A Is for Abstinence by Kelly Oram Page B

going to hate this one. She was going to love it. The whole world was going to love it. Shane had been right that day. I had another chart topper on my hands. I was sure of it.
    This was going to be just like “Cryin’ Shame” all over again. I could feel it in my bones. This moment, right now, was the start of something epic. Kyle and Val: the Sequel.
    I couldn’t wait.
    I adjusted my mic and gazed out at the anxious audience. I could feel their excitement as sure as I could feel my own. “I’ll be singing the first single of my new album,” I said, a wide grin spreading across my face, “and in grand Kyle Hamilton tradition, I’ve written it for a certain someone who I couldn’t manage to get out of my head.”
    The audience went crazy at the confession and after smiling for them, my eyes found Val’s. The expression on her face was classic—something akin to horror. Laughing, I winked at her and said, “It’s called ‘Worth Waiting For.’”
    I know it sounds horribly cliché, but music is my life. I literally live and breathe for the moments I get to hold a microphone to my mouth and share all my innermost thoughts and feelings in song. Singing isn’t just what I do; it’s who I am. I love it.
    As soon as the first chord of music sounded, everything faded out and all was right in the world. All the nerves I’d been trying to shake all day melted away and I opened my mouth to sing, feeling as if I were on top of the world.
    Thoughts of you runnin’ through my head
    Heart’s pumpin’ full speed ahead
    Body’s screaming to get you in bed
    Need you, want you, baby gotta be mine
    Come to me girl, I’m done wastin’ time
    You ask me to wait, don’t know if I can
    Too scared to lose, I’m only a man
    But I can’t let you go, can’t shut the door
    Heart’s telling me you’re worth waiting for
    The feel of your lips, hot breath on my skin
    Touching you, touching me, I’d relish the sin
    Let’s find a way for us both to win
    Need you, want you, baby gotta be mine
    Come to me girl, I’m done wastin’ time
    You ask me to wait, don’t know if I can
    Too scared to lose, I’m only a man
    But I can’t let you go, can’t shut the door
    Heart’s telling me you’re worth waiting for
    Forever I’ll wait, it’s drivin’ me mad
    Driven by memories I’ve not yet had
    Hangin’ on a promise of you and me
    Hope springs eternal for things that could be
    You ask me to wait, don’t know if I can
    Too scared to lose, I’m only a man
    But I can’t let you go, can’t shut the door
    Heart’s telling me you’re worth waiting for
    You ask me to wait, don’t know if I can
    Too scared to lose, I’m only a man
    Bring on the torture, forever and more
    ’Cause girl it’s true, you’re worth waiting for
    The music ended, the audience cheered, and I basked in the thrill of a performance well done.
    Man, I’d missed this.
    If nothing else came from today, at least I’d found my muse again. It’d been gone since Reid died, and for a while I’d given up all hope that I’d ever feel like my old self again. As I came down from my adrenaline high, I knew I was back. I was myself again. I was ready to let this solo album take me on my next great adventure. I had a purpose again, and it felt amazing.
    It was all thanks to Val.
    That thought had me crashing back into reality. Val. What did she think? I took a deep breath and looked in her direction. Her eyes were already on me. She sat there, completely motionless, as if she’d been frozen in place. Her eyes were wide, but otherwise her face was smooth. Either she was doing all in her power to hide her thoughts, or she was in so much shock she was unable to express them yet.
    Good or bad? Good or bad? Good or bad?
    I had no idea what was going through her head. We were caught in a crazy staring match and I couldn’t tell at all what she was thinking. Not a freaking clue.
    I had to do something. I had to move, or look away, or something. Anything besides just