Camp Rock by Lucy Ruggles

Author:Lucy Ruggles
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction - Young Adult
Publisher: Disney Publishing Worldwide

CHAPTER TEN

“Hey, Mom,” Mitchie greeted her mother dreamily as she entered the kitchen. “How ya doing?”

Connie looked up from chopping a head of iceberg lettuce. “I’m all right,” she said, amused by her daughter’s mood. “How are you?”

“I’m great,” Mitchie said, tying on her apron. “Fantastic. Wonderful. I’m—”

“—putting those chips in bowls,” her mother instructed.

“Right.” Mitchie headed to the pantry just as

Caitlyn entered.

“Caitlyn,” said Connie. “Thanks for coming in early. Taco night takes our six hands.”

“Six?” Caitlyn asked, seeing only herself and Connie.

“My daughter,” Connie explained. “So can you get started on the onions? Brown wants to talk to me about next week’s campfire pig-out.”

“Sure,” said Caitlyn, putting on an apron and trying to get excited.

Thanking her, Connie left to find Brown, just as Mitchie reentered from the pantry with another big bag of chips. She spotted Caitlyn in just enough time to raise the bag to cover her face.

“Hey, you must be hands five and six,” Caitlyn joked. “I didn’t know Connie had a daughter. I’m Caitlyn.”

Mitchie remained silent, afraid her voice would betray her. Instead, the bag of chips silently nodded hello. Mitchie’s mind raced as she tried to plot an escape.

“Need some help?” Caitlyn asked.

The bag of chips shook no and backed toward the door. Turning, Mitchie bolted.

But she didn’t get far. She ran smack into a bucket full of soapy water. With a shriek, Mitchie tripped and fell, spilling chips everywhere.

“Mitchie?” Caitlyn asked, running up.

Mitchie looked at Caitlyn but remained mute. She didn’t know what to say or how to explain. It wouldn’t sound right.

“Wait a minute,” Caitlyn said, suddenly realizing what was going on. “You’re the cook’s daughter,” she said incredulously. “She’s your mom? Oh, this is rich … but apparently you’re not.”

“So, what are you waiting for?” Mitchie exclaimed, visibly upset. “Run. Go tell everybody.”

Caitlyn folded her arms across her chest and looked down at Mitchie. “Maybe I should.”

“Fine,” Mitchie declared. “Whatever.” She got up and started to uselessly wring out her shirt, sending bits of chips flying.

Caitlyn gave her a hard look. “How long did you think you could keep your little secret?”

“Longer than this,” Mitchie grumbled.

Bending down, Mitchie began picking chips up off the floor. The room was silent save for the occasional crunch of a chip as it broke in Mitchie’s shaking hands.

“Why?” Caitlyn finally asked.

“Why do you care?” Mitchie responded curtly.

“I don’t,” Caitlyn said. “But when I tell everybody, I want the whole back story.”

Mitchie narrowed her eyes. “I just wanted to fit in, okay?” Why can’t the ground open up and swallow me completely? she thought.

“I think your whole charade is stupid and immature,” Caitlyn announced. “Hiding behind some crazy lie.”

“You hide, too,” Mitchie said, suddenly defensive. “The ‘I don’t care about anything’ attitude. If you don’t care, why are you here?”

There was a moment of recognition between the two girls, a common ground they hadn’t seen before. But the moment ended when Connie entered and got an eyeful of Mitchie’s wet clothes.

“What happened to you?” she asked, startled.

“She drowned in her lies,” Caitlyn muttered to herself.

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