Page 14 of To the Moon and Back

“Nice guitar you’ve got up there,” Jed said to Rich. “We should jam some time.”

“I’d love that.” Rich nodded enthusiastically. “Like really, we should, I would, anytime.”

Jed grinned and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ll catch you guys later, after the gig.”

“Come on, Lacy.” Nial nodded. “This is your one chance.”

“Ourchance.”

“Exactly. And you’ve got this. I have faith in you.”

“Me too.” Chris leaned down and kissed my cheek. Any other time and place and I would’ve been a mush of longing on the floor. Chris Harlow had kissed me.

But I had no time for that. I was propeled onto the stage, only just staying upright in my wedges.

Before me an ocean of faces bobbed and jostled. Anticipation fizzed through the air the way the static from the oncoming storm was.

I walked to my microphone, hoping to hide the fact my knees had turned to water and were no longer under my control.

Nial banged out a quick few thuds on the drums.

Rich strummed several keys and used his foot to kick the lead of his guitar to one side.

I cleared my throat.

“Hey, Rhythm-Fest, it’s so cool to be here with you guys. We’re Sliders and let us entertain you.”

A huge roar went up. It was bizarre that my words had caused it.

But they had.

“And this first track…” I bellowed over the din. “Is Moon and Back.”

Nial thudded the first few beats.

Rich joined him.

My heart soared. I gripped the microphone stand for support, closed my eyes and sang.

“You and me together, forever, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Never gonna tear us apart, baby, yeah, yeah, yeah!

To the moon and back, for all of time, yeah, yeah, yeah!”

I was lost to the rhythm, the words, the beat of the drums that was my second heartbeat.

After the first verse I felt brave enough to open my eyes.

The people in the front row were smiling, jigging, not singing—they didn’t know the words. But a few were clapping to the beat. Several girls with flowers in their hair and bright face paint were on the shoulders of men. One gave me the thumbs up, her smile as bright as any star.

Seeing her spurred me on. I released the microphone stand and strutted to the right. My knees were almost solid again. Plunging into the second verse, I waved my right hand high, encouraging the crowd to do the same.

The effect was instantaneous. A ripple of arms wafting left to right.

I walked up to Rich, held the microphone so he could sing a line with me, then ran my hand over his shoulder before gliding to the opposite side of the stage.

The song came to an end, but Nial went in for another chorus. I followed him and noticed some of the crowd singing along now.

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