Center Stage - Chapter 29

Saturday afternoon, I got the text I’d been hoping for. It had taken a few days from Hal agreeing to let Cole open to working out the details on the back end. I’d insisted on being the one to call him first and ask him to open, and we were now at the point where we were ready to start scheduling him.

I felt bad that, other than a few texts here or there, we hadn’t really spoken since a little after the end of the show. That was on me. Between school and everything, I’d been busy, and once you back burner someone, they kind of slip to the back of your mind.

“Charlie! Hey man, long time no talk.”

“Yeah. That’s on me. Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to finish the show and vanish.”

“Hey, I get it. You’ve been busy. Number one EP! Dating out with supermodels! I wouldn’t have time to call me either.”

“We weren’t dating, we were …” I started to say, a little annoyed when he started laughing.

“I’m just busting your balls. I followed the drama. I know you and Kat are forever, but … damn, I can’t believe you had a chance at that and had to pass it up.”

“It was never like that even once. Her management wanted to try and get some press and pushed her to do it. There was never anything between us.”

“Okay, okay. I’m just saying. So, what’s up? Just calling to remind me I have a famous friend.”

“No. I actually called with an offer. How’d you like to open for me on my summer tour?”

For a second, he didn’t say anything. “You serious?”

“Dead serious. It’s going to be a good tour too. Short, but good. We’re doing eight cities in four weeks, so it’s going to be a crazy schedule, but the venues are going to be big. We’re opening with Madison Square Garden.”

“You’re kidding me!”

“Nope. If you accept, you’ll be playing in Madison Square Garden in August.”

“Of course I accept. Are you joking? This is huge.”

“I know. For both of us. I’m actually really excited to have you on the road with us. It’ll be nice to be on tour with someone who isn’t causing drama for once.”

“No drama from me,” he said, laughing.

“Good. Anyway, someone will be reaching out in the next few days about contracts and travel arrangements and everything. I just wanted to be the one to ask you.”

“I’m glad you did, and thanks for thinking about me, Charlie.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t want anyone else,” I said, and then a thought struck me. “Hey, you know what? Why don’t you come out to the Olympics with us in July? Kat’s competing, and we’re all going to be there to support her.”

“Umm, yeah, I think that would be okay,” he said, although he was hesitant.

I wasn’t sure if he was bothered by the cost of it all or if he thought it was a strange request, but I did think it would be a good chance for him to get to know the band and establish a connection there. Plus, I’d had an idea that I thought could be great.

“Don’t worry about anything. I’ll have my people arrange everything so all you have to do is show up. We’ll go right from there to New York, so bring stuff you need for both enjoying the Olympics and show stuff. I think we’ll have a one-day break if you need to fly home after New York before we head to Atlanta, and the label takes care of all that. I know you met the band a little, but I think it would be good for all of us to hang out before we get out on the road and get the chemistry going.”

“Sure. That sounds incredible. I’m in!”

“Great. See you then,” I hung up and immediately dialed Kat.

“Hey,” I said when she answered.

“Hey. I thought you’d be on the way to the Blue Ridge by now?” She said.

It was late enough I probably should have gone already, and I was half out the door when I’d gotten the text about Cole.

“I’m on my way now, I just got the okay for Cole to open for us and wanted to call and give him the invitation.”

“I’m assuming he took it?”

“Yeah, he’s excited. I also invited him to come to Tokyo with us, have a chance to hang out with the band and build up some chemistry.”

“That’s fine with me. You know I like Cole. We’re going to have a pretty big group with us.”

“I know, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing and I can afford it, I think. It’s worth it, anyway. Besides, I was thinking something else. Have you talked to Alina today?”

After Alina visited Wellsville and met Kat, the two had surprisingly become really good friends, better in fact than I was with Alina. The two talked a couple of times a week and had an ongoing text conversation. I think Alina was really desperate for a real friend, and maybe even for a real female friend who wasn’t always competing with her and wishing for her downfall. I think that’s what she wanted most of all, actually. Alina and I were friends and we talked every week or two, but she and Kat had become close.

“So, is Alina still talking about wanting to find a boyfriend?” I asked.

“Yes…” Kat said skeptically.

“I was thinking maybe we invite her to Tokyo too.”

I could actually hear the thought hit Kat’s brain.

“You think they’d work?”

