Camp Montana:3
Table of Contents
Final Jam Session Ahead
Jackson had failed to sleep all night through. He knew that Rico was up to some mean trick, and for once in his life, he didn't want to let him win. Hence he yawned when he arrived at breakfast, worse than ever!
"Hey Jackson, what's the matter?" Miley looked at him, all worried.
Jackson told her that he had not been falling for Rico's pranks in over 24 hours, thus there must be something big ahead, forcing him to forsake all sleep.
Miley shook her head. "If you keep on doing so, you will drop dead during the Final Jam session ... they are already making the program ..." She did not mention that it was essentially TJ Tyler who was going to make that program. Miley knew that, but she didn't wish that TJ had been charged with this task. Who was going to sing along with the band Connect3? If Hannah, aka Miley, was going to be the lucky one, people would think that it was all down to TJ and Robby Ray being at each other's good side. Objectively, she had recently been far away from her top form, but so had been many others, including poor Mikayla. Miley was also bothered because Jackson didn't seem to be bothered at all. "And you don't mind daddy dating Mrs. Tuler?"
"Tess?" Jackson boomed, fearing the worst.
Miley chuckled. "No, TJ, her mom, you know, my instructor." She should have recognised that Jackson was heavily in love with Tess, but yet she was too much preoiccupied with other things.
Jackson shrugged. "Oh, then it's OK ..."
"It's OK?" Miley jumped up. So tess would not have been OK, and finally, all of this started to make sense to Miley. It hadn't been that obvious during Open MIC night, but now she had cornered her brother, he could no longer deny. "Tess and you ... what's the matter?"
Jackson blushed a shade of crimson.
Miley sighed. In that case, there was no hope left. Admitted, she liked Jason a lot, but he was still untouchable ... she still didn't want to admit to it because he had not yet told her why his band used fake names in different states. This was always going to be in the way between the two of them ...
Shane and Mitchie met in a lonely corner of the camp right after breakfast. The atmosphere wasn't very smoochy.
Mitchie Torres finally took all of her guts and asked Shane: "What's going on? You're so strange during the last week! Is something wrong with your uncle and the band?"
Shane was consternated. Should he really tell Mitchie the truth? Chaos was about going to break loose. He could push all the responsibility unto Cesario Brown, but ... maybe Mitchie wasn't going to buy that ... "Mitchie, there's something I've never told you about Connect3 ..."
"I'm your girl, so spit it out!" Mitchie commanded Shane recklessly. "Whatever it is ... I've suffered last year from being exposed as the daughter of Connie, the kitchen chef. This was so painful. But I've learnt from it not to hide unpleasant facts forever. If you love me, you understand that and learn from my past problems!" She knew that she was pushing Shane to the limits, if not blackmailing him, but she had to do that.
Shane sighed ."OK, you've won ..." He had been totally surprised and felt taken from behind by Mitchie's straightforward attempt, thus he couldn't withstand any longer. He moaned. "We, Connect3 ... are using fake names. Plus ... Cesario Brown is not really my uncle ..." Fortunately, he could withstand the throng of yelling all of these confessions, otherwise bypassing fellow students would have heard it. "I only call him my uncle because he had been the one to give me a last chance when I dropped out of school and was booted from home ..." He didn't yet dare to tell Mitchie why all those things had happened, but he was sure that he was going to do so soon enough.
Mitchie sighed and whimpered. Of course she wasn't ditching Shane for that, especially not after he was honest, but whatever. She grabbed him for a tight hug. "I love you, no matter what!" She whispered sweetly into his ears. For now, she didn't dare to ask Shane what had happened before Cesario Brown had encountered Shane Gray ... brown ... gray ... two colours? Hmm, that sounds interesting ... probably, Gray was just an artists' name Cesario had given him at the start of his career. She should have wondered about that name stuff earlier on, but she had never done. Now it was just funny, alas, the whole situation wasn't fun at all.
Shane sobbed softly. He worried about the future of Cesario brown and Connect3. "But once everyone knows ... will this be the end of Connect3?"
