Oh, How the Tables Have Turned
Chapter 1 – Say Goodbye to that Small-Town Girl
"Mitchie!" Mrs. Torres yelled up the stairs, glancing once again at the clock. "You better get down here NOW, or you're going to be late for the meeting with the producers!"
"Coming, Mom!" Mitchie yelled back, taking one last look at herself in the mirror. Her straight, long brown hair hung loosely at her sides, and her bangs were ruffled messily across her forehead. She yanked at her button-down plaid shirt nervously and adjusted her skinny jeans before sprinting out of the room, her grey Converse thumping on the stairs and announcing her presence.
"Hurry, Mitchie! We have a four-hour drive to Los Angeles ahead of us!" her mom urged, and Mitchie giggled at the anxious look on her face.
"Relax Mom, we've got time!" she said, heading to the fridge and pouring herself a glass of orange juice, looking much less nervous than she actually felt. Today, she would finally get to start living her dream of being an actress and a singer. She'd been in a few commercials and done some minor roles on Disney Channel miniseries, but this was really going to be her big break. She had been ecstatic when she'd heard that she'd landed the role of Demi Lovato in the newest Disney Channel Original Movie, Camp Rock. And the best part of all was—she would get to sing in the film, and record a few songs for the soundtrack! Although on the outside she'd managed to keep her cool, she was practically about to explode with anticipation on the inside.
"Oh c'mon, Mitchie! I know you're just as excited for this as I am," her mom wheedled, grinning hugely at her daughter. Mitchie felt a small smile coming on as she turned to face her mom.
"Well…okay, you got me. I can't WAIT!" Mitchie squealed, practically jumping up and down. Her mom laughed as she grabbed her into a bear hug.
"There's the Mitchie I know!" she said, "So let's go then! Are you sure you packed everything? You're going to be filming there for a whole two months, Mitch!"
Mitchie grinned as she chugged down the last of her orange juice. "I'm sure, Mom," she said, as she headed for the garage, towing her suitcase behind her.
Today was going to be the best day of her life, she could already tell. It was the start of a brand new beginning, and the start of her career. If this went well, Mitchie Torres would be a household name! She could have Mitchie Torres dolls, Mitchie Torres notebooks...the possibilities were endless. And who could forget the fact that she would have her own dressing room? She'd never had her own dressing room before. And obviously, Disney Channel was paying for fantastic living accomodations while she and the crew were filming. And last, but certainly not least--today she would get to meet her co-stars, who she hoped would become fast friends. Who knew, if she was lucky, she might even start dating her love interest in Camp Rock in real life! After all, wasn't that what all movie couples ended up doing? Mitchie couldn't wait.
Oh, poor, sweet, innocent Mitchie. If only you knew what was coming your way.
"You must be JOKING me."
A look of pure fury was etched across the handsome face of Shane Gray, his eyebrows furrowed deeply together in annoyance. His icy eyes practically shot daggers, and his perfect lips were pursed as if he might allow a low growl to slip between his blindingly white teeth any minute.
"N-no sir, Mr. Gray, I would n-never joke about such a thing. Y-you're due to m-meet with the p-producers any m-minute."
Shane glared straight at his puny manager, who was practically cowering under his gaze. Normally his manager gave in within seconds--he was powerless to the bitingly sarcastic pop-star who made girls swoon and boys recoil in fear. His hands shook nervously, backing up slowly from Shane, but he refused to change his words.
"I-I'm so sorry, s-sir. T-they've m-made it clear that if you don't show up t-to this meeting, they'll w-withdraw from your newest a-album contract."
Shane rolled his eyes exasperatedly. "Do you understand? I'm a SINGER, not some peppy Disney Channel actor!" he spat, practically shuddering at the two words that had ruined so many stars before him. Disney Channel? He might as well be sentenced to a lifetime in prison, give away all of his fortune, and sell his soul to the devil. Or rather, sell his soul to the Hannah Montana worshipping bubble-gummy adolescents. Ugh. He'd rather sell his soul to the devil.
