9781250209153

practice, stretch on the grass near the marquee, which someone tweaked just
this morning to read HAPPY VALENTITTIES DAY. Gunther and I sit on the trunk
of my car, talking with Kevin, who just left the band room, and Danielle,
who’s so hyper she’s bouncing on the balls of her feet. Again and again, we
recap the moment her name was announced over the intercom. I’m bursting
to go home and tell my family about it.
“Hey, Danielle, congratulations!” one of the band guys says as he passes
by. He shifts his trumpet case and points to Kevin. “This guy has the best
ideas. The second he told us he was writing you in, we all went for it.
Anyway, good luck!”
Kevin flushes where he stands. Danielle blinks like she’s not sure what
she heard.
“You wrote me in?” she asks. Her voice is tender. It’s such an intimate
moment that I wish they could share it alone. Gunther and I trade awkward
glances.
“Is that okay?” Kevin asks croakily. “I know I should’ve asked for your
blessing, but I thought no one deserves it more than you—”
“Hey! Danielle!” Irene and Honey-Belle burst onto the scene. They
smother Danielle with hugs; it takes her a moment to register they’re there.
“Congratulations! This is incredible!”
Irene’s face is alight; she’s genuinely thrilled. Honey-Belle is so happy
that she looks ready to float away from the earth.
“Oh—yeah—thanks!” Danielle says, hugging them back.
“Congratulations to you, Irene!”
“I never thought I’d have two friends nominated!” Honey-Belle squeals.
She spins over to Gunther and smushes his face between her hands. “Can
you believe it? It’s like Christmas!”
Gunther grins like a total doof. “Coming from you, that really means
something.”
I don’t realize I’m smiling so hard until my cheeks literally start to ache.
I glance across the circle at Irene, who catches my eye and grins. It’s
already occurred to me that I’m going to have to pick between her and
Danielle on the voting form, but right now, I don’t care. There’s too much
to be happy about.