In the Spotlight

Prologue

Five years earlier.

I coughed. My throat was dry and sore. I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to speak once the class was over. On the opposite side of the room, Adam tried to not laugh, seeing my grimace, but he couldn't hide it. Standing in front of the class with a microphone in my hand, I shifted my weight from foot to foot and rolled my eyes. I couldn't focus on what Alice, our singing coach, was saying. Today she played the role of ruthless teacher, regardless of the condition of my worn voice, so I let her words go in one ear and out the other.

She clapped right in front of my face, so suddenly, that I jumped, almost falling on the drums behind me. 'Emily, where are you? The rehearsal is here! You're singing today is out of tune,' she said pretentiously. 'What's going on with you?'

'I don't know.' I shrugged, Biting my lip so I wouldn't say something I might regret. 'Can we finish for now?'

'Fine,' she said, jabbing a finger in my direction. 'On Thursday I want you ready, no coughing and not off-key. Do you understand?'

'Pure and simple.' I saluted her playfully.

I went up to Adam who was sitting on the box overflowing with costumes, used only by the theatre kids. He sent me a compassionate smile. I took my water bottle from the table and drank it almost in one go. The thought of running to my bed for popcorn and rom-coms was tempting, but I resisted, placing the bottle down. Adam grabbed my backpack from the floor.

'What are you thinking about?' He asked as we left the music room.

'About very pleasant things.'

His brows knitted and one side of his mouth kicked up. I slapped his shoulder, grinning at his thoughts. 'You're getting worse with age.'

'No, I'm not. And, as your friend, I need to remind you that you have a math test tomorrow.' My face twisted with disgust and he burst into laughter.

Damn it. So no Netflix marathon tonight. I sighed. Tenth grade was a catastrophe. It was going to be even worse as I was supposed to start my junior year in a few months. I didn't want to think about it. It was evening already, and I could see stars in the clear sky, so I knew my study time would last at least until first in the morning. I would have ignored it, but if I brought home even one bad mark, my mother would tell me to say goodbye to singing lessons. I didn't want to let that happen.

I groaned loudly. 'I can't stand it. It's a joke, isn't it? It must be!'

'Unfortunately, it's not.' Adam shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

'Well, there's still the weekend ahead of us.' I took my old blue backpack from him and slung it over my shoulder. 'Are you dropping in on Saturday? We can watch the brand-new horror movie you've been waiting for. I promise I'll keep my eyes open.' I smiled but when I looked at him, he was serious.

'I have to tell you something, Emi.'

We stopped in the school courtyard. I looked to the parking lot and spotted my parent's car. I refocused on Adam. It wasn't often that he was serious, and when he was it never failed to bother me. My heart raced with unease. 'What's up?'

'I'm leaving in two days. For a year.'

What?

'You're messing with me right now, aren't you? You must be joking, for sure.'

'I wish, Emi. Truly. But my music career is going to the next level. My agent said the tour around the US is the best step. I could be famous. Everything is planned. I didn't want to go, at first. I didn't want to leave you. My family. But if I don't do this now I might never get another chance.'