“Mom and Dad are coming tomorrow for the talent show.”
Courtney’s muscles tensed. “And what’s the good news?”
Colt let out a small laugh.
“Why would they be coming?” They’d never come before. Her heart hammered painfully against her ribs. Maybe they knew about the scholarship and were coming to stop her from dancing.
“Because of the bad news.” Colt stopped and turned to face her, running his left hand through his hair.
That’s when she noticed the splints—plural—on his right hand.
“Colt!” Courtney grabbed his wrist and stared at the contraptions. “What happened?”
“I got hurt during volleyball.”
Courtney threw her hands up in the air. “Who knew volleyball was such a dangerous sport?”
“I had to go to urgent care, so Fozzie Bear called our parents.”
“How bad is it?” She peered at his hand but couldn’t see much beyond the contraptions and tape.
“Each finger has a small stress fracture. They’ll heal fine as long as I keep them immobile for about a month.”
“Ouch,” she said.
Immobile. The word pecked at her brain.
Courtney’s breath came fast until she felt on the verge of hyperventilating. “You can’t play the song tomorrow, can you?”
“Not exactly. But don’t worry, okay? I have it covered. It’s going to be even better.”
“What do you mean ‘don’t worry’?” Something roared in Courtney’s ears. “This is one of the most important performances of my entire life. I can’t do it to an mp3 on a freaking staticky boom box.”
“You won’t have to, I promise.” Colt’s words spilled out in a rush. “Just trust me. This once. Let me handle it.”
“Colt. I—”
“Don’t you trust me?”
He had her there. If she argued, it meant she didn’t trust him. But the fact that he wouldn’t tell her his plan made her stomach twist into painful knots.
“I’ve got it under control,” he said. “It’s going to be great, I promise. Just try to get some sleep so you’re not all black-eyed tomorrow.”
He walked her back to the cabin. Two hours later, she finally fell into a fitful sleep.
Chapter Sixteen
Riya twisted the fingers of both hands together until it hurt. She sat in the cafeteria at their usual table with Dee on one side and Tiffany on the other. How in the world had Colt talked her into this? Of course, it hadn’t really been that hard. “Courtney needs you,” he’d said. She would’ve said yes to anything that followed that statement and Colt knew it.
Jerk.
They’d cleared the area where they usually picked up food to create a makeshift stage. All the campers sat at their usual tables while chairs littered any open space for the parents who’d come early to watch. Somewhere among the crowd sat David’s dad, the reason for this whole mess. He better be worth it.
Courtney’s parents had arrived after the talent show began, so they stood in the back. Every time Riya glanced back at them, Mrs. Chastain typed on her phone.
Riya’s parents were scheduled to arrive around lunch time, since Riya hadn’t planned on participating in the talent show. She’d seen no reason to call them and make them change their plans.
On the stage, a very young-looking girl played the violin. Riya was pretty sure it wasn’t supposed to screech like that every other note, but she had the basic melody down so that was something.
Courtney would be the final competitor. After her past dominance, Riya guessed no one wanted to perform after her.
Riya twisted in her seat through a juggler who was fantastic, a singer who was decent, and a comedian who was neither.
Becky appeared on the stage. “And now, we have the final Camp Pine Ridge performance of a long-time favorite, Courtney Chastain.”
Most people applauded politely. Trey and David whooped. The little girl Olivia screamed like Becky’d announced her favorite pop star would be performing.
Colt walked over to the piano. It had been placed in the back corner of the stage area. He pushed up the hinged wooden piece that covered the keys with his left hand and sat, nodding to Riya.
Riya stood. Good, her knees didn’t give out from the shaking.
“What are you doing?” Dee hissed, but Riya kept walking.
She focused only on Colt, with his encouraging smile, sure she’d puke if she looked at anything else that made her think about what she was walking up to do.
But as she made her way, a flash of blond on the side of the stage caught her attention, and she veered toward Courtney. Courtney stared at her, open-mouthed.
