Chapter Ten #2
And he doesn’t take those shocked eyes off me.
I’m not sure how long we just stare at each other, but the crowd seems to get restless and they start booing.
Noah’s bandmates try to get him to snap out of it, but he’s still gaping at me like he has no idea who I am or how I got here.
Eventually, though, he snaps out of it and resumes singing. But I guess he’s flustered because he has no idea what song they’re playing or the lyrics. Wyatt and Mateo try to help, but it’s too late. Everyone demands they get off the stage.
The guys scurry off like they’re worried the building might collapse on them.
The next band comes to set up and everyone resumes dancing and chatting like nothing weird happened.
And I’m just standing here, replaying what just happened over and over in my head. Not the part about them messing up the song, but the fact that Noah was singing.
Eventually, I get a drink and stand on the side, sipping and watching everyone else have a good time.
Maybe I’ll text Penny that I’m leaving, but darn it I’ll need to catch a ride with someone.
Or ask Mom or Dad to get me. But they told me they’re going out on a date.
I think on Dad’s motorcycle, which Mom loves.
Too bad Liam doesn’t have his license yet.
“We need to talk,” a voice says from behind me.
Whirling around, I find Noah standing there. He looks like typical Noah, except his normally perfect hair is disheveled. And his clothes aren’t as neat and pressed.
“Evie, can we talk?” he says. “Please, it’s important.”
He looks bothered and frustrated and angry with himself. And a little hopeless and lost, too.
“Okay,” I say.
He nods and leads me out of the club and to an alley in the back where there are no people. He paces, running his hand through his hair and disheveling it some more.
When he finally turns to me, he says, “You can’t tell anyone what you saw tonight.”
“What?”
He paces again. “I didn’t expect you to be here. Teen clubs don’t seem to be your style, and this one is far from Edenbury.”
“It’s Penny’s favorite club and she begged me to hang out with her and Hannah tonight. Can you stop pacing? You’re making me dizzy.”
He doesn’t stop pacing. Actually, it gets even worse and now he’s tearing at his hair. If he keeps at it, he’ll have nothing left.
“What the heck is going on?” I demand. “You’re in a band?”
He finally stills and stands with his back facing me. He doesn’t say a word, his chest heaving as he breathes heavily.
I cross my arms over my chest at the cold that’s not due to the weather but him. “Noah.”
He finally turns around, his expression unreadable. “Evie, promise you won’t tell my parents or sisters.”
I inch closer to him. “Tell them what? That you’re in a band?”
Nodding, he slumps down to the ground, his hands going to his hair again.
“Unless you want to become bald, I think you should stop doing that,” I tell him.
He’s not listening to me.
I drop down next to him. “Okay, so you’re in a band. What’s the big deal? Why keep it a secret and why are you getting so bent out of shape? More than usual, I mean.”
He inhales a deep breath. “Because…because…” He looks at me and his eyes narrow. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
He opens his mouth to explain, then shuts it and shakes his head. “Look, it doesn’t matter why, okay? Just promise me you won’t tell them.”
I gesture around. “Last I checked, we’re at a teen club. A public place where anyone can see you. And with social media, you can’t really hide this from your family, you know.”
“I know, but my parents aren’t up to date with social media and Chloe kind of does her own thing with her friends and doesn’t really interact with other kids. So I’m hoping they won’t find out.”
I just stare at him. “I still don’t understand—”
He shoots to his feet. “No, you don’t. Just promise me you won’t tell them.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “You’re not giving me any info, so why should I listen to you?”
Sighing heavily, he drops back down to the ground. “Because you owe me.”
“What?”
“You saw how terribly we performed tonight. It was all because of you.”
I gape at him. “Are you serious? You’re blaming me for what happened tonight?”
“Yes, I am. It was because I saw you in the crowd that my mind went blank. Now everyone will tear us apart online and our reputation will be ruined.”
“I can’t believe you, Noah Barrington. You mess up and you dare blame me?”
“Seeing you there threw me off.”
“That’s your fault, not mine.”
He shakes his head. “It’s yours. You shouldn’t have been there. You told me nighttime is your art time.”
“Yeah, well my friends begged me and I couldn’t say no.”
He bends forward, his chest heaving. “Evie, you don’t understand why this is important to me, but please, from the bottom of my heart, I’m begging you not to tell my family. Please pretend you didn’t see that. And ask Penny and Hannah not to tell them, either.”
My mouth opens, but no words come out. I might not be his biggest fan, but seeing him so broken and lost doesn’t feel right. I don’t want to hurt him further.
I throw my hands up. “Fine. I mean, I don’t know why you’re keeping such a big secret from your family, but I won’t tell them. And I’ll ask my friends not to tell.”
His body nearly collapses with relief. “Thank you, Evie.”
“Sure, Shnookums.”
He groans, banging his head against the wall.