Page 65

Xavier

The setting sun bleeds purple across the festival grounds, casting long shadows over the sea of bodies. I still can't wrap my head around this crowd—thousands of people pressed together, waiting to see Salt Vein.

Waiting to see me.

The current band wraps their final song, and the roar builds. From the wings, I watch a large group of girls shriek at pitch-perfect eardrum-shattering frequency. I wince, then laugh when I hear Seb's scream even louder.

"YEAAAAHHH, BAYBEEEEEEE! SALT VEIN, YOU FUCKING ROCK!" He pumps his fist in the air, nearly knocking Caroline's drink from her hand. "GO X-MAN!!!!!"

The crowd pulses with glow sticks and LED bracelets, creating rivers of neon in the growing darkness. The whole Sandy Haven crew managed to stake out prime real estate near the very front of the main stage. About twenty of them drove down in convoy to support our first large-scale concert. The only one who didn't come is Dylan, since massive screaming crowds are a bad idea for him. But Silas is recording the whole thing, and we're going to have a viewing party when we get back.

Some other people who made the trip?

Candice and Denise, and Magg's mom, Credence. They drove down together, and they're somewhere farther back, where the fans aren't as intense, no doubt taking more photos than my entire friend group combined. The three of them are wearing matching homemade Salt Vein T-shirts that say "I'm with the band. "

My mother's here, too. She got VIP tickets for her and some friends, farther away from the stage, where they have an awning and comfortable seats, and a private bar. But still, she's here.

My father, thankfully, is blissfully absent.

Cam paces in tight circles, drumming his fingers against his thigh. His usual calm exterior has cracked, revealing raw energy beneath. "This is real, right? Like, actually happening?"

"Nah, man, we're all having the same dream." Tyler flips his drumsticks, catching them with practiced ease. "Group hallucination."

Liam adjusts his guitar strap for the hundredth time. "Shut up, I'm trying not to puke."

I grin."You're not gonna puke."

"Easy for you to say, Mr. Natural-Born-Rockstar." But Liam's smile breaks through his nerves. He shakes out his arms a few times, then seems to go right back to chilled-out Liam.

The crowd chants our name, the sound building like thunder.

Salt Vein. Salt Vein. Salt Vein.

A warm breath tickles my ear. "A wee bit of a step-up from the Foundry, huh?"

I turn, my whole body lighting up at the sight of Maggie. Her pink hair glows in the stage lights, and her eyes sparkle with excitement.

"Hey, beautiful."

When our lips meet, the roar of the crowd fades to background noise.

"Xave!" My brother's high-pitched voice pipes up behind Maggie.

I crouch down to Finn's level as he barrels toward me, meeting his extended fist with mine. His curls are pushed back by a sturdy set of noise-canceling earphones, and he's bouncing on his toes, practically vibrating with energy.

"Everyone's screaming your name! Did you hear them? They're so loud! " Finn's eyes are wide as saucers. "And look," He digs into his pocket. "I brought you a good luck tattoo!"

Maggie grabs a water bottle from a nearby crate and crouches down next to Finn and I, helping him press the transfer paper against my bicep. The design appears—a large yellow cartoon star wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses, clutching an electric guitar. Above it, retro seventies-style letters spell out "Certified Rock Star."

"There." Finn nods. "Now you're gonna be awesome."

We fist-bump again. "Thanks, dude."

The screaming from the crowd intensifies as the stage crew walk out and place a few water bottles by the instruments and main mic.

I straighten up, pulling my shoulders back in a stretch. The movement lifts my T-shirt slightly, and I catch the exact moment Maggie's eyes lock onto my lower half.

Her entire body freezes. One hand flies to her mouth. Tears spring to her eyes, catching the stage lights.

"Oh my God," she whispers, wiping at her cheeks. "Xave… I can't believe—You're wearing—Oh my God, I love you so much."

I grin down at her, taking a deliberate step back so she can see the full effect. "You like 'em?"

Maggie laughs through her tears. "They're hideous ," she hiccups. "I love them!"

Her eyes scan the navy pants covered in tiny embroidered red lobsters that I hunted down especially for tonight. Her tears flow faster now, but she's still laughing. She shakes her head, eyes locked back on mine

"You beautiful, talented, ridiculous boy…" Her gaze skims my body again, taking in the God-awful pants that ride low on my hips, then up to the loose T-shirt with ripped-off sleeves I paired them with. She bites lightly on her plump lower lip. "Only you could make lobster pants look cool." She lifts my T-shirt, just enough to trail her fingertips along the ridges of my abs, and lets out a breathless, “Damn, you are hot, Mister Fancypants Rockwell.”

