Chapter 21 Cadence #2
“Thanks, Sunshine.”
Just as I go to return my head to his chest, the music dies out and Embreigh jumps on the mic. Everyone quiets down and turns their attention to the front of the stage.
“Hey, everyone! It's now time to crown this year's homecoming King and Queen!” Students set out in applause and cheers. But I am lowkey dreading this part. I can feel the deflate of my dopamine, knowing that this could make things look really awkward for those who have been watching us all night.
But again, it’s something I’ve prepared for and Zach assured me that it’s just a silly piece of metal and a title that means nothing to him. The only one who might make a big deal out of it is his ex and Ryen assured me that she is on stand by if she tries to do anything crazy.
But still…
Please be Brayden.
Please be Brayden.
I chant in my head, because in no way do I want to see Zach standing on stage next to a girl he used to date.
I think he senses my dilemma. He reaches for my hand and I let my fingers slide into his. It calms me, that’s for sure. But I still don’t know how I’m going to react if I have to witness the smile his ex is going to shoot my way when she’s on stage next to Zach.
“If it’s me, I’m not going up,” he whispers and my breath catches.
I look up at him, not sure what to say. I don’t want him to think that I’m so insecure that he feels he has to miss out. I mean, I should be proud no matter what. And I don’t want anyone else to think that I’m jealous or that I’m not proud of him. But his assurance is sweet
Everyone hushes down as Embreigh readies herself, leaning into the mic.
“And your Harper Valley Homecoming Queen is…” We all watch as she opens the envelope.
“She’s such a slut,” Ryen whispers next to me as Ashey’s name is called out.
“Ashley McNulty!”
I have to admit, Ryen startled me but her comment makes me laugh. The crowd claps and cheers as the queen waltzes up toward the stage
I lean my head over on Ry’s shoulder, still holding hands with Zach.
But then my heart starts to race as Em reaches for the other envelope.
“And your Harper Valley Homecoming King is…”
I squeeze Zach’s hand, inadvertently, but he returns the gesture and I just know without a doubt it’s his name in the envelope. He leans down and presses a kiss against my temple right as Em shouts his name.
“Zachariah Loft!”
Of course, everyone breaks out into screams and cheers. Even I smile for him. But he doesn't move, standing next to me and I look around seeing everyone’s eyes focused in our direction.
“Zach,” I whisper and he looks at me.
It starts to feel awkward, the way everyone scans the crowd and encourages him to go up when they spot him
“I told you, Cadie. I’m not going.”
The gesture is endearing, but I think at this point, this many eyes on us is starting to feel a bit claustrophobic.
“Zach, it’s okay. You can go up there,” I tell him. “Everyone is staring,” I add and he chuckles.
“Zachariah Loft!” His name is shouted again and I can see the hesitance in his eyes. But he smiles before leaning down and pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“I’ll be right back then,” he tells me before heading off into the crowd. Everyone cheers for him as he makes his way up to the stage and I too join in on the celebration.
Embreigh places the crown on his head right as confetti rains from the ceiling. The music starts playing, Safe and Sound by Capital Cities, and everyone starts dancing.
Even Ry and I shimmy a little bit. We watch as Ashley attempts to move closer to Zach on the stage, likely for a photo, but he puts distance between them and Ryen and I laugh.
I look up at the stage, smiling at Zach, waiting for him to come back to me, but something happens. His demeanor changes, his smile drops, and something darkens in his eyes. I pinch my brows together in worry as I watch him, everyone else oblivious to what’s happening.
The next moment, as confetti still falls from the ceiling and the music still brings everyone to dance, Zach tears the crown off his head and tosses it onto the stage, storming off in an instant.
A few people witness it and start to whisper.
“What the hell?” I say to Ryen as we watch him leave the stage in a hurry. “Zach!” I shout his name as I push past the crowd.
I spot Brayden who seemingly noticed it too, making his way toward where Zach ran off to, and I grab him before he gets too far. “What just happened?” I ask frantically as my brother turns to me.
“This song,” he says plainly before turning back around.
“This song?” I question, and Bray stops to face me once more.
“Cade, do you not know?” he asks me, staring into my eyes as I try to wrack my brain for what the heck he’s talking about.
“No? What?” I ask, desperate to understand what’s happening.
