Rock Royalty Read online

  By Lucy Ruggles

  Based on “Camp Rock,” Written by Karin Gist & Regina Hicks and Julie Brown & Paul Brown

  Copyright © 2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

  All rights reserved. Published by Disney Press, an imprint of Disney Book

  Group. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form

  or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

  recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without

  written permission from the publisher. For information address

  Disney Press, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011-5690.

  Printed in the United States of America

  First Edition

  1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

  Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2008906224

  ISBN 978-1-4231-3256-1

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  If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware

  that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and

  destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the

  publisher has received any payment for this “stripped” book.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Sound Off

  CHAPTER

  ONE

  The sun was high over Camp Rock, and stomachs were growling. After a full morning of dance practice, voice lessons, and swimming, Mitchie Torres was famished. She couldn’t wait to see what her mom, Camp Rock’s chef-in-residence, had whipped up for lunch. Normally, Mitchie would have had to help her in the kitchen, but today Connie Torres had given her daughter the day off.

  “After all the parties I’ve had to cater this summer, I think I can handle a little old lunch on my own for once!” Mitchie’s mom had assured her, practically pushing Mitchie out the kitchen door that morning.

  Now, walking with Lola Scott, Peggy Dupree, and her best friend, Caitlyn Gellar, Mitchie clutched dramatically at her stomach. “Who knew hip-hop could take so much out of a girl!” she cried.

  “Yeah,” agreed Peggy. “That new move Shane’s teaching us—the Crush—is killing me. I just can’t seem to get it down.”

  “Speaking of crushes,” said Lola, raising a mischievous eyebrow, “I think someone at Camp Rock might have one on Caitlyn.”

  Caitlyn’s mouth fell open. She blushed as Mitchie, Lola, and Peggy began to giggle. Lola’s observation wasn’t a surprise to the friends. It had become obvious that a certain camper who had come to Camp Rock for Second Session had taken a special interest not just in the music Caitlyn liked to produce on her laptop, but in the producer herself.

  Caitlyn immediately sputtered out a protest. “Mac does not have a crush on me!”

  “I didn’t mention Mac.” Lola grinned. “You did.”

  Caitlyn turned a deeper shade of magenta, and the other girls laughed harder.

  Mac Wilson was Colby Miller’s bunkmate. The two newbies had become friends even though they were wildly different. Colby was a preppy New Englander while Mac was a Southern boy who played guitar, always quick with a smile and a greeting. Mac was one of those people who got along with everyone—especially Caitlyn.

  “Well, I think he’s cute,” Mitchie said, coming to Caitlyn’s aid. “His drawl is adorable.”

  “What’s wrong with meeting someone a little extraspecial at camp?” Peggy shrugged. “It worked for Mitchie.”

  Now it was Mitchie’s turn to turn bright red. It was true that Mitchie and Shane Gray, lead singer of the hot band Connect Three and current Camp Rock guest instructor, had formed a special friendship over the summer. Despite his bad-boy reputation and rock-star attitude upon first arriving at camp, Shane was actually really cool. He and Mitchie just got each other. Mitchie had helped Shane get back to his own sound, and he had helped her find her confidence onstage. Still, their friendship was a subject that made Mitchie shy.

  Caitlyn laughed and threw her arm around her friend’s shoulders. Just as she was about to say something else, the deafening sound of a propeller drowned her out. The wind whipped around them, blowing Mitchie’s long brown hair in her face. All at once, every camper walking toward the Mess Hall of Fame turned his or her face to the sky.

  It was a helicopter—and it was heading right for Camp Rock!

  Soon, more campers spilled out of the B-Note canteen in the mess hall’s basement and down the paths from the cabins. Everyone wanted to see whose chopper was descending on Camp Rock’s front lawn. As the huge aircraft touched down on the grass, they stood with their mouths hanging open.

  A moment later, pop sensation T.J. Tyler stepped out of the helicopter.

