Текст книги "Love is in the air"
Автор книги: A. Destiny
Соавторы: Alex R. Kahler
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Текущая страница: 6 (всего у книги 12 страниц)
Chapter
Fourteen
Are you feeling okay?” Riley asks. “You seemed like you were on Planet Zombie all through practice.”
I shrug. It’s after our final juggling session for the day, and yeah, we made a lot of progress, but no, my heart wasn’t in it. As we head back to the main building for dinner, I feel like a failure.
“I think I’d rather be on Planet Zombie,” I mutter. “Or better yet, I know someone who should go in my place.”
She sighs and wraps an arm around me. “Let me guess: Megan?”
I nod.
“You can’t let her get to you!” she says. “She’s just a bully. A contortionist bully at that, which everyone in the circus world knows is a hundred percent worse than your normal school bully.”
“She said Branden thinks of me as a little sister.” This just makes her hug me tighter.
“And how would she know?” she asks.
“She heard him say it. Also, apparently they dated.”
Riley shakes her head. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and it is not like a sister, trust me. Megan’s just jealous because Branden’s spending all this time with you. Speaking of, we’ve got talent show practice right after dinner, so wipe that frown off your face before he sees it and thinks you’re unhappy about performing with him.”
I do my best to smile. It’s one of those smiles that looks like a grimace, but it does make Riley laugh and murmur, “Hopeless” before opening the door for me. I’ll take that as a slight victory.
• • •
“Okay, plan of attack,” Tyler says the moment I’m sitting down. For a moment I can’t tell if he has a plan or is asking for one, and it’s not until after he’s been silent for a few moments that I realize it’s the latter.
“Can’t a girl eat her dinner first?” I ask. It’s lasagna tonight, and the smell of garlic bread has my stomach growling like an untamed lion.
“A girl could,” Tyler says. “But then again, a girl could also get a big piece of pasta flung at her face if she leaves her boy hanging.”
I snort and take a big, slow bite of lasagna, making sure not to break eye contact with Tyler while I chew.
“So ladylike,” he says. Of course, that’s also the moment when Kevin sits down next to him. Kevin’s red hair is an even darker shade of orange—clearly, he just got out of the shower. The overpowering scent of body wash only confirms it. He nestles against Tyler’s shoulder for a second before picking up his fork.
“Everyone excited for tonight?” he asks, as though he’s oblivious to the interplay between Tyler and me.
“Totally,” Riley says.
“Definitely,” says Branden, who sits down beside me as he says it. I swallow my lasagna and nearly choke. He pats me on the back. “Careful. We can’t have you choking before you’re even onstage.”
“Thanks,” I manage. Once I get the coughing under control I look at him, looking at me. Is that how someone would look at a sister? I don’t think it is, but then again, I don’t have a sibling, so I guess I wouldn’t know. And how the heck do I ask him if he actually dated Megan without it being awkward? “We were just deciding the plan of attack for practice.”
“Well, first we need to settle on a song,” Tyler says.
“We did,” I begin, but he cuts me off.
“Too slow,” Riley says. “Executive decision. You have backup dancers. So you’ll need to sing something they can actually dance to.”
I open my mouth to argue, but before I can get a word out, the guys are throwing different ideas back and forth. Not even a minute later they’ve settled on some pop song that’s been taking over the radio all school year. The only input I get is when they ask if I know the song. Which I do. Luckily, it’s in my range and luckily, I’ve sung it a few times. In my room. When no one was listening.
And just like that, it’s been decided. We have a song.
That’s when things go from bad to hilarious.
Because after the song’s been decided, Tyler stands and pulls Kevin and Branden to their feet. At first I think it’s to get more food, since they’ve already cleared their plates. It’s not. It’s to figure out choreography. It’s been a crazy few days, and the moment Tyler starts swaying his hips and doing complicated arm gestures—much to the bewilderment of Kevin and Branden, who quickly stop trying to follow along—I burst into laughter. Riley snorts so hard she nearly coughs up her garlic bread.
“Stop, stop!” she chuckles. Tyler drops his arms with a scowl on his face. Branden and Kevin look at her like she’s a saint. “Everyone’s looking. We can’t give away our secrets yet!”
