by Jen Calonita
“Monday, I think,” Lidia said. She hadn’t heard anything since she’d auditioned last week. Miss Pattie Ann and the other teachers had put Lidia through a series of routines and floor exercises to see her skill level. Lidia thought she’d performed well, but there were a lot of steps she didn’t know, and it was hard to keep up with the routine they had given her twenty minutes to learn. Miss Pattie Ann said they’d have a decision for her within a week, which means she should have heard by now. She was glad she was seeing Jack to keep her mind off everything.
The crown! She spotted it on the floor.
“Did I tell you the Nightingales have a new co-captain?” her mom asked.
“What?” Lidia sat up fast. “Why can’t Sydney be the only captain?” She stuck the crown back on her forehead with double-sided tape.
“Between us, Mr. Wickey doesn’t think she can handle the group on her own,” her mom admitted. “They’ve had a hard time deciding on music and arrangements, and they’re not ready to perform at the Bradley Academy Open House next week either. Mr. Wickey finally stepped in and appointed Whitney as Sydney’s co-captain.”
“Whitney?” Lidia’s voice was shrill. “Sydney can’t stand Whitney! That’s going to make things worse. She’ll protest every decision Syd makes. She already fights us on everything!” She knew she sounded hysterical, but this was serious. “The group will go up in flames or Whitney will try to make Syd miserable so she quits and then Micayla will be co-captain!” She groaned. “Can you imagine the Nightingales run by Micayla and Whitney? The only thing they’ll sing is Katy Perry songs!”
Her mom pulled up to a light and looked at Lidia. “It’s not your problem anymore, is it?”
“But … ,” Lidia said. “Mom, this is wrong! You know it is. Fix this.”
“Mr. Wickey already did,” her mom said. “Don’t worry about it, Lidia. I’m sure the Nightingales will be fine.”
Lidia knew they wouldn’t be. Not with Whitney in charge. She couldn’t handle the thought of it. Her hand flew to her phone. She came thisclose to texting Sydney, but what was she going to say? Heard about Whitney? I’m sorry?
Lidia suddenly had a thought that made her stomach queasy. Did she quit the Nightingales because she wanted to join the dance team or because it was an easy way to avoid dealing with Sydney and Griffin? Which was really more important to her: dance or a cappella?
Lidia wasn’t sure anymore.
She really wished she had a nonpareil right now.
“This is your stop,” her mom said, pulling into the valet circle at the resort. Lidia watched out the window as Wonder Woman handed her keys to the valet in front of them. Then Hawkeye walked by wheeling a suitcase.
Lidia put her hand on the door to get out, praying she could walk in her tall red-vinyl boots. “Mom?” she questioned. “About the Nightingales …”
“Stop worrying and go have fun,” her mom insisted. “Text me when you need a ride home.”
Fun. Lidia could do that, couldn’t she? She slipped out of the car and headed into the resort. The lobby made her wonder if she’d been transported to Oz. Everywhere she looked—the check-in desk, the lounge, the coffee stand, the lines to get into the conference rooms—there were people dressed in costume. Babies dressed as Yoda, grandfathers done up as Magneto, girls rocking pleather as Black Widow. It was like hanging out at the coolest costume party Lidia had ever seen. There was only one problem: How was she going to find Jack?
Lidia felt a tap on her shoulder.
“My lady,” said a guy, who bowed and removed his top hat. “Look at you!” He took her in. “You are the spitting image of Sailor Moon herself.”
Jack! “So are you! Your costume is incredible! You look like you stepped out of the cartoon!”
Jack had on a black tuxedo with a jacket that made him look like a circus ringmaster. He had topped it off with a black cape that had a red lining. The white masquerade mask over his eyes was deceiving, but his smile was undeniably Jack’s.
“You’re not wearing your glasses,” Lidia noted.
“Contacts,” Jack said and pulled something out from underneath his cloak. He held a red rose in his white-gloved hand.
“Thank you,” she said shyly, wondering why she suddenly felt hot in her thin costume. “So what do we do first?” There were signs pointing people to fan-gathering spots, autograph sessions, and comic book Q&As.
