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“And you won it,” Charlotte added. “You won it by singing a song you wrote.”
“Penny’s sisters weren’t happy with me about that,” she replied, remembering how she’d turned the punk tune into a ballad for the talent show, which had sounded amazing and had the excellent effect of annoying Penny’s always-perfect older twin sisters.
“The twins survived, and you were right. They totally sucked back then,” Penny teased, but her expression grew pensive. “When you stepped onto the stage, H, the air shifted. I could feel the importance of the moment.” She glanced at Charlotte and Libby, who nodded. “I think everyone in the auditorium could. You had this presence. You sat down on the piano bench, and from the second you played the first note and sang the first line, the entire place was captivated.”
That was the moment she realized she wanted to be a professional musician and set her sights on the dream of becoming a star.
But it was a silly child’s dream.
“I was a little kid,” she replied but didn’t pull her gaze from the building.
“That’s what makes it even more special, H,” Penny continued. “You only got better. You’re a performer. You’re an entertainer. You’re a rare talent.”
“I’m not sure what I am anymore.”
It was the truth.
“We know what you are,” Charlotte replied. “You’re a star. We know this because we’ve been with you every step of the way.”
Libby handed her a bonbon. “And we always will be, H.”
They would.
She pictured the day of the talent contest. After she’d finished the song, she’d spied Penny, Libby, and Charlotte in the audience. The girls had sprung to their feet, clapping and cheering. The teacher tried to quiet them, but she couldn’t get them to sit down as they gifted her with a standing ovation.
She brushed a tear from her cheek. “I almost forgive you guys for kidnapping me.”
“Do you want to talk about what happened with Landon?” Libby asked gently. “We figured it was something related to the music.”
“Do I have a choice?”
Charlotte brushed a lock of auburn hair from her cheek. “The guy cares about you, Harper. He and Aria were so excited to surprise you with the Italy trip.”
“And you two looked so happy during the livestream of the second Bake or Bust Challenge and in the pictures from Italy. What made you leave? We know how much you care for Aria and Landon. Whatever happened, it rocked you to the core,” Penny said, laying it out.
Her friend wasn’t wrong.
But she didn’t just care for Aria and Landon. She loved them. She loved them with a ferocity she’d never known.
Just tell them what happened.
“Landon pulled a Vance on me,” she said. She wanted to inject fury or even indignation into her response. Instead, it came out cracked and broken.
Libby scrunched her nose. “Stupid Mr. Keep Fighting the Good Fight and Vibe On. His vibe is vile, by the way. But Landon’s aura is nothing like Vance’s energy.”
Charlotte’s jaw dropped. “Did Landon steal your music?”
How was she supposed to answer?
“Yes. No. Not really, but sort of.” She gazed at the black T-shirt peeking through the chic wrap and sighed. “I need a bonbon.”
Libby tossed her a treat, and she popped it into her mouth, but it didn’t lessen the pain needling at her heart.
How could she explain what had happened without revealing Landon’s neurodivergent learning style?
Give them the basics.
“The trouble started with Luxe Media and Entertainment acquiring Landon’s music label.”