He had known his pathetic, nervous wreck of a manager was an idiot--but this was too much. His manager opened his mouth to stutter out an excuse again, but Shane cut in before he could waste another moment of his time.
"Fine," he said curtly, his eyes blazing. There was clearly no way that his manager could do anything for him--let alone form a coherent sentence. Shane's tone could practically make icicles form in your mouth in the middle of July. "Now go away. I'm done with talking to you."
His manager wrung his shaking hands together and attempted a jerk of the neck that might have been meant to be a bow, before leaping up and walking away as fast as his stubby legs could carry him. Shane almost laughed at the sight, before he realized that the situation wasn't funny at all. This could be the end of his career.
Oh, cheer up Shane. Disney Channel isn't any worse than your lame cookie-cutter popstar stuff. Boo-hoo.
"Oh. My. God." Mitchie breathed, her heart practically stopping at the sight.
She and her mom stepped out of the car, taking in the picturesque scene before them. They stood just feet away from the dock of a gorgeous looking lake, shaded by a group of leafy trees. Behind them, far off in the distance were a few small wooden cabins, and a giant sign that proclaimed CAMP ROCK in large lettering was planted at the entrance.
"I see you've found your way out to the set," said a voice from behind them, and Mitchie spun around in surprise.
"Dave Fletcher," a tall man said, extending his hand in greeting, "Director of Disney Channel Original Movie--Camp Rock."
Mitchie shook his hand in awe, trying not to gape at the polished-looking man in front of her. He simply grinned at her, and Mitchie felt herself growing a little more comfortable. She didn't think she'd ever get over all of it though. Yesterday she'd been at home trying (and failing) to write yet another cheesy love song, and today she was standing in front of a famous director and was about to star in a movie. She shook her head in disbelief, finally opening her mouth shyly to speak.
"The set is...beautiful." she said, smiling weakly, "I've never been to camp before, but this is just how I would imagine it."
Dave laughed warmly and nodded. "We've been working on it for quite some time--we wanted it to be as realistic as possible. Actually, you've got some time to explore the set if you'd like, the meeting with the producers has been pushed back another hour!"
"Oh!" Mitchie said lamely. "Well, I'll just..." she trailed off, not knowing what to do.
Luckily, Dave grinned and said, "I'm going to head to the offices out back. Why don't you say bye to your mom now, and then you can hang around the campgrounds for another hour just to get a feel for things?"
Mitchie nodded gratefully and waved as Dave trekked up the hill towards the Disney Channel studios. She turned to her mom, suddenly filled with nerves. She was surprised to see tears in her mom's eyes, and she was glad that Dave had let them have a private goodbye.
"I'll miss you so much while we're filming, Mom," Mitchie whispered as she allowed her mom to hug her tightly.
"And you know I'll miss you," her mom responded, still hugging her, "I'm so proud of you, Mitchie."
Mitchie resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the "I'm so proud" speech she'd received all too many times before arriving here on the set. Instead, she just nodded and waited for her mom to carry on. Surprisingly, she seemed to be done with the speech and went straight on to the goodbye part.
"You'll call me every chance you get, right honey?" her mom asked, and Mitchie nodded.
"Every chance." she grinned, and her mom finally pulled back from the hug.
"Okay then, I'm going to leave now, or else I'll never go."
Mitchie smiled and said, "Love you, Mom. Have a safe drive back!"
Her mom nodded as she got into the car and brushed away tears, waving at her daughter from the driver's seat. Mitchie waved as her mom's silver sedan pulled out of the set of Camp Rock, her last connection with her past-life as a normal, small-town teenage girl driving slowly away. "Bye," Mitchie whispered.
A/N: What did you think!? I'm so excited to be writing a Smitchie fanfic (even though Nate will always be my favorite!), and I really hope you guys like it. Thanks for reading! Next Chapter: Mitchie and Shane meet, but it certainly won't be love at first sight, to say the least. Hah. Please review if you'd like me to continue! xoxo, Cami