“First we get some pictures.” Jack held up his phone to take a selfie of them. They tried several because it was hard to get their high headpieces in the photos. Finally, Batman came over and offered to take the picture for them. “That one is a keeper,” Jack said, marveling at Batman’s handiwork. They crowded around the phone as Jack put the picture up on Instagram. “We can say the Dark Knight took our first picture.”
“Our first” means there are more pictures to come, Lidia thought, her cheeks growing warmer. Even with everything going on with Sydney, Lidia had been excited about Jack’s invite. It was just the escape she needed. So was seeing him every few days. Lidia found herself looking for him on the bus, on the street in downtown Naples, and lingering in Kyle’s shop in the hopes she’d run into him. When she did, it felt like she’d won a lifetime supply of nonpareils. He was becoming the perfect pick-me-up.
She watched Jack talking but couldn’t hear him. She was too busy staring at his lips and wondering, Are we friends? More than friends? If I like you, does that mean I don’t like Griffin anymore? And if that’s true, does it really matter if he and Sydney like each other?
The questions overwhelmed her.
“There’s an autograph session starting in a few minutes, or we can get something to eat first,” she heard Jack say as he removed his mask. “Cosplay conventions always have the best-named food. Abomination Burgers, Hulk Shakes, Spider-Man Fries.”
“I could go for a Hulk Shake,” Lidia said.
Jack lead the way to a conference room with concession stands, and Lidia ordered a Green Hulk Shake while he chose an Abomination Burger.
“I’d let you taste mine, but I think I’m getting a cold,” he admitted. “I’ve been working on this app for my coding class around the clock, and sleep seems to be the last thing I have time for.”
“What kind of app?” she asked between sips of her green concoction. It was mint-flavored.
Jack leaned in close, a frantic energy seeming to take over him. “Imagine you needed to find a bathroom STAT and an app could tell you the nearest one. That’s my idea.” He bit his lip. “But it’s kind of hard to set up an app for every bathroom in the country, so I’m starting small—Naples.”
“I’d download that.”
“What about you?” he asked. “Kyle said you’ve been in the shop every day lately. Are you taking a lot of classes like you wanted?”
He’s talked to Kyle about me? “Yeah. I was practicing for an audition, so I needed to get in studio time whenever I could.”
“How’d it go?” He sounded genuinely interested.
“I messed up on my last leap, but I’m hoping the rest of my routine made up for it.”
“My Spidey sense tells me you got in,” Jack said with a grin.
“Spidey sense, huh? What else does your Spidey sense tell you?”
“That you seem a lot happier,” he admitted. “Did everything cool down between that guy you like and your best friend?”
The question rattled her, so instead she focused on the Charlie’s Angels walking by with a pizza shaped like Darth Vader’s helmet.
“Not really.” Lidia felt weird talking about Griffin with Jack. “It actually got worse. The guy seems to really like my friend, and my friend and I had another fight about it so … I quit the a cappella group.” She could see the surprise written all over Jack’s face. “It’s better this way. Now I have more time for dance.”
“But don’t you miss a cappella?”
“A little,” she admitted. “I miss seeing the other girls in the group. Some of us are friends.”
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“That’s a bummer you had to give up the group to get away from those two. Are they dating now?”
Lidia took another sip of her shake. “I don’t know. I try to avoid being anywhere they could be.”
“That has to be tricky when you all go to the same school,” Jack said.
“It is.” She shrugged. “There’s just not enough time in the day to go to dance and a cappella practice. I had to choose.”
“Did you pick the right one?” Jack asked.
Lidia stopped drinking and frowned. “I’m not sure.”
“This is complicated.” Jack shook his head. “Much more complicated than losing Mr. Krinkle to a technology malfunction.”
Lidia laughed. “No, losing your computer and your friends are equally terrible.”
Jack pulled his top hat down on his head and motioned to the line waiting to get into the event. “For now, what do you say we forget about coding and crazy a cappella groups and focus on cosplay? We could start by attending a Q&A discussion about the pros and cons of superheroes wearing capes.”
