I arrive at the supplies shed and see a fresh lock on the door. Someone must have figured out that campers were using this as a hiding spot. But the new lock hangs open and the door is ajar. Over the pounding of the rain all around us, I can hear someone playing lightly on a guitar.
“Ams?” I call out.
There’s silence for a second. Then they finally answer. “Yeah?”
The door creaks as Syd and I step inside.
“What’s she doing here?” Ams grumbles at me.
“What are you doing here?” Syd mocks. I poke her hard in the side. She scrunches up her nose for a second. Then she shakes her head. “Sorry . . . old habits.”
“Ams, we’re here to apologize.” I step closer but they pull back. My heart breaks a little.
“No.” Syd puts a hand on my shoulder. “I’m here to apologize. Jassie has nothing to be sorry for.”
Ams just plucks their guitar strings.
I nod to Syd, urging her to keep going.
“It wasn’t cool of me to try and guilt you into running away.” Syd shakes her wet hair. “Actually, it really sucked.” She reaches out to take my hand and gives it a squeeze. “It’s just that . . . home kind of sucks for me right now. And I didn’t want this all to be over so soon. But if you want to end things, I understand. And I hope we can still be friends.”
“You think I’m not upset?” Ams’s voice wavers. They speak from under a layer of hair. “You think I want everything to be over?”
I can hear them fighting back tears. All I want to do is run to them, hold them, tell them it’s okay. But I wait. They need to take their time.
Finally, they manage to speak again. “You’re the only two people on the planet who get me.”
“Then why did you want to break up?” I ask.
“Be realistic, Jassie.” Ams peeks at me from under their hair. “You really think we can keep this going out there? It’s been hard enough at camp. Imagine what it’s going to be like in the real world!”
I step toward them, still holding Syd’s hand. “I know . . .”
“You don’t, though!” they shout. Ams sits up and lets their guitar fall to their side. “Of all of us, I’m the only one who knows what it’s really like! Having everyone stare at you all the time, talk about you all the time. Making you feel like you’re not even a person.” They bury their face in their hands. “I-I can’t go through that. Not any more than I already do.”
I take another step toward them. I offer my hand. “Ams, we can’t just give up.”
They don’t say a word, but I can tell they’re listening.
“You're right,” I press on. “I don't know what it's like to be you. But I know that it's not exactly easy being me, either. And I’d like to have you with me during the hard times.”
“It’s gonna suck,” Syd agrees. She comes up beside us and holds out her hand, too. “But it’s gonna suck a lot more if we don’t stick together, right?”
Ams’s whole body moves as they take a deep breath. Finally, they lower their hands enough to look at both of us. Their eyes are beautiful, deep and warm. I can’t look away. I don’t want to, ever again.
“This doesn’t have to be over,” I tell them. “Not if you don’t want it to be.”
Their hands lower to their chin. “What am I going to tell my parents?”
Syd shrugs. “Do you have to tell them?”
“We can figure that out, right?” I offer. “I mean, I don’t know if my folks will get it either. But they’ll try. Maybe they can help your parents try, too?” I shrug. “And if that doesn’t work, then we’ll sneak out. We’ll text, and we’ll send songs to each other.” My mind is racing with ideas. “Maybe I can figure out a way to get me transferred to your school, so we can hang out there.” I laugh. “I bet my parents would let me if I told them I already have a friend there.”
Ams looks at my hand for what feels like forever. A steady drip behind them makes its way in through a leaky spot in the shed roof. Finally, they uncurl their fingers. They reach out for me and Syd.
“Okay,” they whisper. “I’ll try.”
For the first time all day, I feel like I can breathe. Just then, there’s a crack of thunder outside. All three of us move closer. Ams wraps us both in a long hug.
After lots of crying and hugging and a little kissing, we start to feel back to normal. As normal as we can be, anyway. The storm is raging on, but we’re not going anywhere.
“I saw there’s a new lock now,” I say to Ams. I watch as they practise the chords to our waltz. “How’d you get in here?”
“Sasha’s the lead lifeguard. He keeps the spare key in the cabin.” Ams shrugs, their fingers moving quick. “The new key was in the same spot the old one always was.”
Syd laughs. “Classic.” She runs her fingers along my arm, giving me goosebumps.
I cuddle closer to them both. “You’re so clever,” I grin at Ams.
They blush. “You’re the smart one, Jassie.”
“Not according to my teachers.” I roll my eyes.
“Obviously, they’re just intimidated by you,” Syd laughs. “Who else could have figured out all those ways for us to stay together?”
I tap at my knees, a little embarrassed. “That’s easy stuff.”
“No.” Ams stops playing and gives me a serious look. “Jassie, you’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. Don’t let anyone ever tell you different.”
“Yeah,” Syd echoes. “Thanks for getting through our thick heads.”
A cozy silence comes over the three of us as we listen to the rain coming down on the roof.
“The showcase is starting soon,” I say at last. “Should we go?”
“Out there, into a thunderstorm?” Syd winces.
Ams pulls their guitar close. “I don’t have Lori’s case with me.”
I think a bit, then ask, “Syd, do you have your notebook?”
“Always,” she says. She pulls it out of her back pocket.
“Ams, you know the song by heart, right?” I ask.
“Of course,” they nod.
I reach for a bucket and turn it over. A few deflated water toys fall out. I start tapping out a beat — one-two-three, one-two-three. “Well,” I ask, “who needs an audience?”
My hands can barely keep up with whatever Ams is doing on guitar. But still I think my makeshift drum is sounding pretty okay. Next to me, Syd lifts her voice higher and higher. I’m so lost in her sweet, soft lyrics that my hands slip. All of a sudden, I’m lost. I shake as I try to find my way back in time for the second verse.
Just when it feels like I’m ruining everything, Ams flashes me a grin and starts bobbing their head. Syd joins in, helping me find my way back to the beat. With the two of them next to me, I feel like I can do anything.
The chorus builds. I join my voice to theirs, somehow hitting the notes. Blending together, we stop being three people and become something more. Our voices rise and fall. Our breath keeps the same time. My heart pounds in my chest as we get louder. Our voices fill the room and burst out between the cracks of the old shed.
As the song comes to a close, I can’t help but start laughing. Soon, Syd and Ams get going, too. All three of us are cracking up — together. Tears are spilling down our cheeks and we hug, swaying — together. This is it. Perfect harmony.