“Fine, then,” Tyler grunts. “I’m getting more food. I’ll save the rest of my awesome for practice.”
Tyler stalks off to the cafeteria line for more lasagna, and Kevin and Branden sit back down. Branden settles so close to me our arms are practically brushing. I glance over at him, to his spiked brown hair and gorgeous eyes, and in that moment I really wish our arms were brushing.
Of course, that’s when Megan’s treacherous voice floats through my mind: He looks at you like you’re his little sister. I slouch away from him. Even when she’s not there, Megan’s good at ruining the moment.
Riley leaves a few jokes later, and Kevin’s not far behind. Riley makes sure to pat me on the shoulder before stepping away, pointedly reminding me that practice is in thirty minutes and I should definitely not be late. At first I’m not entirely certain why she feels the need to tell me that—I’m kind of the lead singer, so it’s my reputation on the line. Then Branden sighs heavily, and I realize it’s just us at the table. Just the two of us. And Megan’s nowhere to be seen.
“So,” he says. There’s an awkward tension in the air the moment I realize we’re alone, like suddenly everyone in the cafeteria is watching us, listening in on every word we say.
“So,” I respond, and poke at my lasagna.
“What were you and Megan talking about?”
Just hearing her name is enough to send a small jolt of fear and dread through me. I glance around; she’s nowhere to be seen. It’s almost like I’m worried that saying her name will magically summon her, like an evil genie or Bloody Mary.
“What do you mean?” I ask, looking back to him. He actually looks a little concerned. Wait, why is he looking concerned? Is there something she and I shouldn’t be talking about?
“I saw you earlier, out at the practice field. You two were talking about something. Either that or you were just creepily watching us practice in silence.”
I shrug.
“We don’t really talk. I think she’s set on us being mortal enemies.”
“Ah, so threats then?”
I don’t want to get into this, mainly because it would mean admitting that I have feelings for him. And that Megan’s trying to get in the way.
“It’s nothing,” I say. “I can handle it. She was just being herself. Anyway, how was the rest of practice?”
“You’re avoiding the question, but it was good.”
“Are you doing an act for the final show?” I push some lasagna around on my plate—not because I’m embarrassed to eat around him, but because the mention of Megan instantly made my appetite go away.
“Sort of. It’s kind of hard to do an individual act on flying trap, so we’re doing one big group number. Should be a lot of fun.”
“I bet,” I say. I can’t help but let my voice get a little disappointed.
“How about you? Riley says you two are working on a killer partner routine.”
“That’s the goal,” I say. Not as impressive as flying with you, but I suppose it could be worse.
He goes silent for a moment. I wonder if I should ask him about going to camp with Megan, but I honestly don’t want to say her name aloud any more than I absolutely have to. I don’t want him to confirm that they dated, or that they still kind of are dating, or that he’s not sure of anything right now. Him being uncertain might actually be worse than him just playing me. I’ve read enough books about love triangles to realize that being the “other” interest always puts you in the friend zone.
“So what do you do when you’re not here?” he asks.
“What do you mean?”
“Like, when you’re just normal girl Jennifer and not circus star Jennifer. Do you play sports? Head the chess team? Solve local crime?”
I giggle in spite of myself, trying to pull my thoughts up from the deep. He’s grinning at me. The smile’s stupidly infectious.
“Something like that. Why?”
“I’m just trying to get to know you,” he says. He nudges me. “After all, this camp isn’t going to last forever. I’m trying to see if we’ll still be in touch when it’s done.”
I glance over at him. Does that mean what I think it means?
“Well,” I begin, looking back to my plate, “I’m in band. I’m not that good, but I just started, so I suppose that’s okay. Mostly, I just do homework and game with my friends.” I chuckle. “Totally cool, right?”
“Totally,” he says. “I mean, what else are you supposed to be doing with your time? This is suburbia. It’s not like you’re gonna be driving around in a limo every day. Unless you have a limo. Then you should totally be driving around in it. Do you have a limo?”
I laugh.
“No limo, sorry.”
“That’s okay. You’d probably be a snob then, and I don’t usually like snobs.”
