In the theater seat next to her, Kaylee nudged her arm with her elbow. “Adam’s next,” she whispered and pointed to his name on the single sheet program Bobby Wright had handed them at the entrance to the Cleaver High auditorium.

Clare gave her a tight-mouthed smile and nodded. She knew perfectly well that Adam was next. She had suffered through the first eleven acts, along with everyone else in the packed auditorium, simply to get to this moment. With her eyes glued to the stage, she could feel her heartbeat in her throat. Everyone knew Adam Collins would be the best act in this year’s annual Cleaver High talent show. He had been the best act since seventh grade in the Ralston Middle School annual talent show. That was why they always scheduled him last, so people didn’t simply get up and leave as soon as they’d heard Adam play.

Adam walked out from behind the red curtains, pushed open at both sides of the stage. The entire auditorium erupted into spontaneous applause the moment they saw him, long before he was anywhere near the old grand piano in the center of the spotlight. As soon as he heard the roar, the whoops and whistles, the loud and booming “Aaaaduuuuum” being chanted by the standing-room-only crowd, a smile spread over Adam’s face. He lowered his head and gave the people of Casper a one-handed salute wave and continued toward the piano bench waiting for him.

Clare, neither clapping nor shouting, squirmed in her seat. Clare knew there was more than one person in the audience watching her, judging her. Wondering, still, why the hell Adam Collins, with his good looks, good family, and good chance of one day playing professional basketball, wasted his time with Clare Kaczanowski. Clare could practically hear them thinking, feel their eyes on her back.

Next to her, Kaylee sat upright in her seat and clapped furiously for her twin brother until someone a few rows in front of them caught her attention. Craning her neck, Kaylee stopped clapping and leaned toward Clare. “Take a look at Ms. Homecoming,” she whispered, nodding her head in the direction she wanted Clare to look.

Three rows in front of them, Heather Roberts was surrounded by her friends and beaming up at Adam, who was taking his seat in front of the piano. Clare watched her turn to her left and whisper something to her best friend, Winnie, who nodded approval. Clare bristled, and a white-hot flame of irritation ignited in her gut. It was no secret Heather Roberts wanted Adam.

“Such a bitch,” Kaylee whispered. “As if Adam would ever… Why doesn’t she give up already?”