One Moment, Academy Kids 4

Talking

 Sasha

With his audition a couple of days away, we couldn't afford to waste any time. I raced through the house, finally finding Lacey outside straddling Blaze's bike. 

"I bet Lesia would teach you to ride if you wanted to learn doll." His hand rested at the small of her back, and he looked down at her like she hung the stars. Maybe someday, Miles would look at me like that. 

"I'd rather you teach me." She said as she tossed her leg over and hopped off. 

"Dad would kill him." They both started at my comment. 

"I would also be way too worried to relax." Blaze grinned my way. 

"Can I ask you a favor, Lacey?" I asked as I finally reached them. "Well, it's not really for me. It's for Miles." 

She cocked her head to the side. "Miles?" 

"Yeah. It'll be better if he explains it." I could try but since I still wasn't sure of the depth of his issue this was better. Blaze froze, eyes going wide. 

"I think I know what this is about." He laced his fingers with hers and tugged her toward the house with me following. "I kept telling him to talk to her. Glad you finally convinced him." 

"I'm not so sure it was me," I said truthfully. 

"Well, whatever it was, I'm glad for it." 

Miles sat on my bed, curled around a pillow, dang that boy loved pillows. I crawled up, wanting to wrap my arms around him but figured that would be pushing the boundaries of friendship. Instead, I simply sat close. He took a deep breath and licked his lips when he noticed Blaze and Lacey. 

"Hi." 

"Hey, rock star." Blaze ruffled Miles' hair and grabbed the chair from my desk, dragging Lacey in between his legs. "What's going on?" 

Miles picked at nonexistent fuzz on his jeans as he talked. "So, you remember that camp I told you about?" Blaze nodded. "Apparently the WKVS morning crew is running a competition for local talent. The grand prize is a scholarship to the camp and someone entered me." 

"Who would do that? You've never..." Blaze's face drew tight and I tried to hide the way I stiffened in response. It wasn't his fault. I did it to myself. 

"I didn't know." I interrupted before he could finish his question. "But he got in. Kind of." Nobody said a word, Blaze lifting one eyebrow. 

"She means I got past the first round, basically. I have to perform, live, in front of the judges, in two days." Miles finally looked up, eyes wide. "I can't do it," he whispered the words. 

"I'm not sure what-" Lacey shook her head, unable to find the words. 

"He's never been able to perform in front of people, myself and Blaze being the exception I guess," I answered when the silence went on too long. I knew the next question before she even opened her mouth. "I filmed him with my phone without telling him and sent the video in." 

Blaze's jaw dropped, his arms falling from Lacey's waist even as her brows nearly hit her hairline. "Oh, crap." 

Miles shook his head. "I wasn't happy but I can't not take this chance now. Just one problem."

"How do you perform without freezing?" Lacey asked. 

Miles nodded. "or passing out."

"That's happened?" Lacey practically screeched. Miles just nodded again. Lacey shuddered, then squared her shoulders. "Okay, so tell me about it. What happens? How do you feel? I've been learning coping techniques. Maybe one of them could help?"