CHAPTER 1
Cricket Jenkins
Sunday, November 22
Micahand I are sitting on the couch in my basement, watchingPride and Prejudicebecause it was my turn to pick the movie and because Micah didn’t appreciate it enough the first time I made him watch it. It’s the Keira Knightley version because it’s the best, and no one can say otherwise.
Micah’s knee bounces as Mr. Darcy helps Elizabeth into the carriage, and he totally misses the hand flex because he’s staring off into space.
I pause the movie and turn to him, frustrated. “All right, spill it.”
He glares at me. “Spill what?”
“You know what. You’ve been acting fidgety and weird ever since that text you got at dinner. What is it? Are you being sued?”
He screws up his face like I suggested he take a nakedstroll downtown. “Gosh, Jiminy, that’s what you jump to? Do you think I go around doing things that would get me sued?”
“Then tell me. Who texted you?”
As he grumpily fiddles with his phone, another thought jumps into my head, and I freeze. Is it a woman? Does he have another crush besides Kiki’s sister, Kiera? My insides twist as I wait for him to confess he’s once again in love with some woman I can’t compete with. He always goes for the beautiful brunettes. Someone he will moon over and pine for while I stab my eyeballs with a fork. I thought he was still all about Kiera, but maybe he’s moved on since she doesn’t seem to be into him.
He sighs and slides his phone over to me. “Just read it.”
I look at his screen. It’s a text.
Hello, we came across your music on YouTube. We’re a small indie label based out of Seattle and would love to talk. Let us know if you’re interested. Midnight Velocity has serious potential.
I scream and hit the couch cushion with my hand. “Micah, that’s amazing! Why are you so moody about it? This is great.”
“No, it’s not great,” Micah says, grabbing his phone back. “Don’t you see? This means my identity was leaked. Somehow they found me, and that means other people can find me.”
I’m confused. “So what? Don’t you want to be a musician? Isn’t a record label contract your dream come true?”
“I looked them up. They’re tiny. They don’t have any big singers, only no-names.” He shakes his head. “I’d be a fool to sign with them.”
“That’s an excuse, and you know it. You could use their interest as leverage to get a bigger label. Your videos are hot. I’ve been telling you to reach out to someone. Take a chance.”
Micah shakes his head again. “Can’t I just keep doing what I have been? What’s wrong with singing on YouTube?”
I twist my hands together. “Nothing’s wrong with it.”
He gives me a flat look. “But?”
I shift on the couch and pick at a thread. “It’s just… are you sure you’re not letting your anxiety make this decision?”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
He rolls his eyes. “Act like my therapist.”
Ouch.That hurts. “Then get a real therapist.”
“Stop it. I don’t need one. I can handle it.”
“Right. And that’s why you’re going to give up this amazing opportunity.”
He huffs. “I made two thousand dollars last month. My last video hit a hundred thousand views in forty-eight hours. I don’t think I need some no-name label.”
