"If I could go back to when I was little
I'd say it's alright to be stuck in the middle
When all the best things about you don't ever gotta change
It's a cold world, so unforgiving
You know how you don't have to just take what you're given
You don't...
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APRIL 18, 2003 THE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
The gymnasium buzzed with the typical noise of a school talent show: whispers of excitement, laughter, and the shuffling of feet as students mingled and joked with each other. But for Alexis, it felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on her. The evening should have been an easy celebration, the end of the school year, a night for talent and fun. But the events of the past two nights hung like a dark cloud over her head.
Two nights ago, Val and Brian, two of her closest friends, had been killed by the Sweetly Slasher. The world had tilted for Alexis, leaving her with a gaping hole in her chest, a mixture of grief and anger that she could hardly contain. The loss was too fresh, too raw. The pain still coursed through her veins, and now, she was expected to perform in front of the entire school.
She stood at the back of the gym, her hands trembling as she adjusted her black dress, glancing around at the other students who were milling about. The fluorescent lights above buzzed, the hum making the air feel thick and oppressive. Alexis was supposed to be singing a song for Val and Brian, but the thought of it felt like too much. How could she sing when her heart was still shattered?
"Alexis," Quinn's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. He had found her backstage, standing in a corner, clearly lost in her own head. "Hey, are you okay?"
Alexis turned to him, trying to smile but failing. Her lips quivered, her eyes filled with the emotions she couldn't put into words. Quinn stood before her, his face a mix of concern and understanding.
"I don't know if I can do this," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I-I feel like I'm gonna break down in front of everyone."
Quinn stepped closer, putting a hand on her shoulder. His touch grounded her in the chaos swirling around her. "You don't have to be perfect. You just need to sing for them," he said, his voice low and soft, filled with empathy.
Alexis looked down at the floor, her anxiety eating away at her. The pressure of the situation-performing for a crowd while still grieving for her friends-was too much. What if I mess up? The thought ran like a constant loop through her mind. The idea of standing up there, in front of all those eyes, and trying to sing through the pain-it felt impossible.
She could hear faint laughter and voices from the gym floor. The first act had just finished. It was almost her turn. Quinn gave her a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder.
"I'm not saying it'll be easy," he continued, his tone serious. "But Val and Brian would want you to do this. They're counting on you to remember them."
Alexis blinked back tears, nodding slowly, though doubt still clouded her mind. She glanced around the backstage area, looking at the few familiar faces standing nearby, all busy with their own preparations. But the thought of seeing everyone's eyes on her made her stomach churn.
