“Shallow”“You good?” Marco asked, flashing her an easy smile as he tuned his guitar, his usual confidence helping to settle her nerves.
Hanna nodded, taking one last deep breath. “Yeah, I’m good. Let’s do this.”
She caught a glimpse of Finn in the audience, seated between Elordi and Emily. He looked calm, maybe even detached, but she saw the way his eyes focused intently on the stage, as if waiting for something. Ignoring the flutter of nerves, she followed Marco to the center of the stage, letting the warm glow of the spotlight surround her.
As the crowd quieted, Marco strummed the opening chords, the familiar melody filling the auditorium. The audience hushed, and Hanna closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the music steady her heartbeat. She started the song, her voice soft but clear as she sang the first verse, the lyrics slipping out effortlessly:
“Tell me something, boy… aren’t you tired trying to fill that void?”Her voice echoed through the room, each word charged with emotion. The audience was silent, captivated by the intimacy of her voice. She could feel Marco’s gaze on her, and as she looked over at him, he joined in, his deep voice harmonizing with hers, adding a richness that sent a shiver through her.
“Or do you need more? Ain’t it hard keeping it so hardcore…”Their voices blended together, creating a magnetic pull that wrapped around the audience, pulling them into the rawness of the song. Hanna felt herself becoming lost in the music, the lyrics speaking to her in a way she hadn’t anticipated. Singing with Marco felt freeing, the intensity of his voice grounding her, their chemistry clear to everyone watching.
But as she glanced out into the audience, her gaze drifted to Finn. His face was tense, his jaw set, and his hands rested tightly on the arms of his seat. She could feel his attention like a tangible weight, the unspoken words and unresolved tension between them hovering just out of reach.
Marco leaned into the chorus, his voice carrying a deep vulnerability as he sang:
“I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in…”Hanna joined him, her voice strong, filled with a longing she hadn’t intended to reveal. Her heart raced as they harmonized, their voices intertwining seamlessly, creating a beautiful, aching sound that resonated throughout the room. The intensity of the moment was overwhelming, and she saw Marco’s eyes soften as he looked at her, his smile warm and encouraging.
The crowd seemed to fade away as they sang the bridge, Marco stepping back to let her voice rise alone, clear and powerful:
“I’m falling… In the shallow, shallow…”As she held the note, she felt a surge of pride and joy, feeling truly connected to the song, to the moment. The crescendo of Hanna and Marco’s voices echoed beautifully through the auditorium, building to an intense, climactic final note. Just as they finished, voices in the audience gasped, and a sudden, heavy splash interrupted their song.
A torrent of thick, cold red paint cascaded down from above, drenching Hanna and Marco in seconds. The shock rippled through the crowd, and screams erupted as the students watched in stunned silence, horror, and then bursts of laughter. Phones shot up instantly, the glow of camera lights illuminating the sticky crimson that now covered the stage. Hanna’s hair clung to her face, streaked with paint, her clothes completely soaked, and Marco stood beside her, equally shocked, his guitar slipping slightly from his grip.
The audience noise grew louder, some students covering their mouths in surprise, others calling out. One loud voice near the back of the auditorium yelled, “What the heck was that?” while another laughed, “Did someone just pull a CarrieMarco, shaking paint from his eyes, gave Hanna a sidelong glance, his expression a mix of shock and defiance. “Guess that’s our cue to go,” he muttered, reaching for her hand.
The two of them quickly stepped off the stage, and as the curtains closed behind them, the murmurs in the crowd grew louder, a chorus of gasps and laughter filling the auditorium. But as Hanna stole a final glance into the audience, her gaze landed on Finn. He was still, staring at her with an expression so conflicted—shock, regret, anger—that it sent a chill through her, as if he was the only one not laughing or gawking. And for a split second, she wondered if he felt her humiliation just as deeply as she did.
Backstage, her heart pounded as she tried to catch her breath. She’d never felt so humiliated, her performance shattered by whoever had pulled this cruel prank. Marco handed her a towel, his expression sympathetic.
“Hey, don’t worry about them,” he said, his voice gentle. “We sounded amazing. No one’s going to forget this, that’s for sure.”
She forced a small, shaky smile, but her mind was already racing. She was determined to find out who had done this and to make sure they knew she wouldn’t let it slide. But as she replayed the performance in her head, her gaze drifted back to Finn’s reaction, and she couldn’t shake the memory of his face watching her from the crowd, his eyes filled with an emotion she didn’t want to name.