"This is all your fault, director's pet. This is a play. I'm not falling in love with you, and I would never ever go out with you, Jack Garrison."
Jack and Shayna can't get through a rehearsal without fighting.
Cheerleader Shayna loathes perfect Ja...
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My expectations for the school bonfire weren't much more than a large burning stack of wood, music, and dancing. I was almost certain I would hate it, and if it weren't for a promise to Hugh, I probably wouldn't have gone at all.
When we arrived, I noticed a mass of students in a mix of sports uniforms, letterman jackets, and ordinary school clothes. All sorts of people showed up to see the music and dance.
The bonfire was burning high and bright as the music played out of large speakers. Volleyball players mingled with cheerleaders in a giant mosh pit around the stage, where several groups were getting ready to perform.
I'd come with Hugh, Juan, Samantha, Novah, and Kai because Jules had claimed bonfire night wasn't their scene. Juan and Samantha had already gone to the other side of the dance floor together, and Novah took off to dance with Dottie, so I was left with the boys.
Carson stood on stage, causing girls in the mosh pit to scream like he was a rockstar. At the very least, he was dressed like one. His dark curls were slicked back, and he wore a sleeveless denim jacket covered in pins over a white shirt with distressed black pants and combat boots. His headphones were missing from around his neck and replaced by the electric guitar swung across his back.
His girlfriend Rissa walked across the stage holding a microphone. She rocked a black mini dress and sparkly shoes that could have given Samantha a run for her money. Her honey-colored hair was parted on the side and styled so all the pink tips fell over her right shoulder. A baby top hat sat on her head, and she handed Carson the mic.
"Hello, Crestview," there was another scream, and he waited for quiet. "We're doing a four-song set tonight, and we appreciate the support. Before we start, though, I want you all to give a warm welcome to some up-and-coming freshman artists. We have a duo and another garage band here tonight. Give it up for Pickup Truck Flight and Tonedef GOATS."
A country duo took the stage, and a guy played two covers on his acoustic guitar as his partner, a girl in a cowboy hat, sang. The crowd swayed along, but there wasn't the same enthusiasm there was for Carson.
After they finished, Tonedef GOATS, a group of freshmen dressed in black leather, walked out and played a few older pop songs.
There was an instant change in the room when Carson and his band took the stage next. The moment they started their first song, the entire crowd seemed electrified and joyous.
The Rasping Whispers music was part pop and part rock. They opened with a song about leaving the ordinary and going on to fame and fortune called "Big Lights."
The moment the guitar started its riffs in the second song, the crowd started to scream. Carson's voice was a little throaty as he sang the song. Halfway through, I realized it was the one he'd played on his ukulele in the theater when we'd eaten fries.
