My expectations for the school bonfire weren't much more than a large burning stack of wood, music, and dancing. I was almost certain I would hate it, and if it weren't for a promise to Hugh, I probably wouldn't have gone at all.

When we arrived, I noticed a mass of students in a mix of sports uniforms, letterman jackets, and ordinary school clothes. All sorts of people showed up to see the music and dance.

The bonfire was burning high and bright as the music played out of large speakers. Volleyball players mingled with cheerleaders in a giant mosh pit around the stage, where several groups were getting ready to perform.

I'd come with Hugh, Juan, Samantha, Novah, and Kai because Jules had claimed bonfire night wasn't their scene. Juan and Samantha had already gone to the other side of the dance floor together, and Novah took off to dance with Dottie, so I was left with the boys.

Carson stood on stage, causing girls in the mosh pit to scream like he was a rockstar. At the very least, he was dressed like one. His dark curls were slicked back, and he wore a sleeveless denim jacket covered in pins over a white shirt with distressed black pants and combat boots. His headphones were missing from around his neck and replaced by the electric guitar swung across his back.

His girlfriend Rissa walked across the stage holding a microphone. She rocked a black mini dress and sparkly shoes that could have given Samantha a run for her money. Her honey-colored hair was parted on the side and styled so all the pink tips fell over her right shoulder. A baby top hat sat on her head, and she handed Carson the mic.

"Hello, Crestview," there was another scream, and he waited for quiet. "We're doing a four-song set tonight, and we appreciate the support. Before we start, though, I want you all to give a warm welcome to some up-and-coming freshman artists. We have a duo and another garage band here tonight. Give it up for Pickup Truck Flight and Tonedef GOATS."

A country duo took the stage, and a guy played two covers on his acoustic guitar as his partner, a girl in a cowboy hat, sang. The crowd swayed along, but there wasn't the same enthusiasm there was for Carson.

After they finished, Tonedef GOATS, a group of freshmen dressed in black leather, walked out and played a few older pop songs.

There was an instant change in the room when Carson and his band took the stage next. The moment they started their first song, the entire crowd seemed electrified and joyous.

The Rasping Whispers music was part pop and part rock. They opened with a song about leaving the ordinary and going on to fame and fortune called "Big Lights."

The moment the guitar started its riffs in the second song, the crowd started to scream. Carson's voice was a little throaty as he sang the song. Halfway through, I realized it was the one he'd played on his ukulele in the theater when we'd eaten fries.

With a full band, "Tapping At The Night" was raw and ardent in its natural form. The beat kept everyone dancing as the soulful lyrics highlighted the singer's heartbreak.

"He wrote it last year after Rissa's break up with her then-boyfriend when he went off to college," Hugh shouted over the din. "They'll probably play it again in an encore since everyone likes it so much."

"Didn't realize Carson's music was so popular," I said.

Hugh laughed. "Carson's parents have a lot of money, and the keyboardist, Eileen, is a local makeup celebrity on social media. Rissa, the guitarist, has a semi-famous Dad who used to play backup for some big names. Helps they also sound good, and Foster is great at putting music to lyrics."

"If they don't make it big one day, the music industry is crazy," Kai added. "They aren't just rich kids. They are talented musicians, and they love what they do."

A fresh chorus of screams came from the cheerleaders as the new beats of a new song started up. I looked around but didn't see Shayna hanging out with them.

"I like this one," Kai bopped his head to the fast beat. "Foster and Carson made a killer track for it."

"Anybody seen Shayna tonight?" I asked.

She hadn't shown up at the malt shop. Neither had Jack, but I'd seen him mingling with some of the guys from the football team earlier. He seemed relaxed, and everyone was too focused on the bonfire to air out his dirty laundry tonight.

"No, I haven't," Kai said. "She should be here. All the other cheerleaders are."

I glanced over at the cheerleading squad. They were half singing, half shouting along with the lyrics. Carson's girlfriend Rissa was singing her sultry alto vocals on stage.

"You're a Supersonic nova, lighting up my space.

Your smile like starlight, never out of place.

Supersonic nova, eclipsing night into day.

My blinding light. You take my breath away."

Craning my neck, I couldn't find her. It wasn't like her to miss a school function. Maybe she'd gotten in a fight with Jack again earlier at the theater and decided to stay away.

"There she is," Hugh said, pointing over to the side of the stage at the crowd's edge.

