Push - Chapter Nine (part one)

[leftygirl02]

Title: Push

Fandom: Camp Rock

Genre: Alternate Universe Drama/Literary Fiction

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.

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: http://leftygirl02.livejournal.com/178971.html


“We’re here. Come on now…”

Nate’s eyes traveled upward as Brown parked the car. He could hear Shane behind him scurrying around in the back seat. Nate turned his head to find his brother pulling on a hat. He opened his mouth to ask why, yet closed it again. He knew why. Why was the whole reason they were here in the first place.

I’m sorry, he thought to himself as if Shane could hear. He could only imagine what words they would be exchanging once they got back to camp; if they got back to camp. Nate had a feeling that might not be an option now. Shane finished what he was doing and climbed out of the car. Blindly Nate began reaching for the door handle, his eyes not leaving the sight before him. Through the glass he could see the word ‘emergency care’ in white block lettering on a sign which was bright red.

The balloons were bright red, the sort of happy red a kid loved. Red always had been his brother’s favorite color. There were some in the cluster of other colors too, but the red ones were so noticeable. They stood out among the blue of the sky, fighting against their strings to be released as the wind picked up again.

Nate could see them through the upstairs window. Brown had watched Nate change from his pajamas into something else. In the haste Nate had forgotten how to tie his shoes; he had only just learned recently, and had been so proud to show it off. But now he couldn’t remember, meaning his laces were still untied as the older gentleman picked him up.

Brown held on tight, burying Nate’s face into his shirt even as the boy squirmed. Nate didn’t understand why there had been such a fuss. He was a big boy. He could walk down stairs by himself. Yet Brown would have none of that. He just held on as they made their way outside, not even letting go once they were out there. Nate moved his face to the right, adjusting the fabric of Brown’s shirt. He could see him; the crowd forming… the pointing and talking… all their eyes staring endlessly his direction…

Nate jerked as the door opened to reveal Brown standing there. The Aussie extended his hand, yet Nate climbed out without assistance. He didn’t need it. He’d walk in there by himself this time. It didn’t stop Brown from putting his arm around the young man as they did. Nate kept his head down, afraid of just what he would see if he dared lift his eyes.

#

“Snickers bar?”

Jake waited a moment as Shane lifted his head. He shook it yet said nothing. She sighed; any attempt to talk to him seemed hopeless. “Okay, that’s a no.”

Sitting next to him on the hallway bench, she placed the candy bar onto her lap, and fidgeted slightly. She hated the silence; it left her with nothing to do but think. And right now, she didn’t want to be left with her thoughts. She wasn’t sure how long it actually had been since they had gotten here. It felt like a long time though, especially considering her company.

Pulling her bag across her lap, Jake opened it. She knew there was a knitting project in there somewhere. Pulling the tangled mass from the bag, she began organizing it. Figuring out where she had left off in the pattern took a moment, yet soon she was back on track again.

“Knitting,” she informed Shane as she noticed his eyes on her. She let her fingers continue to work. “I always keep a project on hand for times like this. Not that something like this happens often, just, you know, it keeps my hands busy and all. If it bothers you-”

Shane shook his head and again rested it against the wall, adjusting the hat on his head as he did. Jake allowed her eyes to return to the project in her hands. More silence followed as she worked, carefully pulling the loops of yarn over the needles to make more stitches. “Look, I’m sorry about before. If I’d known you were looking for him instead of just trying to get out of class I would have-“

“Do you ever stop talking?” he suddenly snapped.

“Not when I’m nervous, no.” Jake stammered, jumping at the sudden interruption. Mentally she sighed both at him and herself. She didn’t want to be here any more than he seemed to be. Of all the people to be sitting in the hallway of a hospital with, it had to be the one person she had wished not to see anymore. It was just her luck.

"Well could you go 'be nervous' elsewhere?” Shane nearly spit.

She would have taken the effort to make some sort of comeback had an idea not hit in that moment. Shoving the knitting back into her bag, Jake stood and headed down the hallway. Turning the corner she found another bench and sat. She opened the web browser on her phone and waited for it to load before typing the words ‘Connect 3’ into the search engine.

