Page 55 of Forbidden Heart

“You don’t look so good.” He touches my forehead, concern etched on his face.

“I’m fine, JJ.” I tell him, though I suddenly feel a little sick. “I’m just panicking about the competition.”

“You are?” JJ frowns, like the idea’s unfathomable. “But you don’t even have to be on stage with us. You just get to watch.”

“I don’t have stage fright,” I say, then pause, realizing that’s not entirely true. “At least, I don’t think I do. I’ve never really had a chance to find out.”

“You haven’t sung on stage before?”

“Only as a kid.” I smile fondly at the memory of Mom sitting in the audience, her eyes bright as she watched me sing.

“Why’d you stop? You didn’t want to perform? Enter talent shows?”

“Not really.” I mean, who’d want to hear me and my whiny voice on stage? “And I got kicked out of our high school choir before our first performance.”

“You got kicked out of choir?” JJ gasps, and I suddenly feel like kicking myself. Why did I have to tell him about that?

“The teacher said it was because I kept getting distracted,” I quickly explain, even though that wasn’t the real reason I got kicked out. Father later told me that was just an excuse she made up so she wouldn’t hurt my feelings.

“You were too talented for them,” JJ gives my hand a squeeze.

“Thanks,” I whisper, though I know it isn’t true. Because the real reason is that no one in choir could stand my voice, they were just too nice to say so.

“So why are you nervous about the competition?” JJ asks.

I close my eyes and grimace, but there’s no avoiding this truth. “I don’t have a song.”

“But you have an outline, right?”

“I guess. I just can’t seem to write an actual song. My mind keeps drawing a blank, and I’m so scared I’ll let you guys down.”

“You could never let us down.” JJ gives my hand another squeeze. “I heard your other songs. They’re really good, Roonie.”

“If they were really good, why didn’t I get into college?” I blurt out. “Never mind, don’t answer that.”

“Whoever made that decision was an idiot, and Charles is looking into it. He has an appointment with the dean on Saturday.” JJ leans forward. He rests his large hands on my knees, sending my heart racing. “You’re really talented, Roonie. I just wish you’d see that.”

My cheeks flush. It’s so sweet of JJ to believe in me and of Charles to make that appointment with the dean. I know it won’t go anywhere, but it’s the thought that counts.

“You still have two days,” JJ reminds me.

“Two days.” I gulp.

“Just trust in your process.”

“My process?”

“Whatever you usually do when you’re composing.”

“You mean sing until I have a song and then write it down?” I frown, still not following.

“That’s not what I mean.” JJ laughs. “I mean your process. All artists have them. I learned that from my parents.”

“You said your dad draws, right?”

“He’s a cartoonist. Have you heard of Young Mouse?”

“Of course I’ve heard of Young Mouse. Who hasn’t?” It’s literally the most popular cartoon of the decade. “Wait, your dad’s on the art team?”