She was standing beside Jack. Neither of them seemed angry. They almost looked like friends. Jack was smiling, and Shayna seemed relaxed.

The song on stage ended. Carson looked off to the side and made quick eye contact with Jack. Strangely enough, Jack flashed him a thumbs up. I didn't know what was happening, but Carson stepped close to his mic.

"Good evening, Crestview High," he said. "Earlier tonight, I asked my good friend if he'd like us to perform a song I wrote based on some of his experiences. He agreed, and well, if this song is about you... you know who you are. It's a new song, so without further ado, this is 'Every Little Moment.'"

Eileen started playing piano, and Rissa accentuated the cords in a few moments with her guitar. Carson began the lyrics after the intro, adding to the slow ballad, and Foster brought the drums in on the chorus.

Verse 1: I might have blazed and burned in your mind

A fiery bit of hatred in your sight

Now, things between the two of us

have never been completely all right

Don't you remember that moment we met

I saw you across the field years ago

playing ball with the boys at school

your plaited hair tied off with a blue bow

Chorus: 

But now, in every little moment.

Every second of your hatred

I want you to know I'm sorry

And oh, the moment we caught fire

You're the one I most desire

And oh, I know I'm sorry, girl

Verse 2: I might have done a few dumb things along the way

but I was always there crushing on you

You chose to stay far away from me

doing all the little things I thought we should do

As we grew up in years, I took you aside

I gave you my secrets and confessed to you how I felt

You laughed, then screamed at me and spat in my eye

Chasing me off, you said I should deal with what I'm dealt

Chorus

Verse 3: Now we're older, and I tried to take you on

but you never let me within reach

You always keep your distance from me

I guess there are lessons you'll never let me teach

So you'll go on forever now imprinted in my mind

A tiny hope that you'll one day come to me

We'll stand together and watch the waves go by

and you'll know there's no place I'd rather be

Chorus 2X

It didn't take a genius to determine the song's meaning. Carson had written beautiful and sad lyrics about his best friend's crush on Shayna.

His unforgettable tenor voice filled the room as he sang. The applause was loud when the song was over. Carson grinned and bowed. There were cheers and shouts for an encore.

I looked at my friends. Kai and Hugh were both staring at the stage, shocked, as Carson started up the riffs for "Tapping At The Night" on his electric guitar again.

"Carson didn't just do that," Hugh sounded dumbfounded. "Did he?"

"Confess Jack's love for Shayna to everyone?" I nodded. "Yes, yes, he did."

Jack was talking to Shayna in the corner. They didn't seem to be arguing, which I supposed was a good sign.

"That was an amazing song," Kai said. "I never thought Carson would be the slow ballad kind of guy, but that song... it fits him. They always say write what you know."

"She doesn't seem mad," Hugh said, still looking at Jack and Shayna. "That's good, right?"

"Their relationship is difficult," I said. "Shayna saw Jack at a very vulnerable moment. Jack is grieving so much. Shayna just got out of a relationship with Juan. It'll be better if they don't rush into anything."

"I'm happy they worked it out," Kai said. "At the very least, Shayna needs a friend."

"She deserves to be happy," I said. "They both do. And if their on-screen chemistry is amazing at the festival, we might have a chance of making it to the finals."

Jack and Shayna walked over to us a moment later. Jack was wearing his usual jolly smile while Shayna beamed right back at him. I guess they'd finally had a chance to talk.

"The song was good," Hugh said. "Did you commission it?"

Jack laughed. "No, he wrote it without my permission and then shared it with me. I asked if he'd hold off performing it live."

"I guess the apology was good enough," Shayna said. "I'm glad we're friends now, Jack."

"To Shayna," Jack said, raising an invisible glass. "My new friend."

"Friends," I raised an invisible glass, and everyone else followed.

It was great to have such a large group of good friends again after moving from place to place. I hadn't been able to make so many friends so fast, well, basically ever.

"Rita," Hugh said over the music. "You want to dance?"

I turned cherry red and tried to smile. "Sure, but I'm not good."

"I'll teach you," Hugh said, dragging me onto the dance floor.

I stepped on Hugh's feet as he tried to show me which way to move. We rejoined our friends after about three songs.

"Give up already?" Kai asked.

"I don't think his feet can take it anymore," I smiled.

We all laughed, and I knew at that moment that whatever happened at the festival tomorrow didn't matter. I had a great group of new friends, and that's what counted.