To Clare, it felt as if something monumental had already happened. Or was about to. Something huge and painful and terrifying. A rift opened up inside her, an enormous vacuum of space, a giant nothing that had for years been filled with a knowing, a connection, with another person who felt like a piece of her own self. She lifted her eyes again to Adam on his stage, his back tall and straight, his perfectly muscled arms, long fingers, and mop of blond hair that fell like a disaster over the brightest blue eyes. She loved him. Desperately, completely. She had no plans, no life, no real future she wanted to live without him.

He was leaving her. And maybe it wouldn’t be Heather Roberts…but it would be someone, because Adam was that guy, handsome, talented, kind, and so good that it was simply impossible to not fall in love with him. How long until he figured out that there was a whole world outside of Casper, Wyoming, filled with exactly the kind of girls everyone already thought he should be with? Girls who were beautiful, talented, kind, and good—girls who had more going on than excellent typing skills.

“You should kick Heather’s ass,” Kaylee whispered in her ear. “You could easily take her.”

Clare nodded and forced a smile to hide what she was really feeling. If Kaylee took one look at her and sensed enough to ask, “What’s wrong?” Clare would break into tears right here, right now.

“Maybe I should jump her in the parking lot after the concert,” Clare joked.

“I’ll hold her down.”

“Like I would need you to hold her.” She reached across the armrest separating them and took Kaylee’s hand in hers.

Kaylee looked at their clasped hands for a moment and then leaned in again. “I’m going to miss you so much, Clare.”

Clare shook her head, forcing down the sob that threatened to break loose. “Don’t,” she warned. “Not here…not now.” Her voice broke on her last word, and Kaylee squeezed her hand.

Clare closed both her eyes tight and willed herself to not cry as Adam finished playing for the last time in the Cleaver High School auditorium and the crowd broke their silence and stood up to applaud him.

“I’m going to go find Carl and Denise. They’re here somewhere,” Kaylee shouted over the noise as she hugged Clare goodbye. “We’re supposed to meet up after.”

Clare nodded. “See you later,” she said before turning toward the aisle. She excused herself past the people in her row, still standing and clapping for Adam, who was standing and smiling on the stage. She rushed up the threadbare red carpet toward the exit, catching Mrs. Collins’s glance as she passed.