“At the Hog Farm stage. They have an open mic.”
“That’s so cool, SuSu. What’d you sing?”
“Two Beatles songs.”
She gasped, threw her arms around me. “Which ones?”
“‘I’ve Just Seen a Face’ and ‘I’ll Follow the Sun.’”
“Oh my gosh. Did you play guitar? Or did someone accompany you?”
“I played. Some guy named Ian loaned me his.”
“Right on! Did you ... do okay?” she asked hesitantly. Livy knew me well enough to know I’d be terrified.
“I know this sounds cliché, but it really was like riding a bike. Every word and every note came flooding back.”
“Maybe you’ll take my advice from now on. You’ve got to sing at open mic nights when you get to college. I’m serious.”
“I told you. There are no open mic nights at Union.” I hesitated a moment, then added, “If Leon hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have done it.”
“Yes, you would have.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I wouldn’t have. At first, I saidno way. But he was so sweet and encouraging; all the Hog Farmers were. They treated me like family.”
“That’s the beauty of commune life.”
I couldn’t stop smiling. “Can you believe it, Liv?Isang Beatles songs in public. Me! They even stood—”
“What I can’t believe is Nick McCarthy.” Livy’s smile, which only moments prior had shown genuine happiness for me, faded as fast as footprints on the shoreline. She glanced down at her muddy sandals and held her head in her hands. “I am so mad!”
I longed to tell my best friend more about my performance and how the Hog Farmers had given me a standing ovation. I was dying totell her that Leon didn’t have a girlfriend and that I was almost positive he would have kissed me if not for some drunk idiot. But Livy had moved on.You can’t force someone into wanting to know the good things in your life. They either do or they don’t.
“I still say he got caught in traffic,” I said. “Who knows; maybe he got pulled over and was arrested? Did he have drugs with him?”
She hesitated, swiping away dirt on her knees. “I don’t know. Probably. Wait, shh.” She put her hand on my knee to let me know we needed to listen closely to what Chip was saying.
“Once again if we may.” Chip had laughter in his voice. “All lost persons—those wishing to belost, those wishing to befound—again, the information booth is somewhat swamped, please go to the field behind it.”
Livy peered at me with angry eyes. “Either he was arrested, or he met someone else when he got here and doesn’t wish to be found.”
“Oh no, Livy.”
“Oh yes, Suzannah. Any girl would kill to be with him. He’s beautiful.”
“I’m sure he is, but—”
“He’s probably somewhere in this crowd.” She twisted around, sweeping her hand through the air. “With the prettiest girl here.”
I gaped at her with a sneer. “I highly doubt that. Not many girls are prettier than you.”
“I bet he’s been camping with her since Wednesday. Ignoring my pages.”
I grabbed her by the arm, determined to knock some sense into her. “Livy. Listen to me. You’re letting your mind run away with you. Just because Nick isn’t here yet doesn’t mean he’s camping with another girl. Or that you can’t have fun without him. The last thing you want to do is let his absence ruin your good time.”
She didn’t comment, but I knew she was listening, so I seized the opportunity to give her more. “I get that you’re crazy about him. But you’re not acting like yourself. I’ve never known anyone as fun andresilient as you. Not to mention headstrong. You can still have a good time without Nick. You said it yourself: The best bands in the world are here. Pick yourself up and cut loose, Livy Foster. You’ll regret it the rest of your life if you don’t.”
Livy looked skyward, like she was seriously considering my advice. It took a minute, but a smile appeared. “You know what?” she said. “You’re right. Two can play his game. We’ve met good-looking guys too.” She looked over at Leon. Then Johnny.
