LUNA'S POV
Five minutes after the end of our last class, the five of us managed to locate one another and were trembling with great excitement. Upon entering the band room, however, it's only Mrs. V that we find, a small smile tugging at her lips as she writes the agenda on the board.
Everything seems too normal. Where are the celebrities?
The band and I wait with anticipation as more students file into the classroom. They all remain silent, sporting the same confused faces that we are. Finally, a student pipes up from the back of the classroom.
"Mrs. V, where are the visitors?" He asks, and Mrs. V finally turns her head. She seems slightly baffled at the amount of students that have entered since the toll of the dismissal bell, but she plasters on a smile.
"I shall reveal them when the time comes." Is all that Mrs. V states. Subconsciously, I find myself assessing the room for any possible nooks and crannies with which anyone could hide themselves in. Nothing unbelievably eye-catching. I flash a curious glance in Sam's direction, and she returns the look.
Once Mrs. V has taken attendance and ensured that everyone is here, she clears her throat loudly to gain attention. She doesn't have to put up much of a struggle, seeing how the members of the Royal Rumble are already enthralled in what she's about to say.
"As you know," Mrs. V begins amid the deep silence of the band room. "Today is the day with which I am going to introduce the musical celebrities I promised you."
Excitement is now at its peak as students begin murmured conversation. Mrs. V once again goes over the agenda for the rest of the year, and we all agree without hesitation. Mrs. V chuckles at our profound awe and anticipation.
"Now, for the moment you-and myself-have been waiting for." Mrs. V pauses, and the lot of us hold our breath. She turns to the band room closet, cupping a hand to her mouth. Sucking my breath through my teeth, my heart hammers in anticipation. My eyes don't stray away from the instrument closet.
"Michelle, Doug, you may enter."
Upon hearing the names issue from Mrs. V's mouth, I instantly freeze. I hold my breath, my lungs burning with the exertion. Heart hammering at a mile a minute, my pupils dilate upon the entrance of the two. Their appearance confirms my worst nightmares.
Michelle and Doug, judges on America's Next Hitmaker.
One after another, flashbacks from my experience on the show play on loop. They robbed me. Not of a material object, but of my spirit; my identity.
Replacing the piercing fear and anxiety, anger courses through me. Tears prickle in the back of my eyes, whether from anger or anxiety, I can't be entirely sure.
The two of them strut briskly to the center of the room, and the murmurs of my fellow classmates have peaked.
"I know them!"
"Who are they?"
"I've never heard of them before."
"They're the judges on America's Next Hitmaker!"
My eyes hesitantly find Michelle and Doug's. My heart skyrocketing towards my throat, I meet eyes with Michelle, and her eyes narrow upon recognizing me. The look launches daggers down my spine.
Without a second thought, I have Sam's hand in mine. Taken aback, Sam glances at me. Everything seems to move in slow motion after that.
"Luna, what's the-"
"We have to get out of here. Now." I state forcefully, squeezing Sam's hand all the more tightly. Sam nods curtly at my insistence. She guides me out of the room, an arm around my now trembling figure.
I scold myself not to look back, but I can feel their eyes boring into the back of my head. The murmurings of the band room cease upon our arrival into the hallway.
Sam is quick to address me. "Talk to me, Luna. What's the matter?" She rubs my shoulder reassuringly, and I shuffle my feet.
"It's… them, Sam." I state, a slight quaver to my voice. I exhale in hopes of quelling some of my increasing panic. Unable to bring myself to speak, Sam raises a curious eyebrow. "It's Michelle and Doug from America's Next Hitmaker."
My words are enough to heighten Sam's understanding. Her eyes widen; not to my surprise. I had told her the story once before, to which Sam had stated that she'd "break their legs" if she ever met them.
"Don't break their legs!" I interject when Sam subtly opens her mouth to speak.
"I wasn't going to, but…" Sam's voice dies down as we hear the door to the band room slam shut. Sully, Alex, and Mazzy encounter us upon skirting the corner. Each of their features portray sheer confusion.
"Woah, dude, you ran for the hills." Alex states, scrutinizing me with concern.
"Did… something happen between you three?" Mazzy pipes up, though it's obvious what the answer is. Still clinging desperately to Sam, I nod. "Let's just say the three of them aren't on the best terms." Sam murmurs.
"They made me…" I wave my hands exasperatedly in hopes of finding the right term. "Conform to their stupid rules." I grumble. "And, dudes, I wasn't having it."
"So, what are you going to do?" Mazzy asks hesitantly, to which I sigh with defeat.
"Running will only make it worse." I say to the collective agreement of my friends. "So, maybe I'll-"
The subtle creak of the band room door interrupts me, and my blood runs cold. Holding my breath, I peer down the hall. However, upon seeing the short and stout figure of Mrs. V approaching, I release a sigh of relief.
"It's just Mrs. V. Don't worry." I state upon withdrawing back behind the corner. My friends nod, evidently eased by the news.
"Luna, honey," Mrs. V says upon discovering the five of us huddled against the wall. "Is something wrong?"
