Mitzi & Oz

Chapter 28: I've Got the Cure You're Thinkin' Of

Side A: Oz

For the next week I'm flying high. The video came out amazing, partially because Cameron has some serious video editing skills. It looks almost like a real rock video, all scratchy and retro-looking. I mean, we can't help that we're in the band room and not a garage or an abandoned warehouse or whatever, but still. He managed to make the band room look cool.

And we sounded pretty rad, too. It didn't matter that Mitzi didn't move around much. I told her it was better if she stood still rather than try to dance or be sexy or whatever. And because Cameron moved around, you could barely tell she wasn't moving.

After I send in the video on Sunday, it's a nerve-wracking wait until Monday morning. The second I get off the bus, I race to the band room to find Miss Burgess to make sure she watched it. She's sitting at her desk with a cup of coffee and when I bust into the room it's like she was expecting me. All she says is, "Yes, Oz. Your band is in the lineup."

I fist pump so hard I think I pull a muscle. I can play through the pain though.

Of course I tell everyone as soon as I see them in my class, which means Mitzi is the first to know. "Cool," she says, looking a little green.

"Dude, you gotta curb that nausea problem," I tell her.

"I can't help it," she mumbles.

"Just try not being nervous. Like, imagine it's just us and there's no audience. Or imagine the audience in their underwear."

She gives me a look that says, You're not helping.

So I do some Googling and after school I hit the vending machine before I get to the band room for our practice.

"I made a list of songs that I think Mitzi would sound good singing," Reece says when he walks in. He pulls out his phone and reads it off.

"You couldn't have written it down on a piece of paper?" I ask.

Reece looks up at me and squints. "You're so... retro."

"Coming from you, I can't tell if that's a compliment or an insult." I point to his Pearl Jam t-shirt. "Also, is your brother ever going to show up for rehearsal?"

"He's coming today, I swear. He gets out of work at three and then he's coming."

Dave strolls in and starts hooking up his guitar. Now all we're waiting on is Mitzi.

"Where is she?" Reece finally asks after fifteen minutes have gone by, and all the noise of the hallways has drained out to the school buses and parking lot.

I look at the clock again. I didn't want to have to worry about her, but now I haul out my backpack and root around in the front pocket for my phone. No messages.

"Do you think she forgot?" Dave asks.

"Let me text her."