Up near the Camp Star amphitheater, Nate was leaning against the railing, staring out into the darkness.

Jason walked up to him. “Ready?”

Nate shook his head. “No. We shouldn’t be here. It’s so obvious this guy is just doing this to get back at Brown,” he said. “First he tries to take down the Wet Crows and now Camp Rock.” Nate glanced at the Camp Star mug in Jason’s hand. “What is that?” he asked.

“Hot chocolate. They’re handing it out for free. And you get to keep the mug,” Jason replied.

Nate stared at his brother.

“What?” Jason said, wide-eyed.

“There’s no way I’m going to this bonfire,” Nate said firmly.

Just then a pretty girl walked by. As Nate gazed after her in awe, she turned to smile at them.

“Hey, pouty boy, you better hurry!” the girl called. “The bonfire’s about to start.”

Nate watched her go, then realized Jason was looking at him. “We should probably go,” he said, forgetting all about his earlier decision. “I think the bonfire is about to start.” Without waiting for an answer, he started walking briskly up the path in the same direction the gorgeous girl had just gone.

“Don’t mock,” Nate said over his shoulder before Jason could call him out.

“I’m not mocking,” Jason said, stifling a laugh.

“Yes you are.”

Jason pushed aside a branch. “Maybe a little.”

Everyone was filing into the Camp Star amphitheater. Mitchie was looking for her friends when Shane came jogging over and pulled her aside.

“Question,” he said, looking into her eyes. “What do you say, later on, you and I break away and finally go on a real first date?”

Mitchie smiled. “Answer. I’d like that.” She looked over at the huge amphitheater stage. “Wow,” she murmured, her eyes flitting from the lights to the speakers. It was hard not to be impressed.

“I know, right?” Tess chimed in, walking past. “That’s all I’ve been saying since I got off the boat.”

Mitchie slipped her hand in Shane’s and together they found seats next to Ella. The place was filling up quickly with people from both camps.

“So I thought this was supposed to be a campfire,” Mitchie said, looking around. There was no campfire in sight. “Singing, telling stories, an actual fire … ”

Suddenly the lights went off. Axel Turner walked out onto the stage. “If everyone could take their seats,” he said into his mike. He cleared his throat. “Hi, I’m Axel Turner, and I’d like to welcome all you Rockers and my dear old friend Brown Cesario to Camp Star!”

Mitchie rolled her eyes. Dear old friend? He seemed more like a mortal enemy from what she’d heard.

“But you all don’t want to hear a speech from me,” Axel went on. “You want to get to what a campfire is really all about, singing.”

Ella elbowed Mitchie. “Hey, that’s what you just said. You’re twins!”

“So, does anyone have anything they’d like to play?” Axel continued. “Camp Rockers, no need to be shy.” He paused for a moment, but nobody volunteered. “No takers?” Axel asked. “Well, no worries. Camp Star will start us off. And apologies if we embarrass ourselves. We’re kind of new at this.”

“Does somebody want to use my guitar?” Mitchie spoke up, glancing around. She hadn’t noticed anyone else with an instrument.

“No,” Axel told her. “I think we’re good.” He pointed off stage and … bam! The whole stage lit up. Startled, Mitchie fell back into her seat as lights began blinking and a base line began thumping.

A tall, good-looking young guy about Shane’s age walked out on the stage as if he owned it. As he started to sing, a full chorus of Camp Star backup singers and dancers strutted across the stage.

Mitchie looked at Shane, who was just as dumbfounded as she was. Forget a “campfire.” This was like being at a Connect 3 concert! What was going on?

The guy continued to belt out the lyrics, stopping for a moment as the spotlight shifted to a girl playing the keyboard. She was amazing.

As the song ended, a final showy blast of pyrotechnics burst across the front of the stage. Then the girl on the keyboard threw her hands up in the air with a flourish. A gold bracelet flew off her wrist and into the crowd.

“Ow! My eye!” Nate cried out as the bracelet hit him in the face.

Mitchie and the Camp Rockers all looked a little shell-shocked. Mitchie applauded politely. She wasn’t sure what to think of the spectacle she’d just witnessed.

Tess jumped to her feet, whooping and whistling. “Whoooooooo! That was so good!” She glanced at Mitchie. “Wasn’t that good? That was good!”

Before Mitchie could respond, Axel came back out onstage. “And that’s how we do things at Camp Star. Before we go further, I just wanted to make a quick announcement. We’re having some staffing problems. Who knew we’d be so popular?”

Brown had walked over to Shane and Mitchie.

“What’s he doing?” Shane asked.

