Page 48 of Next to Everything We Wanted

“Why am I always out of the loop?” I heard Hayden ask Dallas.

“That makes two of us,” Dallas said with a sigh.

I frowned, worried about what was going on with Oliver. While he was open to hearing about our problems, he brushed his own off. I knew too well what it was like.

After getting ready, the party started without a hitch. When we came out on the stage, the kids let out wild screams like we were The Wiggles or something. Did kids these days even know about them?

“Good afternoon, cats, dogs, and everything else you are!” Dallas said in the microphone, enthusiasm shining in his voice. “We are Like Airplanes, and we’re here to give Chrissy the best birthday party ever!”

A girl with red hair, dressed up as a tuxedo cat, grinned as everyone clapped.

“Today we’re going to start off with Chrissy’s favorite song from her favorite band, Somewhere in the Sky,” Dallas continued.

“It’s our favorite band, too,” Raina said, and she turned around to wink at me. Ugh, if we weren’t in a room full of kids, I’d so flip her off. “Chrissy gets a point for having great taste.”

Chrissy giggled. “Thank you!”

We played “Time Machine”, a song that Gavin had written for his band’s second extended playSomewhere We’ll Go. While the music was upbeat, it was an emotional song when you paid attention to the lyrics. It was about wishing to go back in time to erase mistakes and just enjoy life. As I strummed my guitar, I couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted him to write this song. What was the thing he wished he could erase? Did it have to do with his stage name?

Focus, Sienna.

After we finished the first song, a game of Bingo started. We performed a few popular songs from kids’ radios while they played, and it faded my focus away from Gavin and his secrets.

At the end of the second song, a boy had won the game of bingo and paraded around the room with his hands high in the air. He lifted his arm for people to cheer for him. Only a few kids gave him cheers while everyone else moaned that they didn’t win.

Ah, the lovely time of being a kid.

If only mine hadn’t ended so soon.

Gosh, why couldn’t I turn my brain off?

By the end of the two-hour party, my feet were aching from standing for so long. Sweat ran down my back, and it didn’t help that the air wasn’t on for half of the performance. We had fun, finishing off with our newest songs “Disaster” and “On My Own”, but it wasexhausting.

After we left the stage, Chrissy and her friends rushed over to us for autographs. Mollie and Bella went up to Oliver to annoy him about the performance. While most of the kids begged for Dallas and Raina’s attention, a little hamster approached me.

“Can you sign this?” Her voice shook as she handed me a small notebook. She had a rich accent, one I immediately recognized. “You were my favorite.”

My insides came to life as I beamed. “Thank you.”

“I want to play the guitar like that,” she said, her brown eyes meeting mine. They were dark yet warm, reminding me of a pair of eyes I could no longer look into.

I swallowed and took the notebook. “What’s your name?”

“Dina. I just moved here from Mexico.”

“Hi, Dina. I’m Sienna.” I smiled, taking out my hot pink flair pen. “My grandparents were from Mexico. I used to visit them there.” I handed her the notebook. “There you go.”

“Thank you, Sienna.” She grinned. “When are you visiting Mexico again? I’m going after school gets out.”

“I’m not sure. I haven’t been since my grandparents died.”

She frowned. “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t make you feel sad.”

“You didn’t,” I said, despite the pain that wedged its way into my chest. Maybe if my grandparents hadn’t died a few months apart, Mom wouldn’t have left us. And I wouldn’t have to deal with that stupid letter waiting to be opened. “Don’t worry.”

Dina shook her head. “You look like you need a hug.”

Tears burned at the back of my eyes as I wrapped her into a tight hug. “Thank you.”