Jake frowned as she read the words ‘Results 1-10 of about 1,210,000’ on the screen. This was going to be a bit trickier than she thought. She tried again, this time by typing ‘Gray brothers’. That search provided fewer links, yet not exactly what she wanted. What she wanted; the words seemed so ironic to her, considering she really didn’t know what it was for which she was searching. She would know when she found it actually.

She tried mixing the two and found a Wikipedia entry on the band. It wouldn’t be perfect, but at least it would get her somewhere. She scrolled a moment, unsure still of what she was searching. The only thing which struck her was that their first album had been self-released, both written and produced by the brothers. She had no idea how usual such a thing was, if it even was unusual.

There was a table of contents. Jake clicked on the ‘personal lives’ section. There wasn’t much there; nothing really useful, in fact. She scrolled back up and clicked on Shane’s name. A new page came after a few moments.

Well, I’ll be dammed, she thought as his birth date appeared listed as August 15. She shrugged it aside as she again scrolled for the personal life portion. It was composed of only two sentences stating that he was the middle of three sons, his parents’ first names, and that he was born in Arizona. A similar result came when she clicked on the link for Jason, the differences being that he was the oldest and that he had been born in New Jersey. There was no link for Nate.

Maybe she should extend the search. Jake returned to the search engine and typed in the name ‘Nate Gray’. There were even fewer results this time with the first several being for a character from the “X-Men” comics. Jake nearly laughed at the thought that a fictional character drew top billing over a real person by the same name. It shouldn’t have surprised her of course, considering the boy made no public appearances. In fact, the first few links concerning him were forum threads debating his very existence.

He does exist, she thought to herself. Jake glanced up towards the hallway from which she had come. She allowed her thoughts to drift to the young man with whom she had only exchanged less than a dozen words. She thought of the look on his face when they had run into each other that first night and how he had almost seemed hesitant to even glance at her face. She also thought of only a couple hours before and the look he had given her then. Those eyes; there had been something in them. Something dark and pained, and yet… and yet what? She had no idea. The sight had nearly broken her heart and, in some strange way, served almost as a lure to her.

Had she dared say the words out loud, Jake herself would have believed it to be crazy. And yet, she realized, it was the very thing she was searching for; the reason behind that look. She piddled around a bit longer, clicking on various fan sites for the band. It seemed there would be slim pickings all around; well, unless she cared to know rather useless information gathered like shoe size or favorite board game. Seriously though, who searched out the sort of thing? She wondered if that sort of stuff was even correct.

“Finding anything interesting?” Jake jumped as Shane’s voice filled the air. She turned to find him standing mere inches from her.

“You scared me,” she informed him, exiting out of the browser.

“Finding anything interesting.” he said again. This time it came out more as a statement, with a pause between each word.

“I was just - well, I don’t know what I was doing, really,” she admitted. “And it’s none of your business, anyway.”

“Looks like it had plenty to do with my business.”

Her face burned, yet she stood so they were at least closer to eye level. He had a good couple of inches over her. “And just what does that mean exactly?”

“I think you know exactly what it means.” He was looking at her with a steeled expression.

While she shuddered on the inside, Jake merely narrowed her own eyes. Oh yes; that infamous Shane Gray touch-me-not attitude. Well, two could play this game. “And just what are you doing? I thought you wanted me to ‘go be nervous somewhere else’. So here I am, somewhere else.”

His expression didn’t change as he folded his arms across his chest. Jake raised an eyebrow and crossed her own arms in a demonstration that she wanted an answer, no matter how long it took. Leaning in towards her, he finally gave her one. “You think you’re so clever. But I see right through you.”

Jake rocked herself up on her toes. “Ditto.”

They may have stood there, still as statues as they continued to stare one another down, had Brown not chosen that moment to turn the corner. “There you are!”

It took her a moment to register his presence. Blinking as she returned back onto her feet Jake asked, “How’s he doing?”

“As well as someone with eight stitches in their hand can, I suppose.” Brown ran a hand through his hair. “Really though, he’s fine. He’ll be good and sore for a while, but it wasn’t as bad as we might have thought. Which isn’t what I can say about the practice hut he was in; according to Dee, he did a number on it.”

