Red is my favorite color

School Bash

As the sun set the students and staff were franticly setting up last minute things on the stage. This is the event everyone was excited for. Everyone's hard work over the last few weeks for this. It was starting to hit me that in just a few moments her and Cat would be up on stage in front of hundreds of people.

"You look nervous sweetheart." A gentle voice brought Sam out of her thoughts.

"Yeah I guess you could say that." Her lips curved into a half frown trying to suppress her feelings. The older woman wore a caring smile, her cheeks raising up to familiar honey brown eyes.

"I bet you'll do wonderful. Do you happen to know a Cat Valentine? She's my granddaughter and she's going to be performing today." Sam's heart skipped at the mention of her duet partners name.

"You must be Nona." A look of surprise flashed over the older woman's face before she grinned widely.

"You must be Sam, my granddaughter is constantly talking-"

"Nona!" Cat ran over to the two of us stopping right beside her Nona taking her hand into hers. "I'm so glad you're here! This is Sam we are going to be doing our duet together."

"Oh honey I'm so excited for the both of you I know you'll do amazing." Grabbing Cat into a tight embrace Nona let go and turned doing the same to Sam. "I was just telling Sam here how much you talk about-"

"Actually Nona I think we need to go practice and stuff but you have a reserved seat up front." Cats face flushed before she took a step towards Sam grabbing her hand and dragging her away towards the back of the stage where everyone gathered.

"So you talk about me a lot huh?" A devilish grin appeared at the thought of Cat being embarrassed. Cat halted but refused to turn around.

"I- yeah I guess so." She was facing away and loud conversations of their others around them drowned her response into a whisper.

The announcer on stage silences the crowd and the performers backstage before getting everyone pumped up with a couple of jokes. He introduces the first group and from across the stage Robbie and Beck were getting ready. Robbie's eyes seemed to be glued to the two girls and Beck seemed to be shaking out his nerves. Sam follows Robbie's gaze and realizes that her and Cat are still holding hands. Her heart beat as she felt herself become flustered.

Andre says hello to the crowd and his grandmother screams in excitement. The Boys start up their song and by the half point they have the crowd in awe. People waved their hands along to the music and once it was over they received praise in the form of claps and screams. The girls obviously had a thing for the group of friends but who could blame them they were pretty good looking even Sam could admit that.

Tori surprises everyone with an original song and looking around at the waiting performers she swears the look on Jade's face was awe. Jade immediately turned serious a second later when the performance ended and she met Tori halfway snatching the mic out of the girl's hand. They definitely had a love hate relationship.

After Jade was their moment. The moment when Sam would grab her guitar and head onstage with Cat beside her.

"Sam? You look nervous." Cat squeezes the blonde's hand grabbing her attention away from the ticking seconds left before they go on.

"It'll be fine." Sam chokes out mostly trying to convince herself.

"Hey, look at me." Cats hand releases Sam's and she'd hate to admit it but she missed the warmth. Cat reached up grabbing Sam's chin pulling her so she was looking down at her. "We're going to do great and if you get nervous while we are up there just look at me."

Cat was so sure of this. So sure that she'd be okay. Trust wasn't something Sam gave away freely but looking into Cat's eyes right now she felt that she could trust her. For some reason when she looked into her eyes she felt safe, she felt protected, she didn't feel alone. They were in this together and no one else in the crowd mattered. So Sam took a leap and stepped onto the stage with the girl who made her feel safe. Strapping on her guitar she sat on the stool and Cat sat on one beside her.

She didn't bother to look out into the crowd as she began to strum her melody. She just looked into those mystical orbs that took her away from any discomfort she felt and once Cat started singing her breath was taken away. Cat looked into the crowd for a little before returning her gaze. The seconds lasted forever and the minutes ticked by even slower. I had practiced this song for hours with Cat and I had it all down I wasn't sure how she did it but she blew me away with her vocals every time.

I was relieved when it was over we both stepped off our stools and she grabbed my hand in hers and lifted them above our heads and I followed in her steps as she took a bow. Everyone was clapping and cheering and Nona was right in front with proud tears in her eyes. The curtains fell and I was finally able to relax with all the eyes off of me I didn't know how on edge I was until that moment. The teacher came over congratulating us as he rushed us off stage helping the next students take their places before the curtain was raised. We put our stuff away before going Nona and our friends in the crowd.

"Sam that was amazing! You looked like a natural up there." Carly grabbed me into a tight hug and I usually wasn't into physical stuff but I let it happen. "And Cat you were breathtaking! I swear I have goosebumps." She engulfed Cat into a friendly hug and Cat was quick to reciprocate.

"What did I tell you? I knew you'd do wonderful." Nona whispered to me as Cat was being congratulated by some of her other friends and classmates.

"Me? Nah that was nothing. She was the real shining star up there." I replied back watching Cat smile and laugh with the others. Even when we weren't on stage I couldn't take my eyes off her.

"You know darling your eyes can confess secrets hidden in your heart." Nona said softly as she smiled following my gaze.

I laughed nervously feeling like my body was giving away things I wasn't ready to figure out yet. I was supposed to be Sam Puckett. Sam Puckett wasn't suppose to feel things, wasn't suppose to feel weak or vulnerable, and definitely not show these signs to others. Luckily the next performance started and I was able to sneak away from the group as they focused on the performer on stage. I walked where my feet led me and luckily it was to a nearby food truck set up close by. I stared at their menu as I made my way to the front of the line and once it was my turn I ordered the largest burrito they had.

"Rough night?" The guy asked as he handed me my order.

"I guess you could say that." I handed him the money and took my food wandering over to a bench. Sitting I stared back towards the crowd of students watching the performance. From here it sounded muffled but you could still make out the faint instruments. I scarfed down my burrito quickly and balled up my trash throwing it into the trash can a foot away.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through TheSlap page watching as people posted photos and videos of life and even some from tonight's school bash. I kept scrolling until a photo caught my eye it was of me and Cat on stage posted by some random person. I couldn't believe how ridiculous I looked. My eyes were solely on her. I could feel my stomach churn and I really hoped it wasn't from the burrito I just ate.

My phone vibrates and jolted me out of my thoughts. It was from Carly asking me where I was. I sent a quick text back letting her know I was just across the street. Walking back towards the show I gathered myself knowing I couldn't show the weakness I had been.

"Hey there you are! We are heading to an after party at Jade's place if you wanted to come. Cat said she was heading home with her Nona but she'll meet us there."

"Why would I care that she was going?" It sounded a little harsher than I had meant it and by Carly's curious glare I could tell she was a little suspicious.

"Chill our she just wanted us to let you know. I thought you guys were friends or something?" Freddie said defensively.

"Nope just partners for this thing." It hurt me inside to say that out loud but it was true right? We only hung out a couple of times to practice for a school related event, that didn't make us friends. The thought of spending the night with her filled my mind but I quickly shook it away. "Lets just go already."