Chapter Two: The Talent Show Sign-Up Sheet
The next morning Jess was early to school. Will found it funny, because ever since she and her mother had adopted Jess from her abusive foster home, Will had been dragging her new sister out of bed every morning. She knew Jess wasn't a morning person, she was more of a night person. She would stay up all night talking to Will, and, often, sneak out to go for a midnight run with her puppy, Sunny.
When Will woke the next morning, she was worried that Jess had been hurt on her midnight run before she found the note, written in Jess's messy handwriting
Dear Will,
I went to school early so don't worry. I'll see you when you get here.
-Jess
So Will didn't worry. She trusted Jess.
As if!
"Jess, what are you doing?" she asked, somewhat accusatory, when she saw her at school.
"Nothing. I just thought that I would…you know…show up early." She shrugged and stared at the floor like she always did when she felt embarrassed.
"Hey Jess," Cornelia said as she rounded the corner. The girls shared a tense glance before both decided to forget the incident at the pool. "Hey Jess, I saw your name on the sign-up sheet for the talent show."
"What are you going to do, show them your guardian powers?" Irma asked as she and Hay Lin rounded the corner.
"No," Jess whispered. She was staring at her feet, her face flushed. "I thought I would…sing."
"Sing?" Will asked. "I've never heard you sing before." She had occasionally entered a room to hear Jess singing to the radio, but she always hushed as soon as she saw her. "Are you any good?"
"I don't know…I guess."
"Well, silly, sing for us." Hay Lin piped up. "Here, pretend I'm the judge." Jess giggled as Hay Lin tried to look stern and judging and that eased her awkwardness. She took a deep breath.
"I was alone in the dark
Never let down my guard
Closed the curtain on my heart
So the world could not see
All the demons in me
Told myself I was free
Then you showed me how wrong I could be
Now I'm standing on a mountain of rubble
That once was a wall
Took years to build around me
And you came along
And you tore it down
Like it was nothing at all
Now it's a little scary
Learning to fall." Jess smiled as she finished. Will smiled.
"You've got that talent show in the bag," Hay Lin said, and, remembering her judge act, she added, "I give this young lady an eleven." Jess giggled.
"Thanks Hay Lin."
"Hey wait. You, my friend, are going to have some competition. I signed up to sing as well." Cornelia said. Jess suddenly looked worried and Will decided that this was a good time to boost Jess's constantly dwindling confidence.
"Hey, who cares who wins or looses as long as you have fun?"
"I do!" Cornelia chirped and Will rolled her eyes. "Don't worry Jess, I'll go easy on you," Will could've smacked Cornelia as Jess's cheeks flushed red and she stared at her shoes.
By the time Will had made Jess go into the theater, Cornelia had already finished her audition. Ten minutes later, Jess's name was called and Will and Cornelia gave her the thumbs-up, Cornelia had decided to be encouraging, as Jess ascended the stage, gripped the microphone, and handed the teacher her CD. She took a deep breath.
"I was alone in the dark
Never let down my guard
Closed the curtain on my heart
So the world could not see
All the demons in me
Told myself I was free,"
Her confidence building, she flashed the audience, a few teachers and students, a flirty smile and began to dance.
"Then you showed me how wrong I could be
Now I'm standing on a mountain of rubble
That once was a wall
Took years to build around me
And you came along
And you tore it down
Like it was nothing at all
Now it's a little scary
Learning to fall,"
"When you looked in my eyes
Past the fear and false pride
You saw goodness inside
I can't believe how I feel
I believe love is real
And I'm ready to heal
You show me how right I can be
Now I'm standing on a mountain of rubble
That once was a wall
Took years to build around me
And you came along
And you tore it down
Like it was nothing at all
Now it's a little scary
Learning to fall"
She flashed Will and Cornelia a soft smile and took another deep breath. The giggled and gave her the thumbs-up.
"I was holding on, now I'm letting go
I was holding on, now I'm letting go
I was holding on, now I'm letting go
Now I'm standing on a mountain of rubble
That once was a wall
Took years to build around me
And you came along
And you tore it down
Like it was nothing at all
Now it's a little scary
Learning to fall"
The song came to an end and the room applauded, Cornelia and Will among the loudest. Jess sighed with relief as the teachers conferred amongst themselves. "Jessica, dear, can you go sit over by Cornelia? We need to talk to you both." Jess nodded, she was headed that way anyway.
Jess flopped into a chair next to Will as the teacher approached them. "We have a problem here, girls. You both did wonderful, heads and shoulders above the rest of the singers, but we only have room for one singer. I want you girls to do a duet."
"You mean sing together?" Cornelia asked.
"Yes, Miss Hale." He smiled at them. "I'm sure you girls can do it." Jess nodded and Cornelia glared.
"Don't worry girls, you'll be great." Will said softly. Jess smiled shyly.
"That means that you're gonna have to start speaking to me again, Jess. Come on, I didn't mean to nearly drown you." Cornelia said. Jess stood and left the room. Will rolled her eyes.
"I'll go talk to her," she said, following behind her stubborn brown-haired friend.