My treacherous heart does a little dance. Did he just say he likes me? And if that’s true, why the heck did you date Megan!? Or was that just a lie? I wouldn’t put it past her, but I hate how easily she’s snaked into my brain. I want to trust Branden, really. But after what Josh did, it’s hard. Much easier to keep it light and simple and pretend we’re just friends.
“What about you?” I ask. “What do you do when you’re not defying death?”
“Well, when you put it like that . . . I dunno, I’m an average guy. I’m on the swim team, play video games with friends, try to finish my homework last minute. Besides the trapeze stuff, I’m not very exciting.”
“Sounds pretty cool to me.”
“Pretty cool. Great, she thinks I’m pretty cool.”
I nudge him and giggle.
“You know what I mean,” I say.
“Hah, yeah. And you’re pretty cool too.”
I bite my lip. Suddenly he feels really close. Like, if this was a movie, this is where he’d push aside our dinner trays and lean over and kiss me. And suddenly that’s all I can think about—him leaning over to kiss me. It’s like everyone else in the cafeteria has disappeared and it’s just him and me. So much for thinking of us just being friends; right now, I want us to be something more. Then something crashes and a bunch of kids laugh, and the moment is over before it even really began. He clears his throat and leans back—I hadn’t even noticed he was leaning toward me; was he really about to kiss me?
“Anyway,” he says, looking at his wrist—where he conveniently is missing a watch. “I better get going. Gotta call my parents before practice. And change. Apparently we’re wearing short shorts. So that’s exciting. Remind me never to let Tyler plan costumes again. He and Riley together are a powerhouse of embarrassingly bad ideas.”
“Tell me about it,” I say. “I’m just hoping it all pulls together by tonight.”
Branden smiles. “I’m sure it will. If nothing else, your singing will blow them all away.”
Then he stands and walks away, leaving me to sit there and wonder if that really was my first time honestly flirting with a boy.
Well, with a boy who flirted back.
Chapter
Fifteen
I don’t stick around too long after Branden leaves. After heading back to my room to send my parents a quick update text, I leave and go straight to the practice area—just a small patch of grass behind the school where I’m pretty certain the college smokers go, given all the cigarette butts on the ground. I’m met there by Riley, who’s doing her usual juggling by herself. This time she’s not actually juggling, though apparently it’s still considered “object manipulation.” She’s playing with a diabolo, which is basically a spinning top she wraps and tosses from a string held between two sticks.
“Hey, slacker!” she calls when she sees me. She flings the diabolo high in the air, spins twice, and catches it on the string right before it hits the ground. “Wanna try?”
“That looks way too complicated,” I say. “Besides, I’m trying to keep my focus on not choking or losing my voice.”
“Yeah, that would bite,” she says. She sets the diabolo down, carefully folding the string around the sticks. “Can that even happen?”
“No clue. But I don’t want to find out.”
“What I do want to find out is how the boys look,” she says with a grin. “I had a feeling they’d all have short shorts, what with them being athletes and all.”
I shake my head. As much as I can’t believe I’m about to say it, I can’t actually get excited over the thought of Branden as a backup dancer; I’m too worried about making a fool of myself in front of the entire troupe. Again. I’m pretty certain it’s impossible to lose your voice in less than an hour, but it would be just my luck.
Thankfully, I’m not given much time to worry; the boys all arrive at the same time, chatting with one another as they make their way across the lawn. They’re each in lime-green T-shirts and bright-white shorts and sunglasses. I’m pleased to see that Branden’s even wearing the brown vest from the costume challenge—must mean he owns it, which is cool. He has a good fashion sense.
“How the heck did you guys have all that?” I ask. “I mean, you match pretty perfectly.”
Tyler shrugs. “Never question a circus boy’s wardrobe. We gotta come prepared for anything.”
“That and we talked to our RA about pulling from the costume shop,” Branden says.
Tyler slugs him on the shoulder. “Stop giving away our trade secrets!”
“Break it up, ladies,” Riley says with a laugh. “We’ve got work to do. Tyler, are you ready with the moves?”
Tyler nods, suddenly completely serious. Kevin smirks beside him—clearly, Tyler’s the only one who’s really getting into this. I wish I had half his enthusiasm. Or Riley’s.
