Push - Chapter One (part one)
Title: Push
Fandom: Camp Rock
Featuring: Connect 3 (Shane, Nate and Jason), Michie Torres
Genre: Alternate Universe Drama / Literary Drama
Author: leftygirl02
Rating: PG-13, maybe higher
Information: Most performers can't fathom not performing, no matter what demons may stand in their way. Sometimes they just need a little push.
Disclaimer: Characters based on those of the film aren’t mine, but merely my interpretation of them. None of this actually happened. Jake Torres and back stories come from my head. Various portions and quotes, typed in blue, come from the film and/or trailer.
Credit: The Camp Rock Wiki site, YouTube clips from the movie the film Camp Rock itself, and Camp Rock imdb quotes page.(Have never seen this movie before, so had to go based on what could be found) <-- saw movie for the first time at around chapter five or so
Warning: Contains mild language, implied violence and intense situations.
Michie Torres couldn’t believe her ears. “What did you say?”
Her father flipped another burger on the grill, a proud smile across his face. “She said you’re going to Camp Rock.”
“Well actually, we’re going,” her mother quickly corrected. “Connie’s Catering is going camping. Business is slow in the summer. This is a steady job and you get to go to camp at a discounted rate.”
Michie let out a gasped scream of excitement, still in disbelief that her parents were actually telling her this news. It had never occurred to her until now that her mom’s catering business could get her a ticket to what, if only to her, was the dream summer destination.
“But you have to help out in the kitchen,” her mom added.
Michie nodded. Helping out in the kitchen seemed the least she could do. She nearly bounced into her mother’s arms to give her a hug. “Thank you! Thank you, like, a million times!”
Her mom let out a laugh. “Alright, settle and go change. Dinner’s almost ready.”
Oh right; she was still wearing her Barney’s Burgers uniform. Hard to believe only a few moments before she was dragging her feet and in no way looking forward to dinner as now she seemed full of renewed energy. Giving her mom another tight hug and attempting not to squeal again, Michie bounced her way to the sliding back door and into the kitchen. Inside she found her older sister standing at the fridge.
“Jake; guess what? You won’t believe what just happened! Oh, do you need some help with that?” Her words came out in rapid fire almost within one breath.
Jake shifted the condiments and package of hamburger buns stacked in her hands as she pushed closed the refrigerator door with her elbow. “Nope; I got it. And let me guess; your ‘liter the house with Camp Rock pamphlets’ campaign actually worked?”
Michie paused only a moment before nodding and letting out another muffled squeal. She then stepped in front of her sister to hold open the screen door.
“Well, congratulations. Oh, thanks.” Jake took a step onto the back patio. “I really didn’t think it would happen.”
“I know! Isn’t it great?”
Jake let out a chuckle.
Making sure her sister was safely outside, Michie slid the screen door back into place then ran towards her room. Jake carried her load over to the patio table and set it down. Beginning to arrange them in some sort of order, she said, “I think you just made her decade.”
Her father chuckled. “Better enjoy that while it lasts, Connie.”
“Steve,” his wife shot back. She turned to her daughter and gave her a swift kiss on the cheek. “He is right though; once it sinks in that we’re going to be there too, she’ll settle again.”
Jake’s eyebrows rose. “We?”
“Yep; you and me.” Connie put a spoon into the potato salad. “And don’t give me that look; I’m going to need all the help I can get this summer.”
“What about Dad?”
“Don’t you worry about me, honey. I’ll be here taking care of the important things.” Steve answered. Taking the plate his wife had handed him a few moments before, he began placing the cooked burgers onto it. “Like earning bread money, water the flowers, that sort of thing.”
“Lenore will be as well to help,” Connie offered as if knowing her work assistant was accompanying them would raise her daughter’s mood. Thinking quickly, she added, “Plus, you’ll get paid for your services, of course.”
Jake let out a small sigh, yet flashed a forced smile to her mom. It would do no good arguing or being upset over it. The idea of spending the summer working with her mom wasn’t what bothered her; she did, after all, work at Connie’s Catering regularly. It was the idea of spending her summer working among a bunch of teenaged rock star wannabes.
That was when she noticed the rather large stain on her shirt. How had that gotten there? Letting out a louder sigh, Jake grabbed a napkin and began dabbing at it.
“Oh, honey, no, that won’t work,” her mother advised. “You need to wash that out.”
Jake threw her head back. Goodbye, favorite white tee. “I’ll be back.”
Heading inside, Jake went upstairs to the room she shared with Michie. She found the door closed and, to her dismay, locked. Knocking she called, “Michie?”
Her voice was drowned out by a male’s from inside, which was singing. “Gotta live to party, bust your move… Everybody’s in the groove…”
Jake knocked again. “Michie, come on! Open the door!”