Mitchie shrugged. "I don't hope so ... we have got some friends who have made connections during the last year ... It will be a fresh start from the bottom, but better than naught."
Shane moaned. "Thanks, Mitchie. Now I love you even more tahn ever before." He dug his head between Mitchie's chin and shoulders, purring softly.
"It's OK, Shane ..." Mitchie breathed with relief.
Not only Mitchie, but also Mikayla had found her courage and asked Nate.
The youngest member of the band had never thought that someone like Mikayla had been going to figure all of that.
Mikayla explained unto Nate that it was essentially Hannah Montana's conclusion.
"I swear that I've been dragged into something ..." Nate sobbed. "I'm the youngest member of the band, Cesario doesn't take me as serious as he treats Shane and Jason."
Mikayla understood all that. "No matter what, I really love you, and I have been in love with you when I've entered this camp. It doesn't matter what Hannah says as long as there's just the two of us."
Nate hugged Mikayla tightly and smiled sweetly.
The Schedule
After broken dreams that kept her from sleeping, TJ Tyler was ready to come to a decision. Alas, that decision was rather a non-decision: "All of you will sing with Connect3 for like 5 minutes each!"
The kids looked like consternated. Was that all that the end of their dreams? Five minutes each with Connect3? Some remembered King Solomon's judgement: Two women claiming the same baby as theirs. The king decided to cut the kid into half, whereupon the real mother was reveiled. Was that what TJ had been up to? Letting the kids react and then come to the final decision depending on their reaction? In Solomon's case, the real mother was ready to abandon the kid just to let it live on, whereas the fake mother was fine with cutting it into half. But that would not have necessarily worked out. A false mother doesn't have to be heartless and let the kid die. Or both might have been content with the split ... Yet here, a shared performance was not necessarily a bad thing for the final jam session or Connect3, just something to get accustomed to. It was not a matter of life or death, just of prestige or shame.
Yet, Peggy Dupree took the Salomonic incidence serious. "Mrs. Tyler ... I don't want to ruin the show at the final jam session, thus I'm going it up!" Peggy had been the rock in the stream, since all the turmoil had started after the Open Mic Night. And now she, of all the girls, was the one to give in. That was a dismay for most of them, including T.J. Tyler.
Tess was consternated. It was so horrifying. After Peggy's declinsion, there were maybe 6 minutes in it for everyone, but that was not an appropriate start for a brilliant career."Mom, that's not what I've been reaching for. I can't do that. I'm out!" She was disapponted because her mom had not selected her alone.
Miley, still wigged as Hannah, had not thought of that possibility. She had always thought that Tess would insist just because she was TJ's daughter. Now she stepped up to Tess. "You can't do that!"
"I can't?" Tess whistled arrogantly.
"Jackson likes you a lot, and he will be backup drummer for the final jam with Jason, Shane, and Nate. If you give up, he will die from disappointment!" Miley didn't know why shy said that. Usually, she wasn't keen on Jackson and his girls.
Tess coughed. She hadn't thought about that.
"And, also ... Robby Ray will be disappointed if he doesn't get to see his step-daughter performing during the final jam!" Miley choked hard. What had she just been doing? That sounded like welcoming Tess into the family, and hence arranging with Billy Ray's and TJ's new thing! She had not yet dreamt of that possibility, it would have been an outright nightmare.
Mikayla and Mitchie had not yet decided on what to think about that strange decision. They shook their heads and disappeared to thewir rooms.