  The star shook her long blond hair out of her face and scanned the growing crowd. T.J. had some exciting news for her daughter Tess, a camper at Camp Rock. She’d decided a surprise visit was in order so she could tell Tess in person.

  Besides being an award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist, T.J. Tyler was also the face of Blush Cosmetics. Blush had decided to sponsor a special concert to raise money for after-school music programs. And they wanted their spokesmodel to perform. Knowing how much Tess had enjoyed the music education she’d gotten this summer at Camp Rock, T.J. was more than happy to help.

  “Mom!” Tess cried, breaking through the circle of campers and rushing up to her as T.J. came down the helicopter stairs.

  “Hi, babe,” T.J. said as they air-kissed each other on both cheeks. “I’m on my way to a photo shoot for Blush, but I just heard from Ginger and had to stop by to tell you—”

  “Tell me what?!” Tess interrupted, her blue eyes wide. What was so important that her mom had interrupted her busy schedule and come all the way to Camp Rock? It had to be huge!

  T.J. smiled. She knew her daughter got her impatient streak from her. “Blush is sponsoring School Rocks, a concert to raise money for after-school music programs. . . .”

  “Oh.” Tess’s face deflated. Just another fund-raiser that would take up her mom’s time.

  “. . . and they want you and me to perform— together,” T.J. continued, beaming.

  “Me?” Tess repeated, her eyes growing large. A sponsored concert? She would be a household name before the program was even over!

  Ella Pador and Lorraine Burgess, Tess’s entourage and best friends, had rushed to her side when they saw the helicopter. Now they started jumping up and down, clapping.

  “You’re gonna be famous!” Ella squealed.

  “O.M.G.,” gushed Lorraine. “This is so awesome!”

  “I’ll take that as a yes?” T.J. grinned.

  Tess nodded her head enthusiastically. “Yes!” she screamed. Then, composing herself, she added casually, “I’ll do it,” as if she were agreeing to do the dishes, not sing in a major concert.

  “Wonderful,” said a happy T.J. “I’ll let Ginger know. Now I have to jet, babe. Annie’s waiting at the photo studio, and she hates when the talent’s late. I’ll call you about the details later.”

  T.J. and Tess double air-kissed again, and just as quickly as she had appeared, T.J. was gone.

  CHAPTER

  TWO

  By dinner that night, everyone at Camp Rock was talking about Tess’s concert— as she was referring to it. Who else would perform? they wondered. Where would it take place? Which stars would come? How many people would read about it in a magazine or see it on TV?

  It was
all anyone could talk about, including Mitchie and Caitlyn. They sat alone at a table in the corner of the mess hall. Lola had skipped off for a drumming lesson, something she’d just taken up, and Peggy, perhaps curious to hear more about the concert, was sitting with Tess.

  Since stepping out from behind Tess’s shadow at Final Jam, Peggy floated around more. She hung out with Mitchie, Caitlyn, and Lola now, but she also spent time with her old friends Tess and Ella, and their new friend, Lorraine. She also still lived with Tess and the girls in the Vibe Cabin. At first, things had been awkward, but now it wasn’t too bad.

  Mitchie and Caitlyn didn’t mind Peggy’s dining choice. This gave them time to catch up. Besides the obvious news, Mitchie had a lot she wanted to share with Caitlyn. She had been at Camp Rock almost two whole sessions now and still hadn’t won a jam. She was beginning to feel pretty bummed.

  “Mitchie, you’re talented,” Caitlyn reassured her once Mitchie had spilled what was on her mind. “Trust me. You have more talent in your pinkie finger than I have in my whole body,” Caitlyn added.

  “That’s not true,” Mitchie disagreed, frowning. “You’re the best producer I know. You can do things with music on your computer that even the pros can’t do!”

  Caitlyn shrugged. She couldn’t argue with that. She’d gotten even better this summer. Her laptop went with her everywhere, so when inspiration hit, she could begin work on songs in progress immediately.

  Mitchie took a bite of her burger before continuing thoughtfully. “Sometimes I just wonder what it would be like to have all the advantages of someone born into the business.”

