The audience gasped, and Jared’s voice choked on the lyrics. For a second, I just sat there, stunned and horrified by what had happened. I couldn’t tell if I was injured or not, my body still in the post-fall adrenaline shock. I got to my feet quickly, the audience pressing around me, on my level now with only the security guards keeping them away. Sweat dripped down my back, under my clothes. I had to escape, from the cameras, from the crowd, from this complete disaster of a performance. I glanced around, looking for an exit, but there was no way out.

Behind me, tiny explosions went off on the side of the stage, and the band kept going. No, I couldn’t run. I couldn’t abandon the guys, who were still trying to keep it together without me. No matter how embarrassed I was, the show had to go on.

I waved to show I was okay and then hopped up to sit on the edge of the stage. Kyle had filled in for me, but now it was time for the guitar solo. All I could do was go for it and try not to think about how I’d just ruined everything. With my legs hanging into the crowd and the security guards holding people back, I played my heart out. The high notes squealed as my fingers flew, and I blocked the world out, closing my eyes and letting the song take over. Just me and my guitar and an intimate performance with 7,500 of my closest friends. And somehow, it worked.

After the solo ended with the last hard riffs, I jumped back on stage with a little help from the poor security guard I’d tackled, and the crowd went crazy. I returned to my mic and joined in with Jared on the last chorus, and we ended together in perfect harmony.

The audience’s cheers shook the theater, and even the mentors looked shocked by our performance. Jared threw one arm around me, holding his other arm out to the audience like I’d just won a prize or something. He whispered in my ear, “Are you hurt?”

“No, I don’t think so.” I leaned against him while Kyle and Hector joined us, adrenaline still pumping through my veins. Soon we were all holding onto each other, feeling the audience’s enthusiasm like tremors coursing under our feet.

Ray sprinted across the stage. “Wow, what an… unexpected performance! That was Villain Complex on Team Dan. Angel, they used to be on your team and you let them go last week. Are you regretting it now?”

“Sure.” She shrugged and inspected her nails, like she was bored with it all. Whatever, Angel.

“Lance, what did you think?” Ray asked.

“Great song choice. What I want to know is, what happened with that fall?”