Center Stage
Copyright© 2025 by Lumpy
Chapter 29
Saturday afternoon, I got the text I’d been waiting for. It had taken a few days after Hal agreed to let Cole open to get all the details on the back end worked out. I’d insisted on being the first one to call him and to ask him to open for us, 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 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 to 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’m actually calling 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 of 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 the stuff you need for 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 left already, and I was halfway 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. Anyway, it’s worth it. Besides that, I was thinking of 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 together?”
“Based on everything you said, yes. 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, it’s 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. “‘kay. 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 still felt a little surreal that I was done with high school, although I wasn’t sure this was as impactful as leaving 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, through both the good and bad. I was hanging 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 of the senior class over the last four years. Some were clearly from their freshman year, with everyone looking almost like little kids. 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.
So many times I honestly hadn’t been sure that would be possible.
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 was. 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 have been 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 and 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, holding 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 out 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.