Page 38 of Play Me

Marius whoops when he realizes they’re playing “The Fight Song” by Rachel Platten and holds up his fists and punches in time to the music.

They are good. Really good. Cohesive as an ensemble as well as individually talented. I watch them watching her, their passion matching hers look for look, note for note. There’s a look of pride on her face that is infectious, and I wonder how it is I already feel a sense of belonging to this band, as if their future successes will be mine as well.

Just as the chorus breaks, on screen, a teenager drops his bow and stands up in his spot, holding up a sign with the lyrics.

We can’t help but sing along at the top of our voices, grinning at each other during the impromptu karaoke session.

The song soon comes to an epic, overwhelming close. The entire orchestra all get to their feet and yell out, “THANK YOU, SEBASTIAN.”

Cadence turns and gives the camera a small nod and smile and it fades to black.

I wonder how I can be physically rooted to this very spot and yet be moved solar systems emotionally.

“Dude, that was cool. What was it?” Jez asks me, gesturing to the blank laptop screen.

“It was, um, it was Cadence’s school orchestra. She just, um, she wanted to show me something they were working on.”

“Why’d they say ‘thank you, Sebastian’?”

I don’t want to tell them. I want it to be just between her and me. Well, and Marius and the kids. But not the rest of the guys.

Marius, in one of his rare insightful moments, sees me hesitating, interrupts and quickly changes the subject. “Oi, Brad, you know a lot about jockstrap itch. Does mine smell a little funky to you? Come have a sniff!” And as if he’s a magician, pulls a pair of boxers out of his pocket.

Everyone, including me, groans, and just like that, it’s forgotten.

I catch Marius’ eye and give him a thankful look. He just winks and then turns back to chasing Brad around the room waving his underwear over his head. Ejecting the DVD from the laptop, I hold it against my chest for a moment before slipping it into my bag and trying to ignore the worried look that Dennis is giving me.