The One I Love Read online

  I can’t possibly look at a silent crowd. I don’t know where to look so I glance over to Lila who has a grin plastered on her lips. She probably hasn’t stopped smiling. I hold my breath, waiting to see if I’ve flopped or the crowd is happy. It’s completely silent. I swear I can hear crickets. Did I just hear someone cough? Why isn’t anyone doing anything? Do they not know the song is over? The silence is the scariest thing I’ve faced and it seems to go on forever.

  Finally, someone claps and then others join in. One by one I watch as people climb to their feet. The applause gets louder, and I can feel it vibrating the stage beneath my feet. That’s for me. They are all clapping and cheering for me. I did it. I take a chance and drop my eyes and see everyone still standing and clapping. Even the English teachers sitting right in front are clapping for me. I manage to smile. They’re actually standing up for me.

  I feel a sort of high that outweighs the fear. I bow slightly, smile, and rush off the stage into Lila’s arms. It’s a mix of nausea and adrenaline rushing through me that causes me to allow her to support my weight and guide me into a chair.

  I’m in between riding a high and sweating with nerves. My whole body feels like Jell-O and my head sort of throbs with the dizziness of panic that had been threatening me on stage. Now I can feel everything all at once and will myself not to throw up. Wouldn’t that just be awesome? Puking after the fact. Well, I guess it’s better than doing it while on stage. I’ll take it as a win.

  Chapter Three

  Charlie

  I watch as Thomas Mason scans the crowd of high school punks around me. My agent is looking for talent, and not in a sexual way. I’m not his only talent, but I’m the only one who is actually booking gigs at the moment. He’s a younger guy, only six years older than me. At thirty he prides himself on still having all his hair and an ability to pull tail. That’s what he characterizes as a successful look.

  “Models can be discovered just going about their business,” he says to me, “models that bring me my big break.”

  “I thought I was going to bring you your big break,” I say a little hurt but mostly frustrated we are here.

  “You will too if you can find someone to sing with you.”

  “I told you, Thomas. I’m a solo act. What’s not to love?” I turn around in a slow circle with my arms outstretched earning me an eye roll.

  “You are a rich kid using daddy’s money to play Guitar Hero on the weekend. You need someone to make you relevant. You need a rag to riches storyline. You’re never going to get that so we have to combine you with someone else. Besides duets are all the rage right now.”

  “I don’t even play video games,” I mumble to him. I swear the man is such a dick sometimes. Well, it’s nothing that I haven’t been called before, so I shrug it off.

  “You know what I mean.” He straightens his tie and buttons up his suit jacket. Thomas’ thing is to wear the most ridiculous ties he can find. This one has kittens on it playing with little planets. Where does one even get such a tie? Did he get it for a buck fifty at Goodwill? I’m about to ask him, but he opens his mouth before I get a chance.

  “You think some high school kid singing with me is going to look right to the world? I’m twenty-four years old and devilishly handsome.” I grin.

  “We aren’t here to see a high school kid Charlie, we’re here to see an adult.” Okay, an adult. I’m still not overly happy about the idea. The last thing I need is to have to carry someone else while I’m performing. Besides, I don’t really like sharing the spotlight. Call me a jerk, but hey, it is what it is.

  The kid on stage finishes up his long set of beat boxing and break dancing with a spin move and then they introduce the next act.

  “This is her.” Thomas grabs my arm and points as a petite brunette woman in a bright purple dress trips onto the stage. I had missed her name during my complaining.

  I tilt my head trying to get a better idea of what she looks like since Thomas and I were late and currently stand on the wall at the back of the gymnasium the charity concert is being held in.

  “What’s she doing?” I ask as the woman stands completely still. Her song has already started and I’m pretty sure she missed the intro.

  “I don’t know,” Thomas says putting a fist under his chin and leaning on the wall.

  I watch as the woman turns around and faces the side of the stage. If this is the woman he thinks can sing with me, he’s been drinking. She looks like she’s afraid of her shadow. Hell, I bet if someone shouted boo she’d likely faint. That’s so not what I am looking for. If I were looking. Which I’m not.

  “Dude, there’s a totally hot chick named Savannah who wanted me to swing by her bar later. I got some decent drugs, and they aren’t going to do themselves.” I tell Thomas. Hey, don’t judge. We all have our vices and standing here listening to a high school, grade school, or whatever the hell kind of show this is, is making me wish I was drunk or stoned. Hell, at this point, I’d take both.

  She starts to sing. My head whips around as the first words and notes tumble from her mouth, and I’m speechless. In spite of the fact she’s facing the side wall, it doesn’t take away from her voice. For a moment I forget what I was saying. I am sucked in by her haunting melody. She’s chosen a good one from the seventies about hope and loss. It makes me think she knows good music at least. After she makes it through the first chorus and there’s a break she turns.

  Despite being a distance away I can almost see the thought process going on in her head as she wills herself to face forward. The result is the beautiful voice projected out into the audience. Everyone cheers for her encouragingly and find myself joining in. If she can get past whatever strange stage fright she has, she might be good for me.