Shane sighed as Jake blinked again in confusion. “Practice hut? What practice hut?”

“Well, it seems Nathan was stuck in one this morning. My fault actually; after Shane’s little stunt yesterday I asked for the inside locks to be taken off all the huts,” Brown informed her. “It was by luck of the draw he was in one of the ones that had been fixed already. He did a number on it too. Apparently the camp is all up in arms over the fact that Dee and a few others found the hut trashed and smashed, something they swear wasn’t that way when they left it a few minutes before.”

Jake listened carefully, her face slowly falling into a thoughtful frown. The story Brown was telling her was an enigma. “I don’t understand. Couldn’t he have just waited for someone to get him out?”

“That’s a very good question,” Brown replied, although the words didn’t seem to be directed towards her. Jake couldn’t put her finger on it, but something seemed off about the way he said them. In front of her Shane shifted slightly. He was turned away, so she had no idea the look he was giving Brown at the moment.

Jake licked her lips before speaking again.”Brown, may I ask you something?”

“Have a feeling I know what you’re going to ask, but go ahead,” was his response. “But before you do, there’s a question I would like to ask you. And I’m sure Shane would like to know as well.”

Now it was Jake who squirmed. “Okay.”

Brown ushered her back to the hallway where they had started, Shane following close behind.

Making sure no one else was there, he asked, “You knew it was Nate in the cabin, am I correct?”

Jake cleared her throat as both Shane and Brown looked, or in Shane’s case glared, her direction. She looked down at her shoes as she nodded.

“How did you know that?”

“I… kinda found his wallet. He dropped it the night we met, well, bumped into each other. Literally. Outside the cabins. Monday night, during opening jam. I guess neither of us was paying attention, and we just rammed into each other.” Jake forced her mouth closed before she kept rambling. It seemed like today she was incapable of a simple sentence of response.

“I see.” Brown ran his hand through his hair again. “Makes sense I su-“

“Wait that was you?” Shane interrupted.

Jake began to nod before her eyebrows furrowed together. “What do you mean, that was me?”

“Should have known he meant it literal- You took his wallet?”

“Shane-“ Brown began.

“I didn’t take his wallet, I found his wallet. It was on the ground when I was going back to the cafeteria after giving you your food.” Jake lifted her chin as Shane’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t give me that look. I wasn’t trying to do anything wrong. I only looked so I could see who it belonged to. He didn’t exactly tell me his name. I went back to your cabin to return it, and would have explained, but after the response I got the first time decided against it. So I just put it on the top step.”

Despite her explanation Shane began to look even angrier. She couldn’t believe it. “Look, I wasn’t going to tell anyone, and I still won’t. If I was, don’t you think I would have done so already? I figured there has to be a damn good reason the third member of-“

“No one’s suggesting anything like that, love,” Brown suddenly intervened. He motioned his hand downward as if urging them to keep their voices down as well. Jake looked at him, then back at the sulking young man near her. Brown pulled his keys from his pocket and tossed them at Shane. “But enough of that; this is a conversation to be finished elsewhere. Shane, I need you to take Jake back to camp. I’m sure her mom is worried for her by now.”

“Actually, I already called her…” Jake started. He couldn’t be serious, especially considering the conversation he had just witnessed.

Brown just looked at her. “Jake, I appreciate the concern, really I do. And I’m sure the boys appreciate it as well. But I insist that you head back now.”

“But I can wait. Mom can handle the dinner prep work without me. She has-“ From the corner of her eye Jake could see Shane giving her a quizzical look. She swallowed, yet kept her focus on Brown. “No really. Please? I’ll just sit here.”

“Yeah, Brown,” Shane suddenly piped in. “She’s got her crochet stuff to keep her busy.”

“It’s knitting.”

“Hey; you want my help or not?”

Jake scoffed. Was he serious? “Not.”

Brown held up his hand before Shane could retort. He shook his head, causing Jake to sigh. He wasn’t going to back down on this one. “There’s no reason for you to stay. Jase is on his way now to pick up Nate. He’s going home.”

Jake’s heart sank. “What?”