“Based on everything you said. You and Hanna said he’s handsome, he’s confident but not cocky, he’s a good guy, and she did say she’d thought she’d meet a real cowboy when she came to the US. So…”

“Yeah. Maybe. You want me to invite her?”

“Sure. I figure it’s worth a shot, and if not, just more people to cheer for you.”

“I like the sound of that,” she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “Okay, I’ll text her now. You get headed out or you’ll be late.”

She wasn’t wrong. “K. Have fun at practice. I love you. Bye.”

“Love you too,” she said, and hung up.

This just might work.

***

Monday was my graduation. It was still a little surreal that I was done with high school, although I wasn’t sure this was as impactful as seeing the school on Friday, seeing the building for the last time.

Still, all of the senior class was there, people I’d known for the last three years, both in good and bad. I was sticking with Cameron and a few of the other lunch people until they stuck us in alphabetical order and we got split up. In almost no time, we were walking into the gym, where a small stage had been set up with a large screen behind it showing pictures from the senior class over the last four years. Some were clearly from their freshman year, with everyone looking like little kids almost. It included a few kids I didn’t recognize which, in a school the size of ours, meant they’d probably moved away before I moved here.

Others were from moments I remembered clearly. Baseball games, a group outing to Taco Corner, pep rallies, and a whole bunch of moments I half remembered in the halls and classes. There were a few bad memories. Aaron in the background of this photo, Coach Bryant in the background of that one. It hit me then that I’d survived all of that and come out the other side.

I honestly hadn’t been sure that was possible so many times.

I looked up into the bleachers and saw many of the people who’d made it all possible. Mrs. Phillips, Hanna and Kat, Warren, Lyla and Tabitha, Seth, and Chef, who was probably most responsible for getting me to where I am. While I very well might not have survived school to get here without what he taught me, it went beyond that. My music career and literally everything I’d made out of myself would not be possible without him.

He gave me a wave and I smiled at him.

It wasn’t just them though. Scattered around were faces of kids who’d graduated over the last few years but were home from college, some of whom were unfamiliar to me and others were friends who’d moved far away, that I hadn’t seen or really spoken to in a year.

We filed into the thirty-nine cloth-covered chairs lined up in front of the stage that had a few seats on it, with a few teachers, members of the school board, Dr. Wallace, and the mayor.

As I took my seat, Dr. Wallace stepped up to the podium, clearing his throat.

“Today, we gather to celebrate a milestone in your lives, the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and personal growth. As you sit here, on the cusp of adulthood, I want you to take a moment to reflect on the journey that has brought you to this point. Throughout your time at Carr High School, you have faced challenges, overcome obstacles, and discovered your own unique strengths. You have acquired not only academic knowledge but also valuable life skills that will serve you well in the years to come. The lessons you have learned within these walls, both inside and outside the classroom, have shaped you into the remarkable individuals you are today. As you embark on this new chapter, I want you to remember that greatness lies within each and every one of you. It is not measured by the accolades you receive, the titles you hold, or the material possessions you acquire. True greatness is found in the impact you have on the lives of others, the positive change you bring to your communities, and the indelible mark you leave on this world.”

He paused, letting that sink in as he looked over all of the gathered seniors.

“Each of you possesses the power to make a difference. Whether it’s through your chosen career, your volunteer work, or simply the way you treat those around you, you have the capacity to influence and inspire others. Embrace this power and wield it with compassion, integrity, and a sense of purpose. As you step out into the world, I encourage you to pursue your passions with unwavering dedication. Follow your dreams, no matter how big or small they may seem. Don’t be afraid to take risks, to fail, and to learn from your mistakes. It is through these experiences that you will grow, both personally and professionally. Remember, the path to success is rarely a straight line. There will be obstacles, setbacks, and moments of doubt. But I want you to lean on the support of your family, friends, and the community that has nurtured you.”

He paused again, placing his hands on the piece of paper he’d been reading from and looking at us, as a group, like he was looking at each of us in turn.

“You are a remarkable group of individuals, each with your own unique talents, passions, and dreams. As you leave Carr High School, know that you are prepared to make your mark on the world. You have the knowledge, the skills, and the character to achieve great things. So go forth, embrace the challenges, and pursue your passions with all your heart. Be the change you wish to see in the world. Make a difference in the lives of others, and never underestimate the power of your own potential.”

He stopped and everyone clapped.

It wasn’t a bad speech. A little formulaic, I guess, hitting all of the graduation clichés, but I think that’s what we wanted anyway. At least I know I did. I wanted that graduation experience. It was a rite of passage.