“We really are under attack,” Brown said, not taking his eyes off the stage.

“So I’m just going to put it out there,” Axel continued. “If there are any Camp Rock counselors or staff who’d like to make the switch, I’d be more than willing to double your salary.”

Brown was furious. “I barely have enough staff as it is!”

Mitchie gasped as Camp Rock counselors began calling out.

“I’ll go,” said one.

“Me, too,” said a counselor Mitchie recognized from the dock. More people raised their hands. It was mass desertion!

Two Camp Star counselors holding clipboards stood next to Axel on the stage. “And if there are any campers who’d like to join us, well, I’m sure we could find you a bunk. Did I mention our cabins are air-conditioned?”

Now it was pandemonium as campers and counselors alike started talking excitedly.

Outraged, Mitchie leaped to her feet. “He can’t do that!”

Brown grabbed Jason’s arm. “I need all Camp Rockers back on the boats. Now.”

Jason was angry. “Dude, we can’t just let him get away with this!”

“Later!” Brown barked. “Just go.”

Mitchie hurried off to help gather up the Camp Rockers. This is supposed to be the best summer of my life, Mitchie thought, waving a few campers over. And I’m not about to sit by and watch Axel Turner ruin it!

“Are you sure it’s okay?” Nate asked his brother. They were standing by the side of the stage and Shane was examining his eye.

“Not even a scratch,” Shane assured him, patting his arm.

“I’m really sorry about that,” a girl’s voice said. Nate spun around. It was the pretty girl he had noticed before—who had also ended up being an amazing keyboard player.

“It’s cool,” Nate said nonchalantly. “I’m totally fine. Just happy I could catch it for you.”

She smiled. “Well, it’s always kinda been my lucky charm. Guess it still works.”

“Did you miss the part where it hit him in the eye?” Shane blurted out. Then, noticing Nate’s annoyed look, he began backing up. “Hey, I think I’m going to go walk around aimlessly. See ya.”

Now it was just Nate and the girl. Feeling tongue-tied, Nate looked down at the bracelet in his hand. “So … ‘Onop,’” he said, trying to read the letters.

She turned it around in his hand.

“So, Dana,” he corrected himself, feeling like an idiot. “That actually makes more sense. You were really good.”

She blushed. “You think? I’m just glad it’s finally over,” she confessed. “I’ve been practicing for weeks. Right before I went on I was almost sure I was going to throw up.” She paused. “So, Nate …”

“How’d you know my name?” Nate asked her.

“Uh, because I’d, like, have to live under a rock to not know that,” Dana said as if it were obvious. “It’s got to be so incredible. You know, not just being you, but being in a band. Traveling around the world. I’d love that. Maybe not the band part—but at least the traveling part.”

Nate nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”

An awkward moment of silence passed between them. Nate wanted to say something interesting or cool, but the words just weren’t coming.

“I’m really glad you guys came,” Dana said finally. “My dad was totally sure that none of you would show.”

Nate gave her a quizzical glance.

“My dad’s Axel Turner,” she explained.

“He’s your dad?” Nate couldn’t believe this girl was that guy’s daughter.

“Everybody says that. And kind of just like that,” she said ruefully. “But trust me, once you get to know him he’s a really great guy.”

Nate wasn’t too sure about that. He also wasn’t sure what to say next. He stared down at the bracelet.

“Well, I should probably go,” Dana said at last.

“Here,” Nate said, holding out the bracelet. “You don’t want to lose it.”

“You can keep it if you want,” Dana said.

“What would I do with a bracelet?” Nate asked before he could stop himself.

“Right,” Dana said, nodding quickly. “And for the record, I’m glad you’re okay. You’ve got really pretty eyes.” She looked suddenly self- conscious. “I’m sorry. That was weird. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Nate told her. “People talk about them all the time. You know, they’re right there in the middle of my face, so …”

“So … see ya around,” Dana said, turning on her heel and hurrying off.

Nate watched her go and then smacked himself in the head. “Aaah!” he exclaimed. There were so many things he should have told her! “You have pretty eyes, too! Yes, I want to keep it. I want to put it under my pillow and look at it every day. Stupid. Stupid!” he said aloud to himself. Then Nate stalked off, passing Shane. “I’m an idiot,” he muttered.

“Great. Finally something we can agree on,” Shane said.

Nate strode back and punched him.

“Ow! A very strong idiot!” Shane cried, rubbing his arm.

Meanwhile, Dana’s father had caught up to her. “I don’t want you talking to that boy,” he told her sternly.

“Don’t worry,” she said, dejected. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”