“The award for Best Overall Percussion goes to…Oak Grove High School!”
For a moment, I’m elated. Percussion officially lost our bet. Still, it’s hard to feel pure joy when the entire percussion section deflates a few rows in front of me. Brody might be sitting there, but Max and Felix are there as well. I know howmuch Max wanted it and how hard he worked. I can’t find it in myself to celebrate his loss.
“Next up is the award for Best Overall Auxiliary.” I curl over in a ball and hold my breath. Nova and Li both lean closer against me. “And the award goes to…Glen Vale High School!”
Screams erupt all around me. Hands grab my arms and shoulders, shaking me so hard I might fall off the bleachers.
“We did it!” Li screams. “We did it! Best in show!”
Nova throws her arms around me and squeezes tightly. “Ahh, congratulations! I’m so proud of you!”
It takes me another second to fully comprehend before I can jump up and scream with them. The announcer keeps talking, but I can’t hear a thing except screaming. All of a sudden, the rest of Glen Vale jumps out of their seats and our section of the stadium fills with more cheering.
I turn to Yori, who is now the closest to me. “What’s going on?” I call.
“The band got a Superior rating—we’re going to state!”
My screams raise another octave. I grab on to any band member I can see, shaking them and giving them hugs as my eyes fill with tears. It doesn’t feel possible. Of course I wanted this to happen, and I’m so incredibly relieved that we’re going to state, but the best in show award? Weactuallydid it? We won the bet? I can’t believe it.
When the awards ceremony is done, the guard half jumps, half runs down the bleachers. People yell out congratulations as we pass, and Sire stops us at the bottom to tell us how proud he is. None of us can stop shrieking and laughing aswe make our way back to the band buses. Even Callie, who has always seemed the most apathetic, is beside herself with excitement.
“Hazel!”
I spin to find Mom, Dad, and Kelsey running toward me. “My god, Hazel! You did it!” Mom gushes and pulls me into a hug.
“Thanks, Mom,” I breathe into her neck. “We’re all freaking out, we’re so excited!”
“Of course you are! And you deserve to be! Oak Grove was stellar today. But not as good as you.” She hugs me again before passing me to Dad and Kelsey.
“Great job, honey,” Dad says more quietly. “So proud ofyou.”
“You guys were way better than last time,” Kelsey tellsme.
I laugh. “Thank you, I guess?”
“But it’s the truth!” Mom cries. “And it’s just the beginning for you. Today is best auxiliary, next is the senior MVM award and Superior ratings at state! I can already see it!” She’s so excited she’s literally jumping up and down. Unfortunately, her excitement has the opposite effect on me. I haven’t even processed our win yet, and Mom is already talking about the next thing?
Dad rubs my back and gives me a small smile. “There’s time to think about all that later. For now, go celebrate with your friends.”
I race off, happy to get some distance from Mom and spend time with Nova. Although, now that I think of it, an even better idea comes to me. Max and I should tell our sections right now, before we get back on the buses. Then heand I can sit together, along with Felix and Li and Nova, and we won’t have to hide anymore. It’ll be the perfect end to this incredible day.
I wave goodbye to my family and go in search of Max so I can tell him my plan. But another possibility pops into my mind as I scan the crowds and peek down each row of school buses. What if he doesn’t want to see me tonight at all? I’m sure he’s upset, maybe even a little angry, that guard beat out percussion. I hesitate. Maybe I should give him some space for now.
“Hazel!”
I spin at Max’s voice. We’re both standing between two school buses, shielded from view. For the moment, we’re alone.
“Hey, I’ve been looking for you,” I call and walk in his direction. “I’m sorry about percussion—”
But I don’t finish my sentence because Max sprints headlong toward me. When he reaches me, he wraps his arms around my waist and twirls me in a circle so that my feet fly off the ground.
“Hazel, youdidit!” he cries. “You won!”
He puts me back down, and I stumble. My throat tightens with emotion at his reaction, and I struggle to say, “I can’t believe it.”
“I can. I always knew how great you guys could be.”
“And…you’re not mad?”
