“Okay, now that the mushy stuff is done, I think it’s time for you to go into the other room.”

Carol took Sloane’s hand and walked her right on through her confusion to the entrance of the hall. Emma was standing just outside the door. Without an explanation, she took the picture from Sloane’s hand, gave it back to Carol, and then took that same hand. She led them across and inside the grand room.

Sloane thought she was confused before.

The dance floor had already been cleared, along with the equipment, but now the lights were back on and two speakers were set up at the corners. The chairs that had also already been put up were back out, this time in two short rows and facing the dance floor.

In those chairs sat Ms. Peggy, Justus and his mother, Felicity, Dewey, Dixon, and Santana.

“What the—?” Sloane started, but Emma hushed her.

“You’re going to want to just go with the flow on this one.”

Emma took her to the edge of the dance floor, where someone walked out of the side door with another chair.

It was Callum.

He set the chair in the middle of the dance floor and then collected Sloane from Emma. He took her to the lone chair and, after he got her to sit, spoke around a grin.

“You missed the pageant, so it was only fair you see this. And don’t worry, I’m definitely going to record it.”

“Record what?”

Sloane watched, confused, as he ran back to one of the chairs. Marcus and Carol took the seats in the second row.

And then it started.

They all started making noise. From a focused Justus to an extremely excited Dewey, they all just started…

Singing.

“Turn around…”

“Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you’re never coming ’round.”

Sloane whirled around as Brady’s voice came through the speakers.

“Turn around…” the crowd sang.

“Every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears.”

Brady wasn’t just singing—he was dressed up, too. It was his costume for what would have been the talent portion of the pageant. Shirtless, nipples bare, a heavy mermaid tail, and an insane amount of body glitter.

He stalked toward her, microphone in hand.

His expression was serious as he continued to sing with their friends still providing the backup.

Sloane didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know what to say.

But she did know how to feel.

She smiled as Brady danced up to her while singing. Then came the chorus. He dropped down—a feat, with his tail—and grabbed her hand just as everyone started singing at the top of their lungs.

“And I need you noooow tonight. And I need you more than ever. And if you only hold me tight, we’ll be holding on forever.”