“I just want to say,” Riya whispered, glancing over her shoulder at the curious crowd. “I’m so sorry. I pushed you and I shouldn’t have. Please accept this as my apology.” She spun away and resumed her path to Colt.
“What?” Courtney said from behind her, but Riya didn’t turn around again.
She reached the piano and pressed her hips into the gentle curve between the wider and narrower portions, as if she might disappear into it.
After a couple seconds of hesitation and confusion, Courtney floated onto the stage area in nude tights and a lavender leotard with a small matching skirt tied at the hip. There were no spotlights in the cafeteria, but Riya could’ve sworn a glowing light followed Courtney across the floor.
When Courtney turned to look at Colt, her gaze landed on Riya. She flinched. Her blue eyes flashed anger at Colt. She was upset he hadn’t told her the plan, but he shrugged. They all knew Courtney would’ve rejected his idea even though it was, by far, Courtney’s best shot.
“Ready?” Colt said to Riya.
“As I’ll ever be.”
They’d practiced a few times early that morning before breakfast. Colt had modified the piano part so he could play with his left hand and one finger of his right hand, but he couldn’t play the full song with the melody representing the vocals like that. And Riya had heard the song so many times during Courtney’s practices that she barely needed any preparation at all.
“It only makes sense,” Colt had said last night.
Right.
Courtney shook her head and got into her starting position. Riya could see the exact second her mind switched to performance mode. Her legs were crossed, her head bowed. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her chest, her fingers pressing into her back.
Riya clutched her hands together in front of her.
“Six. Seven. Eight,” Colt said under his breath.
The precise moment he played the first note, Courtney’s head rose. Her arms stretched out, forming an elegant, straight line at an angle to the ground.
Four notes in, Riya took a breath. Do not look at the crowd, do not look at anyone, she told herself. With hundreds of eyes on her, pretending they didn’t exist was the only way she was going to get through the song. The fingernails of her right hand cut into the palm of her left.
“Hello,” she sang. It came out tight and slightly sharp. She looked at Courtney to see if she’d noticed. If she messed Courtney up, with so much on the line, Riya would die right there on that stage in front of everyone.
But Courtney moved flawlessly.
New plan: Watch Courtney. She was the reason Riya was doing this, the only reason Riya could do this.
“It’s me,” Riya sang. When she watched Courtney, everything else faded away. The stage fright dissipated. She could pretend they were in the art hut, Riya singing along with the tinny sound coming from Courtney’s little speaker.
As she continued to sing the penitent words, Riya didn’t take her eyes off of the fluid, willowy girl who moved across the floor as though it were the Lincoln Center in New York.
When Riya belted out the chorus, murmurs drifted up to her from her own table, but she still didn’t look away. Courtney leapt so high, Riya worried her outstretched arm might smack against the ceiling. Her feet landed on the tile floor as soft as a
feather.
Riya had seen this dance a hundred times, but this was different. This was art in motion. A hush fell over the crowd. They knew they sat in the presence of greatness.
The concluding piano notes faded. Courtney held her final pose.
The audience erupted. Kids and adults shouted, but Olivia was still the loudest—louder even, if it were possible, than Elise.
Riya tore her gaze away from Courtney and found her parents leaning against the back wall. Mr. and Mrs. Chastain stared open-mouthed at Courtney. Riya wondered how long it had been since either of them attended one of her performances. Mrs. Chastain dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
Courtney took her bows with all the grace she’d exhibited during the dance. Colt came up next to Riya, taking her hand and leading her to the center of the stage. He kept his grip firm when she tried to pull away. Colt bowed, then raised his injured hand to indicate Riya.
The crowd exploded once more. Riya stared awestruck at the reaction. Then, all of a sudden, slender arms wrapped around her shoulders from behind.
She turned and raised her head to find Courtney there, grinning and squeezing her. “Thank you.”
Riya grinned back.
Courtney punched her brother playfully on the shoulder. “You sly bastard.”
