Her guitar screams out for two minutes and it isn’t nearly enough. Everybody wants more. I hate it when I come in with the chorus at the end. But nobody can hear me anyway.

Because once Emme hits the final note of her guitar solo, the entire audience erupts in a standing ovation. For prestigious alumni, they sure are one rowdy bunch.

I look over at Emme, who has a small smile as she keeps playing. Her cheeks flush.

I have never been more in awe of her than I am right now.

We finish and I stand near Jack so she gets every ounce of admiration she deserves. She looks back and motions for me to come forward, but I’m not going anywhere.

The lights go down and we all run off the stage. Jack picks Emme up and swings her around.

We hear Dr. Pafford clear his throat. “Well, everybody should be awake now.” There is some laughter in the audience. “That was Emme Connelly. Needless to say she is one of our top music students. My sincere apologies to the students who have to follow that.”

We all start cheering and celebrating. That is by far the greatest compliment anybody has ever heard from Dr. Pafford.

Emme keeps shaking her head.

“Tell me this, Red.” Jack wraps his arms around her. “Why on earth are we letting this one play lead when you can play like that?”

I can’t take my eyes off of her. “I totally agree.”

Emme stays silent as we’re surrounded by dozens of students wanting to congratulate her.

Chloe comes up to me, shock on her face. “Did you have any idea that she could play like that?”

“Yep.”

Ben’s hands have been over his mouth since we got off the stage. He finally removes them. “Good Lord, Emme. That was seriously hot. I’m sincerely debating changing sides because I want to kiss you on the mouth right now.”

Emme laughs. She turns to me. “Ethan, I did it.” Her voice is so soft. She almost doesn’t believe herself.

In that second, everybody else disappears. I see only her. She is looking at me like she used to when she was happy. Before I screwed everything up.

I know I do stupid things. I do them all the time. I even know when I’m about to do something completely and utterly idiotic. Most of the time I care. But not now. There is only one thing in the world that I care about.

Emme.

I go up to Emme, put my one good hand on her face and kiss her.

On the mouth.

It’s amazing how quickly people forget an inspired performance. I got attention from A Little Night Music for less than a week. And now all anybody can talk about is Emme.

She plays the guitar for a song and it’s like nothing else happened that night. Of course, I was relegated to the choir for a Motown medley, so I didn’t even get the opportunity to do anything.

But not Emme. It’s like no girl has ever played the guitar before. And of course Ethan shoving his tongue down her throat afterward, and Tyler running out of the auditorium, gave people even more to talk about.

And do I get any recognition? Of course not.

I just went up to her when we were little and encouraged her to write. And then attend CPA. So why would anybody give me any credit for what’s happening to her?

I stare out the window of our practice suite as Emme plays around on the piano. I’ve been sure to spend more time with her lately. At least maybe she’ll remember I exist.

“Hey, Sophie,” she says quietly. “Can I talk to you about something?”

“Of course, Emme. Anything!” I run over and sit next to her on the piano bench.

“It’s about Ethan…. I don’t really know what to think about what happened.” She looks down and studies her hands.

“I’m sure it was the adrenaline after the performance,” I assure her. “I wouldn’t make too big a deal about it.”

“Really? I guess. Although he’s never done anything like that to me before … but I don’t know….”

“How’s it been since after the concert with you two?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “Normal, I guess. I was so shocked about what happened. He quickly apologized and neither one of us has mentioned it since. Jack, of course, gives Ethan grief about it, and then teases me for playing favorites and encourages me to spread the love among the other members.”

“And what about Tyler?”

“Oh, well … he’s pretty mad, but it wasn’t like I kissed Ethan. I mean, I don’t feel he really has a right to be upset with me.”

“Well, you did humiliate him in front of the school.”

She looks up at me. “Really? We only went on a few dates, so I didn’t think people knew….”

I shake my head. “Emme, people talk. They knew. Poor Tyler. You should really apologize to him. He’s a pretty good guy.” Even though he helps Sarah Moffitt. But if Emme is going to be with either Ethan or Tyler, I vote for Tyler. He’s truly the lesser of two evils.

“He’s really mad. I don’t know….”

Gee, Emme is unsure of something? What a shock.

This conversation isn’t going anywhere. I pick up the piece of sheet music she’s been working on. “What’s this?”

“Oh.” She takes the paper out of my hand. “Just something new I’ve been working on.”

“For the showcase?”

She bites her lip. “Ah, so nobody knows this …”

“You know you can tell me anything, Emme. You’re my oldest friend.”