AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But I’m not so sure. My stomach flips as I soak in every intonation of her voice, each second of herperformance.
When it’s over, the drama director thanksher.
“Annie. AnnieJamieson.”
Nerves buzz through me, and a dozen heads whip toward our seats partwayback.
Those heads include Carly and herminions.
Oh, yeah. Regardless of the outcome, this won’t gounnoticed.
“You don’t need to stay,” I say to Pen. “I’m freaked out enough as itis.”
“I’mstaying.”
I squeeze her arm in gratitude before starting up theaisle.
“You looked better with your spots the other night. I think I still seesome.”
I flip Carly’s minions off and take the stairs to the stage one at a time, then head for the piano at the corner. “MayI?”
“Sure.” The accompanist slides off thebench.
She’s nothing.Nobody.
“What are you performing, Annie?” the teachercalls.
I settle on the bench, the hardwood strangely comforting as I spread the sheet music in front of me. “A song called ‘Inside.’”
There are a few dozen people in the audience, most of themauditioning.
Carly’s surrounded by her minions in the front row. They’re trading snide comments, and I force my attention toPen.
My friend gives a confident nod, and I glance back out over the emptyseats.
For the musical itself, the room will befull.
It’s not a football stadium, but it feels big. Full ofpossibility.
A shadow near the door catches my attention, but when I cut a look in that direction, the doorway’sempty.
You’re nothing.Nobody.
If I’m nothing… I have zero tolose.
I square my shoulders and start toplay.
The arrangement isn’t complicated. It’s one of my dad’s songs, one he wrote when he was my age, but it’s raw andbeautiful.
Halfway through, I realize I don’t care where I am anymore. The people in the audience don’t matter. It’s the stage thatmatters.
Up here, it’s impossible to benothing.
When I get to thechorus…
I sing my gutsout.
* * *