  I do have a nagging voice telling me I’m a solo act, I can’t have a partner, but her voice is drowning it out a bit. She hits some surprising notes and I feel the hair on my arms stand up. The song finishes and everyone’s quiet just for a few seconds before bursting into applause. I feel strange like I’ve just witnessed something incredible.

  I tell myself that’s silly in a high school gymnasium, but even as she leaves the stage I still have the chills.

  “Come on, Lila will be telling her we’re coming about now. Let’s catch her before she runs off.” Thomas says moving forward.

  “She didn’t even know we were here?” I ask thinking that seems almost cruel.

  “No, it’s fine. Lila knew she’d be nervous, so she said she’d handle it.”

  Lila is the woman Thomas has been seeing. I think it’s getting pretty serious. They’ve been together for a little over six months. I don’t keep up with their relationship but I just heard her mention it the last time we had dinner.

  I think over my short career as a musician as we walk up to the stage. I’d loved to sing and play guitar in high school. I was all about talent shows and charity concerts. Dad hadn’t come into money until my junior year when he inherited the company from his father. It was a complete change for my whole family. I hadn’t always been the spoiled kid everyone thought I was when I attended this high school.

  I liked to think that was the rag to riches story Thomas was looking for, but he didn’t seem to think it would be enough.

  Lately, I’ve been playing whenever someone wants me to. I can afford to pay Thomas even though my gigs make pennies because I have the money. It probably isn’t the picture of a starving artist he’d been looking for, but he’s sticking with me. I feel like he must believe in my music enough to push for me to move forward so I trust him with this whole singing partner thing.

  It is going to be an adjustment, but I think I can do it. Being in the high school takes me back. I had performed on that very stage. Now it seems like that was decades ago. I look around at all the students as they go up to the stage to congratulate their fellow students and teachers. All the stereotypes are still represented, just in a different era.

  I think back to when I was in high
school and try to remember what my plans were then. I’d always wanted to sing, and my father had wanted me to work for him. It is part of the reason we aren’t close. He doesn’t think I’m taking advantage of the opportunities I’ve been offered. I don’t think he supports me no matter what I do.

  We may both be right, but we’re both certainly stubborn.

  Chapter Four

  Ada

  Lila bends down to where I’m seated, pulls me into her chest, and wraps her arms around me. “You did so well.”

  “Really, I literally sang to the side of the stage.” I look up so I’m not smothered by her sizable rack.

  “Only for a couple bars,” she lets me go and swats her hand like it was no big deal.

  My breathing starts to speed up again. “I can’t believe I just did that.”

  “Don’t have a post-panic attack, it’s over,” Lila says noticing my anxiety.

  “Okay you’re right, I just need to breathe a bit.”

  “The offer is still good on that flask,” Lila says winking at me.

  “Thank you for being here. I am so happy to have such a good friend on my side.”

  Lila suddenly shifts nervously from one foot to the other. She tugs her bottom lip between her teeth and looks at me.

  I frown, feeling anxiety beginning to creep into my body.

  “Now, don’t be mad,” Lila says and moves slowly away from me.

  My frown deepens, and there’s a heaviness in the pit of my stomach. “Why would I be mad? Lila? Liiiila?”

  “Remember, I did it because I love you and I think you deserve a chance.”

  “You did what?” I feel the panic rising up again.

  “So, you know how I said I was seeing that talent agent? And you know how I said he had a client looking for a singing partner?”

  “Lila, what did you do?” Okay, now I’m certain I’m going to be sick. I’m torn between wanting to punch her in the nose and wanting to puke on her shoes.

  “They’re here, they heard you sing, and that’s them headed this way.”

  I turn around and see a man in a full suit and a shaved head walking up to me. It isn’t the overdressed guy who catches my attention however, it’s the very familiar face walking up with him. I jump up from the chair knocking it over.

  “Lila,” I say through clenched teeth. “Is the singer who I think it is?”

  The suit man stops and gives Lila a hug. “Hi honey, gotta run.” In true Lila fashion, she takes off before I can glare at her.

  "Hi Ada, I’m Thomas. Lila has told me so much about you.” He reaches out and shakes my hand, “Charlie, this is Ada Springfield. Ada this is Charlie.”

  “Maxwell," I interrupt him.

  "Oh, you know each other?" Thomas asks confused.

  I look over and see the same confusion in Charlie’s eyes. Of course, he doesn’t remember.

  “We’ve actually met,” I say with a lot more courage than I feel. “We dated, well you took me out a couple times and never called.”

  “I did,” Charlie looks like I slapped him.

  “Awkward,” Thomas says but stays there looking at us. I am suddenly aware that his tie has kittens on it and they’re cute but one is holding what looks like Jupiter in its mouth. It’s a weird picture for this strange moment.

  “Addy?” Charlie says with a question in his voice.

