Twenty-Six

"I don't know why you're so nervous," Darcy commented as I paced in front of her.

She sat against the wall by the women's bathroom, away from everyone else in the hall who was waiting for their turn to perform. We would have play right after intermission, which ended in ten minutes.

"You played great these past two shows. Why should this one be any different?"

Now she had a point. Thursday and Friday's shows were exceptional. We were the favorite act among many people. The variety show wound up becoming more of a dance show, as well as a sing-with-the-backing-track show, so live music was a nice mix in there with the few jugglers, comedians, and poets. It was our job to liven up the show and keep people engaged after a slower first half of repeats of the same thing.

But there were people in the audience that came to see me today. Amber came to the past two shows. How she could stomach sitting through the same acts three days in a row was a real testament to how much she cared about Darcy. But Jeanie and Rick promised to come. They said they'd wear clothes that would cause them to blend in, and since no one was talking about how Jeanie Snider was in the audience, she was doing a good job of keeping a low profile.

Along with her, Brody and a few others from the Clubhouse came. That included Petula, which included her boyfriend, as well as the rest of my new band. And Devon was there with Rena and his cousins. Even Buddy came to see the show tonight, even though I was sure he was there to support Darcy. But I liked to think part of him also came for me.

Since this was the show that Buddy came to see, a lot of his followers and fans were in the audience as well. That meant the people who I was most afraid to play in front of were actually here. I didn't think about which of them may have come the past two days, but since Buddy was a staple in the audience, it caused my fears to be far more prominent.

Darcy understood this as well. She may have hoped to calm me down with nonchalance and the reminder that I did an outstanding job for the past two days, but there was something different about this time. This time, I couldn't stop shaking.

"Take it," Darcy commanded, suddenly standing right in front of me. She slapped her phone into my hand and forced it up to my cheek. "Now, say hello."

"Hello?" I questioned.

"Mel?"

I glared at her, and she smirked as she leaned back against the wall.

"Mel, are you there?"

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Why did Darcy call me?" Devon chuckled.

"Probably because I'm having a minor panic attack, and she doesn't want to deal with me anymore."

"You're what?" I heard him shuffling on the other line, and his voice suddenly came out clearer. "Why? What's wrong?"

"Just...nervous to play. In front of everyone."

"You did it the past two nights, right?"

"Yeah? So?"

"So, one more show, and you're done, right? If you can make it past this crowd, you can play anywhere. Don't let your final night scare you off. You've got this. I believe in you, Mel."

I felt my cheeks warm up, and Darcy cooed at me. I handed her the phone back, and she said a quick 'thank you' and 'goodbye' to Devon before dragging me down the hall to the backstage doors. The school's drum set was on stage, and the lights dimmed as we walked out. I sat on my stool and faced the crowd.

I could only see the first three rows. Sitting stage right in the second row was Devon. When the lights came up and everyone cheered, he cheered the loudest. Then again, it was only my group that was cheering. But I only focused on Devon. Even as Darcy played, I kept my eyes on him, not missing my cue to come in. I faced my drums and banged and crashed, playing all the right notes.

And when my solo came, I felt my stamina increase. Adrenaline rushed through me, and I did what I did any time I played a solo at the Clubhouse: I embellished. I played my solo, the one I played when Devon caught me in the band room. I kept the same stylistic of Roger Taylor during the original solo, but it was my song. It fit well.

No one but Devon and Darcy noticed it. In the corner of my eye, I saw him straighten up as he sat on the edge of his seat, and Darcy turned back to look at me with wide eyes and a radiant smile. I had to cut my solo short to keep with the time frame. Darcy played herself back in, and we finished the song, earning the best applause we heard out of all three nights.

As we both stood to bow, I spotted Devon jumping up from his seat and cheering and clapping the loudest. I smiled at him, and he smiled right back. I was so caught up that I would have still had been on the stage if it wasn't for Darcy dragging me off as the lights dimmed.

"I told you so," she sang.

"Told me what?"

"That he likes you."

If only it were that easy to believe.

^^^

"Mel!" Brody exclaimed as he charged straight for me and picked me up and squeezed me. "Oh, you did such an incredible job!"

"Thank you," I said, managing to cough out a laugh, "but I can't breathe."

He put me down and led me back to the group. I received a lot of hugs from my friends, and my new bandmates were impressed. "If you're going to play like that every night, the fans will adore you," Lucy stated. "Amanda wishes she could be here, but she told me to send you her love."

"Let her know I got it," I chuckled, hugging her again.

Nate, the guitarist, slapped my shoulder before wrapping his arm around me. "I know how that solo actually goes. What song did you play instead?"

"I wrote it."

"You did?" he exclaimed, delighted. "We'll have to get together and work on some lyrics for it. I have an idea for a guitar line in my head already."

"Let me know when you have some free time. We can get to work."

"I don't have a drum kit at my place, so will yours work?"

"I don't have one at my place either. My sister works from home, so I have to use the one at the Clubhouse instead. But you're more than welcome to come over there." I quirked an eyebrow. "But where do you normally practice?"

"Lucy's house."

"Like a basement band?"

"No, my house has been passed down in our family for generations. We have a small shed out in the back that we've turned into a rehearsal space. I don't feel super comfortable with people being there when I'm not there-"

"Totally get it," I assured, nodding hard and firm.

She laughed as she grabbed my head. "Calm down, or you'll get whiplash. You may be new now, but you're not always going to be. We're all friends here. We want you in the band. You don't have to worry about everything you do or say. Just be yourself."

Exhaling, I nodded softly as Petula jumped into my arms. "You were great, Mel. Daddy really liked you, too."

I guess it wasn't just a private affair. Not that it mattered. I admired how she didn't give a shit about what other people were thinking regarding her relationship with James. All that mattered was what he thought.

James walked up to me and congratulated me as well, and we discussed future times to rehears before Greg left. I asked about why he left, and it turned out he was just ready for a change. I guess music can be the most important thing at one point in someone's life and then be replaced the next. I hoped that never happened to me, but since Greg also wanted to be a professor at his old boarding school, I didn't feel like I had to worry as much.

In the middle of our conversation, Devon strolled over and wrapped his arms around me from behind. I didn't think much of it, instead placing my hands over his as James and I continued to talk. We were mirroring each other, as he was holding Petula the same way. The band smirked at us, excusing themselves as Devon brushed his nose against my hair.

"Did our talk help a little?"

"Yes, but now you're making me shake again," I said, instantly embarrassed by my confession.

"Why? Embarrassed to be held by me?" he softly questioned. He made no move to let go, not like he used to.

"Please. If anything, you're making me feel the same way I did at the batting cage."

He smirked as he turned me to face him. "So you're wanting me to grab you again?"

Was this flirting? Was he flirting with me? Was I doing a good job at flirting back? Or was this not supposed to be a flirting thing after all, and if I flirted, he would think it was weird?

He didn't wait for a reply, instead hugging me appropriately. I tightened my grip around his neck, not wanting to let go. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you, Devon."

Looking past his shoulder, I locked eyes with Buddy. His eyes were sad, same as his smile. But he still held up his thumb to me and mouthed 'Good job.' It made me feel better. I smiled back at him before burying my face in Devon's neck. I didn't care if Buddy was still staring. This was a moment for me and Devon. I was going to enjoy it as long as he would hold me.

Though I was the first to let go when I was told that Rick and Jeanie never came.