Secrets

Chapter Twelve

Anya

I hate this so much. My hands are sweating, my heart is racing and I feel like I am going to vomit at any second. It's typical that Jackson and I got a Monday morning assembly performance with this stupid assignment. Monday's involve the entire school, instead of just the seniors. I assume that this was not an accident on Mr. Franco's part.

My nerves were already shot after having to evade Cammie this morning in the parking lot. I'm not ready to talk to him just yet and, being the coward I am, I ran from him.

A warm hand envelopes mine and I look up to see Jackson smirking at me.

"Stop, Anya, it's going to be fine." He looks down at my hands and I notice that I'm shuffling sheet music around like there's no tomorrow.

Prepare one song on how you're feeling at the moment. Those were Mr. Franco's words and I am regretting my choice before I've even stepped on the stage. What if they all laugh? Hah! How ironic given my choice.

I don't know what Jackson's going to perform - he won't tell me - but he's going first, then me, and then we're doing our duet. Before I know it we're being called up and it's only then that I realise I was not listening to the previous two performances. Crap, I hope Jackson was because we're being graded on this!

Jackson takes to the stage first and picks up his guitar. He speaks to the band backing us up and turns back to the audience with a huge grin on his face. Everyone starts cheering for him and it hits me that I've never realised before just how much these guys are actually loved by this school. It's ridiculous. From the cheering coming from the audience you would never believe it was a regular eighteen year old guy stood on that stage. But there is, and he's loving every second.

He checks his guitar and starts to play, and I recognise the song straight away. Save Me, San Francisco. It's one of my favourites.

I used to love the Tenderloin
Till I made some tender coin
Then I met some ladies from Marin
We took the highway to the One
Up the coast to catch some sun
They left me with this blisters on my skin.

Don't know what I was on, but I think it grows in Oregon
So I kept on going, going, gone, right through
I drove into Seattle rain, fell in love then missed the train
That could a took me right back home to you

I been high
I been low
I been yes, and I been oh hell no
I been rock 'n roll and disco
Won't you save me San Francisco 

Every day's so caffeinated
I wish they were Golden Gated
Fillmore couldn't feel more miles away
So, wrap me up return to sender
Let's forget this 5 year bender
Take me to my city by the Bay 

I never knew all that I had
Now Alcatraz don't sound so bad
At least they'd have a hella fine Merlot
If I could wish upon a star
I would hitch a cable car
To the one place that I'll always call my home

I been high
I been low
I been yes, and I been oh hell no
I been rock 'n roll and disco
Won't you save me San Francisco

I been up
I been down
I been so damn lost since you're not around
I been reggae and calypso
Won't you save me San Francisco

To tell you the truth
I miss everything...everything
It's a wild, wide, beautiful world
But there's a wide-eyed girl back there
And she means everything...everything