  “You mean like Tess?” Caitlyn asked, glancing over at Tess, who tossed her blond hair behind her shoulder as she answered more campers’ questions about the concert. She looked perfectly comfortable with all the attention.

  “Well, not exactly like Tess,” Mitchie said. “Just . . . haven’t you ever wondered what life would be like if you were born someone else? In a different situation?”

  “Of course,” said Caitlyn. “Everyone does.”

  “That’s all,” Mitchie said with a sigh. “I just wonder what it would be like to be rock royalty.”

  Caitlyn thought about it for a second. “Weird,” she decided.

  Their conversation was interrupted when Mac walked up to the table.

  “Hey, y’all mind if I sit down?” he asked in his soft North Carolina accent.

  “Go ahead,” Mitchie said brightly. She smiled mischievously at Caitlyn, who blushed and narrowed her eyes at her friend.

  Mac sat down on the bench next to Caitlyn and smiled at her. “So, what do y’all think about Tess and this concert?” he asked. He waited, apparently very interested to hear Caitlyn’s answer.

  Caitlyn shrugged. “Tess seems pretty excited,” she replied. She glanced again at Tess, who was now leaving the mess hall, trailed by Ella and Lorraine.

  “I reckon I would be, too,” replied Mac. “What do you think, Mitchie?”

  “I think the cause is pretty cool,” Mitchie observed. “To give kids who can’t afford private classes—or places like Camp Rock—the opportunity to take music and singing lessons. I wish my school had a music program like that. We learned to play recorders in fourth grade, but that was about it.”

  “Me, too!” exclaimed Caitlyn. “I learned to play ‘Hot Cross Buns.’”

  “And ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,’” remembered Mac, nodding.

  All three of them laughed.

  “So, um, you were into music even when you were younger?” Mac asked Caitlyn, when the laughter had faded.

  “Definitely,” she answered. Looking up, she found Mac staring intently at her. He blushed and turned to Mitchie.

  “What about you, Mitchie?” Mac asked, attempting to cover his embarrassment.

  “I’ve been writing songs for as long as I can remember,” she answered. “But it wasn’t until this summer that I got up the guts to actually sing them for anyone.”

  Mac looked surprised. “Really? But you were great at B’s Jam!”

  For camp-director Brown’s birthday every summer, Camp Rock had a special acoustic jam. This year, Mitchie hadn’t won, but she’d definitely rocked the moment with one of her original songs.

  “Thanks,” Mitchie said with a shrug.

  “And when you sang with Shane the other night at the B-Note,” Mac added. “What’s up with you two, by the way?”

  Mitchie turned as red as the checkered tablecloth on the mess-hall table. “We’re just friends,” said Mitchie.

  Mac sure is asking a lot of questions, Mitchie thought. He must just need an excuse to see Caitlyn. Too bad I have to be caught in the crossfire.

  “Good friends,” Caitlyn teased, poking Mitchie in the ribs.

  Now it was Mitchie’s turn to cut her eyes at Caitlyn, whose mouth had turned up into a playful smile.

  “Shane and I are good friends,” repeated Mitchie, hoping to put the subject to rest.

  Mac nodded his head and looked as if he was about to ask her another question, but then reconsidered. Mitchie let out a sigh of relief. Mac was a really nice guy, but she could do without the third degree.

  “And you?” Mac asked, once again turning his attention to Caitlyn. “Do you have any . . . good friends at home?” he asked carefully.

  “Sure,” Caitlyn said slyly. “I have lots of good friends.”

  “Oh,” said Mac, his blond bangs falling into his blue eyes as he looked down at his hands.

  “Sarah and Lindsay and Molly and Beth,” explained Caitlyn. “They’re not into music like I am, though.”

  Mac brightened, and Mitchie stifled a smile. She knew exactly why he had perked up. “Gotcha,” he said cheerfully. “Well, are y’all heading down to B-Note now?”