Cesario Brown had not yet known, but thoroughly suspected that the secret of Connect3 had started leaking. He was glad about TJ's decision, for he feard that the possible envy of those who had not been selected was going break the silence once and for all, putting a brute end to Connect3 and his own reputation because Connect3 and Camp Rock had been built on deceit and fake games. But his worries increased more and more. Even if this camp was going to end smoothly, the time when everything was eventually ready to break down was not too far away, maybe a few nmonths or so when Connect3 was expected to make its next tour. They may impossibly take all the girls to Europe, the hotel costs were enormous, hence TJ's trick was just able to postpone the real decision into fall time. Maybe it was easier to bear when coming out in Europe, away from the avid home press, but it was still nothing to look forward to. And finally, they were going to return to New York, and then the home press was going to tear him into pieces. Hence he was seriously considering disappearing in the shadows with no warning, not before the end of the camp, Mrs. Tyler's decision had saved him for the time being, but when times were going to get rougher ... In any case, this Camp Rock was the last one. People should keep it in perfect memory. Hence he insisted in planning the jam session carefully, it was extended to a party all night long.
Rico had been awaiting Caitlyn Gellar's decision with increasing anxiety and suspense. Everything was for naught unless ...
Caitlyn entered the lounge and saw Rico. "Let's talk in the corner over there ... it's calm, I think ..."
Rico's heart beat like a pneumatic hammer. He followed Caitlyn.
"OK Rico, I know that it's heart to get people to trust you after you have fooled them forever and one day." Caitlyn thought especially of Miley and Jackson.
Rico nodded.
"If you promise to try hard, and while I'll help you ..." She breathed heavily. "I'm going to give you a chance. I'm going to talk to MIley, just as a start."
Rico nodded solemnly. A weight comparable to that on the shoulders of Atlas had just been lifted from his heart.
Miley had talked to Tess, and now she had also talked to Peggy. They were all going to sing for Connect3 at the final jam sassion. She was a bit afraid because Rico had been composing the number, but she knew that Caitlyn had counterchecked everything, and she was not going tolet him get a way with mean stuff.
Apropos Caitlyn, she had been looking everywhere for Hannah aka Miley. "We have to talk about Ricxo!" She promised that Rico was going to stop pulling pranks just for fun, but she had to show a bit confidence in turn.
Hannah sighed. Trusting Rico? Was that going to turn out well?
Final Jam
The great evening was there.
Miley was particularly excited. She had decided to abandon Hannah Montana after the finasl jam if everything went well.
Jackson crossed his fingers for his sister. He knew how important this evening was going to be. He had no problems with his own performance which had gone improving smoothly since Tess had taught him to follow the rhythm. He was going to drum the whole night through, as there had been only two drummers left.
All the singing girls were included in the jam session, as told by TJ Tyler. Thus the girls were all excited.
Tess had chosen quite a few of the new titles composed by Caitlyn and Rico, in order to accomodate the differing styles of the girls.
After having been bitter archrivals for the last two years, Mikayla and Miley were now looking forward to their common performance. And, of course, Mikayla was particularly excited as Nate was going to sing a short duet with her.
As for the Open Mic Night, the friends and family of the participants had been invited. Needless to say that Robby Ray, Oliver, and Lilly did not miss out on that occasion.
As the speaker of the participants, Peggy Dupree opened the final session with a few solemn words.
Oliver, Lilly, and Robby Ray applauded.
"Are you going to be with TJ again?" Lilly asked Robby Ray.
"What are you talking about?" Robby Ray feigned ignorance.
Oliver whistled innocently, as he too had noticed at teh Open Mic Night what had been going on.
Cessario Brown gave a talk, too ... unbeknownst to anyone were his intention for after the show ...
Rico and Caitlyn had composed a song named That's Just The Way We Roll[ 1]
Each of the gierls sand one stanza with Shay, Jason, and Nate, and whenever it was not their turn, they clapped their hands along with the rhythm, just like most of the people in the audience.
Cesario sweated increasingly. It was obvious that in this atmosphere, he did not have to fear that anyone was going to unveil his corrupt business, but once the applause was going to calm down ... no, he could not risk that. He snuck away without a trace of an ado, which was not much of a problem while the music played at full force.
Miley, still wigged as Hannah Montana, convinced with a brilliant performance, but also the other singers rocked: Mikayla, Mitchie, Peggy, and Tess.
Jackson drummed like a machine gun, garb after garb.
The applause was incredible.
