When the song is over, he’s barely had time to take his hand from the guitar strings when Skye comes over to him. There are tears in their eyes.
There is such power in being seen, in seeing yourself in a song.
“Thank you,” Skye says. “Truly, thank you. I can’t—I just can’t—”
Words failing, Skye reaches out and goes to hug J, then sees the guitar. So instead they raise their hands up, take each side of J’s face, and kiss him.
J is not expecting this. And there is such appreciation, such need in that kiss...he is not not-kissing Skye back. Because whose need is it? Whose appreciation? Then Skye pulls away and J feels his body being shifted, and all of a sudden it’s Detroit kissing him, kissing him hard, and then Skye eases J away from Detroit and takes control of kissing J again. This time, when Skye’s done, they hold out a hand to block Detroit.
There are more cheers from the crowd than ever before. J tries to laugh himself out of it, retreat from the mic, retreat from the wedded couple.
“Well, well, well!” Sarah Burnheart quacks into the mic. “I’ll bet your sister’s wedding wasn’t likethat,Detroit!”
J puts his guitar back in its case. He walks off the stage.
He wonders if anyone even remembers the songs.
Except Skye. He’s pretty sure Skye does.
“Now, if there’s any objection to these two tying the knot, now’s the time to object. Because if you don’t, I’m going to be sure to use the powers vested in me by the Church of the Internet.”
J is trying to avoid eye contact with the crowd, but he looks up when nobody speaks out. He’s sure Skye said there were a bunch of people prompted to derail the wedding.
But none of them are saying anything.
Sarah Burnheart looks like this is the best thing that’s ever happened to her. “No one?”
J looks at Skye, who seems about to pass out.
They don’t want this to happen. But they aren’t fearless enough to object.
Come on, people,J thinks.
Detroit finds it hysterical. He takes a ring out of his pocket. Not a wedding ring.
“Just something I had hanging around,” he tells the crowd. “From my days performing as Pubic Zirconia.”
The crowd whoops.
“Going once!” Sarah calls.
Skye’s eyes meet J’s again.
The message is clear:Help.
“Going twice!”
Nothing. No one.
Fuck it,J thinks. Then he calls out, “I object!”
The crowd turns to him. They are not happy.
“The wedding singer objects!” Sarah Burnheart is incredulous. “Why do you object? You want back in on the action?”
Skye deserves someone who will truly love them,he wants to say.
But how can he say that?
