Page 51 of Fame & Rhythm

Caleb counts us in, and we launch straight into one of our originals, “Saving Grace.”

It’s one of my favorites. The first song Caleb and I ever wrote together.

Chad kicks in with sharp, steady drums. Aston follows, locking in instantly, and then Ella and I join on guitar. The second my fingers hit the strings, everything else disappears.

I glance over at Aston, and he’s smiling, that easy, familiar grin that hits me harder than it should. It sparks something new inside me, something bright and electric, and suddenly the entire room feels alive with color. The music surges through me, flooding my system, pulling me deeper into that perfect balance we somehow always find when we play together.

Caleb starts to sing, and I close my eyes for a second, letting it all wash over me. The opportunity. The moment. The fact that Rob Luxley is here listening to us.

When I open my eyes again, Aston is right beside me.

I smile, still playing, and turn so my back presses lightly against his. A second later, he leans into me, and just like that, everything clicks into place. The world steadies, the rhythm settles, and I’m playing harder, sharper, better than ever.

There’s something about that contact, about him, that grounds me. I can feel his energy, the pulse of it, feeding straight into my own, and it drives me further into the music.

This is it.

This feeling right here.

This is what I want.

A stage. A crowd. This.

Nothing else matters.

I jump in on backing vocals as we hit the chorus, my voice blending seamlessly with Caleb’s.

And I know that she’s my saving grace.

She came right from another place,

And fell straight into my heart.

I loved her from the start.

My saving grace. My saving grace.

The sound swells, filling the room, and I lose myself in it completely. It’s overwhelming in the best way, like I’m floating, like nothing can touch me here.

This must be what being high feels like.

Pure, unstoppable energy.

The song builds toward the end, and I resist the urge to glance at Rob. If he looks unimpressed, it could throw everything off. Instead, I glance back at Aston over my shoulder. He’s completely locked in, just like me, leaning into me as we ride out the final stretch together.

Chad hits the drum fill, signaling the end, and we crash out of the song perfectly.

And I already know—we nailed it.

I finish on the final riff and look over at Caleb. He’s grinning, and I know he feels it too.

We’re on fire.

I finally look away from the band and catch Dad’s face. He’s smiling so wide it looks like it hurts.

“We’d like to welcome everyone here tonight,” Caleb says, stepping forward, all confidence and charm. “We are Staked, and this next song is our latest. Get ready to be blown away by “Don’t Mess With The Best.” ”

I kick off the intro, and a surge of adrenaline hits me so hard it almost takes my breath away.