A List of Best Intentions

The whole week leading up to Friday was hella hectic. Even I Am You Are was freaking out about it, despite them already having a solid audience. And Keisha? Well…

Every night, she called me and asked me if she was doing everything right. She told me Jackie was on a roll with learning the songs and that things were coming together. I’d ask why she was nervous. Then she’d laugh and then call Cody, and I dunno how that worked out.

I had the job of hyping the gig up. Of course, I hyped I Am You Are to get more people, but my main priority was to get Keisha known. I put up even more flyers all over town with Tungsten by my side, and I was mad confident.

~~~~~

“You’re really shooting for the moon,” Stephanie giggled into the phone. Later that day, I called her up to sort out my head, since talking to her always put me in a good mood, and I told her everything about this part of the list.

I relaxed back on my bed. “But I know I found a star.”

“I know, I heard her sing at that Decades thing. I’m totally going to that show.”

“Good. By the end of October she’s gonna be famous,” I smiled. Sure, it sounded cocky, but I was positive. Force of habit.

She sighed happily. “You know, I think it’s really sweet that you’re doing this for her.”

I shrugged, blushing. “Well, I wanted to do it.”

“That’s what’s cool about it. It’s so nice, and…that list you’re doing, it’s…it’s so nice. I admire you for that.”

A warm fuzzy feeling infested my stomach and spread like wildfire. “Aw…”

“Really, Kev. It’s awesome.”

“I know,” I laughed. It meant the world coming from her.

~~~~~

This had to be the most organized event I’d ever seen I Am You Are throw.

I’m serious – as far as I could tell, there was no alcohol, no moshing…it was almost out of character.

The event started at seven at night, and until eight, there’d be an hour of just shooting the breeze and eating stuff. From passing through the crowds I hardly heard any swearing, too! It was insane.

I snaked through and went back behind our makeshift stage to check up on Keisha and Jackie. When I got there, I caught a little glimpse of Keisha warming up and doing that “do re mi” thing all those singers do. Jackie was humming to herself. And for some reason, Cody was there, too.

“You ready?” I said, breaking the tension.

Keisha smiled a classy kinda grin. “Oh, I’m ready.”

Cody blushed and put his hands in his pockets. “She’s been singin’ back here forever.”

“And you’ve been listening to her forever,” I nudged him. “It’s your big night, Keish. Break a leg.”

Jackie smirked and shoved her shoulder. “We gotta wow ‘em.”

Keisha beamed and exhaled slowly, nervously. “Oh, we will. Trust me, we’re gonna.”

As if on cue, Jon and Robert from I Am You Are popped in backstage and smiled.

“Are you girls ready?” Bruce urged.

“Let’s kick some ass, sweetie,” Jackie smiled, trotting to her piano while Keisha followed behind.

“Good luck,” Cody called out, a little too quiet to be heard.

Keisha waved.

And the show started.

She opened with a song I’d never heard before – something about a grapevine. That didn’t kill the fact that her voice was absolutely perfect, though.

It gave me goosebumps when she sang. I was standing at the side of the stage throughout the whole thing and so was Cody; he kept smiling and we kept lookin’ at each other, like, “Holy crap, she’s good.”

And Jackie was pretty good, too – she played the piano like a pro. Who knows? I thought. Maybe someday the name Jackie E. would go up in lights, too. I hate to say it, though, but Keisha stole the show, regardless of whoever was backing her up.

She oozed style. It was an image that I hadn’t seen with anybody in my lifetime; it was unique to her. Just watching her stand up there and pour her heart and soul into every song she sang – even if it wasn’t hers – inspired me to no end. It was a beautiful sight, and if I were the kinda kid who was into art stuff, I’m sure it would’ve made me wanna make art or take up singing.

By the time her set was up, the crowd had been won over. Even the mohawked punks and apathetic kids who came here to see I Am You Are were left in some degree of awe. That was dope.

“Oh my God, dude,” Cody gushed. “…I’m in love.”

I didn’t think much of it at first; I just kinda laughed it off. Then I remembered…Cody never expressed affection.

I shook his shoulder and grinned. “Cody Thomas! Dude, did you just…ha!”

He turned bright red and crossed his arms. To this day he still hasn’t ‘fessed up to it.

When the crowd got done clapping, she smiled at them all and waved high. “Thank you,” she’d said.

Jackie trotted backstage and whooped; Keisha walked over and wiped her eyes as though she’d shed tears. The second thing she did was throw her arms around Cody’s neck and laugh.

“You guys…this is the best night of my life,” she choked out.

Cody shot a smile over at me; Jackie grinned as well.

Keisha pulled away and hugged me. “I mean it. You don’t know how much this means to me. The crowd…the cheers…it all just…”

She started to cry, but it wasn’t a cry of sadness. As I Am You Are got onstage and started their show, she was totally beaming.

“Thank you,” she sobbed.

I could practically see her name in lights right then and there, and even if this was a fantastic start, there was still a ways to go.