“Okay!” she says, a huge grin on her face. “Tyler, I’m leaving you in charge. I’ve got the music whenever you want it. And Jennifer?” she asks, turning to me.
“Yeah?”
“Try to keep up. This boy’s choreo is killer.”
• • •
Practice goes way too fast.
Not that that keeps me from feeling completely overwhelmed in the little time we have. I’m sweating after only a few minutes of trying to follow Tyler’s complex dance moves, once more wishing I’d done something to prepare myself for all this. Why hadn’t I taken dance classes like my mom insisted? Or gymnastics? Or even track?
It’s quickly decided that I’ll stay in front and do only a minimal amount of moving—and always at well-cued points in the music, so there’s no chance of me messing up. Well, less of a chance of me messing up.
On the plus side, even though my moves are shaky, the boys more than make up for it. Tyler’s a natural teacher, and both Branden and Kevin are apt pupils. That said, they’re all sweating by the time Tyler’s done running them through the routine a half-dozen times. At least I’m not the only one who looks like I got rained on.
Riley is playing the director, since she wanted to focus solely on her juggling routine, which apparently consists of hula hooping while juggling fake knives. Seeing as she’s flinging blades—dull or not—by her face, I don’t pressure her into joining us. I’d rather not have to show her where the ER is in this town. It’s kind of a trek.
“Great job, guys,” she says. “This is going to be amazing! Tyler, you’re half a count ahead during the last thirty seconds. And Branden, if you could maybe try to smile so it doesn’t look like you’re dying onstage, that would be awesome too.”
“What about Kevin?” Tyler asks, sticking his tongue out at him.
“Kevin’s perfect just the way he is,” Riley says.
“Told you so,” Kevin says.
Tyler rolls his eyes, but he’s cut short by Kevin leaning over and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
“D’aww, you’re too cute,” Riley says.
Tyler responds by pulling Kevin into a dip and kissing him full on.
“Okay, okay!” Riley yells, giggling. “Get a room, you two.”
It’s adorable, but at that moment I look over to Branden. His eyes flick to catch mine, and something makes butterflies explode in my chest. Eventually, he looks away. I’m pretty certain his already flushed face goes a little redder.
This is exactly how I felt at the dinner table, only much stronger. And suddenly all I can think of is how perfect it would be if tonight, right after we were amazing onstage, he could sweep me into a kiss. He must feel it too. There’s an electricity running between us, even though we’re not making eye contact. A pull. Like magnets, I feel the desire to inch toward him. I mentally cross my fingers and hope that tonight’s the night I get my first kiss. Spotlights and all.
Screw Josh and those mental games. Tonight’s the night I get over him and move on to being with better guys.
“Earth to Jenn,” Riley says, nudging me on the shoulder. “You still in there?”
I shake my head. Crap. I was staring right at Branden. Thankfully, he was too busy practicing a turn with Kevin and Tyler to notice. I hope.
“Yeah, sorry.”
“Come on,” she says, following my gaze. “Let’s go get you changed. It’s your big night, after all.” Then she winks, and I have a funny feeling she knows exactly what I was daydreaming about.
That just makes me blush harder.
Chapter
Sixteen
There’s really nothing more nerve-racking than being in a talent show. Let me rephrase that: There’s nothing more nerve-racking than being in a talent show and going last.
For some reason, Riley opted for us to take the final slot in the roster, which I think is a terrible idea but she seems to believe means we’ll make a lasting impression.
“Come on,” she coerces backstage, “this way you’ll be the last thing everyone’s thinking about.”
I shrug. “It doesn’t really matter, does it?” I whisper. “I mean, if this was just to impress Branden, we’ve won—he’s already in the group!”
She shrugs her shoulders and tosses a knife in the air, catching it without even looking. Her solo act was a few routines ago; she pulled it off without dropping a single knife or hula hoop.
“Dream bigger, Jenn. This isn’t just about impressing Branden. This is about impressing everyone here, including Megan. Once she sees you two onstage together, she’ll get the hint. Then it will be nothing but loving looks and kissy-poo time with Branden for the rest of camp.”
I actually snort with laughter. “Did you just say ‘kissy-poo’?”
