“Tried to play the laughing hero,
But even jokes can’t hide the cracks.
Watched him break himself in silence,
Trying to fit what he can’t take back.
Told him love is never perfect,
But it’s worth the bruises too.
And if he’s got the guts to say it—
Girl, he’s saying it for you.”
Toby and Paxon staggered their lyrics, Toby going first with Paxon’s lines starting a couple notes later.
“So here he stands, a stubborn fool—
I’m standing ’cause of you, not me.
And if love is made of second shots—
Then maybe this is how it’s meant to be.”
The two of them sang together again, Toby’s voice there to lift up Paxon’s:
“If forgiveness has a melody,
I’ll learn the tune again.
I’m done with fear, done disappearing.
If you’ll let me in, I’m here to begin.
If you’ll let me in, I’m here to begin.”
The audience erupted.Whistles.Cheers.People shouting Toby’s name, then Paxon’s, and even Calvin’s.Toby was celebrating along with them while Calvin was completely red from all the attention.
Paxon looked like he couldn’t breathe.
Once the applause softened, Paxon lowered his head, whispered something to Toby, then walked off stage.And straight toward me.My heart hammered against my ribs so hard it hurt as he got closer.He stopped only a foot away.
“Cadence,” he whispered, voice trembling.“Can we talk?Please.”
I nodded stiffly, not trusting myself to speak.
Toby squeezed my shoulder as he passed with Calvin.“Don’t make him pass out.”Then the two of them disappeared, leaving me face-to-face with the boy who’d been breaking me for months.Whenever we ‘talked,’ nothing good ever came from them.It only worsened our relationship.
I was terrified now.
Paxon motioned to the hallway that led out of the backstage area.I followed slowly.When we went out there and closed the door, we could barely hear anything from the auditorium and stage.The hallway was surprisingly empty except for a stack of folded risers and a forgotten music stand.
“Cadence?”
I finally dragged my gaze from the hallway to Paxon and took in a sharp breath.Paxon looked completely wrecked.His eyes were too shiny, posture crumpled with nerves.
“I know that was dramatic,” he said, swallowing hard.“But I didn’t know how else to—how else to even start fixing what I broke.”
