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This was the best news I’d heard all day. After the humiliating experience at the game last week, I could finally start focusing on something I wanted. Something that I’d needed for so long. This performance was going to be the highlight of my high school experience and very possibly, the launching of my music career.
There was so much I needed to do. Comb through the songs I’d written over the summer, pick the best parts, and create a song that would truly capture the struggle and triumph of our town’s founders. I needed to start practicing. Play with some chords. The centennial celebration was only two months away.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I threw my guitar back over my shoulder and moved toward the door. If I hurried, I could find an empty classroom and strum through a few ideas before cheerleading practice.
“Wait just a second, Miss Black.” Mrs. Banks held up her hand, halting my retreat. “There’s one more thing we have to talk about for the performance.”
I shuffled back toward her, although my heart was already out the door.
“Tell me, what do you know about the founding of our town?” Mrs. Banks asked in a calm tone, oblivious to my nerves jumping around in my stomach.
With a sigh, I looked up at the ceiling and tried to recall my elementary education. “Um...well, I know that Sarah Good was a single woman who travel west to buy land and start her own farm.”
Mrs. Banks nodded solemnly.
“She found the land she wanted,” I continued, “but no one would let her buy it. It was illegal for women to own property.”
“Exactly.” She tilted her head. “Continue.”
“And that’s when she met the widower, Captain Adley. They arranged a deal to get married so that she could buy the property she wanted and his daughter would have a mother.” My eyes went all starry and I bit back a grin. “But then they fell deeply and madly in love.”
“That’s right. So you can see that it’s a love story?”
I nodded. I’d known that all along. That was why I was salivating to write about Sarah Good and Captain Adley. There was so much to work with.
“That is why, after much thought, I have decided to change up my original idea about the centennial performance,” Mrs. Blackwell sa
id. She put her hands behind her back and drifted toward the upright piano we used during choir practices. “I think this should be a duet. That way, we can properly capture the emotion behind both Sarah Good’s story and the Captain’s.”
A duet? Disappointment hit me over the head like a hammer. My mouth fell open as I tried to think of an argument that would change her mind. I was a solo performer. I couldn’t write songs with another person. It wasn’t fair.
“Are you sure about that?” I asked when my voice finally returned. “I can do this by myself, I know I can. If you’ll just give me a shot—”
“I’ve already chosen your partner. He auditioned this summer as well and I was very impressed.” Mrs. Banks looked up at the clock on the wall. “In fact, he’s supposed to meet me here so I can give him the good news. He’s a bit late, but we can give him a few more seconds and then I’ll introduce the two of you.”
I threw my chin up, feeling utterly hopeless. I’d seen the other boys in choir. None of them had the capacity or maturity for such an important undertaking. There was no doubt that she’d probably paired me with one of the tenors who were shooting spit-wads across the room last week when Mrs. Banks’ back was turned. Just when I thought things were starting to look up, she had to go and throw a wrench in my plans.
“Mrs. Banks, I know this is a love story,” I pleaded, following her into her office in the back of the choir room. “I can do this without a partner. Really.”
She chuckled and shook her head. “I’ve already made up my mind, Audrey. Besides, the two of you are going to sound beautiful together. I have no doubt about that. Just try and give it a shot.”
She was hopeless. I sunk into a chair, slouching in utter misery, as she rounded her desk.
“Can you at least tell me if he has any songwriting experience?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. “Does he play an instrument? What are his credentials?”
“I’m sure he’d be glad to fill you in on all of those things himself,” Mrs. Banks said, looking over my shoulder. “Your partner is finally here. Come on in, Mr. Preston. I want you to meet Audrey Black. You’ll be writing and singing the duet together.”
I twisted so fast in my seat that I nearly broke my spine. Collin stood in the doorway. His tattered backpack hung from one hand and his leather jacket was draped over his opposite arm. He hadn’t changed for football practice yet, and was still rocking torn jeans and a t-shirt that stretched tight across his muscular chest. His gaze met with mine and immediately he broke out into that infuriating half-cocked grin that made my whole body flush.
“What’s up, Audrey? Almost didn’t recognize you without that raccoon costume.”
Whipping back around to look at Mrs. Banks, I braced myself with the armrests of my chair. My heart was pounding in alarm. “You cannot be serious. You can’t partner me with him.”
Of all the jokes... Somewhere in this great universe, someone was orchestrating my fate and laughing at me. This couldn’t be happening. It had to be a mistake.
“My decision is final.” She rested her elbows on her desk and her gaze flicked between us. An excited smile lit up her face. “You two are going to perform for the centennial show at the last football game of the season. Find time to work together. See what you can come up with. I want to see some song ideas on my desk within two weeks. You’ve got this, now get to work.”
I knew her dismissive tone when I heard it. Picking up my guitar, I pushed past Collin and out of the choir room. His deep chuckle followed me the whole way. The hallway outside was completely empty. I stopped suddenly, my sneakers squeaking on the waxed tile floor. Never could I remember feeling so furious.