“Before we move on to the valedictorian and salutatorian speeches, I asked Charlie Nelson to come up and say a few words. I know this is unusual, but Charlie has done a great deal to put Wellsville on the map and I think he has a unique perspective that I believe his fellow students could learn from. Charlie?”

I stood up and made my way to the stage, very aware of all the eyes following me. I’d already felt a little pretentious about this, since I shouldn’t be giving a speech at all, but after his speech about greatness being inside of you and not the accolades you received, and then he invites me up because of the accolades I’d received.

Stopping at the podium, I looked out at everyone kind of staring back at me. It was weird, I’d played to audiences of thousands, but I was nervous to speak in front of a few hundred people.

Of course, normally I couldn’t see all of their faces and they weren’t my peers and people I’d known for several years, but still. I unfolded a piece of paper with what I wanted to talk about in front of me and took a deep breath, centering myself.

“I know you guys want to hear from Zach and Millie, so I won’t take up a lot of time,” I said, looking back and smiling at the top two kids in our class. “This day is for all of us, so I don’t want to make it all about me. I’ve done that enough over the last few years.”

That at least got a few laughs.

“When Dr. Wallace asked me to say something, I really wasn’t sure what to say. I’ve mostly been very lucky, more than anything else, and I know many of you have talents and skills that can take you a long way. But I think there are a few things I learned, getting my shot, that I wanted to tell you, for when you get your moment. The first thing, biggest thing I think, is to never let anyone tell you that your dreams are too big. There will be people in your life who tell you it’s too big, too far, or not worth it. Your dreams are yours and they’re never too far or too big for you. But, and there’s always a but, I also learned that chasing your dreams comes with a heavy dose of responsibility. It’s not easy and there’s no shortcut. Dreams that seemed impossible at times. But what I’ve learned is that dreams aren’t just about the moments when everything goes right. They’re also about the moments when everything seems to go wrong. It’s about waking up early to practice when you’d rather sleep, about studying late into the night when your friends are out having fun. It’s about understanding that every step, every sacrifice, brings you closer to where you want to be.”

I paused, looking up and out at everyone.

“We’ve all faced adversity. There have been times when the weight of expectations felt too heavy, when the road ahead seemed too long and uncertain. But in those moments, I learned that true strength isn’t just about pushing through on your own. It’s about facing challenges with compassion… for yourself and for others. It’s about recognizing that everyone around you is fighting their own battles, and sometimes, the greatest strength lies in offering a hand to help someone else up. More importantly, it’s about accepting a hand up.”

I looked out toward the stands, where my friends and family sat.

“That’s one of the most important lessons I learned. You’re never too strong to ask for help. Society often tells us that we need to be strong, independent, and self-sufficient, and those are all good things, but none of them mean you have to do everything alone. But the truth is, asking for help doesn’t make you weak, it makes you wise. Whether it’s leaning on family during tough times, seeking advice from a mentor, or simply admitting when you don’t have all the answers, these are the moments that define us. These are the moments that build the bridges to our dreams.”

I could see Chef and Mrs. Phillips smiling back at me and I’m glad they got my message, since it had been directed at them as much as at my classmates.

“As we go forward, let’s carry these lessons with us. Let’s remember that our dreams are worth every ounce of effort, that compassion is the greatest tool we have to meet adversity, and that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. And… this is just the beginning. The world is wide open and full of possibilities. Let’s face it with courage, kindness, and the knowledge that together, we can achieve anything. Thank you, and congratulations. We made it.”

I really hadn’t expected much, so I was surprised when most of my classmates stood and started cheering for me. A few, notably Harry and some of Rhonda’s friends on the cheerleading team, remained seated, looking grumpy, but even kids I didn’t get to know well were on their feet. And not just clapping like they’d done for Dr. Wallace. They were actually cheering, shouting out their support for me or just the school.

Maybe it was just self-doubt or imposter syndrome, but I expected them to be more annoyed with me than anything, since I’d caused so many inconveniences to the two and school over the last few years.

I’d been cheered by huge crowds, but somehow, this felt better.

***

“Maybe cut it down. It just isn’t rolling off the tongue,” Lyla said.

We were on our tenth pass so far that afternoon of Appalachia Wanderer, the last song we needed for the new album. It was a lot more pop folk than stuff I’d done before, but I’d been shown a video of a band out of Ireland playing and the catchy song really worked its way in, giving me an idea for a new song. I’d really been struggling with the last one.

