Page 70 of Fame & Rhythm

Dad catches up to me, slipping an arm around my shoulders. “I’m proud of you, Annie. You’re going to smash it tonight. Just stick to the set list, okay? No going rogue, no reacting if a fan throws something, just play the music the way you know it.”

“I won’t do anything stupid,” I say. “Tonight’s too important.”

“Good girl.”

We reach the side of the stage, and for a second I simply stand there, taking it all in. Towering speaker stacks. The maze of lighting rigs suspended overhead. Microphones waiting patiently on their stands. It feels strangely calm before the storm.

Excitement floods through me, washing away everything outside this moment. Even Aston fades into the background.

Because this is mine.

I walk out onto the stage, and the scale of it steals the air from my lungs. The empty arena stretches endlessly in front of me, every seat waiting for the people who’ll fill it in just a few hours, every inch of the room built to magnify a single performance.

It suddenly feels very, very real.

A smile tugs at my mouth even as my stomach performs an impressive backflip.

Excitement is still winning.

But the nerves have officially entered the room.

Caleb’s already running around like a lunatic, grinning. Chad’s fussing with his shirt, not even looking up. Ella looks like she might throw up.

I smile at her. She frowns back, clearly not reassured.

I hope she’s okay.

Before I can stop myself, I glance over at Aston. He’s talking to his dad, Johnny, focused and serious. But then he looks up, right at me.

And smiles.

My heart stutters, then takes off, racing so fast it leaves me dizzy. Heat rushes through me, my skin prickling as if I’ve been set alight.

One smile. That’s all it takes.

I wipe a bead of sweat from my forehead and smile back.

Johnny notices, turning with a grin and giving me two thumbs up, to which I let out a soft laugh and nod.

But then Aston looks past him toward Dad, and his expression shifts, and he turns his back on me.

And just like that, the warmth drains out of me, replaced with a sharp twist of anger.

Dad’s said something. I know he has. But I can’t lose it now. Not here. Not tonight.

So, I swallow it down, forcing the emotion back where it belongs.

I’ll deal with it later.

After the show.

I turn away from Aston, grab my guitar, and strap it on.

Caleb comes over, looking happier than I’ve seen him since my birthday. “Holy shit, Annie, can you believe this?”

“Nope. It feels surreal, hey?”

“You can say that again. I’ve been waiting for this my whole life. I’m so glad you’re doing it with me. I love you, cuz.” He pulls me into a tight hug. My eyes widen at the sudden burst of emotion, but I hug him back anyway, even though it’s awkward with my guitar wedged between us.