Page 6 of Safety Net

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Naomi huffed in disapproval, already anticipating my train of thought. “Nope. You’re doing it. Regardless of whether you need the money, you’re applying. When are we starting?”

I shook my head. “I don’t expect you to help.”

“Girl, stop.” She pushed herself off the ground and offered me a hand up. Cars continued to speed by as we plotted out how I would achieve all my hopes and dreams.

“So?” Naomi placed her hands on her hips. “When? And how?”

I took a breath and went for it. “I need to stand out. I can record demos and sing all the parts, but that’s what most people will do.”

I couldn’t possibly know who all would apply. But I was familiar with some of my competition because they’d come from our school. The very school that didn’t put much stock into funding the arts. Neglected art programs made hungry students. Hungry students were a force to be reckoned with—especially hungry musicians. There was a kind of fire in our belly that wouldn’t be tamed, no matter how many “you should get a backup plan” comments were thrown our way.

“Everyone in my department will be incredible,” I insisted. “I have to be better.”

Naomi rubbed her hands together, dying for my solution. “What have you got for me?”

I swallowed, taking a beat before explaining, “I want to put on a musical. A real musical, with singers and musicians. On stage and everything.”

My goal was out there in all its silly, impossible, hopeful glory. I gnawed at the bit, waiting for her response.

Naomi tried to press her lips together to keep from smiling too widely. “Are you talking about the musical you started writing in middle school?”

“It’s gone through the ringer since you’ve heard it,” I was quick to promise.

“It’s brilliant,” Naomi insisted.

I laughed, thankful my biggest fan was so sure. “You don’t know that.”

“Ophelia better watch her crown.”

“So, you don’t think the idea’s too ridiculous? Too risky?” I chewed on my bottom lip.

“It’s perfect, Celeste. The timing couldn’t be any better. Ophelia here with a once-in-a-lifetime mentorship right when your folks stop financially supporting you? The stars have aligned. It’d be too riskynotto do it.”

I breathed a sigh. “I’ll need a crew.”

“Of course.” Naomi nodded. “I… I’m drowning in work, but I can do weekends and nights.”

I shook my head. “I’d love your help, if you have any extra time, but you’re not giving up your sleep schedule and off days for me. I need to find other people. I have performers in mind; I just need people to work backstage.”

Naomi hummed. I knew that look on her face. The setting sun made the air slightly less torturous. And the traffic had thinned, so standing on the side of the interstate was half as dangerous.

“What?” I asked.

“You have to really give it a chance,” she said. “Because it’s a match made in heaven.”

“What?” I pressed.

“You need a right-hand. And I know a guy who needs a good community service project for a summer course. He’ll handle the interactions with performers so you can focus on any final music tweaks.”

My stomach turned. I knew where this was going. And, unfortunately, it did sound like a good idea.

“You really think he’d say yes?”

Naomi smiled and nodded. “There is no world in which Lincoln Hill would ever turn down a chance to work with you.”

CHAPTER THREE

LINCOLN