Palindrome

Thirty-Four

Chapter 34

Everything goes by in a rush. Next thing I know, the rest of choir has piled up in the wings with me and it's time for us to go on. On stage just before I'm stepping on Nagi fist bumps my hand while Paxton winks my way before they disappear to get changed for the next scene.

When I'm on stage, I breathe in the lights, the glittering dust all around me, and the swirl of colors from the set. Then when the music begins and it's time.

I sing.

You're going to mess up.

Choke on your own words.

No, I won't.

I don't.

Music notes float around me when it's time for me to sing on my own. My voice comes out like it always had, loud and carrying to the ends of the auditorium. Just like that, I've done it.

The rest of the performance is spent watching from the wings. I see Nagi and Paxton transform into their respective characters. Watch as they transform a shoddy set and take the audience to a different place. Make them feel the magic of Christmas even though it's been over a month since it passed.

I see Bronwyn dance across the stage. Her nimble body gliding across the stage as if she were weightless. She arches her body in ways I didn't think were possible Across stage she basically excludes her passion for dance. The very same that I've seen from her middle school recitals to her very first solo performance freshman year.

Two hours later, the fine arts department's annual charity showcase is over. It's pretty freaking awesome. There's this energy in the air that besides myself I can't help but soak in. When the curtain closes on us, everyone rushes out from the back entrance to the place where families and friends wait after the show.

Today I won't be going there. Ma texted me an hour before the show letting me know that she and Papa wouldn't be there. Figures this would happen after yesterday's incident. Doesn't mean that I'm fine with it. If they think partially disowning me is helping it's really not.

What if I need my mom? My dad?

Am I that fucked up that my parents want nothing to do with me?

Before I can walk the other way, I get swept with the current of other performers making their way outside.

Ah shit, why can't anything ever go my way?

I stand to one side awkwardly, hoping that no one will catch notice of me just there. As soon as I have the thought someone taps my shoulder and I whirl around to see Avinash and Luna.

"Little Aarohi's all grown up," he says ruffling my hair.

"We're the same age," I retort dryly, but he waves my comment off with a hand.

"You were great out there," Luna compliments me.

Tugging at the ends of my hair, I give her a small smile, "Thank you."

"She's not very good with compliments," Avinash explains.

I hold my hands up in defeat, "He's not wrong."

Luna laughs poking Avinash's cheek, "He's bad at giving them too."

He frowns burying his head in her shoulder, "Way to call me out like that."

"You'll survive," she tells him patting his head lightly. Then she turns to me a wicked smile in place, "How's it going with the ginger?"

Avinash snaps his head up that, "Le neighbor."