Chapter 13 part 1 While Tess was scheming, Mitchie and Connie were walking...in silence. Finally Connie spoke. "I don't know you felt so ashamed of yourself," she said sadly. "I'm not ashamed," Mitchie said, and she meant it. "It's just that for once I wanted to fit in, be popular." "What do you mean?" Connie said, turning to look at her daughter with concern. "You have plenty of friends at home." Mitchie gave her a look. "I have one. And last i checked nobody was busting their butts to sit at the lunch table with us. When I got here, I wanted to have a different experience, just once." She thought she'd cried herself dry, but Mitchie started to tear up again. "Oh, sweetie," Connie said, pushing the hair from her daughter's forehead, "you are so much more than you see. You don't need to lie about who or what you are." Mitchie gave her a forlorn look. She'd heard this talk before. Heck, she'd written songs about it herself! "And I'm not just saying that because I'm your mother," Connie protested. "Mom?" "Okay, I admit I am biased. But it's true! You are talented. Your music speaks to people. People want to listen to you...and it's not just me and your dad!" Mitchie smiled. If only she could believe that. Campers milled around, waiting for Shane's dance class to start. He was late...again. They were laughing and still talking about the previous night. Then Mitchie entered, and the studio went silent except for a few miffled laughs. Tess turned to Ella but spoke loud enough for Mitchie to hear. "What a joke," she said, rolling her eyes and turning her back on her old cabin-mate and "friend." As other campers laughed, Mitchie tried to act like she wasn't bothered, but inside she wanted to die. Finally, Shane entered, and the class settled down. "So," he said looking at Mitchie before quickly turning away, "Final Jam is coming up and I know you're excited." A chorus of "yeps" and "you know its" went up in response. "Here is some advice," continued Shane. "It's not all about your image. None of it means anything unless people see who you really are." Now he looked directly at Mitchie. "Your music has to be who you really are. It's got to say what you feel. Or it doesn't mean anything." Mitchie lowered her eyes and held back the tears. Shane had made his point. Later that afternoon, Mitchie picked her way through the crowded mess hall and finally took a seat at the table with Caitlyn, Lola, Barron, and Sander. "You know, sitting with the kitchen help is really hurting my rep," Barron started. Mitchie started to apologize but then Lola spoke up. "What rep?" she asked, joking, and Mitchie breathed a sigh of relief. At least some people were talking to her. But then Tess laughed at something from across the room, and Mitchie's shoulders tensed. "Believe me," Caitlyn said, "it's prpbably not that funny." Abruptly, Tess got up and crossed the room, trailed by Peggy and Ella. She stopped when she reached Mitchie. "The chicken was kind dry," Tess said in a loud voice. Then, to Mitchie, "Who should I report that to?" "Maybe it wasn't the chicken," said Lola with an attitude. "Maybe your mouth is dry from all the hot air coming out of it." A few campers raised their eyebrows, but Tess didn't respond. Instead, she said to Mitchie, "Can you tell your mom to be a little more careful?" Her insult successfully delivered, Tess turned to strut away. As she watched Tess go, Mitchie found the strengh she'd been looking for. She stood up. "Tess?" Mitchie said in an unwavering voice. Tess turned and shot Mitchie a look that dared her to say something. "Stop talking to me like that," Mitchie continued defiantly. "Stop talking to everyone like that. I may be the cook's daughter, my father may not be rich, but I am a much better person than someone who feels better about herself because she makes everyone elsr feel bad. And I'll take that any day." The room had grown silent. Everyone was staring at Tess, whose cheeks were becoming bright pink. But always the consummate actress, she quickly regained her composure. "Make something good for dinner," she hissed. "I'll be starving after practice. And by the way, if it wasn't obvious, you're so out of the group." Tess tossed her head and turned on her heel to go. Peggy and Ella followed dutifully. Behind her, Caitlyn gave Mitchie a warm smile. "Then we'll make our own group," said Caitlyn. Mitchie nodded. She may have lost her social status, but being herself again was worth it.