Will's Story by Jaye Robin Brown

anyway.
    Practice?
    Yes. Then I see she’s typing more. That kiss wasn’t real, I swear.
    You don’t owe me an explanation. I answer. Then type another line. But I believe you.
    I hit send. Then write a few more words.
    So when are you going to kiss me again?
    I don’t have the nerve to send that one.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
    It’s nice to talk
    To watch your eyes
    To take it slow
    To realize
    When I leave school I have a revelation. I don’t want Devon to intervene. I don’t need his help. If there’s a real thing happening between me and Amber Vaughn, I want it to unfold like a song. A slow build. A chorus. A repeat. Anything else is middle school.
    â€œDude. I changed my mind about Amber.”
    Devon is slathering peanut butter onto thick slices of Dad’s homemade wheat bread. He takes a bite, then garbles his response. “Whatever.”
    â€œNo. I’m serious. She’s coming over to practice. And she’s good. She’s going to get into that school and the last thing she needs is me messing with her head. Promise you’ll leave it.”
    He swallows the bite he’s chewing. “Just because she’s auditioning doesn’t mean she can’t date. You two will be adorbs together.”
    Now would be the perfect moment to tell Devon what happened between me and Amber Vaughn. But even though I am the boy who cheated, I am not the boy who tells. Even to my brother. If Amber wants to tell him, fine, they’re best friends. But it’s not my place.
    Fortunately I’m saved by the buzz of his phone and from the smile on his face, I’m guessing it’s Gil, his new sort-of boyfriend.
    I take the escape and grab my banjo and head for the porch to wait for Amber.
    Mom’s pulling in. She walks up the steps, her tote loaded with papers from school. “Hey, hon. Going to play a little?”
    â€œYeah, waiting to help Amber with her audition practice.”
    She smiles, a twinkle lighting the corner of her eyes. “So, Amber Vaughn?” There’s a knowing emphasis on the name.
    â€œMom!”
    She laughs. “I like Amber Vaughn—I always have.” She leans over the rocking chair and kisses me on the forehead. “But mostly I like you and I want you to be happy.”She straightens up. “I’m proud of you for finally talking to your dad. He’s proud, too, you know.”
    â€œIs he?”
    She shifts her bag. “Of course he is. You’re following the dream he let go. It’s every father’s hope, on a certain level. He was even talking last night before bed about looking forward to seeing you onstage and how he’d have to find you the best contract lawyer around when some label wants to sign you.”
    â€œNo way.”
    â€œWay.” She winks. A van pulls into the driveway. “Now you have fun. That young lady has a wonderful heart. Don’t let her down. I taught you better than that.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    As I watch Amber get out of her mom’s van, I realize how out of my hands things are. All I can do in this world is be true to myself. Be true to my dreams. And be the person I’ve been taught to be. Anything else? That’s just luck. Maybe fate. But I’ll know I did what I needed to do.
    I start flat-picking a tune. The notes circle out over the yard and a beautiful girl smiles at me.
    From the hills, there’s that hammer of a woodpecker.
    And I feel good.
    Right.
    Home.

CHAPTER ONE
    The man talking on the local news has it out for me. Through the screen door, I watch Mama, remote control in hand, mouth gasping like a banked fish with each new tale of murder and woe. Every single day, morning and evening, she convinces herself the world beyond our doorstep is a Very Bad Place. I’ve managed to sneak off in plain sight all summer long, but I never know when she might decide an ax murderer is lurking in the woods and keep me