Page 59 of Destiny

“So, we’ll have everyone line up around the building . . .”

“You really think there are going to be that many people here? I ask, my palms starting to drench all over again.

“Well, I’d like to think so. There isn’t an open mic anywhere else in town—not even for miles. At least one hundred people said they were interested in attending on Facebook.”

“Oh, God.” I don’t know what makes me feel more ill—my mother calling it Facebook or the fact that many people will see me potentially fail again.

“And then the coffee will go right there. Perfect.”

Then, all of us move shelves and take extra chairs out from the back room to scatter them across the floor.

“Well?” I ask the boss aka my mother.

“Looks good to me. Oh!” She puts her arms around both mine and Micky’s shoulders. “This is going to be so, so fun girls.”

The day flies by way quicker than I would have liked it to, but before we know it, the first people are filing in the door. One of them is my handsome, handsome Marco.

I wanted to run and jump into his arms, but he brought Alessia and Aurora with him, so I couldn’t.

“Are you excited?” he asks.

“That’s one word for it.”

“Oh, come on! It’s gonna be awesome. And the girls are really looking forward to hearing you sing. Isn’t that right?”

They kind of sway but also nod their heads.

“Well, thank you.”

I then excuse myself to go see the sign-up sheet. I’m secretly hoping that enough people have already entered and there won’t be any extra time for me. But there are only three or four names on it.

Dammit.

“I’ll do the honors for ya,” Micky says before taking the clipboard out of my hands and writing my name.

“There ya go.”

“Thanks,” I say through a closed jaw.

“Aw. You’re so welcome.”

I cross my arms.

“Bea! I hate seeing you so stressed out. Please relax a little.”

“Well, I’m sorry. It’s hard for me.”

“I understand. But this is for a few people that we grew up around. It’s no big deal.”

I know that she’s right, but I still can’t shake my nerves.

And it doesn’t help that the first few people to get up there are incredibly talented singers.

“I can’t do this,” I say after one of them murders a song, including several long notes and riffs.

“Yes, you can,” Marco whispers in my ear.

Then, I saw my mother walk on stage and announce that it was my turn.

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