  I see something in his eyes like recognition and then he goes back to his cool devil may care ways. He looks around the room like he has somewhere to be. He still looks the same. His long brown hair styled so it sticks up in the front, his deep green eyes still gorgeous, and the little-crooked smile he has when he’s embarrassed or flattered. I shouldn’t be thinking of any of those things.

  I should be thinking about how I waited for days for him to call me. I had gone out of my way trying to see him at school and he’d avoided me. It had been a week since our second date and I saw him at Denise Adam’s locker. She was a girl who’d dated pretty much everyone in her grade so she was moving on to mine. I didn’t stand a chance against a sophomore cheerleader who definitely put out.

  “So, Miss Springfield, we have a proposition for you,” Thomas says. All I can see is the tie.

  “Charlie needs a singing partner, he’s great as a solo act. We just think a partner will give him some more soul.”

  “You mean bringing along a charity case will make him more appealing to a wider audience,” I say. I can’t help but be proud of myself. I know exactly what they’re trying to do.

  I’ve shocked him. Thomas doesn’t know what to say. Good, put that in your pipe and smoke it douche bag.

  “Ada, listen. I need someone with talent to be the other half of my thing. I need someone who can sing like you. I think you have true, raw, talent. I never knew you could sing like that.” Charlie says having the decency to look embarrassed.

  “Well, had you taken the time to call or find out anything about me, then maybe you would have known.

  He may not have known that I sang, but I noticed his talent. He sang or hummed all the time. I just preferred to keep my talents to myself back then. The choir was for losers. Man, I hated my high school self now. It was a miracle I actually pursued music after high school.

  “I knew you did. I actually came to the talent show where you sang My Girl.” Why did I bring that up?

  “Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about that one.”

  “This is a good opportunity, haven’t you always wondered if you could be a star?” Thomas asks me trying a different angle.

  “I haven’t,” I say and that’s the truth. Up until today, I didn’t think I could sing outside of my classroom and my shower.

  “So, are you going to try singing with me or what? I think it could be cool, or whatever.”

  “Thank you for the offer Charlie, but no,” I tell him confidently and walk out into the seats where the students from my music class are waiting for me. One sweet boy named Mitchell hands me flowers.

  “You were just wonderful Miss Springfield. The voice of an angel.”

  “Now Mitchell. Let’s not over-exaggerate,” I say embarrassed. The kid has never had a bad thing to say about anyone.

  I notice Charlie has followed me off stage. I wonder if I shocked him with my no.

  “He’s not over-exaggerating Miss Springfield,” another girl Sarah, one of the brightest in my class, says.

  “Thank you so much, everyone. It means a lot to me that you’re here, and that we’ve raised so much for the school and Everyone Sings, but I won’t be making it a habit.”

  Everyone Sings is a wonderful charity and they help bring music into the lives of chronically ill and handicapped children. To be able to contribute to something that brings such joy is a good feeling.

  I have raised money for them in one way or another each year but this year I turned it over to my students. They planned the charity concert, percentage nights at local restaurants and the silent auction going on during the concert. I am so proud of them and surprised with myself that I never thought to let it be a student project before. It definitely will be after this year.

  “Yes, you will,” Charlie says as he comes towards me.

  “No, I won’t.” I don’t like where this is going. I cross my arms over my chest and set my jaw. I plan on fighting him on this and standing up for myself. Especially, in front of my students.

  Chapter Five

  Charlie

  Addy Springfield. She has grown up, but now that I was looking I could see the sweet little high school girl she had been. She looked the same, but different. Addy had glasses in high school and she'd dyed her hair a dark black. She tried to look grown up when we were teenagers but it actually made her look younger. We’d been an odd pairing from the beginning.

  I'd been failing math and she was slated to tutor me. It was too much for me, she was already looking at me with puppy dog eyes after the second date when I kissed her. I couldn't ruin her so I just never called her again. It wasn't the manly
thing to do, but I was sixteen, I was not a man. It was funny how all this is going through my head as I watch her walk away from me.

  I walk up to her students giving her praise. She's taking it with a flush to the cheeks. She looks even prettier.

  She tells them she isn’t going to sing in front of people again.

  “I wouldn’t listen to her,” I say as I come to a stop beside her. “I bet she sings again real soon.”

  Lots of teens with different colored hair and wide eyes look up at me. Some smile, some, not so much.

  Addy snorts and rolls her eyes. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Why not?” I am curious why she wants to waste such a beautiful voice.

  "I'll never sing on stage again.”

  “Again, I ask why not?”

  She just gives me a wide-eyed look like I’m missing something obvious. If I’m being outrightly honest, it is kind of intimidating. I don't want to back down though so I keep a poker face. She shrugs and adds. “I’m a teacher, not a singer.” She turns her head from me as if that’s going to deter me from the conversation.

  She has no idea I refuse to be dismissed like one of her students. She’s about to find out how convincing Charlie Maxwell can be.

  “Couldn’t prove it from where I was standing. Don’t you agree, kids?” For a moment I forgot the little hormones are still listening.