Page 66 of Caged in Flames

Chapter Thirty

As mid-October approaches, it brings along the auditions for the Winter Gala. Jane and I have been practicing for weeks. It's been an adventure, and I love that I have found a best friend to share my love of music with.

There are students all over the auditorium waiting for their names to be called.

"Oh, I didn't know you two were auditioning." Molly Vandenberg's voice has to be the most annoying thing I've ever fucking heard. On par with crying animals and scratching a chalkboard.

"We are both in Dr. Lines advanced music class and it was mandatory to participate for a grade." Jane answers for us.

She scoots a little closer to me, and I give her a half smile to show her that it's not affecting me. I'm nervous, but it's a good feeling.

"The girls and I are performing a dance." I barely contain my snort, but Jane can't help herself.

"Like Mean Girls style? Is that why you all have on those tracksuits?"

Jane is clearly trying to provoke the girl, but Molly’s too self-absorbed to notice.

"As if we would let anyone see our costumes before a performance, and it's so much better than that." The mean girl hair flip is perfectly executed.

"Well good luck to you, Molly. Jane and I are going to get ready." I really want some time to calm down before it’s our turn.

"Sure thing girls. See you both later in the dining hall." She says it so casually, but there's an unfriendly undertone to it.

I raise a brow at Jane who shakes her head at me. Clearly, we’re not in on whatever the cool kids are doing later.

Molly and her muppets walk off as their names are called for their turn.

Jane and I find a hiding spot where our laughter won't be heard and get ready to watch. I only wish I had known this would be happening so I could have had popcorn ready.

I wonder if I can video it from my phone without getting caught. I decide against taking the risk.

The music starts up as they take their positions, and it's everything I never knew I needed in my life. They are performing to the Spice Girls but destroying the iconic song with twerking and lip syncing.

We can't contain the wheezing our laughter reaches, but luckily no one hears us.

Dear lord, why are they flipping their hair so much? It looks spastic.

"What costumes are they going to wear? Holy shit. You don't think they are going to channel the actual Spice Girls for this do you?" Jane says between cackles.

"I don't think they have enough imagination to do anything else. And fuck, I really need to see the hot mess." I can’t breathe at this point and every other word is wheezed out.

Sadly, I’m going to have to remove this song from my musical library. It’s been ruined.

The song ends, and Molly has a look of pure pride on her face for that monstrosity.

Dr. Lines has to clear his throat several times before speaking. "Thank you for that…performance, ladies. The announcement will come at the end of the week." They all nod, but I know their daddies have probably ensured they will get a performance spot.

"Next up, Phoenix Carter and Jane Adler."

Fuck. Performing like this is nothing like hopping on a stage for karaoke. There’s no adrenaline pumping through me, just nerves.

Jane walks up and takes her place at the piano, while I grab my violin and the chair I’m using for the performance. We are on opposite sides of the stage, both cloaked in the curtain stages. Our focus is the music, so playing halfway in the shadows will hopefully make every note and word that much more powerful.

Sitting at the front edge of the chair, I align my left foot slightly in front of the right. I take just a second to let the nerves consume me, telling myself that with the next breath, they’ll be released.

My best friend throws her beautiful red hair over her shoulder, and nods at me. It helps. It makes me think of practice and how much fun we have. The nerves begin to settle into something else.

Pride. The feeling of redemption. Stepping out on this stage is just another step to becoming who it is I want to be. I sit up straight, a professional posture tightening up my back and shoulders.

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