Page 40 of Tar City
When the music ends, there’s no applause. One judge scribbles something. Another looks at me like she’s trying todecide if I’m worth the breath it takes to speak. Finally: “We’ll contact you.”
I nod, because that’s what people do when they don’t know if they’ve just been chosen or erased, and walk offstage.
“Sisk!” Millie pushes through first, arms already around me before I can fully see her. “You did so good!”
“I don’t know. They didn’t say anything.”
“They never do,” she says quickly, pulling back to look at me. “That’s normal. You looked amazing.”
Lou appears behind her, giving me a small smile. “You held it together,” he says. “Better than most.”
“High praise,” I smile.
“It is, actually.”
I almost laugh.
Ivan steps in last. He’s still holding himself too still, like he forgot what to do with his hands. His fingers flex at his sides, then stop. His eyes flick past me, toward the stage, then to the wall, then back again.
“You were amazing,” he says.
I smile. “Thanks.”
Millie is still talking, something about celebrating, about Mom, and Lou is adding something, but it all starts to blur together.
I notice Ivan isn’t looking at me anymore.
“Ivan?” I say.
His head tilts strangely. “I—” He doesn’t finish.
That’s when I see him. Jax. He’s leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, his eyes on me.
My heart skips a beat. “I’ll be right back.”
Millie frowns. “Where are you?—”
“I’ll be right back,” I repeat, already stepping away.
I walk toward him.
“That was something,” Jax says, a smile pulling at his mouth.
I stop a few feet away. “What are you doing here?”
He pushes off the wall. “I was gonna take you out,” he says, glancing past me. “Celebrate. But looks like they got to you first. Can I pick you up tonight?”
“What?”
“My car’ll be outside.”
I glance back. Everyone is watching us now.
“I—” I hesitate. “I don’t know if?—”
“Just be ready,” Jax says.
My stomach twists. “For what?”