She grins. “You’ll be coming back next year,” she says, like there’s no question at all, “and this will show everyone else who returns that you’re multitalented. Coaches love that sort of thing. Who knows, they might even have you sing for next year’s show.”
The thought of that much pressure makes me want to throw up, so I focus instead on Branden, who’s on the other side of the backstage wing. We’re on in two acts, and he’s peering at the group onstage—a clown troupe, naturally, doing some skit with a squirting umbrella—with almost as much nervousness on his face as me. Seeing him brings back all the butterflies from before, but this is a nausea I’m okay with. I can deal. Tyler and Kevin are nowhere to be seen.
We applaud when the clowns are done; they’re all soaking wet, and their bows get the front row of the audience even wetter. I’m really grateful we’re back here and not out there. Riley dressed me up in a sequined gold top that reaches my thigh, and tiny black shorts you can barely see past the hem. That, paired with some gold flats and a half-dozen bangles—not to mention all the makeup she splashed on me—and I feel like a rock star. Let’s hope I actually look like one and not just like one of those clowns out there.
I refused to let myself look in the mirror beforehand.
Someone brushes past me and shoves me to the side. I stumble and look back. Of course. Megan and her sisters.
“Sorry,” she says with a smile that says she isn’t sorry at all. “I didn’t see you there. I thought you were just a pile of discarded glitter.”
“Leave off her, Megan,” Sara says. I know it’s Sara—it’s the same sister who gave me that weird, almost-apologetic look earlier. Megan glares at her sister. Why in the world is Sara defending me?
“What are you doing back here?” I ask instead.
She just smiles and adjusts her top—a low-cut white thing that my mom would never have let me leave the house wearing.
“Performing,” she says, then she and her sisters take the stage. Sara mouths sorry before stepping into the limelight.
I don’t know what’s worse: seeing Megan onstage, surrounded by her gorgeous blond sisters, and knowing that even Branden’s eyes are stuck on her, or knowing the moment her music starts that she’s stolen my song.
Riley starts cursing under her breath immediately. I don’t think I’ve ever heard her swear, but she definitely knows a lot of colorful words. And I won’t lie—they describe my feelings toward Megan pretty perfectly.
Tyler shows up right then, and he’s just as flushed as I am.
“I can’t believe this,” he hisses, watching the girls from behind the curtain. “They stole the song!”
Sure enough, Megan’s sisters are performing the same song and complimenting it with some scandalous dance moves. There are definitely more hip undulations than in our routine.
“At least she can’t sing,” Riley mutters, visibly trying to calm herself.
And yeah, that’s true; I’m definitely a better singer than Megan. She’s flat on almost every note, and when her sisters drop in for backup vocals, they’re too sharp, which just makes everything sound horrible. I can tell that no one really cares, though. The audience isn’t focused on the girls’ singing; they’re focused on their outfits and movements, which are almost worse than when they did their contortion act at the beginning of the camp.
“Can you believe it?” Tyler scoffs. “Does the girl have no shame?”
“I’d say that’s a negative,” Riley responds. “How in the world did they know what song we were doing?”
When I look to Branden, I realize he looks as deathly pale and upset as I feel.
I can’t actually talk. I know if I do, I’ll say something I shouldn’t, or run out there and push Megan offstage. Thankfully, I don’t have long to wait. Maybe it’s rage or maybe they just did a shortened version of the song, but after what seems like forever and no time at all, they assemble for one final pose. The music cuts out and they bow as one, then saunter offstage. Megan makes sure to wink at me when she leaves.
“Knock ’em dead,” she says. Then, before I can respond, Riley pushes me onstage and I’m blinded by the lights.
I don’t have time to be angry. I don’t have time to yell at Megan. But the moment the music starts and I pick up the mic, I do have just enough time to feel embarrassed. The stage lights make it hard to see the audience, but I can tell that they’re shifting in their seats, wondering if there’s been some sort of mix-up in sound cues. When the music keeps going and the boys take the stage behind me, I’m pretty certain someone out there snickers.
Then, before I can psych myself out and run offstage, my cue hits, and I open my mouth to sing.