Finn looks up at Maggie, then back at my pants. He brushes a small finger over one of the lobsters and makes a face. "I think they look kinda stupid."

Maggie and I both burst out laughing .

Then her arms loop around my neck. “You know what this means, right?” she teases, rising on her toes. “You have to play your best show ever now. No pressure.”

“No pressure,” I echo, but my voice is soft, because I owe so much to this girl. Finn and I? We'd be a mess without her. I wouldn't even be doing this show if it wasn't for her. " You're the certified rock star," I murmur against her lips.

Behind us, Tyler groans. “For the love of God, not here.”

Cam snickers. Liam straight-up cackles.

A tech waves us over. “You’re on in two.”

I grin and pull Maggie in by the waist, kissing her again quickly.

"Break a leg," she says then pulls back, reaching for Finn's hand. "You guys are gonna be awesome," she calls to the guys.

"You guys are gonna be awesome!" Finn echoes skipping off to the side with Maggie.

My heart pounds against my ribs, but it's not fear anymore. It's anticipation. Pure adrenaline.

The four of us huddle together, arms linked, heads bowed. The same way we did before our gig at the Foundry. Only it feels different tonight. More electric. More meaningful.

"Holy shit," Tyler whispers. "Holy-mother-freaking-shit."

"Let's do this, boys." Cam is chill again.

I nod. "Let's do this."

Just outside the wings, the cheering swells.

"Shoooowtime," Liam drawls.

The stage lights dim, and the screaming reaches a fever pitch.

We break apart, shuffling closer to the stage in a line, with fist bumps and shoulder claps.

My guitar feels alive in my hands. I look out at the crowd. Glow sticks arc through the air like shooting stars against the purple twilight. My heart pounds in sync with the crowd' s mounting excitement.

Suddenly, the stage explodes in a kaleidoscope of lights—blue, purple, red strobes cutting through the darkness. My heart slams against my ribs as the roar of the crowd swells into something massive. Almost primal.

Tyler jogs out first, raising his drumsticks high. The screaming intensifies. Liam follows with his bass slung low, nodding coolly at the sea of thousands, like he's strolling onto stage at a high school coffee house. Then Cam, flashing that wide, easy grin as he hoists his guitar.

Each entrance sends another shockwave through the festival grounds.

I exhale slowly, centering myself. A deep breath, a grounding moment. Then, gripping my guitar, I step out.

And I swear to God, the noise is deafening.

A wall of sound slams into me—thousands of voices screaming, chanting my name, our name, hands raised like a tide pulling toward shore. A sea of people, stretching beyond the stage lights, beyond the festival grounds. The energy is massive, swallowing me whole.

And suddenly the nerves kick in.

My hands are trembling, palms slick with sweat. I can barely breathe through the anticipation building in my chest.

This is really happening.

I step up to the mic.

The crowd's cheers surge along with my pulse. I shift the guitar strap higher on my shoulder. Then drag my fingers across the strings—a nervous habit that was born that night at the Foundry.

" Holy shit. " My gasp carries through the speakers, and I let out a low chuckle, when I realize the mic just broadcast my nerves to an entire sea of people.

I duck my head. Inhale once, steady. Then exhale slowly.

I can do this.

I lift my chin, grinning.

"Hey," I say, my voice deep and rough over the mic. "We're Salt Vein."

The screams sound like a jet engine. My heart feels like it could soar.

But it's not the crowd I'm looking at. My head tilts sideways, just enough so I can spot them off in the wings. I catch Finn's wide-eyed gaze first and wink .

He grins back, hands clasped together tightly beneath his chin.

Then my eyes sweep over to Maggie, who is watching me like I hung the fucking moon.

And maybe I didn't hang it. But I am the one who showed it to her. So I can't be that unworthy of her love.

I haven't been an epic disappointment so far.

So far, the ride has been bumpy and scary and sometimes wild. But also beautiful, and surprising, and better than any version of my life I ever dreamed I could have.

"This is a song I wrote about a girl… " I say into the mic, "Who is everything." I tilt my head so I'm looking at Maggs. My fingers still on the strings. "This one's for you, Lambkins. It's called Even Beneath The Stars. "

I hope you enjoyed Maggie and Xave's story.