Brayden sighs, the lights swirl around him as the music still echoes. He dips his head before looking back up at me.
“Sophie…” he trails off and in a split second, it hits me.
“The CD,” I whisper, a somber feeling sinking into my gut. “This was the song?” I ask, pulling my eyes up to his. I feel tears sting in the corners of them and my heart aches when I realize what was just done.
What I’d just done.
I put this song on the playlist.
“I think I should go check on him,” Brayden says before turning back around but I stop him again.
“No, you stay here. I’ll go.”
I can see his apprehension, and something akin to confusion as well. But before he can decide to argue, someone from behind us calls his name, or close to it.
“Hey, asswipe, I mean . . . Brayden. I need to talk to you.”
We both turn our heads and I see Ryen standing off by the edge of the stage. Bray looks at me and I shrug, knowing damn well what she’s doing.
“Go. Now,” Bray tells me before walking toward Ryen who winks at me and I don’t waste a second more, dashing off after Zach.
I push past the crowd and make it into a clearing where I see his shadow moving down the hall. I chase after him and even call his name but it’s no use.
I try to keep up my pace and I hear something that sounds like a roar, and when I turn the corner, I find him; seconds away from throwing his fist into a locker.
“Zach, stop!” I call out, and immediately he turns his head.
He drops his fist and I can see anguish in his eyes.
I rush over to him, seeing tears stain his face. My heart breaks as I run into him, wrapping my arms around him and he returns the gesture, holding me tight to his chest.
I can feel how heavy he’d been breathing and I ache knowing the pain he’s experiencing.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper against his neck. “I didn’t know, Zach. I’m so sorry.” I can feel his tension relax a bit but I can still feel his heart beating in his chest.
“This is my fault,” I tell him. “I didn’t know that that was the song.
” I don’t know how I never knew that detail.
Sophie listened to one song on repeat in the car, I knew that.
It was the only song loaded onto a CD her parents kept in the car, I knew that too.
But how the hell did I never know what the song was?
Zach relaxes under me as he releases his hold. We lean back from each other and I immediately begin to wipe the tears from his face, and he does the same for me, and all I want to do is take his pain away. He’s been through so much. The last thing I want to do is contribute to that.
“I have an idea,” I say as I hold my hand out. “Phone.”
Zach looks at me, and I can tell he’s trying his best not to let the sadness and the anger take over. But he reaches into his pocket and pulls out my phone. I open my Spotify app and scroll until I find the song I want.
Sir Mix-A-Lot’s Baby Got Back starts playing as I place my phone down on the ground next to our feet.
Zach’s eyes widen as confusion swims in them but I smile, a little hint of mischief playing in my expression. I reach up and wrap my arms around his neck, but he doesn't move.
“Come one,” I say to him, playfully urging him to wrap his arms around me.
He shakes his head, a notion to tell me that I am out of my mind, before following suit and once we’re in position, I lead the steps.
We slowly sway back and forth to the tune of I like big butts and I cannot lie.
Zach tries his hardest not to break a smile, but I watch him nearly fail when I start whispering the words of the song softly, as if it were a lullaby.
Finally, after a few beats, I can see his smirk start to crack, his dimple making an appearance, and I smile with him, holding him close as I look into his eyes.
“I miss her so much,” Zach says to me in a quiet tone and my heart thuds in agony for him.
Sophie was the sweetest little girl. She was all smiles, jokes, and sarcasm.
She was thoughtful and is the reason why I have this sunflower bracelet around my wrist. She looked just like her big brother and I recall the day she’d told everyone that he was the bestest big brother any girl could have.
I remember the day of the accident clearly.
I remember all the boys showing up for the celebration party at our house after the game.
I remember feeling disappointed when Zach didn’t walk through the doors.
I remember Brayden’s face shift when he received the phone call.
And I remember the panic in my parents when they found out.
I wanted to hug him. I wanted to hold him and tell it was going to be okay. But I was only thirteen then. I didn’t really know how to be brave and I didn’t know what he really needed in that moment. He seemed sad and angry, but he wasn’t showing it. All I could do was grieve with him.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to him again, and he simply closes his eyes and leans in, pressing his lips to mine.
This kiss is electrifying. A passion burns behind it, bleeding with heart break but pure love. I can feel the way he craves to lose himself in it, wrapped up with me as we let tears shed from our eyes.