Luckily, whatever Collin had said to the football team made them lay off me for the rest of the day. But that didn’t keep me safe from the rest of the student body. By the end of my first day of school, I’d had enough with the crude jokes and judging stares. If anyone was going to stare at me, I wanted it to be because of my music.
If my senior year had any chance of turning around, it was all up to one person — Mrs. Banks.
Mrs. Banks was an ex-star of the opera stage, legit prima donna, and also taught all of the choir and music theory classes at Rock Valley High. A plump woman in her early forties, she wore her dark purple hair piled up on top of her head and pinned with a pair of chopsticks. She had an enviable golden brown complexion and untouchable skills with an eyeliner pen.
Her eyes didn’t even move from the papers in front of her when I entered her office after our music theory class. Arching a single darkly penciled eyebrow, she clicked her tongue.
“I was wondering when you were going to corner me today, Miss Black.”
I smiled unabashedly. It wasn’t a secret that I was one of Mrs. Banks’ favorite students. She loved me. “Have you made a decision on the town centennial event yet?”
This was Rock Valley’s one hundred year anniversary. Events spanned the entire year, celebrating the moment when Isabella Twain and Benjamin Fitz first met and agreed to settle on this very land. It was a romantic story, full of dangerous escapades and forbidden love. Perfect fodder for a love song.
The school was putting on a big celebration event at the last home football game of the season. Mrs. Banks had held auditions over the summer for a musical act to add to the festivities. That’s where I would finally showcase my talent for the world.
Mrs. Banks spared me a sideways glance. “That’s the third time you’ve asked me this week. You really want this, don’t you?”
She had no idea.
“Yes, I do. I wrote a few more songs over this summer, if you’d like to take a look at them,” I said quickly, dropping my backpack to the floor to rifle through it. “There’s one in particular that I think might be perfect.”
Her lips curled into an amused smile as I pulled out my song notebook. Some girls had diaries. Some had private vlogs. I spilled all of my heart and soul into this Lisa Frank spiral bound notebook with a multi-colored kitten on the front. Every song I’d ever written was contained within these pages. It was worth more than its weight in gold to me.
“Audrey, I appreciate your enthusiasm,” Mrs. Banks said, kindness showing in the crinkle of her smile. “And you are one of the most talented students I’ve ever had the privilege of teaching. However, I’ve had interest in this performance from more than one student and I need to carefully consider all of my options.”
My heart sank just a bit at her words. I’d really hoped I’d nailed my audition — hook, line, and sinker.
“What do I have to do to change your mind?” I asked, rushing toward her desk. My mother had taught me to pursue a business deal head-on until it was sealed and the contract signed. “Tell me.”
“There’s nothing to do.” She tilted her head to the right and smiled sympathetically. “I’ve seen you play. I’ve heard your songs. I will let you know what my decision is very soon.”
I let my lungs deflate in a slow stream of air and tried to hide the disappointment on my face. I could’ve used a bit of good news on my first day of school. Especially before I learned my fate about the cheerleading squad. But now, there was no avoiding it.
Shouldering my backpack, I thanked Mrs. Banks before joining the hordes of students in the hallways celebrating the end of the school day. The list was supposed to be posted on the bulletin board near the locker rooms. If I made it, I’d keep my head down. Follow the rules. Be a good girl. Avoid rocking the boat. Then, just maybe, Savannah and I would get along for once.
But if I didn’t make it...
I didn’t even want to think about that possibility. As if Mom needed any more bad news. The very thou
ght made me regret telling her about tryouts. But like Dad used to say, you can’t put toothpaste back into the tube, and the news was already out. All I could do was hope I made it because there was no plan B.
As I trudged toward my destiny, nerves bouncing around my stomach, I could hear girlish screams of delight up ahead. The list had definitely been posted. Already, two freshman girls were jumping up and down in celebration. A third one was bawling. I clenched my fists at my side and marched up to the list.
Amy Little
Randy Knopp
Emma Anderson
Lindsey Styles
Brienna Champ
Audrey Black
I stifled my sudden desire to break out in song. All of that work this summer — jogging a million miles with Mandy at ungodly hours of the morning, yoga stretching sessions with Trina, and watching cheerleading videos on Youtube — had paid off. I was on the Rock Valley Bandits’ cheerleading team.
Mom was going to be so proud.