Rock Royalty
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
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First Edition
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Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2008906224
ISBN 978-1-4231-3256-1
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Contents
T
he 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 usâthe Crushâis 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 everyoneâespecially 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 helicopterâand 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 youâ”
“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 performâ 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.
B
y dinner that night, everyone at Camp Rock was talking about Tess's concertâ 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.