  “I am,” Caitlyn said.

  “Nope,” answered Mitchie. “I’m finishing a new song. Think I’m going to head back to the cabin now.” She stood to take her tray to the kitchen.

  “Well,” said Mac, turning to Caitlyn, “may I escort you to B-Note then?”

  Like a gentleman from an old black-and-white movie, Mac held out his arm for Caitlyn to take. Caitlyn playfully slapped at it.

  “I think I can escort myself,” she said, laughing. “But you can walk down there with me.”

  Mac gave Caitlyn an elated grin, and they both waved good-bye to Mitchie as she headed through the kitchen’s double doors. She had to congratulate her mother on another terrific Camp Rock dinner.

  CHAPTER

  THREE

  The next afternoon, Mitchie waited for Shane at their usual spot—the bench near the hollowed-out tree. He had asked if she would meet him there after dance class.

  Mitchie had quickly agreed. She hadn’t seen much of Shane lately. He and his band-mates, Nate and Jason, had been busy working with Andy Hosten and Colby on a song for Connect Three’s new CD. As winners of the recent Musical Mystery Hunt, Colby and Andy had won more than just bragging rights—they’d be performing on a hidden track on Connect Three’s next album.

  Normally, Shane liked to write songs alone, or with Nate and Jason. But the collaboration with Colby and Andy was going better than he’d imagined. Now he was superexcited to share some of it with Mitchie.

  Knowing that, Mitchie had to wonder why she’d been standing at the hollowed-out tree for almost ten minutes. Where was Shane? she thought as she checked her watch again. It wasn’t like him to just not show. He hadn’t pulled this kind of spoiled rock-star behavior since he first arrived at Camp Rock, when he was only there because his publicist thought it would be good for his image, not because he really wanted to be.

  That wasn’t the Shane Mitchie knew now. She was starting to worry that maybe he had been abducted by crazed fans when, suddenly, an acorn fell from the oak tree and landed next to her foot. Close call, she thought, as another acorn whizzed by her head. And another and another!

  Mitchie glanced up into the branches of the tree. Did a squirrel have it in for
her?

  Apparently not. Through the leafy limbs, Mitchie spied something familiar—a pair of very stylish, dark sunglasses. Behind them was a grinning Shane. He had climbed the tree and was crouching on a thick branch, chuckling to himself as Mitchie jumped around dodging acorns.

  “Hey!” Mitchie called up to Shane, pretending to be irritated. Secretly, though, she thought it was cute that Shane Gray, teen idol and pop sensation, was climbing trees like a little boy. “What’s the big idea?”

  Shane smoothly swung down from the branches and jumped to the ground next to Mitchie. He was still grinning.

  “Did you think you were going nuts for a second?” he asked.

  “Ba-dum-cha.” Mitchie pretended to hit drums, teasing Shane about his lame joke.

  He laughed. “Check it out. I’ll be here all week, folks.”

  “So,” Mitchie said, giving him a playful shove, “working with Colby and Andy is going well?”

  Tucking her songwriting journal, which she had brought in case inspiration struck, under her arm, she and Shane began to walk toward the lake. They liked to take a canoe out on the water while they talked. It was peaceful out there. There was always so much energy around camp—with all the singing and dancing and music. Out on the water it was quiet, and Shane and Mitchie could be alone together.

  “It’s awesome,” Shane answered enthusiastically. “They’ve got some great ideas— different than mine, but really cool stuff.”

  “That’s great,” Mitchie said as she climbed into the shaky canoe. “I can’t wait to hear it! Did you bring some of the lyrics?”

  “All in here,” said Shane, pointing at his head. He got in smoothly and pushed away from the shore with a paddle. They headed out toward the middle of the lake.

  “Actually,” he continued, “there’s something else I wanted to tell you. You’re the first person to know.”

  Mitchie raised an eyebrow. “The very first person?” she repeated with surprise. “Even before your agent?”

  “Well, okay,” he admitted. “He knows.”

  “And your publicist?”