I’m pretty sure I’ve spent more time in this gymnasium over the last two weeks than I did in all four years of high school but it’ll all be worth it in the end.

Just two more days and this will all be over. Forty-eight hours until the fruits of my labor are complete and I’ll, hopefully, be able to wake up on Wednesday morning to a few bright, smiling faces rather than the usual judgmental glances. Even if I change just one person’s mind about me. Just one pebble can create a ripple that reaches to the far edges of the pond. That’s all I need.

The warm weather gave us a break and Coach Rogers has taken PE classes outside, allowing us to set up the stage and hang up the decorations a few days early. Music at these things usually blares over an old speaker from a scratchy CD but not this year.

This year, it’s live. Thanks to me.

Natalie, Claudia, and I stand in front of the stage, watching the third and final swing band play their audition set. The others sway with the music, shimmying and shaking their hips while I keep still and watch the musicians as they play.

I hate dancing. But I like music. More than listening, I like watching it. Music, especially live, creates an invisible wave, like a pulsing gust of wind. You can feel it on your skin, seeping into the depth of you to shake and rattle your bones — but only if the musician really cares. Anyone can play a few notes. It takes an artist to play a song.

Out of the three we’ve seen today, this band has convinced me the most. The sound is a little sloppier than the first band — far better than the second — but the musicians here are having the most fun out of all of them.

Fun is kind of the point, after all.

Natalie nudges my ribs, pulling me out of my muted trance and I smile to signal my enjoyment. The song ends and the instruments lower while the three of us break out in applause.

The band leader stands up from his keyboard and wipes the sweat beneath the brow of his hat. “So, whaddya think?” he asks.

Natalie and Claudia look at me, their eyes slightly twitching with nerves, as if their opinions aren’t valid until I give mine. It’s strange, to say the least. I’ve never been that girl before; the one everyone looks at first to set the trend.

“That was excellent,” I say.

Natalie nods with enthusiasm. “Ahh! It was awesome!”

“So great!” Claudia adds.

The band sighs with relief and a few of them exchange high-fives with each other. They must be new to the world of professional gigs but that just makes them a little more endearing.

“In fact,” I say, “I think you’ve got the job.”

His jaw drops. “Really?”

I glance to the girls and they instantly fall in line, bobbing on their toes and smiling wide.

“Yes!” Natalie says, stepping forward. “So, you’re available on Tuesday, right?”

I ease away, letting her take care of the details with them as my insides rumble a little more in my chest. The rhythm lingers for several moments as I stand over the corner table with long ribbons that still need to be sliced for the streamers. For a second, I catch a phantom whiff of cigarette smoke and gin.

One blink and it’s gone.

Natalie’s squeal beside me brings me out of it. “Getting a band was such a good idea!” she says, staring at them across the gym as they pack away their instruments.

I pick up a pair of nearby scissors. “Well, with a theme like this, you need live jazz.”

“I can’t wait to see the look on Sara’s face when she realizes how right you were.”

I chuckle. “You and me both.”

“Okay…” She picks up the clipboard sitting on the table. “What else do we need to get done?”

I glance around the gym. “Tonight, we needed to book the band…”

“Check!” she says, scratching it off the list.

“Finish hanging the streamers...”

She flicks her pen again. “Almost check!”

“Did you talk to Lucky about donating ice?”

“This morning.” She nods, checking it off. “She’s having twenty bags dropped off an hour before the dance.”

“Will that be enough?”

“That was more than enough last year but the RSVPs this year are crazy,” she says.

I shrug. “People must love USO stuff.”

“Oh, it’s not the theme. People are freaking out because word kinda sorta got out that there’s going to be a band. Pretty sure the last instrument played around here was the organ at Maude Granger’s funeral last summer.” She nudges my ribs again. “You may just be the cupid who saved Valentine’s, Jovie.”

“Really?” I ask, letting my grin take over.

“Or they just want to see in person how badly the committee will screw up now that you’re on board. It’s a real toss-up.”

My smile fades. “Yeah, that’s equally as probable.”

“I’m kidding.” She chuckles for a second, then stops. “Sort of.”

I trim another piece of ribbon and set the scissors down. “Okay, the band, streamers, ice… that just leaves pulling the last few tables out of the storage room beneath the stairwell and…” I groan, “finding myself a dress.”

“And shoes!” She points a finger at me. “Never neglect the footwear.”

“Okay, that just leaves tables, a dress, and shoes.”

She flashes a wink. “And when are you squeezing in the quickie?”

I blink. “The what?”

Two thick arms wrap around me from behind.

I yelp as my toes dangle several inches off the floor and my heart leaps from the sudden upward motion. I twist my head around to see his handsome face grinning at me and my pulse relaxes.

“Will, what are you doing?” I ask, my voice echoing across the gym.

He sets me back down but holds me close to kiss my cheek. “Five-thirty, right?” he asks. “We need to swing by your dad’s house for your stuff before he gets off his weekend shift.”

“Oh, right…” I glance at the unfinished decorations. “We’re actually really swamped here. May have to do it some other time.”

“Jove, either we pick up more of your clothes tonight or you have to learn how to use my washing machine,” he says.

I shudder. “You mean it’s not just a big vibrating house that’s fun to sit on?”

He smirks. “Not always.”

“Boo.” I pout. “Well, if anyone can make fabric softener seem sexy, it’s you.”

“Oh, just wait until I teach you about bleach. It’ll drive you crazy.”

I laugh and reach for the scissors across the table but Natalie snatches them first.

“Go,” she says, nodding toward the exit. “Claudia and I will finish hanging the streamers.”

“You sure?” I ask.

She shrugs. “There’s really not much left to do tonight and you two are bordering on so-cute-it’s-gross right now, so…” She waves her hands. “Go. Shoo. We’ll meet up here tomorrow night to make the finishing touches and then we’ll stay late to re-do the things that Sara doesn’t sign off on… which is always basically everything.”

I step away from the table. “Okay, sounds good.”

Will grins. “Thanks, Natalie.”

“You’re welcome, Will.” She smiles back and swings to the other end of the table to get started.

“Got everything?” Will asks me.

I check my pockets, feeling into my jacket for my wallet. “Yes,” I answer.

“Good.” He glances over my shoulder at Natalie with sly eyes. “So, what was that about a quickie?”

“Slow down, Will,” I tease. “Just because we are in high school again doesn’t mean it has to be like high school again.”

“Oof!” He winces with amusement. “Well played, Ross.”

I start walking toward the side doors. “Besides, I’d rather get my stuff before Hank gets home. It’ll be simpler that way.”

“No, you’re right.” He throws his arm around my neck and pulls me in to kiss my cheek. “I like to take my time anyway.”

“Oh, I know…”

“Getting grosser.”

We turn back to look at Natalie’s shaking head and I stick out my tongue at her as we exit outside.