by Seven Steps
“You ready for this?” he asked.
“Yeah. I am.” I was surprisingly calm for someone who was about to stand on stage in front of a hundred people.
For the first time, I was ready for whatever life had to throw at me. Especially on the stage.
Joe blew out a nervous breath.
“Hey,” I said. He looked at me, sweat breaking out on his forehead. “Just remember. Keep your eyes on me.”
That seemed to relax him enough to smile.
“Always. I love you, Jelly Roll.”
“I love you too, Superman.”
We shared a brief clinging kiss before the music started and the lights rose, and we took our positions on stage.
We said our lines and played our parts.
Joe a loving Lysander and me his sweet Hermia.
And the best part was, it wasn’t pretend.
The little kisses and hugs and hand holding we shared as we walked across the stage were one hundred percent real because I loved Joe, and he loved me. And just like Hermia and Lysander, we’d braved everything the universe had thrown at us and come out the other side with our happy ending.
When the play was over, our cheers were deafening.
It was probably because my mom was screaming her head off for us.
I loved her a little bit more in that moment.
After the curtain dropped, Mrs. Simpson found me on my way back to the changing rooms.
“Ms. Johnson, a word, please.”
I wiped my forehead with the inside of my elbow, staining my costume with makeup.
“When you arrived,” she said, “I asked you why you were here. Do you remember what you told me?”
I thought back. Play auditions seemed like so long ago.
“I think I said it was because I needed extra credit.”
“That’s correct. And then, I asked you why you stayed.” She smiled at me. “Now, tell me. Why did you stay and see through the play to the end?”
At first, I wanted to give her another I don’t know answer. Then, I thought about it. This play had taught me so many things. It’d helped me be a better student, helped me get over my stage fright, and helped me be brave.
At first, I loathed this auditorium. Now, I knew that a little piece of me would be missing without it.
I shook my head. “I guess I stayed because I was meant to,” I said.
She smiled. “Exactly.” Her chunky arms pulled me into a hug. “Excellent job tonight. I hope to see you back next year.”
My throat burned, but I swallowed my tears. I’d miss this play, this cast, this stage. And I’d miss Mrs. Simpson.
“Absolutely,” I said.
That night, Mom took me and my friends out for dinner at Duke’s.
It was the first time that all of us were there.
Me, Joe, all my friends, my mom, and Quincey.
We ate burgers and milkshakes until we thought we’d throw up. And Mom was surprisingly cool around them.
I’d never laughed so hard or felt so thankful about anything in all my life. I squeezed Joe’s hand under the table. It was sure and strong.
Just like us.
And I knew, deep in my heart, that nothing would break us apart again.
“So,” Quincey said. “Now that Sophia’s conquered the school play, there’s just one thing left to do.”
“What’s that?” I asked, taking a sip of my milkshake.
“Tell her about your band.”
The thick milk caught in my throat, and I choked.
“Band?” Mom asked. “What band?”
The table grew quiet, all eyes coming to rest on my mom and me.
I took a sip of water to calm my throat.
I’d have to remember to give Quincey another kick in the shins for this.
“You’re in a band?” Mom asked.
“Sort of,” I replied, my face twisted in a grimace.
“What kind of band is this?”
I didn’t want to do this now. Especially not in front of all my friends. But Quincey gave me no other options.
Joe squeezed my knee under the table, giving me strength.
“Well, Cole, Bella, and I sing.”
“And play guitar,” Cole said. “Well, I play guitar. And the piano. And—”
I shot him a not now, Cole look and he stopped speaking.
“For how long?”
I winced. “All year.”
Her lips squeezed together in a straight line.
I could tell she was not happy about this. But, I had told most of the story. It was time to tell her the rest.
“And we’re playing at junior prom.”
Cole’s and Bella’s eyes widened. I hadn’t told them officially that I was back in the band yet. I was hoping it would be a surprise.
Surprise.
Mom blinked. “Who said you were going to junior prom?”
“You did, Aunt Pam,” Joe said. “Remember. In the kitchen. You said that Sophia could go if Quincey and I were going.”
Mom’s eyes narrowed at him. “I did?”
“You did. And I’m going to junior prom. Quincey is too, with Purity.”
“Just as friends,” Quincey piped up loudly. “Only friends.”
Mom looked around the table, and I could tell she was trying not to make a scene.
“This isn’t about junior prom. This is about this band.”
“You can come hear us play,” I said. “It will be fun.”
Mom took a sip of her water, clearly looking aggravated.
The entire table held their breath, waiting for her next move.
Then, surprisingly, she smiled.
“Fine. You go to junior prom and play in your band,” she said.
I let out a breath.
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
I jumped up from the table and ran around it to hug her.
“Oh my God, Mom, thank you so much.”
“We’ll go dress shopping tomorrow. For two dresses.”
I froze.
“Two dresses?”
“Of course. I’ll be your chaperone. Officially. Wherever this band goes, I go.”
Cole let out an uneasy cheer, and the rest of the table followed.
I was still two minds about it.