“Tell the DJ to play that song… are you ready to rock-n-roll…”
“MICHIE!”
This time her sister heard her. The door came open, and there she was, the smile still on her face. “Oh, sorry Jake; I didn’t hear you. What happened to your shirt?”
Jake made her way to the dresser and began rummaging for a new shirt, not answering.
“Want to borrow one of mine?” Michie offered. She walked over to the television and turned down the volume, then reached into her own dresser drawer. “Here, you can have my pink one.”
Jake couldn’t help but be surprised at her sister’s offer. Less than two years apart in age, they were close, yet sharing clothes wasn’t exactly a common occurrence. “You’re in a good mood.”
“A good mood? Try a great one.” Michie pulled out the shirt and tossed the pink shirt towards Jake. “Just wait, this is gonna be the best summer ever!”
“You, my dear, have been watching too much Disney Channel.” Jake joked at her sister’s choice of words. Michie rolled her eyes and headed to the hallway. Jake sighed; she had left the television running. Walking over, Jake reached the screen in time to find a reporter standing next to two young men, both with straight dark hair. One of the pair still had a bit of baby fat around his cheeks. Jake recognized them almost immediately.
“Hey Michie, it’s your favorite boy band wannabes!” she called with a smirk.
“What are you-?” Michie began, poking her head back around the doorway. Her eyes fell on the two young men on the screen with the reporter, which caused her to step into the room and sit on her bed to watch. Was she seeing who she thought she was seeing right now?
"You just heard a clip of one of the ten songs in the newest album by Connect 3." The interviewer was saying, confirming it.
“Who are not boy-band-wannabes,” Michie quickly hissed towards her older sister. Jake rolled her eyes, yet Michie didn’t notice.
"We have Shane and Jason here with us today,” the interviewer continued. “First let me ask you guys; where's your other band mate?”
Michie quirked an eyebrow, curious as to what would be the reply. The question was nothing new for Connect 3. They were a very recent hit, their success somewhat of an enigma in the entertainment world. Those around them wondered how a band could gain such a fan base by just releasing a couple of albums. There had been no tours, no concerts, and not as much as a public appearance outside of the handful of interviews they’d given over the last couple of years. Even then, only two members had appeared to represent the group; the third was never seen.
Course, Michie pondered; maybe the enigma surrounding them was why the group was doing so well. It sure had her interested.
"Well, to tell you the truth, he-" began the baby-faced one, before the other sent a quick jab to his ribs.
"He has the flu. Serious case, in fact. He could barely go to the bathroom."
"Really, I never-" the first started again.
"Very, very sick. Right Jason?" Shane pressed, looking pointedly at his companion. Jason raised his eyebrows.
"Don't make faces at me, I didn't do anything!" he said in a huffed tone.
Michie nearly smirked; in every interview Jason always seemed just a step behind. On screen Shane sighed and shook his head. The interviewer looked between the two, clearly confused.
“Alright, well, tell him that we all hope he gets well soon,” she said kindly. “Now, about the cover of your new album, set to be released in a few weeks; another shadowy image, guys. If I may ask, why is that?”
"Well, that's us for you, dark and mysterious." Shane replied diverting his eyes from the reporter's. The screen filled with the image of the album. Just as the interviewer stated, the image was a blurry shot of three young men from behind.
"Well, I'm not like that. If I ever release a solo, it'll be all colorful, with lots of nature; birds and stuff…" Jason trailed off as if he was imagining it right then. Shane glared at him, which went unnoticed.
"I see." The interviewer continued. She turned to look at Shane. "You know, sooner or later, people are going to start thinking that this brother of yours doesn't-"
"Oh, and trees, and maybe-"
"Look," Shane cut across, clearly losing his temper. "If we're done with the stuff about the album, we'd like to leave now." Jason looked about ready to protest, yet Shane shot him a searing look. "We are leaving."
With that, he left the camera’s view. The interviewer cleared her throat, looking awkward.
"Sorry, it's not you. He does that to everyone,” Jason stated to the interviewer. Another slight moment passed in silence."See ya!" he said cheerfully, then left after his younger sibling.
“That was just weird,” Jake observed as she finally turned off the television. “Are their interviews always that… short?”
Michie nodded, her face turned to a thoughtful frown.
Jake shook her head and returned her focus back to her destroyed shirt. “You think Spray-n-Wash will get this out?”
Michie shrugged.
“Girls; dinner!” Their mom’s voice called.
“Coming!” Jake replied. Shirt still in hand she headed to the door and out to the hallway. Michie followed a few steps behind, glancing back to the silent television. In her mind she played back the interview. If that was what being a music star was like, maybe this wasn’t the destiny she wanted after all.
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