Page 80 of Fame & Rhythm

My pulse pounds in my ears, fast and steady, like the music’s taken over my bloodstream. Every note, every beat—it’s all-consuming. And Aston’s touch at my back only intensifies it.

I feel unstoppable.

I glance out again, pulled briefly from the moment by the roar of the crowd, and it hits me all over again. I turn to Aston, and he’s grinning like he can’t believe it either.

Ella’s smashing it, not missing a note.

Chad and Caleb are completely in their element.

Girls are already screaming for Caleb, hands reaching toward him.

I mean… I get it, I guess.

He’s good-looking.

The reaction is wild. A couple of guys are eyeing Ella, too, but she’s so focused she doesn’t even notice.

I glance down at Mum and Dad. Mum’s crying. Dad’s cheering. Typical.

The song ends, and the crowd erupts in cheers and stomping.

We raise our hands together, feeding off it, pushing them louder.

“Hello, London!” Caleb shouts. “We are Staked! Thanks for being here for our very first live show. You having a good time?”

The response is deafening.

A girl in the crowd rips off her top, down to a black bra, and launches it onto the stage.

We all crack up laughing as Caleb strolls over, picks it up, and grins. “Thanks for that, sweetheart.” He shoves it into his back pocket as security moves in.

Her scream somehow cuts through everything.

I glance at Dad. He’s laughing, shaking his head, clearly enjoying not being the one getting things thrown at him for once.

“Now if everyone could keep their clothes on for a bit…” Caleb drawls, “… we can always take them off later.”

The crowd loses it.

I swear someone actually faints.

I laugh so hard I can barely think.

Caleb is going to be huge—there’s no doubt about it.

“This next song means a lot to me,” he says. “I wrote it with my awesome cousin over there. Say hi, Annie…”

I grin and wave, the crowd cheering again.

“It’s about someone special… and hopefully she knows who she is. This is “Saving Grace.” ”

We launch into the song.

Performing like this, it’s everything I imagined and more. The crowd, the noise, the energy is addictive. I lean back into Aston again, and we fall into rhythm, moving together like we always do.

I couldn’t do this without him.

I wouldn’t want to.