Monday at school, I saw Connor in the hallway before first period, talking to Selena and Harmony. A couple of freshman girls watched him from the safety of their lockers.
There was something different about Connor, but it wasn’t until chorus after school that I realized what it was.
He was dressed differently. Gone were his serviceable T-shirts and generic blue jeans. Instead, he wore a pair of tight stovepipe jeans and a stylish shirt that clung to his suddenly muscular arms.
I wasn’t the only one who had noticed. The girls in chorus were definitely checking Connor out too. His usual smile was absent, but that didn’t stop the flirty glances being sent his way.
I looked away and caught Dominic staring at me. I pretended to be fascinated by my shoes, which seemed like the safest thing to do at the moment.
I went to find a place to sit and noticed my favorite librarian, Ms. Johns, sitting in the back of the room with my guitar teacher, Ms. Minerva. I waved to them.
“I wonder what they’re doing here,” I said to Eva.
“Let’s get started,” Ms. Clare said. She was our choir director. She always wore a frown and her hair in a tight bun. “I am auditioning today for the closing solo for our spring performance. Who would like to try out?”
Dominic, Harmony, and Connor all raised their hands.
Connor went first.
“I didn’t know he could sing,” Eva whispered as he walked up to the microphone.
“He is in chorus,” I pointed out.
“Anybody can sing well enough to get through chorus,” she replied. “Look at you.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Thanks a lot.”
She nudged me. “You know what I mean.”
I raised a finger to my lips. “Shh, he’s starting.”
That was the last thing I said. Connor’s voice was amazing—deep and strong with a little bit of a husky Tom Waits thing about it.
Dominic went next. He looked and sounded as gorgeous as ever, and I had to force myself not to melt into his smile when our eyes met. But it was his stage smile, the one he gave everybody, so I pretended to be fascinated with the wall behind him until his gaze landed on someone else.
But the shocker was Harmony. After a brief nervous glance at Selena, Harmony stepped up to the microphone like she owned it. A voice of raw talent came out of her mouth. She sounded like a young Etta James.
“She’s hitting the notes!” Eva said. “All the notes.”
“She sounds amazing,” I said. “What a difference.” Harmony, despite her name, had never been able to sing on key before.
Ms. Clare gave us a ten-minute break, and Connor and Dominic were both surrounded by admirers.
“When did Connor become so spicy hot?” Eva asked.
I snapped my fingers. “Snap out of it, Eva,” I said. “Remember what happened the last time you got a crush on a guy?”
“Being a zombie wasn’t so bad.”
“You weren’t a zombie,” I reminded her. “Just zombielike.”
“Close enough,” she said cheerfully. “But you’re right. Besides, I’ve already got my own spicy hot boyfriend.” She gave Evan a little wave and he came over immediately.
Evan and Eva held hands and talked horror flicks while I watched Connor being swarmed by chorus girls.
Ms. Clare clapped her hands. “Break’s over, people. Before we get started again, I would like to introduce my co-chairs for Nightshade’s first Battle of the Bands. Please welcome Ms. Johns and Ms. Minerva.”
Ms. Minerva went first. “The Battle of the Bands is a month-long event, sponsored by a major music label, as well as Nightshade merchants and the library. Competitors will compete in an initial round. If they do not meet the minimum score requirement, they will be eliminated from the competition. The judges will pick three finalists and then whittle the field down to one grand-prize winner.”
She spent more time going over specifics and then Ms. Johns took over. “We want you guys to have fun,” she said. “I will be passing around guidelines and a sign- up sheet. We are also looking for volunteers to help with the event. Now I would be happy to answer any questions.”
A bunch of hands went up, including mine. “What’s the prize?” Connor asked.
“Nightshade merchants are donating various prizes,” Ms. Johns said. “But the grand-prize winner will get a cash award and a recording contract with Cranky Kitten Records.”
When they’d finished speaking, we clapped politely. As soon as they left, everyone began to talk at once. People were commenting on Connor’s new look as much as they were about the Battle of the Bands. It wasn’t just the new clothes. His arms were bigger, his voice was deeper, but his smile was noticeably absent. Despite all the attention he was getting, he didn’t look happy. Something had changed in Connor, inside and out, and I wanted to know what it was.