Trophy Child (On Hold)

Chapter 3

That week, we practiced long and hard. It was no wonder that when Friday finally rolled around we'd all shown up in such high spirits.

We had actually ended up practicing on Thursday after all, but more because we were excited than because we needed it. The talent show would be our first time performing in front of a big crowd. It was also going to be my first time playing for real in front of my mom, if she agreed to come.

The auditions were taking place after school, so classes that day were even more painfully slow than they usually were. I think I stared at the clock for my entire last period. I had never wanted a class to end so badly before. 

Once the bell finally rang, I met up with the guys outside of the auditorium. A few of the teachers who had nothing better to do were acting as judges, along with the school's theater teacher, who was in charge of the whole event. They must have still been getting ready, because they hadn't let anyone in by the time we arrived.  

Students were squeezing in last minute practice all around us, some of them strumming guitars or ukuleles while others sang quietly to themselves, or danced along to music from their phones. Of course, there were others too, but those were always the most common when it came to high school talent. While watching everyone around us, the excitement finally died and the nerves kicked in.

"I'm super nervous," Eric announced, twirling his drumsticks.

"Don't be, you guys are going to do fine," Benny assured us,"you've practiced a thousand times."

"Maybe it still wasn't enough," Eric said.

"You guys are good. You'll wow them no problem."

"Easy for you to say," I pointed out,"you aren't going to be on stage." 

"That's why I know you guys will be fine," he said,"I won't be up there messing it up, or puking my guts out in terror."

"Benny's right, it'll be fine. Chill, guys," Phil said, rolling his eyes. 

The auditorium doors opened, and Eric and I shared one last anxious look before flooding in with everyone else. The rest of us took our seats while Benny got in line to fill out the sign in sheet. He only had a few people in front of him, so we'd be going up pretty early. Which was good and bad. Good because we'd be getting to play, but bad because it meant that if we did completely screw up, everyone would be watching. People always left once their turn was over, so fewer people ahead of us meant more in the audience.

Benny walked back over to our group, but only long enough to inform us that he'd agreed to help the theater teacher out by dealing with the necessary tech, like the mics and speakers, so that he could make sure everything was set up correctly when our audition came up. After telling us, he disappeared backstage and we sat and watched the other acts, joking about a few of the particularly bad ones. 

It was good that we weren't first. It helped take some of the stress off to see just how terrible some of others were. There was no physical way we could bomb worse than a couple of them had.

When it was nearing our turn, we made sure that we had everything ready and double checked that my electric and Phil's bass guitar were tuned. Eric's drum kit was already set up and waiting for us on stage, courtesy of his dad. I was excited, but I was also afraid that it would go horribly wrong somehow.

"This is it, man," Eric grinned.

"Guess we just need to hope we don't tank," I said, and Eric punched my shoulder.

"You're gonna jinx us," he stated.

"I'd like to think it's what grounds us to reality."

Then we were called up to the stage.