Page 54 of Not My Little Drummer Boy
Teddy and I trade baffled looks. How is winning a problem?
Loreena’s voice lowers. “The rules said ‘one Stellar Riot song’. That wasn’t one of them, was it?”
“No. It will be.” Teddy’s answer is quiet and steady. “But not yet. So I guess we broke the rules.”
“I’m sorry. I have to disqualify you.” Relief flickers behind Loreena’s apology; she’d rather muzzle a controversy than spark one. “Your charity—”
“It’s fine,” Teddy cuts in. “The real prize would be getting it on thealbum.”
He turns to me. “Rachel?”
I look at the tally sheets—the neat columns I used to live for—and let them go. The only score that matters is his song.
“Singing it tonight was prize enough,” I say, and mean it.
Loreena exhales, grateful. “Thank you. The song-challenge win goes to the runners-up—Haley and Christian—and with it the twenty grand,” she reminds us gently.
“It’s okay,” Teddy says. “Memories That Matter has a few friends with deep pockets.”
I have a feeling he might be one of them.
Loreena’s smile tilts. “And to soften the blow, Tommy and I won’t let the other charities walk away empty-handed. Five thousand pounds each—you earned it with the way you all threw yourselves into the fun.”
No one objects when Haley and Christian’s names are called; Teddy squeezes my hand as The Oaks residents applaud, pride still bright in his eyes.
After the prize giving, the band crowds in.
“Where did you get that song from, mate?” Ollie asks, grin fighting a frown. “I mean, it was fucking awesome…Since when did you write?”
Christian’s look is steadier. “Why didn’t you tell us, mate?”
I bite back the urge to answer for Teddy. He told them in his way. They missed it.
Garrett claps Teddy’s shoulder, gentler for once. “Did we make it feel like you couldn’t?”
Teddy rubs his jaw. “I didn’t… hide it. I just—” He exhales. “You two were the ‘songs’ guys. I was the drum guy. It got noisy in my head. I didn’t want to be the drummer who suddenly has a song and makes it a thing.”
One beat. The hurt flickers.
Christian nods, owning it. “We should’ve made room. Sorry.”
Ollie’s grin falters. “Look, I know we take the piss. Sometimes we forget it gets under your skin.” His mouth quirks back into its usual playful curve. “For what it’s worth, I’m equal parts buzzing and bricking it. Might be surplus to requirements soon.”
Garrett squeezes Teddy’s shoulder again. “So we fix this. Bring us the tune tomorrow.”
Teddy glances at me, then back. “If you’re in, I want it on the album.”
“We’re in,” Christian says, simple as that. “Wish I’d written it myself.”
“That’s the album closer sorted.” Garrett says, reading the room with a slow look round; one by one, the lads nod. Decision made.
“Now we just need her on harmonies,” Teddy says, brow cocked my way.
“Fine—if Ollie takes the tambourine,” I grin.
Christian laughs. “Give him something to do when he’s off lead vocals.”
Ollie bows. “I will jingle with dignity.”
