“Okay. Yes,” I said.
“After,” he said and stepped back again.
“Can I talk to you?” Cath asked at my side, voice shaking.
“Anytime,” I said to her.
We walked a few feet away. The woman with the clipboard had just left the closed door of doom, where students left either grinning or crying. She was headed this way.
Doesn’t matter.
I gave Cath my full attention.
“Leo told you about The Burnouts wanting me to tour this summer?” she asked.
My heart hammered in my chest. “I’m so excited for you. That’s such a great opportunity. Literally the coolest thing.”
“I’m going to accept,” she said simply. The choice hurt, but not how I thought it would, not because of the missed audition, but because Cath was leaving sooner, and I would miss her. I was so tired of missing people. “I didn’t want you to think I don’t appreciate you.”
“Cath, I’m so sorry if I ever made you feel like your only value was this audition. I’m sorry I pushed you so hard.”
“No. Don’t apologize. It’s weird. I don’t like when adults feel bad.” She held up her hands, and I laughed. “I just didn’t want you to be upset with me,” she admitted, and it was a top-five worst feeling of my life.
“I would never be mad at you. Not unless you were living for somebody else’s expectations.” I held her stare. “One of the most admirable and beautiful things about you, Cath, is that you have always lived to the beat of your own drum,” I said, and she groaned.
“Such a Leo joke.”
I laughed. “It’s true, though. Don’t start living for other people now. We all love you for you, not what you do for us. Berklee or The Burnouts. I support you and care about you.”
She nodded, nostrils flaring, eyes trying so hard not to roll. Or maybe cry. “That’s what Leo said.”
“Well, he should listen to his own advice.”
“That’s whatIsaid.” She laughed.
“Do you feel better?” I asked her.
She nodded. “My parents basically said that too. I just needed to hear it, I guess.”
I hugged her. “I understand,” I said, genuinely meaning it.
She squeezed me tight back, a slight tremble to her body. She leaned back to break the hold. “But before I go, I’m going to absolutely crush this audition. Because I want to take a semester to see if I like college.” She grinned.
I smiled back. “That’s a great plan,” I said. “And that can always change. You may meet some people your age and start your own band.”
Her eyes widened. “Hell yes.”
The woman with the clipboard called her name. We shared a look ofphew, that was close.
Leo and I hooted for her as she walked back to the room. She glared at us in mortification.
Leo was at my side. He squeezed my hand. “Is it weird that I feel like a proud parent right now?” he asked.
“I think it would be weird if you didn’t.”
I pulled him to an alcove off the main room where we could talk. I wasn’tsure how much time we had while Cath auditioned, but I couldn’t wait any longer. My body was buoyant with hope and happiness. It had been so heavy and stiff only a few minutes ago, and now I barely felt my body, like I was floating.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
