Never stop dreaming

CHAPTER 14

The older campers were waiting in the mess hall for Brown, waiting for any news regarding last night's attack. Lizzie nervously bites her lip as she leans against the table, Nate by her side. Lizzie was disappointed.

Tess decided to switch camps, leaving her younger sister behind. She found out through Mitchie, who saw the girl switch over the previous night.

"No, you guys, it's gonna be okay." Mitchie was saying, looking around the upset expressions on everyone's faces. "I mean, Brown's a smart guy, he can figure something out."

"Thanks for that vote of confidence, Mitchie." Brown suddenly says as he walks in bringing everyone's attention to him. "Guess I don't have to get everyone's attention. So the good news is, and this really warms my heart, we lost very few campers last night." Everyone cheers.

"That's right. But we did lose quite a few of our remaining staff. Which means, and I can't believe I have to say this, Camp Rock is closed, effective immediately."

Shouts of disappointment ring throughout the room.

"Wait, what?"

"No."

"Y-You have to believe me, I-I truly-- I've got no other option." Brown stutters. "I'll start calling parents as soon as we're done here,which I guess is now. I'm sorry."

With his head hanging low, Brown leaves the room. Shane taps his brothers' shoulders, nodding his head. "Brown, wait. Guys."

"Camp is over?" Lizzie mumbles. "But we just got here."

"It's not his fault." Caitlyn says from beside Barron. "I mean, there's nothing he can do about it."

Mitchie shakes her head. "But...that doesn't mean there isn't something we can do about it."

"Mitchie." Peggy trails off.

"No, I'm serious. This is our summer, and we're not giving up. We're not backing down."

Ella shrugs. "I don't know, Mitchie."

"We can't
We can't back down
We can't
We can't back down
We can't
We can't back down
We can't
We can't back down
Not right now."

"We can't back down
Not right now
We can't back down
We can't back down
Ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah.

"Don't close your eyes
We're all in this together
Wherever they draw the line
We're not gonna straddle
We'll cross it
Or lose it.

"We can't back down
There's too much at stake
This is serious
Don't walk away
We can't pretend
It's not happening
In our own backyard
Our own home plate.

"We've been called out
We've been called out
Do you hear your name?
Yeah
I'm not confused
Let's win this thing
We can't back down
There's too much at stake.

"Don't walk away
Don't walk away
Don't walk away
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't get me wrong
I don't like confrontation
I'd rather we
All just get along.

"Music should be undivided
United
We can't back down
There's too much at stake
This is serious
Don't walk away
We can't pretend
It's not happening
In our own backyard
Our own home plate.

"We've been called out
We've been called out
Do you hear your name?
Yeah
I'm not confused
Let's win this thing
We can't back down
There's too much at stake.

"Don't walk away
Don't walk away
Don't walk away
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
We've got a situation
That we can't ignore
'Cause ignorance
Is not bliss.

"We don't have to take this
No
With every big decision
Comes an equally important
Share of the risk
We've gotta take this, ohh
We can't back down
There's too much at stake
Too much
This is serious
Don't walk away.

"We can't pretend
It's not happening
In our own backyard
Our own home plate
We've been called out
Do you hear your name?
We've been called out
I'm not confused
Let's win this thing.

"We can't back down
We've been called out
There's too much at stake
We've been called out
Don't walk away
Don't walk away
We can't back down
We can't back down
Not right now
We can't back down."

And with one look around the room, it was clear everyone would do whatever it takes to save their summer and Camp Rock.

Brown sighs shaking his head. He pauses, however, when he steps into his office. Lined up against one of the walls, 10 of the older campers including Peggy, Ella, Caitlyn, Mitchie, Lizzie, Barron, Sander, and the members of connect three, were wearing counselor hats.

"What's going on?"

Mitchie steps forward. "Well, you said you needed some new counselors, so... I found you some."

A moment of silence passes as Brown looks around. He breaks into a wide smile.

"Then it looks like I should call this staff meeting to order."

Each counselor had a different job to work on to make the summer run smoothly for the campers and them. Nate was assigned drum lessons while Lizzie was assigned water activities with Barron and Sander. She was on a quick break before her class of waterskiing. She trails behind Nate and Shane as the latter pushes Jason towards the camp filled with the junior rockers.

"No, nada." Jason protests. "Guys, I already told you, I'm not gonna be doing this."

Nate sighs as Shane stops pushing Jason. The eldest brother glares at the two.

"Jason, you're looking at this all wrong. This isn't punishment. It's a reward."

"Really?"

Nate nods as Lizzie smiles behind her hand.

"Really."

"This just means that everybody thinks that you have the leadership skills, the maturity, the intelligence--."

"You think I'm intelligent?" Jason interrupts but Nate quickly shakes his head.

"No, and the sheer guts to take on this challenge."

Shane looks at Nate stunned. "Wow, you're good."

"Thank you."

Jason suddenly smiles. "You're right. This is an honor."

"Exactly. Now, get in there and make us proud. We'll be right here if you need us."

"All right."

Jason turns on his heel, before climbing up the wooden steps leading to the cabin. He glances back at his brothers and Lizzie one last time before walking in, the door closing behind him, sealing his fate.

"Run."

Lizzie laughs as Nate tugs her along behind him as Jason's screams of panic fade out from behind them.

Lizzie sat in the Camp's boat, helping one of the younger campers buckle up their life jackets. She tosses her hair into a messy bun, curls framing the sides of her face.

Nate brings the pair of binoculars to his eyes, zooming in on her as he watches her laugh as Barron falls into the water.

"Nate?"

He jumps, quickly turning to face his brother who stated at him confused.

"Yeah. Shane. What's up, bro?"

Shane squints. "What are you doing?"

"Um, lifeguard duty. Schedule's a mess, but you can't be too careful." He lies, turning to face the water as Lizzie pulls the boat away from the dock, becoming a dot in the distance. Just one last look. All clear."