We’d been on such a writing spree I was starting to feel a little wrung out mentally and wasn’t sure I’d find the last idea.

When I’d brought it in the previous week after I’d gotten home from school, they’d liked it, but it had needed a lot of work. Now that school was out, we’d really gotten to it and made a lot of progress. Which was good because we had to be in LA for recording the next Monday, and we had one week to get the album in the can.

But we had to finish this song first.

“What do you mean cut down?”

“‘Searching for a place to finally call my own,’ I don’t know about it. The rhythm’s off.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Actually, I think it might be the part after that,” Seth said. “What if we cut that and just end with searching. You’ve already drawn out ‘Appalachia wanderer, lost in these lands all alone’ so that it takes a full measure, right? You break apart search for a place, split the syllables up, and the second half should fit. Then we just cut it. The song was already a bit short though, so with that, we might want to think about a third voice.”

“Yeah,” I said, marking through a line on the sheet and making tab notes, since the guitar part would change with it. “How about this.”

I sang “appa” and “lachia” as separate words, and “wanderer” as one, then I did the same thing with “Sear” and “ching,” so the pattern matched. It did work better, he was right. I kind of missed the last part, but after putting in the third verse, we tacked that onto the final chorus so we could end with ‘Appalachia wanderer, I’ll never let it go,’ and then repeated the ‘never let it go’ as part of the outro, said in softer and kind of thrown away.

“Okay, yeah, that works,” Lyla said. “I like that the lyrics are sad but the melody isn’t. It makes me have to think about it.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was going for. It’s exactly what that Irish song I heard did, so I was trying to capture that feeling of … confusion, I guess.”

“Well, you did a good job,” Seth said.

“Okay, let’s switch to the last verse and…”

I was interrupted when the garage door opened and Mrs. Phillips came in. Unlike Mana, Jean didn’t hang out with them when they were practicing, since the garage was secured, and was inside somewhere.

“It’s here! The new SoundWave just arrived!” she said, holding up the issue.

I hadn’t heard the mail truck come through, but they’d reinforced the garage, making it more part of the house than a place cars could park. A side effect was that it had become practically soundproof, something the neighbors were probably happy about. We all dropped what we were doing and crowded around her. Seth nearly tripped over his drum kit in his haste to see.

“Let me see!” Lyla snatched the magazine from Mrs. Phillips’ hands, getting an upset mother look, but not even noticing it. “Holy crap, we look amazing!”

I peered over her shoulder, and she wasn’t wrong. The photographer had been creepy and weird, but he hadn’t been wrong about some of the poses he’d had us do. I actually remember the one that ended up on the cover, with me sitting on a stool, foot up, glowering at the camera, with Lyla behind me, hand on my shoulder and Seth a little behind her, kind of turned sideways.

The title made me cringe, both because it was clearly only about me, and not the band, and because it was a little too grandiose for my taste.

“So you’re a music sensation, are you,” Seth said, smiling.

“Shut up,” I said, taking the magazine from Lyla and opening it up, finding the article.

They now looked over my shoulder as I read it. It actually wasn’t a hit piece. The opposite, in fact. It did talk about my past and the problems with my parents, but from the standpoint of overcoming the challenges and poverty, beating the odds. It talked a lot about overcoming adversity with only a small section talking about my actual musical ability.

Mrs. Phillips must have noticed his facial expression because she asked, “Something wrong with it? I thought it was nice.”

“It is, but I’d prefer to be known for how I play, and not for being a hard luck case. Yeah, I get it that my past is a little sensational, but that doesn’t mean that’s all I want to be known for.”

“It’s not,” Lyla said. “They didn’t mention it at all in the review of the EP. But even if it was, so what? People like drama and need a story about the celebrities they support, and you’ve got a story. If that means we’re going to get more fans, more sets, more interviews, then we’ll take it and run. Do you want to make this a career, or do you want to be an artist? Stop being a prima donna.”

She pronounced artist ‘ar-teast,’ but she didn’t put any anger behind her little rant. She also wasn’t wrong, I guess.

“Yeah, okay,” I said.

“This is going to sell us more,” Seth said. “For sure.”

“And it’s pretty cool,” Mrs. Phillips said.

“Alright. I’ll give you that,” I said.

And it was. I was on the cover of a freakin’ magazine.