Finally, the performance was over. Everyone was waiting for Cesario Brown to reveal the lucky parrticipant who was now going to sing for the band during the trip through Europe: Paris, Rome, London, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens, ...
The singers were the most excited.
TJ was worried. "Cesario should be here by now ... I guess that he's in his office." She shrugged. "I better go and fetch him from there ..."
The girls nodded.
While everyone was waiting for the decision, Miley stepped up to the microphone. "OK, you all know me as Hannah Montana, but, really, there's no such thing." She pulled at her wig. Her natural hair showed up. "My real name is Miley Stewart!"
Jackson stepped up to Miley. "My little sister Miley!"
Most of the audience had been clueless, thus they were now really astonished. Waves of ooohs filled the session hall, making it almost burst into smithereens.
Robby Ray had not expected such a revelation. He stepped up on the stage. "That's true, Hannah Montana is my daughter Miley!"
Miley smiled.
Oliver and Lily were shocked, but now they cheered for their best friend.
After five minutes, when the audience was still downright puzzled and consternated, TJ Tyler came back from the office of Mr. Cesario Brown. She shrugged.
No Mr. Brown, but only this letter ...
"A letter from the boss? What the heck ..." Peggy didn't know what to do with that.
TJ rendered the letter unrt Robby Ray Stewart. "OK, it's better that you read it for us, we are all too excited!"
Peggy Dupree nodded solemnly. The singers were even way more anxious than TJ.
Robby Ray Stewart shrugged. He was still somewhat dazed by his daughter's coming out, but he was a bit more detached from Cesario Brown than any of the participants. Thus it made a lot of sense that he took the responsability upon himself. "OK, there it is ... dear participants of Camp Rock ... while it was a fun time, I have to go now. I have made too many mistakes when building up Camp Rock and Connect Three, and I've been totally dishonest about many things. When you read this, I am hopefully already gone from this place. So please don't come and look for me. I'm sorry that Connect Three are now goners, but there's no way I can continue managing them. Have a nice one. Cesario Brown."
TJ was consternated.
Even Robby Ray could not believe it. It was nothing that he had ever been close to expecting.
Shane, Nate, and Jason had seen that coming. But they did not yet dare to fess up with their suspicions. They were nonetheless shocked that Cesario had been going to disappear without warning, in the middle of the night, with a letter as a sole trace. Thus they were the most touched.
Mikayla felt how consternated Nate was, way more than herself. She stepped up to him and cuddled him tightly.
Mitchie did the same to Shane.
Miley threw her arms around Jason. "Don't cry, baby!" She had never done that before, and it showed how strong Miley really was: First, she outed herself after the breathtaking performance, then she swallowed the news about the disappearance of Cesario Brown, and now she also comforted her new boyfriend friend Jason.
The event was debated among the visitors, guests, staff, and participants until dawn, yet without a result. Nobody knew where Cesario Brown had been heading for, or what to do about it. Even worse, what was going to become of Connect3 and the camp? Nobody knew by now.
by Jonas Brothers, which I don't own.
Aftermath
The next morning was ruled strictly by consternation and insecurity. It had been obvious that Connect3 as such was done for good.
Jason excused himself. He had vaguely known about Cesario's illegitimate business practices, but never understood any of it.
Shane sighed deeply. But Mitchie had promised to stand with him through a new start, regardless of the ruins that Cesario had left.
Nate had never understood anything, as the youngest member, he held no responsibility whatsoever. He had just done what Cesario and the elder members had told him, which hurt him a lot because he wanted to be someone and not the younger appendix to Shane and Jason.
Also Mikayla stuck up for Nate. She wanted to start a career as a duet with him. This was going to be rough, and they did not have much money to start with, but they just had to try.
Miley and Jason returned to Malibu with their dad and their friends Oliver and Lilly. For the time being, TJ Tyler did not follow Robby Ray Stewart, but Jackson and Miley knew very well that they were keeping on dating behind their backs like lovesick teenagers.