Blue Persia played at most of the school’s biggest parties. I couldn’t have my mom tagging along with me. The kids would take one look at her and leave.
“Any chance that Quincey can be a stand-in?”
She shook her head. “No chance.” Then she kissed my cheek. “Love you, honey.”
I cringed. “Love you too, Mom.”
Great. Just what I needed. My mom chaperoning everything I did.
I went back around the table and sighed.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
She fell asleep early. With any luck, she’d find a chair and curl up in it. Or sleep in the car.
I held onto my hopes as we ordered a round of dessert. But not too much.
After all, I’d be making my grand return to the big stage tomorrow.
And it was going to be amazing.
51
Lights filled the St. Mary’s Academy gymnasium.
Small white lights were strung from the ceiling, along the walls, and around the stage. Glowing lava lamps were placed on snack tables, and what looked like real sparkles shimmered in every corner. Even the floor was painted with luminescent paint, making it appear to glow and sparkle.
The theme of Junior Prom was light up the night, and the prom committee had definitely nailed it with these decorations.
Junior Prom was just getting started and my nerves were on edge.
It’d been months since I’d sung on stage.
Months since I’d been with my band.
A small part of me didn’t think I could do it, but the rest of me knew I could.
I’d come too far not to.
“Ready?” Bella asked, standing next to me.
&n
bsp; I blew out a breath.
“I think so.”
“You’re gonna do great,” she said. “And this first number is going to blow everyone out of the water.”
I looked down at my black fitted top, black pants, and bedazzled black high-top sneakers that matched my bedazzled sailor cap.
I hoped Bella was right, because I wasn’t sure I could take another booing.
“We’re up,” Cole said. He handed each of us a sparkly jacket, mine green and Bella’s yellow. His own jacket was blue.
Bella squeezed my hand and jogged after Cole on stage.
I took a deep breath and followed behind.
Two spotlights were set up to shine on us tonight. My body immediately warmed.
This was it.
There was no time for nerves now.
It was flight or fight.
And I was ready to fight.
“Welcome to the 2018 St. Mary’s Academy Junior Prom!” Cole called into the mic. “Are you guys ready to light up the night?”
The crowd screamed back, and my heart beat a little faster. I remembered this sound. I remembered how much I loved it.
“Let’s get this party started with a little Beyoncé, sung by our own, Sophia Johnson.”
The synthesizer began to play.
My gut flipped.
This was happening. It was really happening.
And I was ready.
I scanned the crowd, searching for friendly faces.
Ariel, Eric, Jasmine, Ollie, Purity, Quincey. And finally, Joe.
He was wearing a black suit and his trademark hat. A green corsage was pinned to his lapel, and his eyes shined.
I took a deep breath and began to sing.
The lyrics rang out, loud and clear.
I was singing in front of a crowd with my band behind me again. It felt wonderful. It felt like I was coming home.
I moved around the stage, getting the crowd involved. I spied my mom in the back of the room. Her hand was over her mouth in shock, and there were tears in her eyes.
I waved at her.
She gave me a little wave back and put her hand over her heart.
I could tell she was proud of me.
I was proud of her too.
We’d both come so far. It’s like my grandma Odie used to say.
You may not always end up where you thought you were going, but you will always end up where you are meant to be.
A few months ago, I thought I could do everything on my own.
Mom and I weren’t perfect, but we were better than ever for us. And that was more than I could ask.
I walked back to the center of the stage and found Joe again. I beckoned him forward, and he moved to the front of the stage.
I shook my head, pointing to the spot next to me on stage.
His eyes widened and he laughed. But, he complied.
The crowd cheered louder as he stepped onto the stage. His cheeks reddened, but he didn’t back down. He even gave them a little spin.
The crowd ate it up. Tomorrow, everyone would talk about how the new quarterback of the football team danced on stage. But, tonight, he was mine. I pulled him into my arms and sang the last of the song right to him, meaning every word.
I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through these last few months without Joe by my side.
Somehow, he’d gone from being my enemy, to my rock. He was there when I needed him, and his love made everything in my life right.
The song was true.
He was the one I loved. The one I needed.
The song ended, and we shared a brief kiss, full of joy and promise.
This was it.
This was my happy place.
Here, with Joe next to me. Doing what I did best.
Sing.
I’d kissed a lot of frogs in my life.
And now, I’d found my prince.
And I was never letting go.
The End
Also By
St. Mary’s Academy Series (Clean YA Romance)
The Boyfriend Agreement (Book I)
Chasing Mermaids (Book 2)
The Golden Boy (Book 3)
Stealing Hearts (Book 4)
The Secret Lives of Princesses (Book 5)
The Trouble With Kissing Frogs (Book 6)
Rebels, Love Letters, and the Secret Crush (Book 7)
Clean New Adult Romance
The Last Rock King
Clean Adult Contemporary Romance
Peace in the Storm
Clean Historical Western Romance
Adam’s Bride
A Touch of Grace
Clean Sci-Fi Romance
Venus Rising
The Escape
Fire In The Sky
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