An Exchange

Chapter Thirty - Fundraiser Concert Pt 1

Penny

The day of the concert arrived. We spent our class time rehearsing and touching up our costumes. Marty, Maria, and I had solo items, and Ray volunteered to be stage manager. I told him several times that he had to do a solo, but he refused and said he preferred organising everyone and the rush of making sure everything ran smoothly.

Backstage, I slipped my black choir gown over my solo costume when Giles came to the choir room door with three white lilies. I rushed over to him, pulling my hair free from the gown. "Who are these for?"

"The lady of the hour." He beamed.

"You bought our choir director flowers?"

He laughed. "No. They’re for you."

"Oh!" I gasped as he handed them to me. "That's very kind of you, Giles. Thank you."

"I just wanted to get in before all your fans start rolling in after every one hears you sing."

"I'm singing a Britney song. I don't think that will be a fan builder." I chuckled.

"Everyone secretly loves Britney, so they'll love you."

Ray came over and looked at the flowers. "Fans already, Penny?"

I laughed. "Giles here claims to be one."

"Of course he does." Ray handed me a tall cup. "Put some water in this and leave them on the cabinet over there. We need to get this show going."

Giles followed me to the drinking fountain in the corner of the room. As I filled the cup, I asked, "How did you know lilies are my favourite?"

"I asked."

"Who?"

"I have my sources."

"Who?" I turned to him and slipped the lilies into the cup.

"I'm not going to tell you."

"It was Jonas, right?"

"Maybe, or I could have asked when I talked to your parents on Christmas Eve."

"Wow, seriously? You've been waiting for the right moment to get me some lilies for that long?" I walked over and placed the lilies on the cabinet.

"I was thinking maybe Valentine's Day, but I knew that would cause problems for you with Ryan. So I decided now would be better."

I grinned and gave him a quick hug. "That's very thoughtful of you, and I love them."

"I'm glad. But right now I better go find my seat because the show is about to start." He took my hand, gave it a quick kiss, and bowed. "Break a leg, Miss Lawrence."

After Giles left, Maria grabbed me and we went out for our opening choir number. Through the blinding lights, I made out shapes in the crowd. The place was packed. A rush of adrenalin surged through me. As we took our places on the choir stands, I grabbed Maria's hand and we clung to each other, both of us charged with excitement.

My solo item would be right before the intermission, so Ray allowed me to watch Marty's solo immediately after the choir's three opening songs. Marty, as usual, was spectacular. He held the audience in the palm of his hand, and they just ate him up. By the end he had almost everyone in tears and all the girls had fallen madly in love with him.

As the show continued, I stayed with Ray to watch the items while he directed everyone around backstage. He seemed glad for the company when he had a moment’s break, but three items before my solo, he sent me away to finish getting ready.