My fear of chickening out had been the only reason I hadn’t told Dare. He’d have tried to make me feel better about it, if I did end up slinking back to the choir room behind the stage to hide out instead of actually getting my ass out there.

“You’ll do great, Bay.” Jon stood beside me with the mic stand.

Setting up on stage, I tried not to look at anyone. I sat on the edge of my stool and closed my eyes, not pretending they weren’t there, but pretending it was only him. No one knew who the song was about, but I wanted him to know.

After today, I wouldn’t be The New Girl anymore. I’d be Bay.

The pads of my fingers ached from how many times I’d practiced this song over the past two days. Ever since the night everything changed, I’d needed to get this out and show him he was the one who’d given me the courage to get up here and do this.

The more I played, the less I felt like I was going to puke. The stronger each note got and the clearer the emotions poured from my voice. Every note wasn’t perfect, but it was true. It was real and raw and contained every bit of feeling packaged into a three-minute song.

I sustained the last note and held onto the melody drawing it out past the end of the music. The auditorium was pin drop silent. Opening my eyes, I felt freer and bolder than I ever had.

“Thank you, Bay, for that wonderful original song.” Mrs. Tripp got on the mic and clapped, but no one followed her lead.

Dare stood at the edge of the stage. Every eye was either on him or me.

Happiness burst from every pore. I’d done it. I’d sung in front of the whole school. And he saw it. I’d known he was there, that was why I’d been able to do it in the first place. I couldn’t see him, but I’d known he was there.

Did he feel the electricity? Did he feel the magic in the room and the way I’d belted out the lyrics I’d written for him? No one else knew that, but I knew and he knew. A song to tell him how much I loved him and how strong he was after going through everything he’d been through.

Panting and coming down from my high of finally making it, I looked around the room.

Confusion raced through my head. Why was he standing there? Why was everyone so quiet?

“The New Girl’s got the hots for Dare?”

Someone laughed.

“Is she obsessed with him or something?”

“Damn, he’s got a stalker.”

More voices joined in, increasing in volume, their laughter and stares burning straight through my chest.

He walked to the stairs at the side of the stage and crossed the front until he was in front of me.

He plucked the guitar from my hands and wrapped his other hand around my arm, walking me off stage.