What is Home

Chapter Sixty-One

Pierce and Reece appeared on the stage as the lights of the auditorium dimmed, leaving the only light left on the two of them.

"I hope everyone enjoyed that little intermission from such incredible performances so far. Hopefully you all filled your belly's and are ready to continue the fun." Pierce's voice echoed through the room.

Cheers sounded by everyone around. I returned to my original position locked under Grayson's arm, safe and comfortable. The performances continued just as they had in the first half of the day. Some good and some bad.

The only one to catch my eyes was Harlow, something I wasn't expecting. "I would like to introduce my," my brother cleared his throat to correct himself for claiming her as his own, "the beautiful and talented Harlow May."

I smiled at the affection my brother had for this girl. I could see him standing just off stage. His eyes entranced by her. Watching her every move as she danced around the stage effortlessly. Her body spun and flew through the air with so much poise. I wondered to myself if she had performed something like this before, because no one seemed shocked but me.

As the song ended, her body coming to a standstill, claps and cheers erupted from the crowd like she was some prodigy. Hell, maybe she was and I was just too in my own world to know.

"We are coming to the end of the show and we are so happy to have kept you all entertained for the day! I hope we haven't annoyed you too much." Pierce smiled and his eyes met mine for the first time since we entered the auditorium.

"Maybe you have, but I haven't. I know it!" Reece said joining Pierce on stage, shoving his shoulder into my boy. Laughs escaped from some people in the crowd and I couldn't help the one falling from my lips either.

"Our final performer is just getting ready and I just want to say that I hope you all have a safe and happy holidays." I could see Pierce's demeanor switch as he tried to speak. The hard swallow after he spoke made his nerves shine bright like a red light. His tongue swiped across his lips trying to bring any sort of wetness to the surface. He was feeling exactly what I felt before we kissed in Harlow's living room. He was trying to hide it, but I knew my forever.

"Thank you to all our new performers who were brave enough to step out here and share their talents with us. We hope that next year we can have even more brave people step up here. Heck, maybe I'll even get the guts to do something up here besides making a fool of myself with this idiot." My brother poked Pierce's shoulder trying to get Pierce to lighten up. Even Reece could sense the change in Pierce, and I wondered if everyone could.

"Hey now, be nice." Pierce poked him back as he let out a huge sigh. Like he released all this weight off his chest. "Well it sounds like our final performer is ready."

Reece left the stage as the curtain began to open. Pierce didn't follow Reece's actions. He stepped back to meet the girl who I had spent hours with, hours talking to, in the school nurse's office. I felt that exact feeling that Pierce was going through rush over me. I sat up trying to figure out if I was dreaming. If this was really what I was seeing. I even rubbed my eyes thinking maybe I was just seeing shit.

"Are you okay?" Grayson leaned over at the pure state of panic I must have looked in.

I swallowed hard. Just like Pierce had done just a few minutes ago, notanswering the boy who was clearly concerned with my actions.