It’s for me.
Once I’m ready, Frankie helps me get close to the stage. I want to stay out of sight until it’s my turn.
After the cheering dies down from the act before mine, Roz opens their arms to greet the crowd. “Are you ready?” They all cheer. “Let’s try that again. Are. You. Ready?” The crowd roars. “Much better, my lovelies. Now, let’s welcome to the stage, Vivian Beauchesne.”
They say my name perfectly. Was that Jonah’s doing?No crying, Vivian.
Frankie smacks my arm. “You gon slay.”
“Thanks, boo.”
When I take the stage, the crowd goes still. Well, the ones paying attention. Many are still at the booths and food trucks. Roz stares at me with a stunned look on their face. Now, that is satisfying. As I stride across the stage, I gain strength from my persona and project confidence. Many of the acts lip-sync. It’s normal practice. But I don’t need to. I have a higher range than a lot of the female performers I know.
I finally make it to the center of the stage to greet Roz and the crowd. “Thank you, Roz. Can I say you look stunning, darling?” I turn to the crowd. “Don’t you agree?” The crowd cheers even louder.
They smile and wave, and only I can hear the words they mutter under their breath. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
Once I’m alone on stage, I smile at all the people watching. Cell phones all around me capture the moment and for once, it doesn’t bother me. “This song is for a special someone in my life.” I find Jonah, and he grins up at me.
Then I wave my hand to cue the music, and I perform Sam Smith’s “Unholy,” with every ounce of my being.
It’s exhilarating. Every high note soars above the crowd. At every jut of my hip, every choreographed move, executed perfectly, the crowd cheers. The only thing not rehearsed, not perfected, is the emotion in my performance. I mean every word. And the crowd loves it.
Everyone’s on their feet and, yes, it’s an outdoor event, but the crowd is jumping and clapping, and even knowing my father is watching and disapproving doesn’t diminish this moment. I raise my arms to the sky one last time and curtsy to the crowd. “Thank you all.”
As I leave the stage, Roz whispers frantically, and I realize they’re talking into their headset. They stare at Levor, clearly wanting them to do something. Are they angry with me? Shit. I don’t want to make enemies. As I walk past Levor, he says, “Vivian, a moment?”
This is where it all goes wrong. I was too cocky earlier. “I’m sorry?—”
He catches my eye and holds my gaze. “Don’t ever apologize for who you are.”
I nod. Then he hands me a card. “Call us.” And then he winks.
What just happened? But I can’t focus because as soon as I reach the ground, people swarm me with congratulations and claps on the back…and pats on other places.
They need to stop touching me.
I frantically search for Jonah. And then he’s there, clawing his way through the crowd. Frankie takes over, yelling at people to get back.
And then Jonah’s arms are around me, squeezing me tight.
He grabs my face. “Vivian, that was amazing. You’re so?—”
“I love you. I don’t care about anything else. This”—I wave at the stage, the crowds—“it’s fantastic, but you are the most important thing to me.”
His smile gets brighter. “I love you too.”
And then we’re kissing, and for once, everything is right. Even the things that are wrong don’t seem that bad. When we pull apart, out of necessity, he touches my face. “Your makeup is ruined.”
“I can see that.” I wipe smudges of pink and purple off his cheek. And the bottom of his lip. Then it doesn’t matter because he’s kissing me again.
“Okay, kids, break it up.” Frankie drags me away to take off my makeup. I glance back at Jonah once and then follow my bestie. We laugh and joke as we navigate through the crowd, and when we finally emerge from the throngs of people, I come face-to-face with my father.
“Vivian.”
My good mood evaporates. But at least I’m prepared. “What are you doing here?”
Frankie shifts on her feet, watching us.
