Together.
“Where are you going?” Matt hollered as I started to move off the stage. At some point, he and Jenny had come together. I looked down to see their fingers intertwined. It shouldn't have surprised me. I'd watched as the two of them got cozier with one another ever since that secret meeting that determined Jenny was an official member oftheband.
“Everyone else seems to have found their happily ever after.” I waved my hand at everyone on stage. It was like a weird dating show where everyone paired off. “It’s time to go get mine before it’stoolate.”
Matt gave me a lopsided smile before he turned back to Jenny. He dipped her backward and kissed her in front of the whole audience. Everyone continued cheering, but I had bigger things onmymind.
A few hands slapped my back as I rushed through the crowd, but I didn’t stop to acknowledge any of them. I went straight to the back door and walked out into the night. The space was considerably more peaceful than inside The Imperial, especially when the door closed and blocked the sounds that were coming frominside.
Michelle was sitting in one of the plastic chairs, her gazeonme.
“Michelle.”
How many times had I addressed her by her first name and nothing else? It was far from an adoring pet name but felt soprofoundlyours.
“Rainier,” she answered, but stayed in her seat. I took the opportunity to sit down acrossfromher.
Michelle wore a grey tee with Rainier and the Go-Aways painted on it along with a giantraincloud.
"Niceshirt."
“I thought it was appropriate since I essentially did atributeshow.”
“If you were trying to get my attention, it worked. I just don’t understand why you ran and hidafterward.”
Her body sagged and her gaze was fixed on theashtray.
“Because I don’t know what to do. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Even when I thought I hated you, you gave me butterflies. I don’t feel the need to change you like I have with other guys. I want you just the way you are.” She stopped and looked at me. “I like you, and you’re leaving soon. And I don’t even know when. I’m not sure what I was hoping to accomplishtonight.”
Michelle stood up like she was ready to bolt again, but I got to her before she could and pulled her close. She didn’t fight it, but wrapped her arms around my waist, clutching the fabric of my shirt. I turned my head to sniff her hair, which despite the smokiness of the bar and the reek of sweat that permeated everything inside, still smelledfantastic.
“I like you too,youknow.”
“Obviously,” she answered in true Michelle form, and even managed a small laugh. “But it’s not enough. We both know that. Part of me wishes you were already gone so I could move on. It’s just not going to happen as long asyou’rehere.”
“What about that other part of you?” I asked. “Is there somewhere in there that wants metostay?”
She pulled away and looked at me through narrowed eyes that still glistened with unshed tears. “Of course, you idiot. I thought it was pretty freakingclear.”
“So, if I were to say I planned to stay in River Valley for the fall semester to see what happens with the band, what would that part of Michelle say?” I held my breath as she continued to stare at me, so I continued. “I was able to switch to online classes for thesemester.”
I had finished signing up for my classes after my conversation with Matt the week before. It wasn’t only the band, and it wasn’t only Michelle. I found I wanted to explore what both of those paths led to. I didn’t have to give up my schooling todoso.
“You’re not leaving?” Michelle asked. I shook my head. “But the show in there was such a disaster. There’s no way you can recoverfromthat.”
“That's a very real possibility. But even if the band is done for, it’s stillworthit.”
“Itis?”
“Michelle, you can be exasperating, but you are worth every moment. You're perfectforme.”
It must have been the right thing to say because the tears were back. I knew they were happy this time because she pulled me in for a kiss. It was everything Iremembered.
Joy. Passion…Lights?
We pulled apart at the sudden brightness that hit us. Matt's head was popping out of the back door. “Sorry, dude. They told me to give you another minute, but Icouldn’twait.”
He walked out, hand-in-hand with Jenny, who was followed by Carter and Avery. So much for our romantic moment. The four of them stood staring at us, Avery with a big smile onherface.