Something takes over then, something I’ve felt only one other time—the last time I was onstage, singing for an audience. It’s like all the fear and hesitation from before just melts away, and everything is easy and natural. Even though Megan and her sisters stole my song, the moment I get in the zone, none of that matters.
My voice is cooperating. I hit every note. I even manage to follow along to Tyler’s intense choreography. At one point, I leap up into Branden’s arms and he spins me around; being in his arms makes warmth flood through me. I spare him a quick glance; even though his eyes are on the crowd and sweat beads his forehead, he’s smiling. For some reason, that image of him, shining under the lights, burns into my memory. When he sets me down beside Tyler, I know without a doubt that I’ll remember that moment forever.
My adrenaline pumps and I want this to last forever—singing to the crowd, dazzling under the lights. But soon the music ends, and the boys and I take our bows and run offstage. The roar of applause follows at our heels.
“You were amazing!” Riley shouts the moment we clear the curtain. She runs forward and jumps into my arms—I just barely manage to catch her without toppling over. The boys are right behind me, and they all wrap their arms around us in a huge hug. From the corner of my eye, I see Megan scowling at us. Then she turns and stalks away.
“I didn’t know you could sing like that!” Tyler yells, bouncing up and down.
“Neither did I!” I say.
For a few moments we just stand there, hugging and laughing. Then Riley pulls Kevin and Tyler away and tells them they need to go meet their adoring fans. Branden stays back with me.
I can still hear the scattering of applause from the audience, but it’s quieter now that people are starting to leave and mingle. There will be snacks in the lobby, apparently, and then we have half an hour before sign-in.
Branden stares at me, then the ground, then back to me, and there’s something in the way he’s standing and fidgeting that tells me he’s crazy nervous. My heart is still hammering away in my ears from post-performance adrenaline. But I know it’s now mixing with another sort of excitement.
“You were, um, great,” he says to the floor.
“Thanks,” I say, because my New Year’s resolution was to start accepting compliments. “You were too.”
He grins and looks at me. The magnetism between us is even stronger. He takes a step forward, so there’s only a few inches separating him and me. I know this moment; I’ve seen it a hundred times in movies, read about it in every book. This is the point where we kiss. This is the moment when the thrill of show business brings us together.
But then the grin slips, and I have this horrible feeling I’ve done something wrong. Do I smell bad? Is my makeup running?
“Jennifer, I . . .” He stutters to silence.
“What?”
“I have to be honest with you. I think . . . Megan knew what we were doing because of me.”
It’s like a slap to the face, one that magically strikes my heart as well.
I step back.
“What?”
He doesn’t look at my eyes.
“She was talking to me after dinner. I mean, she cornered me, really. Asked what I was doing, tried to get me to join her for some partner acro stuff like we did at camp a few years back. I told her what I was doing instead. I didn’t think anything of it, because I was just trying to show her I wasn’t interested, but . . . Please don’t be mad.”
I take a deep breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
There’s a part of me that’s angry. Really, really angry—not just because he told her, but because he was talking to her, because they have some sort of connection that stretches far beyond this camp. So maybe it’s not just anger, maybe it’s jealousy. I want to yell at him, but I don’t. Mainly because there’s a look in his eyes that says he really is sorry. A look that makes me want to hug him and say it’s okay, because clearly he sees my anger. He knows I want to throw a punch.
And that’s the rest of my emotion. I want to comfort him. Because even though this sort of feels like when Josh stood me up, Branden’s still here, standing in front of me, waiting for my verdict.
Sadly, I don’t have time to give it.
“Oh, there you two are!” comes Leena’s voice. “I was looking all over for you. You guys were fantastic!”
And just like that, the moment is shattered. Leena steps up between us and puts a hand on each of our shoulders.
“Now come on,” she says. “Your fans and friends await.”
She guides us out of the backstage area. I glance at Branden and catch his eye. He looks as embarrassed as I feel. And once Leena brings us into the lobby, I know whatever moment Branden and I just shared is gone for good. He vanishes into the crowd almost immediately. He doesn’t even say good night.
When Riley finds me and brings me over to a group of campers huddled by the snacks, I can’t focus on the cookies or conversation. I can only stand there and look around, trying to catch sight of Branden and wondering if I just royally screwed something up.