Now that was a topic she had a clear opinion about. Lidia smiled. “I’m all in.”
Julianna was waiting outside the theater doors when Sydney arrived. She shyly handed Sydney a piece of paper. “I was hoping you’d read this.”
It was time to stop hiding behind her fear. If she didn’t find a way to open up to Sydney, her Nightingale career would be over before it even started. She’d be forced to sing “Happy” in the general chorus. She had to stop coming up with excuses not to sing or share her music. First step: Share one of her songs.
Sydney read the lyrics, a small smile quickly spreading across her face. She looked at Julianna when she was finished. “Any chance you’ll sing this for me?”
Julianna’s first reaction was to panic, but this time she wouldn’t let it take over. She slowed her breathing and focused on the sound of her own heart quieting down. Then she closed her eyes and sang the first two stanzas, repeating the chorus.
“I can smell it in the air. I can feel it on my skin. The rain is coming and I can’t stop it. No, I won’t stop it. Let the rain fall down on me!”
Sydney hit her in the shoulder and Julianna stumbled backward. “See? You’re really good. The lyrics are great too! Why have you been holding out on me?”
“You think they’re decent?” Julianna asked, feeling lighter already.
“Yes! And so is your voice.” Sydney scratched her chin. “Maybe your problem isn’t performing in public. Maybe it’s trusting the people you’re singing with. The people at the mall and the ones gathered in front of the cafeteria were strangers. Maybe if you’re standing in the middle of our group, who you know and trust, you won’t be so worked up.” Sydney grabbed her hand. “Let’s go in and try it.” She pulled Julianna into the theater before she could argue.
“Okay, but practice started a half hour ago.” They walked in on a rehearsal already in progress.
Sydney stared suspiciously at the group of girls in mid-song onstage. “Practice is always at three thirty. Who started early?”
“I did.” Whitney had her hands on her hips. “This group is an aca-tastrophe and I need to whip them into shape.”
“Thank God you’re here,” Gabby whispered to Julianna as Sydney rushed to the stage. “Save us.”
“You need to whip them into shape?” Sydney questioned. “We’re co-captains now. Unfortunately,” she added under her breath. “Neither of us should be calling practices without the other one.”
“She couldn’t find you to tell you,” Micayla chimed in like she was Whitney’s secretary. “And there was no time to waste,” she said to the others. “The Kingfishers already staked claim to three of our song picks for the season, including the Ed Sheeran one, and we have the Bradley Academy Open House in less than one week. We are going to look like fools up there if we don’t listen to Whitney!”
“And Sydney,” countered Gabby. “At least she isn’t trying to stage a coup and make this group into a solo act.”
“Guys, why does it have to be a competition?” Viola asked wearily.
“I’LL SOLO!” said Mercedes.
“Ms. Heel would love a solo too!” added Donna.
“Why didn’t anyone suggest I solo?” whined Micayla.
“Guys, no one is soloing,” Sydney rubbed her temples as if she had a headache. “First, we have to pick some more songs.” She held up a list. “I have some here.”
“Why should you get to pick the songs?” Whitney grumbled, pulling a list from her pocket. “I have song ideas too!”
Everyone was talking over one another, then at one another, then Micayla jumped in to defend Whitney, and Gabby and Viola tried to back up Sydney. It got so loud, Julianna thought about covering her ears. Then she heard a loud whistle.
“Knock it off!” Viola said gruffly. No one wanted to mess with her. “We have to start listening to one another, not trying to tear each other down, or there won’t even be a group anymore.”
“Come on, guys,” agreed Pearl. “I’ve waited so long to get into this group!”
“We have to listen to Pearl and Viola.” Sydney looked at Whitney. “This may not have been the group we envisioned this year, but we are this year’s Nightingales. It’s up to us whether we come together as a group or fall flat on our faces.” The girls all nodded in agreement.
“We can start by holding up our hands when we want to talk,” Whitney suggested. “Sometimes I feel like I can’t even hear myself think when we are in the same room together.”
