Page 92 of Off The Rush
“Thanks,” I say, appreciating her kind words. But even with all the encouragement, the knot in my stomach refuses to loosen. Why does this recital feel so much more intense than the others?
As the final act before mine concludes, I close my eyes and visualize myself on stage, singing with every ounce of passion I possess. The applause, the cheers, the satisfaction of knowing I gave my all—these are the moments I live for.
“Emma, you’re up,” the stagehand announces, bringing me back to reality. I stand, my legs are shaky but determined.
“Alright,” I whisper to myself, taking one final deep breath. “This is it. Time to show them what I’m made of.”
Rachel grabs me right before I go on.
“Emma,” she purrs, coming to a halt in front of me. “I hope your three boyfriends are out there to see this.” Her almond-shaped brown eyes flash with malice, attempting to rattle my confidence.
I resist the urge to let her words bother me.
“Rachel,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “I don’t have time for your games. I’m here to perform, just like everyone else.”
“Good luck,” she sneers, giving me a mock salute before turning on her heel and disappearing into the darkness backstage.
“Thanks, but I won’t need it,” I whisper to her retreating figure, finally allowing myself a small smile. Taking a deep breath, I mentally run through my warm-up exercises one last time. This is my moment, and I won’t let anything or anyone get in the way.
“Next up,” the stagehand announces, “Emma Delaney!”
My heart races as I step onto the stage, the bright lights nearly blinding me. I can feel the audience’s eyes upon me, their anticipation palpable. But instead of letting fear overcome me, I channel it into determination.
As the music starts playing, I close my eyes and remind myself why I’m here. It’s not for Rachel, or even for Luka, JD, and Alec—it’s for my love of music, and my passion for sharing it with others. For the future I want.
With every note, I pour my heart and soul into the performance, embracing the vulnerability that comes with baring your emotions in front of a crowd. The fear and anxiety from earlier melt away as I lose myself in the song.
I can’t help but smile, knowing that my people are out there supporting me and that I am more than strong enough to face whatever challenges come my way.
As the last note fades into silence, I open my eyes and take a bow, my heart overflowing with gratitude and pride.
Chapter 40
I lie in my bed, the warmth of Luka and Alec on either side of me. The door clicks shut as Emma leaves, and I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. I never thought I’d want to share her with anyone, let alone my two best friends, but it just feels… right. Perfect, even. And I’m determined to keep this unique connection between us alive.
Alec shifts beside me, breaking the silence. “I guess that was for the best. We have practice soon anyways.” He sits up and stretches his arms over his head, muscles rippling impressively. “Can’t get in trouble today when we need to get to the recital after practice.”
He’s right, of course. As much as I wanted Emma to stay, there are more important things at hand. Like supporting her at the show. I reluctantly push myself up and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. Luka follows suit, his intense gray eyes watching me closely.
“Let’s get ready for practice,” I say, and the three of us begin our morning routine. The smell of coffee fills the air as we take turns in the bathroom, brushing our teeth and showering. Each action feels mechanical, my mind still replaying the disappointment of Emma’s departure. I could have used an outlet from my nerves for Emma.
“Hey, JD,” Luka pipes up, pulling me from my thoughts. “You good?”
“Yeah, man,” I reply. “Just thinking about how we’re going to kill it at practice today.”
“Damn right, we will,” Alec chimes in, grinning.
“Absolutely,” I agree.
The ice beneath my skates feels colder than usual as I glide effortlessly across it. The chill seeping through my gear is a sharp contrast to the heat I felt hours ago, tangled in the sheets with Emma and Luka. As much as I try to focus on running drills with my teammates, my thoughts keep drifting back to Emma and getting to see her perform.
“JD, you’re up!” Coach yells, snapping me out of my reverie. I push off hard and race down the ice, barely registering the puck as it whizzes by me. My nerves for Emma are distracting me, a sensation I’ve never experienced before. It’s unsettling, to feel this anxious for someone else.
“Nice job, JD,” Luka calls out sarcastically as he skates past me, shaking his head.
“Get your head in the game,” Alec adds, giving me a friendly shove on the shoulder. I nod, trying to swallow my nerves and concentrate on practice. But no matter how many times I tell myself to focus, my mind stubbornly returns to Emma, worrying about how she must be feeling right now.
Eventually, practice comes to an end, and I find myself skating past Alec and Coach as they exchange a few words.
