She shrugged. “You’ll get over it.” Cath looked out to the band and shouted, “Let’s do this!”
“We should start charging for our services,” a senior said to her.
“What?” I looked at Cath, but she was scurrying to get her quads on. I stepped out onto the field and was greeted with applause. Most of GreenValley packed the stands. More than that, even the visitor side was overflowing. I spotted Clara and Nick, giving a thumbs-up. I shot her a confused look, and she just shrugged.
“Janice?” I went to take my spot, but she was already standing there. “What are you doing here?”
“Take a seat, I’m running this tonight,” she explained. “I have some making up to do.”
“Making up? What are you—” But a student pulled me away to a reserved spot in the stands. I was totally alone. Several people were looking at me, but I still had no clue what was happening. Good thing I was confident that I had value or all this not-being-needed thing might feel personal. I cleared my throat and sat up straighter, fighting a blush that was growing up my neck.
At Janice’s side, Cath took a microphone. That was new . . .
“Thank you, Green Valley, for coming out to support the Black Bears Marching Band. We wanted to put on this surprise performance for Miss Mitchell as a thank you for all her hard work this year and for helping me get into the Berklee College of Music.”
The crowd roared, and it shook the stands. I waved but felt even more singled out. This was amazing, but I wasn’t used to so much attention as a behind-the-scenes person.
“The benefits of tonight’s show will go to support the marching band and other art and music programs at GVHS from here on out.”
“Benefits?” I said to myself. Nobody paid to see the marching band. I usually had to bribe people to come.
“Thank you, Miss Mitchell. I will always remember my senior year and all you have done to help me. I will never forget you.” Okay, maybe I would be a little emotional, after all. This was all I had ever wanted. To help my students have the future of their dreams. “Sometimes music programs get pushed aside for other things, but Miss Mitchell has worked her ass off to make this program happen.” I cringed when she swore and looked around to see if any parents were mad, but the crowd was buoyant. “After this, it would be crazy not to have a music program, right?” The stands roared and clapped.
I glanced at where Cath had been pointedly talking. Pin Dick sat with his legs spread and arms crossed. His face was beet red with barely suppressed rage.Good luck trying to cancel the music program now that all of Green Valley knows.Ah, so that was what this was all about. The marching band sparkled their fingers in my direction, yelling out affirmations of love. My heart felt so full. I sometimes doubted that my work was making a difference, and I hadn’t been sure anybody noticed. I could fly out of this seat.
As the band started up, they played a song I recognized but not from our rehearsals. They somehow managed to work a whole repertoire under my nose. How had they even found the time?
The song was one that Leo and I had hotly debated on one of our many car rides. He thought it was a silly pop song. I thought it rocked and would be a fun cover for the marching band.
I was clearly right.
They played on, and the crowd was up and dancing and clapping. My chest ached, wishing he was here so we could share a look of understanding, so he could hold my hand and celebrate this with me.
I searched the stands for Leo. Knowing that coming out here, in front of the whole town, was the definition of a nightmare for him, especially in light of the most recent news, but hoping, nonetheless. But with every note they played, it became clear that he wasn’t here.
Then I had an idea. I turned and bent to see through the cracks in the bleachers, heart hammering with hope. I angled my head awkwardly, sure that whoever saw me thought I was having some sort of breakdown.
No, no, I wasn’t trying to crawl into the stadium to hide. I was just looking for the great love of my life. Normal stuff.
If I angled my head just right, I could find the little cove for the ne’er-do-wells.
But Leo wasn’t there. Nobody was. I was disappointed but not giving up. If anything, this amazing display by Cath and the marching band fueled my motivation to seek him out.
With my face still pressed to the cracks, booty facing the whole of Green Valley, I heard the set come to an end.
If I thought the crowd had gone wild before, nothing could have prepared me for this. The stadium shook so hard with raucous screams. My hand went to my racing heart as I looked to see what had caused the change. A guitar strummed through the air, followed shortly by the quick taps of a snare.
I stood and turned to face the center of the field. The marching band was parting to reveal a stage where students I recognized from theater were quickly scrambling to set up a band I knew well. And Leo sat at the raised drum kit. The Burnouts were set up and ready to play right here at Green Valley High School.
“No freaking way,” I said.
The crowd continued to scream as the band started to play their biggest hit.
Leo was too far away to spot me, but the instant joy at seeing him loosened the knots in my body. He was here. This was...this was insane. Leo wasfocused solely on his drumming. I could see his nerves in the tightness of his shoulders and the line of his mouth, but only because I could compare it to how relaxed he’d been in the studio when he played for Cath or me.
Then Vander turned to him, bobbing his head with the tempo, looking all the rock star, as he strolled up to Leo. They shared one of those smiles that made the Burnnies go wild. Vander yelled something to him, and Leo grinned to pop one dimple, then his head shot up, and his eyes immediately met mine.
This beautiful, kind, wonderful man. Here, once again for me. How could I ever think that he didn’t care when he had shown up time and time again?
