This chapter contains a little bit from Adam's POV. The songs usedare 'Barque in the Harbour' and 'Widow in the Window' by Great Big Sea, aka The Coolest Band in the World.

I just thought I'd say- where I have Adam now, I was originally going to have good ol' Jon, but I decided that since he and Naomi became good friends at LAPA and he matured, (In my mind) I'd just leave him at that. So, now we have Adam.

"And what do you plan to sing in this talent show?"

My mother wasn't completely opposed to the idea, because it seemed to give her a shred of hope that I might give in to her whims and make the sort of music she wanted.

"One of my original compositions."

"On what instrument?"

"The only one I know how to play, Mom."

"I'd like to hear this original composition."

I sighed and went to get my guitar. The arguments had subsided, and now we mostly just regarded each other very coldly. I knew for sure that she wouldn't approve of my composition... so, setting my electric guitar back down, I picked up my acoustic, and decided to play a song that Grampy had taught me. It was a traditional folk song from Atlantic Canada, one of the many he'd picked up on his trips there. Of course, my Mom wouldn't know the difference.

I sat down in front of her and began tuning - a little slower than I had to- and finally played a longer introduction that I had to.

These days, I was going out of my way to bother her with little things.

I decided that I might as well sing, otherwise she'd be sitting there all day giving me that patronizing look.

"From a barque in the harbour I went roaming on shore,
And stepped into a pub where I was oft' times before,
And as I was sitting and enjoying my glass,
Who chanced to walk in but a young Spanish lass..."

"What kind of song is this?" She wrinkled her nose.

"It's generally called 'Celtic' music, Mom, and Grampy used to teach me this stuff all the time."

It caused her to fall silent.

"She sat down beside me and kept squeezing my hand
And saying, "Sir, you're a stranger, not long to this land
Will you roam jolly sailor, would you roam along with me?
To some lonesome spot where nobody can see."

"This song is a bit provacative." She sniffed. I shrugged.

"Yeah, but what can you do about it? Don't you leave me jolly sailor," were the words she did cry.
Waiting and weeping and wiping her eyes.
"When you reach home in your own Newfoundland
Think of the young Spaniard who kept squeezing your hand."

"I suppose it will do," She said, getting up to leave, oblivious to the fact that it wasn't my song.

I guess I picked up more than I thought I did in those acting workshops at LAPA.

Waiting for the nightingale to sing
Waiting for the harbour lights to dim

Again, I'm thinking about her. I wondered what had made us cross paths. Something in our personalities clicked the second we met, I think, and yet it was almost like trying to fit together two matching puzzle pieces together when one already had another piece in it.

I've been on the outside looking in
While the widow in the window waits for him

I wondered about this guy. This Sodapop, that she felt so strongly for. She said that he'd hurt her, but, to be fair, she'd hurt him. She wished she could have cut herself loose, but she couldn't let him go.

But he won't be back, won't you realize that? He's laughing at your sorrow...

It was the hardest thing in the world, to see a beautiful girl like Naomi, so young, with such a promising future, pining away for some guy that didn't realize how lucky he was to have her.

Waiting for a ship that won't come in
Waiting for a tear to reach her chin
I'm knocking, but she will not let me in

I only hoped that she wouldn't do anything rash... and suddenly I wanted to meet this guy. I mean, I should hate him. I really should. But I don't. I know that at some point, be must have been as crazy about Naomi as I am now... so how different could we be? I bet... I bet that if we ever meet, and there's not a fight in the first couple of minutes, we might get along...

And he won't be back, can't you realize that? He's laughing at your sorrow...

She'd be so upset if I ever told her how I felt. Like she needed to move on, because this guy wasn't coming around. He'd been making her wait for months now... how could he possibly love her? She was wasting away for him. I needed to help her.

How can I explain, your love is all in vain
While he wastes your precious hours
I could fill your days with flowers...

But then... maybe I just needed her. Maybe I was making up excuses for myself. If she needed help, why me? I wasn't anything special. I probably couldn't even measure up to this Sodapop, who seemed to be nearly perfect, the way Naomi talked about him.

How can I replace the smile upon the face
of a lover that I can never be?

No.

I slammed my fist down.

I'm going back there this summer. I'm going to ask Naomi if she's thought about it. I'm going to help her, even if it kills me. I'd heal her wounds... and I'd treat her right. I'd treat her like a queen... like the angel she is, and like the susperstar she's going to be... and maybe I'll meet this Sodapop. I think I might like the guy.

How can I begin to make you love again
I tried to make you see.

Yes... I'd help her. My poor, precious, broken angel. We needed each other.

How can I explain that your love is all in vain
While he wastes your precious hours
I could fill your days with flowers..
Flowers...

"Alright, Miss Sterling, whenever you're ready."

I smiled, stepping back from the microphone a little bit to begin my song on the guitar. It wasn't extremely hard rock, but it was enough that my mother would be miffed.

"Maybe I'm getting tired of sitting and waiting,
My patience to stand here is slowly fading,
I meant when I said that I would wait for you,
But not if it's the only thing I'll ever do..."

For the first time in a while, I actually enjoyed myself onstage. The song flowed freely, andI didn't make a single mistake.

When I finished my audition, the judged stood to clap. I smiled and brushed my hair out of my eyes, slightly flushed. Then, the rest of the audience (It had been open to the public) slowly got to their feet as well. Except for one person.

A woman sitting in the back row, who got up and left, her arms crossed over her chest, her face set in an angry expression. At this, I felt a burning anger inside of me.

Mom...