“And we need to listen to one another,” Sydney agreed. “If we don’t want to make complete fools of ourselves at the open house and competitions, we need to start getting along, even if it’s hard.”
Whitney sighed. “You’re right, but how?”
Sydney thought for a moment. “Why don’t we start by getting a feel for each other’s voices?”
Whitney nodded. “Let’s try singing a song together.”
“I have props!” Sydney ran for the box of pink wigs still sitting backstage.
“Props?” Micayla said with disdain.
Whitney surprisingly shushed her. “Why not? It could be fun.” Whitney grabbed a wig and plopped one on her head. She actually looked good with pink hair.
Gabby put on the light-up sunglasses. So did Viola. Mercedes accessorized her wig and glasses with a feather boa. Julianna put on a wig even though her hands were beginning to sweat.
“How about ‘Turn Up the Music’? Everyone knows that one, right?” Sydney asked, sounding serious even though she was wearing glasses that were flashing a rainbow of colors.
“Everyone jump in when they’re ready,” Whitney seconded, adjusting her wig.
Julianna wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready.
“Take whatever part you want,” Sydney added. “Go high, low, beatbox. Whatever strikes you. On the count of three.” She blew into her pitch pipe.
The song was starting. Julianna was supposed to sing, but could she?
The harmony sounded messy at first. No one was in the right key and some of the girls mumbled the first stanza. Then Pearl came in with some percussion noises and added a bass. Mercedes’s voice, which was usually so loud, came down a notch when she heard the other voices. Donna still used Ms. Heel, but her eyes were on the other girls. The song was starting to come together. Feeling emotional, Gabby pulled some of the other girls into a football huddle and their voices magnified.
Julianna couldn’t help but start to tap her feet to the beat. The song was calling to her. So were her teammates. No one looked mad or was trying to take over the whole song. They were a group and Julianna wanted to be part of it. Her heart was beating, but not as fast as before. Like you did with Sydney. Just open your mouth and sing, she told herself. She stopped thinking about her nerves and focused on the other girls around her. Then she opened her mouth and started singing.
“Turn up the music. Let the sound guide you. Turn up the m
usic. Don’t pay any mind to the other voices in your head. Just focus on me and let the music take you away, away, away!”
By the time the second chorus rolled around, Julianna was singing as loud as everyone else.
As Pearl beatboxed the last part of the song’s arrangement, the girls held the final note. When they were done, they all looked at one another.
All at once, the group started to scream and jump up and down.
“You did it!” Sydney said, tackling Julianna.
“I did!” Julianna said, amazed at herself. She’d felt something during that song she’d never felt before: free. She hugged Sydney tightly.
“That was fun!” Whitney said, sounding surprised.
“I know, right?” Sydney agreed. “Let’s do it again.”
Everyone laughed.
“But the Kingfishers are going to show up here any minute trying to steal our rehearsal space,” Gabby said. “They’ve been showing up earlier and earlier just to make us mad and ruin our rhythm.”
“You know what?” She looked at Whitney. “I think we should let them have the auditorium. This theater has nothing but toxic memories for us the last few years. We should find somewhere new to rehearse.”
“So true,” agreed Whitney. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Any suggestions?” Micayla asked the captains.
Sydney looked at Whitney again. “I have an idea if you’re up for it.”
Whitney’s eyes were bold. “I’m up for anything.”
Ten minutes later, they were standing in the school’s indoor aquatic center. The swim team was away on a swim meet and the offices were open but dark. After a quick chat with the lifeguard on duty, the Nightingales were allowed on the pool deck. The lighting was dim and almost bluish in tone. The water was perfectly still. It felt like they were the only people on campus.
“Don’t tell me we’re adding synchronized swimming to our routine,” Micayla said. The girls all laughed.
“Nope! Listen to the acoustics in here. Hello!” Sydney’s voice seemed to reverberate off the walls. “It’s the perfect place to practice a song for the open house. I think we should go with …” She cleared her throat. “I mean, Whitney, do you have any suggestions?”