Page 7 of For One Night Only

“I need this, Caleb. My reputation is a disaster. I don’t know if you’ve seen…” she trails off, face flushing.

“Whatever it is, I haven’t seen it.” I’ve muted everything Glitter Bats for years, anything I can do to keep these old feelings from stirring in my chest again. In Valerie’s presence, they come crashing back like a tidal wave. Suddenly, I can’t remember if I took my medication this morning, and I tap out a subtle rhythm on the cheap suede of the couch to ground myself.

Valerie shifts in the chair almost violently, tucking her feet under her and clasping her hands under her chin. “The Network won’t renewEpic Theme Songas long as I’m getting bad press. We can do a couple shows in LA, or just one night. Whatever it takes to get them to say somethingpositiveabout me.” Even after all this time, I can tell when Valerie Quinn is trying to keep her voice steady. She’s fidgeting, agitated, clearly upset. It’s deeper than the press.

Still, I don’t know why she could possibly think this is the answer. My stomach knots. “So all of your reasons for doing this are what, some last-ditch effort to save your career?” At least she’s being up-front about wanting to use me this time.

The color drains from her face, and she straightens her shoulders, placing her palms on her thighs. “It’s not just about me. Ever since Glitter Bats broke up, the fans have begged us to do a reunion. The rest of the band is already in. They’re just waiting for you to say yes before they sign,” she says, pulling her phone out of her pocket. “You always said our fans were the reason for oursuccess, and this would make them so happy. And the label is offering us all a huge check, so it’s not like you’d be doing this for nothing.”

“If I wanted the money, I’d have stayed in the industry,” I say. Of course the label is offering us a check—anything to get their hooks back in. Still, my resolve wavers, just enough to pique my curiosity.

“I know what you’re probably thinking—but it’s a good contract. My mom has nothing to do with this deal. Wade vetted everything, and so did Jane’s agent. Please at least read it before you say no,” Valerie says, crossing the room and thrusting her phone at me. It’s pulled up to a draft of a contract, and my eyes glaze over all the legalese until I find the payment.

It’s a big check. Big enough to pay off my student loans…or I could use it to start Carrie’s college fund so she doesn’t feel all that pressure to get a scholarship. That alone might sway my resolve to stay away from the industry forever. There’s even a bonus if tickets sell out.

But is the money really worth going back to everything I ran from? Saying yes feels like a deal with the devil.

I stare around my sparse apartment and think of the times I’ve had to tighten my own belt because my mom needed money. She’s not intentionally a bad parent, but Carrie is on her own too much—Mom’s lucky no one has ever called child services. When Mom finds a new boyfriend, she ignores all of her responsibilities, including work. She spends money on the strangest things to impress these guys, like three-hundred-dollar salon visits or a new set of golf clubs; but then she can’t always pay the bills that matter…because she can’t keep a job she won’t show up to.

Cam and Leah try to help too, but they’re paying off two sets of massive student loans from the private college where they met. I try to do as much as I can so they don’t have to, especially becauseif I hadn’t blown through all my Glitter Bats money on pointless bullshit, I’d have plenty to share.

Carrie called me a few months ago when the power was cut off and she couldn’t reach Mom. My baby sister was chillingly calm as she asked for help, the soft waver in her voice the only thing betraying her panic. No seventeen-year-old should have to worry about things like that. She acts like it’s no big deal, but when Dad left for the third time, I wasn’t there for her—I was too busy basking in the worship of the LA music scene. I didn’t notice Mom losing all sense of responsibility until it was too late.

I’m not sure if I can handle returning to the industry, but that check could change everything.

Valerie’s face softens, and for a heartbeat I glimpse the girl I fell in love with under all her posturing. “Look, the way things went down with the band wasn’t right,” she says. “This would be an opportunity to end things on our own terms. I know you don’t want to come back, but it’s just one summer. A month or so of rehearsals to polish the set, and then we do the gig.”

I run a hand over my hair. “Valerie—”

“Please, Caleb. I haven’t asked you for anything, and you know I wouldn’t be here unless this was really important.”

The thing is, I really do. If I hadn’t left after Valerie hurt me, the band might never have fallen apart. A small part of me still feels like I owe hersomething. And, well…I’ve never been good at saying no to Valerie Quinn, and she knows it.

When we were kids, I always went along with Valerie’s convoluted plans. She wanted to start a band, and I came on board without much thought to how it could change my life. At the time, it didn’t feel different. I was also there when she needed a cowriter forAvatar: The Last Airbenderfan fiction (#Zutara for life), or a running buddy when she was training for soccer tryouts, or even abusiness partner for an Etsy shop to raise money for a theme park trip—turns out I’m pretty damn good at crocheting hats.

It would be so easy to go along with one more scheme. It’s not like I expected Valerie to show up on my doorstep, but if I did, it would never have been for a Glitter Bats reunion. This turn of events feels like a fever dream. For just a moment, I fantasize about shoving her out that door and going so off the grid that even Valerie Quinn can never find me again.

But then I think about what this money could do for Carrie’s future. I can’t fix Mom, but I can make it so my baby sister will never have to worry about paying for her dreams.

And maybe this will give me the closure I never got before.

“Fine. I’m in.”

Valerie jolts forward as if she’s about to hug me but stops herself.

“Thank you, Caleb.” She straightens her spine, as if bracing for impact. “One last summer, and then you’ll never hear from me again.”

[Six years ago]

@GlitterbugsUnofficial

Sources close to the band say Caleb left after the Vegas concert! There was a big blowup with Valerie.

Comments:

@BatsThatGlitter

CALERIE SPLIT CONFIRMED?!

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