Sarah and Kevin 46

July

The day of the music festival came. Sarah was wearing a pair of black jeans and a black t-shirt. Kevin realized that he had never seen her wearing pants. She helped them pack up all their equipment and drove with them to the festival. After helping them unload the van, she kissed Kevin.

"Break a leg, you guys," she said. "I'll be cheering for you." She left and went out into the audience.

They were the fifth band to play that afternoon. It was hot. The July sun beat down on the stage. Kevin was thankful for the shade backstage. He talked to a bunch of musicians and got autographs from some of them. Peter told him he was a freak about fifty times. Kevin was just starting to lose his patience in the heat when it was their turn to go on stage.

Their equipment was set up. All they had to do was go on and play. Kevin could not locate Sarah in the huge throng of people. He picked up his guitar and played as if his life depended on it. He played like he was making love to Sarah. He played like his heart was so full it was going to explode. It was magical. As if everything in his life was culminating in this one set. They never sounded as good as they did that day. The crowd cheered after each song and at the end. Kevin wasn't sure if his feet were even touching the ground when the walked off stage.

They went around to the back and waited for their equipment to be brought offstage. Kevin felt a hand slide down his back and around his waist. He turned to find Sarah smiling up at him.

"You guys were amazing." She hugged him. He hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.

"Thanks to you. Without you , we wouldn't have gotten this far." he said to her. Sarah blinked hard and Kevin saw a tear run back into her hair. She stepped away from him and wiped her eyes.

Peter rushed up, picked Sarah up like a doll and carried her over to where Scott and Tom were standing. They each hugged and kissed her. Kevin trotted over to them.

"I had to steal her away. You'd never have let her go, otherwise," Peter teased. Kevin just smiled at him.

Their gear was brought to them. Sarah helped them to load up the van again and they headed home.

"I have this weird feeling that somehow you guys have sealed your fate." Sarah said from the back of the van. "I don't know if it's good or bad. I just feel like your next step is predestined. Do you guys feel that way?"

"All I know is that we played our asses off." Peter said from the front seat.

"You were awesome." Sarah said.

When they got home, Sarah cooked dinner while they unloaded the van and set up the equipment in the basement again.

"OK you guys. Dinner is ready." Sarah called. They immediately put down what they were doing and went upstairs. Sarah had a huge bowl of spaghetti and meat sauce on the table, a salad and two pitchers of lemonade. They devoured dinner in silence.

"Damn, Sarah. That was awesome." Peter said. The rest of them agreed loudly.

"Thanks." She stood up and began to clear the table. Kevin stood up to help her.

"Are we going to practice tonight?" Scott asked as they lazed around the table.

"Nah. Let's just sit around. I'm too full to sing." Peter said.

"That OK with you, Kev?" Scott asked.

"Yeah," he said as he dried the plates. "Nothing I could play tonight will make me feel better than I do right now."

"Tom?" Scott asked.

"OK" Tom replied.

They spent the evening sitting around the living room, talking. Sarah just listened to them and smiled. For just one moment, they were all at peace with the world and themselves.