say goodbye to. My attention returned to Shane as he stepped in front of me, grasping both my arms in his hands and staring at me, a loving expression in his eyes.
"There's always next summer, you know. It'll come faster than you think," He smiled at me, and I could see it was only half-hearted, because I knew that this winter would be the longest one for him too. "And although we won't get to see each other much, I'll still call, text, twitter, and email you as much as is possible. And if I get any time off, I'll be with you. I promise." Shane whispered, bending down to my level and once again pulling me into a tight, passionate hug.
"I love you." I replied simply, leaning into him and burying my head into his chest. Yes, some of you may be shocked by my openness, but truth be told this was normal for us. Most couples acted as if those three small words were something so amazing that they should only be said after dating months, even possibly years, but we knew that 'I love you' stood for something much more. It meant that you both loved and cherished each other, and acknowledged that fact by using those three simple words. They truly were not some bomb that once dropped, can either cause extreme passion, or pain, depending on the situation, but just a common place fact between us. We loved each other- yes, we may have only been dating for about a week (1 week, three hours, and fourty-two minutes, to be exact) but we both knew it in our hearts. We were one & the same, forever and ever. Call me crazy, but I knew that we (Smitchie, if you'd like to call us that) are, and always have been, meant to be.
"I love you too, and I'll miss you like crazy." He replied, his breath soft against my cheek. I melted into his embrace - just because we say those three words often, doesn't make them have any less of an impact.
The sound of a car's horn, only a few feet away from us, made both of us jump, and I turned, not surprised to see Tess climbing into a limo, a smirk on her face. I rolled my eyes at Shane, making a gagging noise.
"Wow. I don't even know what to say about her." I laughed, grinning up at Shane. Once, when I was insecure and broken, I had tried to make myself a part of something by attempting to make it into her group, and that had failed miserably, almost causing me to loose Shane, along with most of my other friends. Given the chance to do this summer over again, I might avoid her and her entire group. Actually... I turned, glancing up at Shane's happy expression, and I knew in an instant I wouldn't have changed anything about this summer. Sure, I'd made many mistakes - some big, some little, but everything had fallen into place in the end, creating a perfect summer that I never could have imagined in my wildest dreams.
I loved Camp Rock. I love Camp Rock, I love it, I love it. I owe it my life- it was the reason that I had finally found myself again. Of course, Shane deserved some credit too, since he had helped to break me out of my shell and had taught me to be, and stay, true to myself. No more did I feel the need to hide myself behind my wall of anger, depression, and sorrow. No more did I feel the need to keep myself from being happy, just because I'd thought that by being happy, I was betraying my parents. Now, I knew that wasn't true. Now, when that bubble of happiness exploded inside of me, instead of feeling guilty, I embraced it. All of this thanks to Camp Rock.
"I have to go." Shane's voice interuppted my thoughts, and quickly the smile slipped off my face, and I squeezed his hand tighter. I'd always known that this moment had to come, but I'd never really expected it, it seems, because I wasn't ready to leave. I wasn't ready to leave Camp Rock, Shane, or any of the other friends I'd made during my stay here. "I'm sorry, I wish I didn't have too..." He trailed off, and I bit my lip, attempting to hold back my tears. Although I knew we'd see each other again, (It wasn't like this was our last moment ever together, after all, we were kind of dating), it still hurt to say goodbye.
I've always hated them, goodbyes, I mean. They always were too... final for my liking, as if 'goodbye' was the last thing you'd ever say to them (at least for the time being). And now it had come time for Shane and I to say our goodbyes. I ducked my head, staring down at our intertwined hands and forcing a smile. Why was I being so negative about this? It wasn't the end of the world- I would get to see Shane again sometime in the future. Still, it was as if I was just letting a newfound piece of me go.
"Come on Shane, sorry, dude, but we have to go. Aaron's calling us." Nate clapped Shane on the back, glancing at us sympathetically (he was leaving behind Caitlyn so I knew that he understood how we were feeling too). Shane watched as Nate stepped onto the tour bus, dissappearing somewhere into the back, before he returned his eyes on to me, sighing softly.
"My Mitchie." He whispered, his hand against my cheek. A lone tear strayed down my cheeks at his tender touch and soft expression, before he leaned down and kissed me. Slowly, we broke away, and with a mixed expression, he dropped my hand and stepped onto the bus. I smiled at him encouragingly, trying to keep my composure as the doors to the tour bus closed, seperating us. He was going back to his Hollywood lifestyle, filled with screaming fans, slutty actresses, and wild parties, while I would be returning to my boring, in-the-middle-of-nowhere town.
I could hear the bus' engine starting, but I could only see Shane's withdrawn expression, as he stared back at me, and I could see the longing in his face. I gave him a small smile, nodding at him. A sad, monotone feeling settled into my heart as the bus pulled out of the parking lot, taking away my boyfriend, the one who had caused me to stand up and become who I was now. I'd miss him dearly.
It was only once the bus had pulled away, and I could no longer see Shane, that I realized we had never officially said goodbye.