An Exchange

Chapter Fifteen - Assembly

 Penny

The school buzzed as we were herded into the gym, filling up the bleachers. Being so early in the program, the choir stayed in the corridor to wait, but Zoe saw me as she passed.

“Penny!” She gave me a quick hug. “Will you sit with us when you’re done?”

“Of course.”

She smiled at Maria. “And you too?”

 Maria blinked. “Sure.”

“Two spots.” Zoe waved two fingers at me. “We’ll see you soon. Good luck.”

When she’d gone, Maria grabbed my wrist. “Did she really just invite me to sit with you guys?”

“Yeah.” I grinned.

“Weird! I thought all the Mormons judged me for being a slut.”

I frowned. “You’re not a slut, and I’ve never judged you.”

She winced. “I didn’t mean you. I meant…. Ah crap.”

I giggled. “I know what you meant. They’re not all like that, you know. Zoe, Giles, and Jonas are totally normal. You’ll like Zoe. She’s sweet.”

“Little Miss Popularity and Sunshine?” Maria scoffed. “We’ll see about that.”

I scowled, but before I could respond, the assembly started.

As the first two clubs did their thing, I poked my head in and scanned for Zoe. She sat about halfway up on the nearside of the middle section with Giles, Seth, and a few other people. On the end of the row they'd left enough room for Maria and me to join them.

A green and gold wall of colour drew my gaze where the footballers and cheerleaders sat. They were doing a special number at the end which was some kind of tradition. I looked forward to seeing Ryan, Spencer, and Ray doing it. They had each told me it would be a crowd pleaser that no one would ever be able to forget.

Our turn came, and my stomach filled with butterflies. Maria clasped my hand and squeezed as we headed out. Several voices called my name. I looked around to see Ryan and Spencer cheering me on. My spirits lifted. Then I saw Giles and Zoe both standing and cheering as well. I grinned. Knowing I had that kind of support reassured me, and I felt as if I could do anything. I quickly looked at Marty and Ray walking in front of me, then at Maria beside me. I was so lucky to have found all these people who were so willing to stand by me and be true friends. Scanning the crowded gym, I knew there was no reason for me to be afraid, they weren’t the people I had left behind. My chance to let it all go and start anew really was right then, and I had the chance to make it really count for something.

We each took our positions and the music began. I looked up as I began to sing and saw Giles dead ahead of me, watching me proudly. Ray grabbed my hand and I turned to him for our next dance move. The performance went off without a hitch. I let myself go and sang and moved with it and my friends around me.

As we rushed off to make way for the next group, Marty grabbed me and kissed the top of my head. “You did it! You were great!”

As we crowded together in the corridor to congratulate each other on how well we did, a small group of footballers appeared to collect Ray. Among them was Ryan who rushed over to me. “Penny! You were amazing!”

“Thanks!” I laughed. “But I couldn’t have done it without these guys.” I grabbed Maria by the waist, wrapped my arm through Marty’s, and nodded to Ray. “They really helped me out a lot.”

He grinned. “Trust you to try to share the credit instead of basking in the lime light.”

The teachers in the corridor snapped at us to be quiet and disperse, so Maria and I entered the gym. We waited for the group performing to finish before we dashed up the bleachers and sat in our saved seats. As I sat beside Giles, he wrapped his arm around mine. “Good job, Penny, Maria.” He looked across me to her and nodded.