“He’s going home. Tonight.” Brown repeated. Jake waited yet there was no more explanation. Jake bit her lip. “Now, go on and say your goodbyes and get out of here.”

Jake shifted her bag as Shane poked his head into the doorway to exchange words with Nate. She didn’t know why, but the news of Nate’s departure was upsetting, even though she knew he was okay. Shane came out of the room again, leaving Jake to contemplate her next move. She began to sneak her own peek around the doorframe. Nate was sitting on a bed, although she could see little else.

“Come on, then!”

Jake jumped, managing to ram her arm into the doorframe as she did. “Bye, Nate!” she said quickly. She then made a dash to catch up with Shane who was a few feet ahead. Her shoulders slumped as she walked. Only when they had reached the car did she realize it; she’d never been able to ask Brown her question.

#

She thought she was so clever. She thought she could fool him. Well, Shane Gray wasn’t fooled that easily. He was keeping his eye on her. No matter where Jake went, Shane had made sure to keep her within eyeshot. It was protection really; someone had to make sure she didn’t do anything to tip off the press. He couldn’t take the chance. Just sitting in a hospital was risky enough.

Least she wasn’t talking anymore.

“Is kinda nice around here, huh?”

He’d thought too soon on that one. Maybe if he kept quiet she’d stop.

“Kinda pretty too.”

Dammit. Shane kept his eyes on the road. Only a few more miles until they reached camp again. Then he’d figure out exactly what to do with her knowing what she did. At least Nate would no longer be there after tonight. What a mess. Maybe Jason had been right; Nate shouldn’t have gone there in the first place.

Jake fell silent again. Shane snuck a glance her way as he took a turn. She looked bored, or maybe sad. It was hard to tell. No it was definitely boredom; she was fidgeting with the strap of her bag. A flash of something entered his gut, yet he pushed it away just as quickly.

She looked out the window and sighed in the kind of way which made him know she was going to ask something. “So…”

Shit.

“Why didn’t Nate just wait for someone to let him out?”

More curse words entered Shane’s mind before he answered. “Ask him.”

“I’m asking you.”

“Well, I don’t know.” That was lame.

“Why is he even here? He’s not teaching a class or something.”

Good detective work, Sherlock. Even as the insult passed his mind Shane knew there was no way out of an answer. Giving answers wasn’t a strength of his, but rather just getting mad and moving away from whoever was doing the asking. But he couldn’t exactly do that now. Instead he stayed quiet again.

“He doesn’t like people much, does he.”

“Crowds make him nervous.” Had he really just said that to her? Crap.

“Crowds make him nervous.” Jake repeated.

“That’s what I said.” Shit; he should have denied it. Or something.

“What do your parents think about it?”

Not much, since they’re dead. He said nothing though.

She tried again. “So then why go into the music business?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Because we felt ill-equipped to handle the world of camp food service, I suppose.” That would get her. “Why are you asking anyway? Gonna get on your little phone browser and type it out to the tabloids?”

“No, I just was curious.”

He knew it was the truth. So far she had only used her cell phone once, to call her mom back at the hospital. Shane had rested his head against the wall to give her the impression he wasn’t listening. It seemed to work; when her back was turned, he’d leaned forward again. She’d said nothing. She hadn’t used the phone since, not even to send a text message. Well, except the moment when she had slipped away and started searching online.

“Then why’d you insist on coming in the first place?” Maybe if he could turn the table she’d get flustered. Stop asking the questions he wasn’t willing to answer. It seemed to work; she didn’t respond at first.

“I just wanted to help.”

Shane snorted. Help. She didn’t know them. From what she’d told them at the hospital, she and Nate hadn’t even spoken a word to one another. And she downright seemed to hate him. Jake had no stock in either of them. Then there was the whole wallet thing, and her sneaking around about it. “Why were you even at our cabin, anyway?”

“I… saw him and…” That saucy tone was dissipating with each word. They stopped at a red light then. Shane’s gaze came to an Arby’s at the corner. Funny; he didn’t remember one on the way to the hospital. Jake sat up higher in her seat as well. “Wait, where are we?”

The same thought had just crossed his mind. He could hear her shift in her seat. “Shane, where are we?”

Shit.

#
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