There's a moment with which I panic. I spring back from Sam's embrace, the cogs in my mind working furiously. "Oh, I, um… was feeling a little… dizzy, that's all." I end up mumbling, stuttering immensely. "You know, I didn't want to end up passing out in front of the Michelle and Doug, right?" Just saying their names causes a disturbance of bile in my stomach. I swallow hard.
"Dear, that sounds concerning. Maybe you should spend the rest of rehearsal in the nurse's office." Mrs. V murmurs, scrutinizing me. I shake my head vigorously, blushing meekly with embarrassment.
"N-no, Mrs. V, that's not necessary, dude- I-I mean, ma'am." I gasp, trying in vain to cover my tracks.
"I'll walk her down, Mrs. V." Sam says confidently, stepping forward and wrapping an arm around me. I stiffen at the statement, baffled. "Sam, I-"
"It's alright, my love." Sam murmurs affectionately as she squeezes my side. Her words stun me into silence. "I'll bring her down." Sam repeats to Mrs. V, and the teacher nods feebly, looking me up and down as if assessing my ailment.
Sam guides me away from the scene, and I finally take a moment to breathe deeply. I itch to ask her what's happening, but I hold back until we walk the length of two hallways.
"Sam, I just told you that running is a bad idea." I state, and Sam sighs. "I-I know." She says. "But Michelle and Doug might give you hell for leaving and entering. I don't wanna risk it."
I snort with sarcastic laughter. I nudge Sam playfully, but she doesn't smile at my gesture. She maintains the same concerned expression. "Sam, I have to return anyway! So they're bound to give me hell sooner or later."
Sam sighs again, dragging me closer to her. I relish in the contact that we share.
"That was the wrong thing to say." Sam states, thinking thoughtfully. "I meant… This is tough news for you to digest. So, I think you need some time away from the Royal Rumble." Sam bites her lip nervously as she awaits a response. Her nervousness distills a guilt within me that seeps within every fiber of my being. She poses a good point.
"Yeah. That-that makes sense." I murmur, adoring the small smile that Sam provides me.
Sam and I spent the remainder of band rehearsal in the nurse's office, Sam significantly easing my anxiety. There were moments when the subject of Michelle and Doug completely left my mind, and I just found comfort and serenity in company with Sam. I finally realized upon watching her smile and laugh in that nurse's office that I love being with Sam. So much. Just the two of us.
Smiling and making conversation, Sam and I allowed the minutes to tick by until dismissal. It was particularly distressing when that time approached, and we had to cease our discussions.
"That was fun!" I gush, pulling Sam into a tight hug. We remain in the embrace for a good minute, Sam rubbing my back reassuringly. "Totally," She says sweetly, after we pull away from the hug.
"We should plan something together, you know? Just the two of us." Sam trances my freckles with a finger, and I lean in, kissing her lips gently. "I would love that." Is what I reply with.
Lori awaits me outside in Vanzilla, and the first two minutes of the ride home are spent in silence. Then, turning the radio down, Lori addresses me.
"So, how was the celebrity reveal?" She asks, and my heart plummets to my stomach. I breathe deeply, my sanity being stretched thin with every second.
"It was fine." I mumble briefly before averting my gaze to the window. "Well, that's good." Lori states. "Cause you'll be with them literally the rest of the year, right? There's no going back."
With each sentence Lori utters, my breath catches in my throat, and subtly, my breathing quickens.
You'll be with them the rest of the year.
I am aware of Lori addressing me, but I can't process her words. Too many are going through my head at the moment. Then, as if out of the blue, the emotions surface and reach boiling point. I try in vain to suppress my emotions, clenching and unclenching my fists with the effort. Then, suddenly, something breaks.
I release a loud sob, burying my face in my hands. Caught unawares by my drastic change in emotion, Lori swerves Vanzilla a little, coming to a screeching halt on the side of the road.
"Was it something I said?" Lori gasps exasperatedly with a hand to her mouth. I shake my head, gasping for air.
"Then what's the matter?" Lori asks, unbuckling her seatbelt and hugging any part of me that she can reach.
"Its-It's," I hiccup, swallowing hard. "It's Michelle and D-Doug, the judges o-on America's Next Hitmaker." I stammer, wiping at my sopping eyes.
Lori's eyes widen. "You literally have to be joking with me." She states, and I shake my head vigorously, releasing another pent-up sob. "N-no, it's true…" I croak from within Lori's embrace.
The two of us are silent for a moment as we hug, nothing to be heard except the occasional sniffle from me.
"How about this, Luna." Lori states, wiping the tears from my cheeks with a thumb. "I'll take you to Sam's house. She could be an immense help right now."
Startled, I hiccup gently. "Are you sure? You would do that for me?" I question feebly, and Lori nods. "Of course, sis." She replies.
"B-but I don't have to do your laundry or organize your sock drawer in order to get a ride?" I murmur, unable to fathom's Lori generosity. My sister laughs at my question, shaking her head. "No, not at all." She says.
Wiping the remaining tears from my eyes, I smile blearily. I undoubtedly feel much better after the outpour of emotion and at the prospect of knowing that I won't be spending this afternoon alone.
I'll be spending it with Sam.