I look past them to Ginny. The sunlight halos her blond hair, making it dazzle. I hadn’t noticed until now that she’s wearing the pajamas I gave her for Christmas a few years ago, the ones with the fuzzy peaches all over. That year she had the annoying habit of answering all my texts with the peach emoji as a running joke. Now, the bright fruit makes her look like a kid. I like remembering her that way.
“Hannah,” Ginny says softly. “I’m the one whose life is over. Not you.”
I close my eyes.
“Fine.” My voice is tired. “I’ll do it.”
I’ve never been able to say no to Ginny. Not when she was alive, and especially not since she became the girl who haunts me, my own personal ghost.
Chapter 7
Ten Years Ago
Excerpt from TheCentralCoast.com article, titled “Bonita Vista
Teens Win California Battle of the Bands” (September 25, 2014)
BONITA VISTA — For the first time, three local teens have brought the coveted California Battle of the Bands trophy home to Bonita Vista. Guitarist Hannah Cortland, 18, drummer Derrick Wiggins, 17, and bassist Zak Dempsey, 17, better known as the band Riot Babies, outstrummed and outdrummed hundreds of competitors to win top prize this weekend.
This year, more bands than ever “raged for the cha-ching,” with participation hitting an all-time high. Los Angeles County hosts the annual competition, which is one of the country’s largest and most fiercely competitive Battle of the Bands, thanks to the proximity of the music industry, as well as a hefty $5,000 cash prize. The only qualifications are that contestants must be enrolled in a California high school and perform at least one original song.
Every year, the winning band is hailed as the “next big thing.” Many have gone on to sign record deals. But no Bonita Vista students have ever won, which comes as a shock toBonita Vista High School Principal Diego Herrera, given “the quality and rigor” of the school’s band program.
“We may be a sleepy little town, but we’re known throughout Central California for our marching band,” he says. “We graduate topquality musicians every year. Well-rounded student leaders with good attendance records and great grades.”
When asked if he was surprised by his students’ success, he answered, “Am I surprised that Hannah Cortland pulled this off? Yes, you could say that.”
The band seems to share their principal’s surprise.
“It’s surreal, dude,” says drummer Wiggins. “I started playing the drums as a way to annoy my older brother. Now I’m a champion.”
“Same,” adds Dempsey, the bassist. “It was only a hobby when I started.”
When asked what they attribute their success to, both Wiggins and Dempsey point to lead singer Cortland.
“It was all Hannah,” admits Dempsey. “She writes our songs and makes us practice constantly. She’s like the Serena Williams of high school musicians. Very intense.”
“She’s the one who put Riot Babies together,” adds Wiggins. “Me and Zak were loners at school before her.”
When asked where her drive comes from, Cortland credits her parents, first-generation college students who emphasize the value of hard work.
“My parents taught me that people who aren’t born with silver spoons in their mouths have to be willing to work harder,” she says. “If you’re someone like us and you want something badly enough, you’ll do whatever it takes to get it, no excuses. I practiced for Battle of the Bands every day for a year. I really wanted to make my parents proud.”
According to one of the Battle’s judges, Cal State Long Beach’s Professor of Music Michael Schoenfeld, Riot Babies’ hard work came across in their performance.
“It was a strong competition this year,” Schoenfeld says. “But Riot Babies were head and shoulders above the rest. I think we can expect big things from these musicians.”
Riot Babies’ principal has a different perspective. In a candid moment, he elaborated on his surprise that the band was able to pull off the win: “I’d say Hannah Cortland is probably more familiar with the inside of our detention hall than her classrooms or the band room.”
While their principal might still be shaking his head, Riot Babies received a hero’s welcome from their fellow students. “When we came back from winning the Battle, our friends threw us a huge party on the beach,” says Dempsey. “I’m pretty sure we’re famous now.”
And what do Riot Babies’ parents have to say about their newfound “celebrity” offspring?
“Derrick has always been a star to us,” says his mother, Maura Wiggins. “We’re so proud of him.”
“We were in the crowd to watch Zak win,” adds Caitlin Dempsey. “My husband and I were screaming louder than the kids.”
While Margaret Cortland, Hannah’s mother, says she and her husband weren’t able to attend due to their busy work schedules, they’ve both sacrificed plenty to give their daughters the opportunities they never had. “Growing up, Hannah’s father and I didn’t have time for hobbies,” says the elder Cortland. “Our parents counted on us to help support our families. So we’re happy to see our daughter enjoying herself. But the award we’re really hoping for is a National Merit Scholarship. Miracles can happen, right?”