He rubbed his arm, wincing then laughing. “It’s not nice to beat up on injured people.”
Courtney punched him again.
The applause died down and had almost stopped when Courtney grabbed Riya’s hand and raised it high in the air. She bowed low and framed Riya with a graceful gesture. The applause revived and Courtney’s grin stretched as wide as Riya’d ever seen it.
Courtney spun in front of Riya, slipping her free hand behind her waist and pulling her. Her momentum turned Riya ninety degrees until they stood face-to-face, their sides to the crowd in a couple-dancing position.
“Riya, do you still like me?” Courtney whispered, her face suddenly serious. “In that way?”
Riya creased her brow. “Yes,” she answered automatically before remembering she wasn’t supposed to admit that.
The corners of Courtney’s mouth twitched. She stood frozen for a moment.
“Courtney?”
“Do you think you might love me? Or could, one day?”
Riya felt a lump the size of a golf ball in her throat. Her limbs went numb as she realized it was finally time for the truth. “I know I do. Now.”
“And if I love you, if I want to try again, would you wait for me to be ready?”
Riya felt the sting of tears in the corners of her eyes. “As long as you need me to.”
In a smooth movement, Courtney released Riya’s waist to cup her face in her clammy hand. She leaned forward, pulling Riya toward her. A gasp sounded in the crowd.
“I’m ready.”
Then, Courtney planted a kiss on Riya’s lips that left no room for interpretation. Riya’s eyes fluttered closed and she melted into Courtney’s embrace. The audience faded into nothingness. Nothing else in the world existed except for Courtney, Riya, and the tiny pockets of space between their bodies. The kiss felt like a promise, like an oath offered right there in front of everyone.
In front of Courtney’s parents. Riya’s eyes burst open at the thought. Courtney ended the kiss and offered Riya a shaky smile.
“Courtney?” Riya said again. Was this actually happening? Riya pulled in several deep breaths. She couldn’t get enough oxygen, no matter how hard she tried.
“I don’t want to lie anymore,” she said. “About anything. Not to you. Especially not to myself.”
Riya smiled. An electric thrill shot through her body.
Courtney slid her arm into Riya’s and hooked her brother’s elbow on the other side before walking them off the stage.
…
By the time Becky announced the winner of the talent show, Courtney shook so badly she couldn’t walk up to collect her trophy without Colt’s help. What had she done? It had felt so incredibly right in the moment, in the afterglow of the applause and the high of a perfect performance. Riya’s bravery was contagious. She’d overpowered crippling stage fright to help Courtney dance the best performance of her life. Riya’s fearlessness had inspired her, infected her. Riya had done the thing that scared her more than anything else. For her. Courtney wanted to do the same.
But then she’d stepped into the audience, dozens of shocked gazes watching her, and panic set in. The attention struck her like a steady stream of cannonballs lobbed from a hundred tiny ships.
She couldn’t even look at her parents yet. At least they hadn’t marched down to where Riya, Colt, and Courtney sat on the floor together and snatched her away. She chose to take it as a good sign.
Courtney leaned against Colt, clutching his good hand as she accepted the trophy and offered the crowd one last shaky bow. She kept her eyes on Riya, refusing to look anywhere else.
Each counselor took a minute or two to say good-bye to the room before everyone was released. When the collective sound of people rising from their chairs rose, Courtney squeezed Colt and Riya’s hands to keep herself from sprinting away.
“I already have one broken hand,” Colt said. “You want to complete the set?”
Riya stood, pulling Courtney to her feet.
“You okay?’ she whispered. Her big brown eyes swam with concern, but without a trace of fear. If only Courtney could borrow some of Riya’s courage for today.
People began to move and Courtney braced for it, her entire body going so tense she thought her muscles might snap like rubber bands. A couple parents of younger children rushed over and guided their kids quickly out the door, frowning back at her. Riya tugged on Courtney’s arm, bringing her attention to Trey, who stood in front of them.
