“I know! But it’s only for their audition on The Sound tomorrow, and then they’ll find a new bassist. It’s not a permanent thing.” I sucked in a breath and then spit the rest out. “And I said yes, but now I need to tell him no because I can’t do it. I just can’t.”

My two friends looked at each other, and something passed between them. Julie turned back to me. “You can do this, and you will,” she said in her fiercest voice.

“Julie’s right,” Carla said. “This is what you’ve been dreaming about forever. You have to do it.”

“But I’m not a guitarist!” I protested. “I’ve never played live before or on stage or in front of…well, anyone.” At least, not since my mom had flipped out on me all those years ago.

“You’ve played guitar for us a million times,” Julie said.

“And you play piano on stage all the time,” Carla added.

“Yes, I play piano on stage, and sometimes I go wild and play the violin in an orchestra. But playing guitar in a band in front of millions of people is completely different!”

“You’ll be fine,” Carla said. “Besides, it’s only one performance. Just pretend you’re playing for us.”

Julie nudged me with her shoulder. “Plus this gives you a chance to get close to Jared.”

“I don’t want to get close to Jared!”

“Why not?” she asked. “Everyone wants to get close to Jared.”

“Yes, that’s exactly the problem.”

“Do it for Kyle then,” Carla said. “You’ve known him for years, and now he needs your help.”

I hadn’t thought of that. If I backed out now, they probably wouldn’t have time to find another guitarist or bassist before the show. I couldn’t do that to my friend. “You’re right… But then, why didn’t Kyle ask me to join the band himself?”

Julie shrugged. “Maybe Jared didn’t tell him about your little solo performance last night.”

That could be it. Kyle didn’t know I played the guitar. Or maybe Jared had told him, but Kyle didn’t want me in the band. I didn’t exactly fit their image after all. Or even worse, maybe Kyle was upset I’d never told him I played guitar and that his brother had found out before him. Even if Kyle didn’t know yet, he’d learn the truth in an hour when I went to rehearse with them. I dreaded the look on his face when he realized I’d kept this from him for three years.

“I don’t know.” I took off my glasses and rubbed my eyes. “I mean, look at me. I don’t belong in their band. They’re all so edgy and I’m so…not.”