"OK, dad ..." Jackson stammered. "If you don't marry TJ, I'm going to marry her daughter Tess!"
Robby Ray was consternated as he had not noticed that. He had thought thjat Tess had just been one of Jackson's numerous flirts over time. "Erm ... uhm ..." He stammered helplessly.
"OK, Miley ..." Jackson huggled Miley for the first time in over a year. "I appreaciate that you're going to be a bridesmaid of Tess, although you were annoyed by her ..."
Miley shrugged."I know, but after all the troubles towards the end of the camp I can't hate any of the girls I've had to compete with ..."
Jackson sighed with relief. "Then I'm inviting Jason as a groomsman of mine, for your sake." He smiled with amusement.
"Jason? How do you come to think that I and Jason ..." Miley whistled innocently.
Jackson shrugged. "I'm dumb, but you can't fool me."
Miley chuckled. "Too true, especially the first part ..."
Jackson chased Miley around the garden.
They also agreed on Nate, Shane, Mitchie, Mikayla, and Peggy coming to Jackson's wedding.
Robby Ray had lead Tess down the aisle,listening to Peggy Dupree singing a rock version of Wagner's bridal Chorus.
Faithful and true
We lead ye forth
Where love triumphant shall crown ye with joy
Star of renown
Flower of the earth
Blessed be yet both far from all life's annoy
Champion victorious, go thou before!
Maid bride and glorious, go thou before!
Miley chuckled insanely because jackson didn't deserve being called a champion.
Finally, It came down to cutting open the birthday cake. Tess took a giant kitchen knife and hurled it aloft in order to swing it down on the cake.
Wrooommmmm!
The wedding cake blew itself up into smithereens. Drops of cream rained down on the wedding guests and attendants, let alone the gown of Tess and the tuxedo suit of Jackson who looked like a penguin after a snow storm.
Miley was the first to see what had been hidden inside the cake. "Rico!"
"I knew that you were going to rue it ... not inviting me to the wedding ...!" Rico chuckled. "But there's a wedding present of mine."
"A wedding present?" Tess asked.
Rico grinned. "Sure! These are my compositions for your Stewart-Tyler family band."
Tess and Jackson were astonished. Since the failed final jam night, they had not had much occasion to practise their gifts, let alone perform for a public.
"I've worked out enough titles for three records!" Rico boomed."But Shane, Mitchie, Nate, Mikayla, Jason, Miley, and Peggy have to be in said band as well."
The former members of the last Camp Rock looked at each other with astonishment. Since the fatal evening, the members of Connect3 had not met again. Shane and Mitchie had started performing as a duet, crawling through the clubs of the suburbs and the countryside. Nate and Mikayla had tried to do the same. While they had thusly stayed in connection with rock music, this was quite far from their life as a top rock band. It reminded Shane a lot of his unsteady life before meeting Cesario Brown, and without Mitchie's incessant moral support, he wouldn't have been able to go through the same torture over and over again. Peggy had served as a background singer for various bands, switching those faster than her undergarments. Jason had tried to get a real job, but he simply hadn't been born for a normal life. Little wonder, the guys and girls of former Camp Rock decided to give the Stewart-Tyler family band a try.
"Now ... let's rock on!" Rico yelled fanatically.
Tess and Jackson were surprised. There wedding had triggered a fresh start for good old Camp Rock which had gone down the drain over night.
Finally, the people sat down at the wedding buffet. It had been prepared by nobody less than Connie Torres, former cook of Camp Rock and mother of Mitchie. After the camp, she had been followed the offer of Hotel Tipton, a five stars' cave located in Boston, Massachusetts. The great Maitre D' Patrick had suggested her for that position as an assistant cook.
"What may we be in your band?"Oliver and Lilly asked Jackson.
"Dancers?" Jackson wagered.
"Skate dancers!"Lilly added, making Oliver nod solemnly before kissing her passionately.
Needless to say, it was going to be the greatest American Rock band of all times, making totally forget about Connect3 or the Jonas Brother or any other bugs that had existed ever before.
The End