Chapter 5 A Stage of Their own

The stage lights were harsh during rehearsal, painting everyone in gold and nerves. Zara squinted from the wings, notebook in hand, watching as two students fumbled through a rap routine. Her turn was next.

Ethan joined her, his guitar slung across his shoulder. "You ready?" he asked.

"Not really," she admitted.

He grinned. "Good. That means it matters."

When their names were called, Zara's heart thumped so loud she thought the microphone might pick it up. She followed Ethan onto the stage, feet heavy with fear, palms clammy with anxiety.

They stood in front of the mic. Ethan strummed a soft intro.

Zara took a breath-and began.

Her voice was barely a whisper at first, the poetry laced with emotion. Then Ethan joined in, his melody wrapping around her words like a comforting blanket. The music built, their rhythm synced perfectly, and for a few minutes, they created something that didn't belong to the school, the crowd, or Kendra.

It was theirs.

When the last note faded, there was silence.

Then, applause.

Not thunderous. Not overwhelming. But real.

Backstage, Zara leaned against the wall, heart still racing.

"You killed it," Ethan said, eyes bright.

"You didn't sound too bad either," she said, smiling despite herself.

He hesitated, then took her hand. "We make a good team."

Zara looked down at their fingers, then up at him.

"Yeah," she said softly. "We do."

But in the shadows of the auditorium, Kendra watched.

And she wasn't clapping.