Other Side of the Tracks by Charity Alyse

Author:Charity Alyse
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2022-11-22T00:00:00+00:00

Zach

THE WHOLE TIME, MY FINGERS tingled and my heart raced. I knew that today wasn’t about me. It was about getting Capri to that audition and watching her kill it. For some reason, I felt like a seed had gotten planted somewhere in the soil of the universe with my name on it, and it was going to sprout something that would change the world.

She hummed as we walked, but slowly, it got quieter until she made no sound. Nothing was audible except our footsteps. Then, when we’d reached the clearing just before Bayside’s main road, she froze completely.

I smiled. “Don’t tell me you’re getting last-minute nerves. It’s too late to turn back now.” I looked at my phone’s time. “The ferry leaves soon.”

She didn’t smile back or spew out a sarcastic remark, like I expected. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest and frowned.

“The last time I was in Bayside was when me and Justin were real young kids. We came here to catch the ferry to New York to see one of Essie’s shows. We ain’t been here since that day. I was always taught to stay away ’cause we ain’t wanted here.”

I slowly walked up to her, closer, and closer, my feet crunching against the leftover snow buried in the grass. The tip of her nose was bright red from the cold, her eyes distracted, darting everywhere, from left to right, not focusing on what lay ahead for her.

I placed my hands on her shoulders. “Hey, hey,” I repeated softly until she fixed her eyes on mine. “Last night you said you’re not gonna let nobody ruin this for you.” I gestured to the town in front of us. “That means them included. Capri, you’re so close, don’t let your fear of whatever happens or doesn’t happen keep you from doing what you came here to do.”

She nodded, the glassy look in her eyes washing away. Good, I was getting somewhere.

“I promised I’d be with you all day. If I can sneak out of my house and come to Hamilton, despite all that was said about it, spit a freestyle from the top of my head while nerves eat at my insides, face your scary brother, and spend my life savings on a ferry ticket to New York City, you can hold my hand and walk through Bayside to that audition in New York City that I promise you’re going to ace.”

She took a breath and let it out, sending fog all around us.

“Life savings, huh?”

“Every little penny. I was saving up for a new soundboard too. Now it’s all gone and there are no refunds.” I stretched out a hand in front of her.

She reached out her hand, but hesitated. “You’ll be with me the entire time?”

“I won’t leave for a second, even if I have to pee, I’ll just go to the girls’ room.”

A small smile formed on her lips, then I felt the warmth of her palm in my own. I squeezed her hand and she squeezed mine back, in response.

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