A/N: I'm so sorry that it took so long to get this up, but school has been CRAZY! So here it is, the epilogue!

Disclaimer: The lyrics below still belong to Taylor Swift and Boys Like Girls. I did make some changes in who sings what though. Shane is the bold, Mitchie is the itallics, and both are the two combined.

Epilogue

The stage fright gripped hold of me quickly; I didn't even see it coming. I had gone so long without being this petrified that I had forgotten what it felt like. All those eyes focused on me, anticipating a performance worthy of a record deal, as all performances here were. What if I choked? What if I couldn't do it? What if I forgot the lyrics we had so painstakingly thought out? What if I screwed up?

A small voice in my head told me I wouldn't screw up, because I knew this song like the back of my hand by now, but I ignored it. It was easier to give into the panic than to fight it.

"We're on next," Shane's smooth voice broke through my wild emotions as he appeared behind me, slipping his hand into mine. "Nervous?"

I gave a shaky laugh. "Never."

He chuckled and squeezed my hand reassuringly, not fooled by the transparent lie. That was one of the things I remembered liking most about him. He wouldn't call me on my little white lies all the time. He wasn't one of those people who needed to point out every time someone was untruthful. Sometimes, he said, you just needed to let the person think you believed them. Sometimes, it was easier that way.

The past week and a half had been odd for me. Being back together hadn't been as awkward as I expected, but some things were still unclear. It was almost as though we'd fallen back into a familiar pattern, but with some confusion as to what this pattern entailed. To be honest, the physical part was the biggest issue. How far was too far? If we were rebuilding, did that mean we were starting over from block one, as though we hadn't already dated? Or did that mean we picked back up from where we left off? Neither of us had the answer to this, and we fumbled around the issue –mostly because I was too embarrassed to say anything about it.

All things considered, I felt happy -even euphoric- to be back on track with Shane. It was fun to rediscover everything I'd loved about him before, and compare his bad habits with the ones I'd previously known. He was still pretty much the same person he'd been before, and I found myself glad that he hadn't changed.

The music on stage died out, meaning it was time for all of those eyes to turn to me. I felt a surge of anxiety stab at the wall of my stomach as Shane tugged my hand in the direction of the stage. He was grinning madly, like always. He was always so excited to get on stage, whereas I usually had to be dragged up the steps. It made me wonder what exactly I was thinking, wanting to be a singer.

As Brown's voice began to introduce us, I concentrated on making the scenery fall away. I couldn't see anything. The world outside this stage was blurring, going black. The people out there were disappearing into the darkness. No one was here. Just me and Shane.

I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I thought
"Hey, you know, this could be something"
'Cause everything you do and words you say
You know that it all takes my breath away
And now I'm left with nothing

His voice startled me at first. I was so intent on blocking everything else out that I hadn't noticed the music beginning. I was barely ready to sing as his voice faded, but I managed to pull it together. My recollection of the lyrics from a blank and panicked mind fuelled my confidence. I could do this.

So maybe it's true
That I can't live without you
And maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking two is better than one

When our voices melded together, forming one, perfect blend, a smile split onto my face. All the thinking about what was meant to be and supposed to be faded from my mind, because I knew that this was right. I was supposed to be here, on stage, with Shane. I didn't care about what was in the 'grand plan' anymore, if there even was a 'grand plan'. All that mattered was right here, right now. No more thinking about the future.

I remember every look upon your face
The way you roll your eyes
The way you taste
You make it hard for breathing
'Cause when I close my eyes and drift away
I think of you and everything's okay
I'm finally now believing

That maybe it's true
That I can't live without you
And maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking two is better than one

Brown once told me that for any good song to be great, it had to mean something to the artist. I couldn't see the audience to judge their reaction, but I could see Shane. I could see that these words meant something to him, just as they did to me. I could see that these words were honest, and true, even if they were a little cheesy, and a little cliché. Who doesn't love a good cliché?

I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life and I thought, "Hey,"

Maybe it's true
That I can't live without you
Maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking
I can't live without you
'Cause, baby, two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
But I'll figure it out
When all is said and done
Two is better than one
Two is better than one

As the last words rang through the auditorium and applause broke out, a smile broke out on my face, and I remembered why I wanted to sing. The rush of adrenaline you got from pouring your heart out was intoxicating. I loved being able to show people parts of myself I would normally keep hidden. Looking across at Shane, I saw him return my grin before we left the stage.

In the mass confusion that was the end of Duet Jam that night, Shane and I managed to slip away from the crowd unnoticed. I glanced once over my shoulder to see Caitlyn with Nate's arm around her, scanning the crowd, most likely for us. I had no reason to avoid her, but I wanted some time alone with Shane before everyone crowded in.

We walked leisurely along the docks with our hands loosely gripped together, fingers intertwined. I still wasn't accustomed to the tingling sensation this caused, and I felt like I never would be.

A pleasant breeze rustled the leaves on the trees and created ripples in the water of the lake as we walked, and I couldn't stop the smile from spreading once again across my face. The serenity of Camp Rock was something I'd never forgotten.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked suddenly, not even realizing I'd voiced the question aloud until Shane was replying.

