Hiraeth: Bonding (III)

Chapter One

"ONE! TWO! A-ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR!"

On Nicole's signal, I started us off with eight loud, solitary chords: E, D, A, G, B, A, B, E.

"I wanna move the town to the Bijou City Rockers," I then sang, keeping up the chords as I was joined by Nicole's beat, Santiago's lower tones, and Frances's harmonizing.

As we progressed, I made sure to loosen up like Doctor Annabelle had instructed me. I bounced a little with my shoulders low and my knees slightly bent.

Roxie came in with me to sing, "So don't complain!"

We went on, Nicole's drums eventually giving us a transition into the next set of verses, and continued going strong.

When my solo was coming up, I nodded to Emmitt and Gonzo (who were on the side for this particular song). They quickly turned around and directed the spotlights onto me.

I blinked, took a deep breath, and fell to my knees right on my entrance. I held my pick in the air and swung it down into the chord, then played harder than before.

The collar on my shirt popped up just before Santiago snuck in with a lower, more aggressive chord set. I smiled, sweat dripping down the side of my forehead, and accepted the challenge with a heavy rambling of the strings.

Nicole failed to remember not to get excited and rush the tempo, so our competitive duet had to go faster.

I felt my head begin to spin. We'd already been onstage for five songs. I had played during all of them, so my arms and back were starting to ache.

As the sweat fell faster, my stomach twisting, Santiago began to overpower me.

No!

I knew that Doctor Annabelle didn't want us to get too competitive, but I couldn't help it. I took a deep breath and let the roar of the crowd pulsate through my body. I bathed in the musty smell of the auditorium, the heat of the spotlight, the heartbeat of the music through the floor.

And I was revived.

I jumped into the air, swinging my arm again, and dipped the head of my guitar towards the floor. My fingers danced and I played faster and faster. The chords went up and down, over and over, until I could hardly feel my hands. I was jumping and spinning, shouting and smiling.

Santiago laughed through the excited murmur of students. He accepted defeat and we ended our competition.

I resumed singing alongside Roxie, louder and more passionate somehow. She looked at me with a surprised smile. I shrugged.

Roxie stabbed at the piano keys while we approached the end of the song. Nicole slowed the tempo until Frances, Santiago, and I played the ending chord.

I dropped my guitar and let it hang over my shoulder lazily, panting and sweating and laughing. The crowd roared, clapping and cheering. Roxie took my hand and raised it in triumph.

I took a microphone, laughing, and said, "Thanks you guys. I-It means a lot to us to have such a big audience."

I got to sit out for the last song, which was much slower. At the end of the concert, my friends and I met outside.

"First show of the year and we had a full house. Can you believe that?!" Gonzo exclaimed.

Nicole high-fived him, jumping up and down joyfully. "It's insane! I blame it on Mike," she teased, and it was my turn for a high-five. "Literally like twelve kids I know told me they were coming to see you."

I blushed. "Umm, w-w-well-"

"-Oh, hush, Nicole," Roxie barked.

Santiago broke in, saying, "I don't know what you're talkin' about. I'm the real main attraction."