“Awesome dance, Court,” Trey said, patting her on the back. He turned to Riya. “And you were incredible.”
Riya’s eyes drifted down to his shoulder. “Thanks.”
More campers came up to them. Every time, she readied herself for some terrible comment about the kiss. Every time, they congratulated her on her performance. A tall, wide-shouldered man who rocked gray hair and a suit like George Clooney approached her.
“Nathan Burns.” He stuck out his hand for Courtney to shake.
She obliged. “Nice to meet you,” she said politely, not sure why this man was introducing himself.
To his left and halfway across the room, a familiar face caught her attention. Bridget’s scowl stared back at her. Courtney couldn’t bring herself to care at the meaning behind it, and she refocused on the man in front of her.
He flashed a quick smile. “I’m David’s father. You know David, right?”
Breath rushed from Courtney’s lungs. “Yes, of course.”
“Your brother told me you’re applying to Juilliard,” he said, nodding at Colt.
Colt had been busy, it seemed.
“I don’t know if you know about the Riverdrake scholarship? I’m president of the Board of Directors there.”
Courtney shook her head, then nodded, then shook her head again. “No. Yes. I mean, of course I know about it.”
He smiled, perfect white teeth flashing. “Good. I’ll keep an eye out for your application then?” It was a question, but the kind of question powerful people asked knowing the only possible answer was yes.
Courtney nodded, her head bobbing up and down uncontrollably. “Definitely. Thank you.” Words failing her, she resisted the urge to say “thank you” over and over again.
Then, Nathan Burns turned to Riya. Courtney’s heart leapt into her throat.
“And what about you?” he asked her. “You’ll be studying Vocal Performance, I’m assuming?”
Within a second, Riya’s face turned bright red. “No. Oh, no. I’ll be doing pre-med. Thank you, though.”
He shrugged, a casually elegant gesture. “Shame.” He flashed another quick smile. “It was lovely meeting you two ladies. Best of luck.”
Then he was gone
.
“Ohmigod,” Courtney squealed.
Riya hugged her. She wasn’t the type to squeal with Courtney, but she rocked back and forth with her.
Riya’s friends filled the hole left by Mr. Burns. Stefanie cleared her throat and Riya released her.
Courtney chewed her lip as the silence stretched on.
“It’s about freaking time,” Dee said, backhanding Courtney’s biceps.
Tiffany, Stefanie, and Elise nodded in agreement.
“Seriously,” Stefanie said.
Courtney’s chest filled with gratitude. She wanted to yank them all into a huge group hug, but Colt elbowed her.
She looked up to find him staring over Tiffany’s shoulder. She followed his gaze. Their parents loomed on the edge of the writhing knot of campers, who hugged each other and took selfies together.
Courtney’s blood turned to ice. Her shaking legs took two steps back until both Riya and Colt caught her with an arm on her back.
When they were just behind her cabin mates, a small shape dashed in front of Dee. Tiny arms wrapped around Courtney’s waist. She looked down to discover a tangled mass of red hair pressed against her stomach.
Courtney patted Olivia’s back. The girl pulled back to stare up at her with glossy eyes.
“I’ll see you next year, right?” Olivia said.
Courtney’s heart twinged. “No, Liv. I’ll be too old.”
Olivia’s freckled face pinched, her lower lip sticking out slightly. “That’s not fair.”
Courtney knelt, bringing her face to Olivia’s level. “You have to take over for me next year, okay?”
Olivia wiped at her eyes. “How do I do that?”
Courtney placed her hands on the girl’s little shoulders. “It’s so easy. You just be yourself, okay? Don’t let anyone tell you what to do, like we talked about.”
Olivia nodded. Her green eyes shifted and stared up at Riya. She leaned forward and whispered into Courtney’s ear, “Is that your girlfriend?”
Courtney hesitated, unsure how to explain. She settled on a nod.
Olivia gave her a gap-toothed grin. “She’s beautiful.”
Keeping Her Secret Page 18