"Shoot."

"Why do you love singing?"

Shane frowned. It obviously wasn't the question he was expecting.

"I don't know. I think it's the rush and the excitement. I love getting on stage and sharing myself with the world."

A small smile twitched at the corner of my lips at his answer. He delivered it with such a faraway look in his eyes. Looking sideways at him, I wondered why I'd ever thought I could walk away from him.

"What?"

I snapped back into focus to see Shane studying me, and realized I had been staring.

"Nothing. Just thinking," I replied vaguely.

"About what?" He asked, releasing my hand in favour of wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me closer to his side. By this point we had stopped walking and stood in the middle of the docks.

"How much I love you," I replied after a moment, knowing full-well the weight of my words. I hadn't told him I loved him before, but it felt right and, watching his smile, I knew it was. It may have been considered too soon for some people, like my mother, but that didn't matter to me.

"I love you, too," he whispered, leaning in and sealing his lips over mine. For some reason, this kiss felt different than the others; it was slower, more personal than passionate. The electric sparks I usually felt were replaced with a slow, burning in my stomach, slowly spreading outward until it encompassed my entire body. I leaned into him, further deepening the kiss.

And then we were interrupted.

"Hey! None of that!" A voice cut across our moment.

I pulled away with annoyance to see Caitlyn and Nate standing a short distance away, closely followed by Anna and Jason.

The grin on Caitlyn's face softened my scowl as Shane looped his arm around my waist.

"We were looking for you guys after the Jam," Caitlyn said.

A soft smile graced my lips as I replied, "We wanted some time alone, to talk."

"Oh," Nate spoke this time, "Do you want us to go?"

Smiling fully this time, I shook my head. "It's fine."

We sat out there for hours, talking and laughing. I'd forgotten how awesome we were as a group, and Anna only made things better. Given that Caitlyn and Nate were now a couple, I'd been worried he would feel left out. However, given how close they were sitting, and the way I'd catch them looking at each other, there was no danger of that happening. As cliché as it is, I'm glad things worked out like this. It wouldn't be Camp Rock any other way.

My stomach twisted, much like it had two weeks previous, but this time it wasn't stage fright that had me anxious. As I watched the bags being packed and the Final Jam sign being removed, it hit me that this was it. I was leaving Camp Rock for the last time. This place had done so much for me that it didn't feel right to leave it behind.

"Mitch?" Shane's voice startled me as he approached, hands shoved in the pockets of his black skinny jeans so casually that one might think he was leaving a cheap motel.

I attempted a smile but failed miserably. "Hey."

Shane smiled sadly, knowing instinctively what I was thinking about. "It's not really goodbye, you know."

"Maybe not for you," I muttered.

"Not for you either. Brown would welcome you back whenever you want."

I pressed my lips together tightly, saying nothing. Just as I expected him to break the silence, a blonde head caught my eye and I told him hurriedly that I would be right back.

"Tess!" I called, pushing my way through the throng of people gathered in the main entrance. It was more difficult to reach her than I'd expected, but I caught up just as she reached her limo. "Tess!"

She whirled in a blur of blonde hair and dark blue fabric to face me.

"I…uh… I just wanted to thank you... for, um, everything," I mumbled, looking at the ground. Now that I was saying the words, they sounded unnecessary and stupid.

Tess sounded just as awkward and embarrassed as me as she replied, "You're, uh, welcome. Same to you."

I nodded quickly and just like that our moment was over. She climbed into her limo and I turned back the way I came. I knew we most likely wouldn't see each other, and I couldn't bring myself to be all that sad over it, but I was glad that she was there for me; it showed me that there was some humanity in Tess Tyler.

Shane frowned as I returned to his side, reaching for his hand.

"What was that about?" He asked.

"Nothing. Just thanking her for some good advice she gave me."

I didn't explain any further, and Shane seemed to realize that it wasn't too important. The silence returned. Both of us knew what was coming, but neither wanted to say the words aloud. The last time we'd said goodbye was fresh in both of our minds. The last time we'd said goodbye, our relationship hadn't survived it.

Shane opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off. "Don't. Don't say anything. There isn't going to be a goodbye this time."

I watched as his face turned confused.

"The only thing we're going to say is 'see ya later'. Whatever happens, happens. I trust you."

"And I trust you," he returned.

That was all that needed to be said. I didn't want big, long speeches featuring heartfelt confessions and unrealistic promises. I just wanted simple, powerful words, and that's what I got.

After many delayed departures, my mom finally got me into the van, put it in gear, and turned away from Camp Rock. I drew in a deep breath as we passed the front gates, fingering the business card in my pocket. It was given to me the night of Final Jam, but I hadn't told anyone yet, not even Shane. If I was going to make it, I was going to do it on my own, not because I was Shane Grey's girlfriend.

Glancing out the window, I watched as trees zoomed by, leaving the summer behind me. I was strangely okay with it now, because I knew I couldn't continue to live in the past. It was time to move forward.

A/N: Aaaaaaand, that's a wrap! I'm sorry that the ending was rather cheesy, but who doesn't like a little cheese with their epilogues? I'm sorry this story kind of went downhill, but I tried to end it as well as I could.