Homecoming
Homecoming
So many things had happened. Jay had gone back two times to the orphanage and uploaded two new videos to his YouTube channel; a cover of Unfaithful by Rihanna and his original "Holding On And Letting Go" song.
He hadn't heard back from Carmen Cuba. He wasn't sure whether she hadn't seen his email or had simply ignored it, but it didn't matter since things were progressing very well.
His cumulative views had broken 550,000 and he had exactly 23,456 subscribers as of today, and the numbers were still rising so he was very happy about that.
Right now though, he was faced with a whole other matter that was giving him a headache.
"What do you mean you're not going to attend Homecoming?" Helen questioned.
Yep, there it was.
"We tried to persuade him but he wouldn't budge, Aunt Helen you've got to convince him!" Em whined.
His mother turned to face him with a raised eyebrow, "Is there a particular reason why you don't want to go?"
Jay sighed and shrugged, "Not really, it's just a bother."
"Oh my god, what are you, fifteen going on forty? This is homecoming for God's sake, and it's going to be your first official event since... You know." she said, sounding a little put off.
"Is it because you don't have a date?" Leah asked. They felt bad but all of the single junior girls were going stag as a show of support to one of their classmate who had been distastefully dumped by her boyfriend last week. Also it wasn't exactly a formal event since there was technically no ball, it was just the entire town hanging out after the game, and binging on available fast foods while listening to the band the school would've hired for the occasion. It was more like a festival really.
"Oh, come on! He only needs to ask for half the high school crowd to answer him, and that includes some of the boys." Em exasperatedly answered.
But Jay was adamant and they couldn't move him. It wasn't because he didn't want to go; it was because he intended to surprise them.
***
A week ago, Principal Higgins' office.
Jay was seated in front of the woman's desk, awaiting.
"You're probably wondering why I called you here?" Principal Higgins' said, taking her glasses off.
Jay nodded and she smiled, "How are the children of Horizons doing?"
"They-... Sorry, what?"
Higgins laughed and raised a hand, "You don't need to pretend. I'm friends with Charmaine and she let it slip during brunch the other day."
Jay sighed in exasperation; he should've known.
"I hear you're very talented." she continued with a meaningful smile, "You will perform for us at homecoming, won't you?"
Jay debated for a second, but it would be a good opportunity, he figured. He had also written another song so it was a chance to showcase himself.
"... Sure. But on one condition." he finally said.
***
Present day.
"Look, it has nothing to do with my lack of date or anything. I'll probably stop by sometime during the event, so please, please stop putting pressure on me." Jay begged in a wronged way.
Leah sighed while Emily looked annoyed, but they didn't say anything else and left after a while.
His mother turned to him then, "What's up?" she said, softly caressing his hair.
"Nothing much. Are you and dad going to the homecoming game?" he smiled.
She raised an eyebrow at that, "Are you?"
"... Probably not." he admitted.
"Then why should we go?" she helplessly shook her head.
"You should go. Not only should you guys go, you should take Lou as well and maybe consider staying until the end."
Helen narrowed her eyes and stared at him until he spoke again.
"You never know, you might just get the surprise of a lifetime." he meaningfully smiled.
***
October 18th 2010, Homecoming day.
They had tried every way to persuade him to accompany them, and he was proud to report that he had effectively resisted!
He had also somehow convinced his parents to go and take Lou, which was good since he was anticipating surprising the heck out of them.
He dressed in black jeans and a grey and white t-shirt, a dark-green Levi's Silver Tab letterman jacket and matching colored Samoa vintage Adidas shoes.
He packed his guitar, and a few bottles of water before going down to the garage and taking out his bike.
It was 5:30pm. The homecoming game was already underway so the town was basically deserted. The football stadium could hold up to gen thousand people and tonight Needham was playing against Wellesley, their rival, which meant it was a full house.
Jay smiled, that was good news for him. He arrived in front of the school and circled halfway back before locking his bike under the right-wing stairs.
He went in through that side and hurried towards the abandoned music club's room. Principal Higgins had given him the keys so he was unhindered.
"Hey guys, good to see you."
"Hey Jay," they responded.
The LightRisers was an instrumental band hired by the school for the festival. Jay had told Higgins that he could do a set of songs but he and his guitar alone weren't suitable for the kind of covers he wanted to do. She had suggested them and he had nodded in agreement.
That was a lie, and his only request. He could fool his parents into believing he had just learned a few chords if his guitar sound was blended with the other instruments. Also, he had only used strumming patterns in his YouTube videos so far and no complicated finger picking techniques, so it wouldn't seem weird. The LightRisers had a solid foundation and they were really nice, so the decision had been easy.
Ten minutes later, while Jay was busy tuning his guitar, Kasim showed up.
"Wesh bro!" he grinned before fist-bumping him with the one hand that wasn't occupied.
"Hey! Did you have trouble coming?"
"Nah we good, even Tiny suspects nothing. Hey guys!" he shouted to the LightRisers who nodded and went back to discussing tonight's concert.
"This is gon' be so dope! Bro, I didn't know you could sing, them wind pipes got me trippin'." Kasim excitedly said.
Jay couldn't help but get infected by his mood, he grinned "You're one to talk, I wouldn't have known you were part of the music club if Higgins hadn't told me."
"Nah, bro, I only DJ occasionally, but I'm no singer. Backstage lighting and sound is my stuff." he said patting his chest.
"Are your parents coming too?"
"My pop's handling the kebab stand and my mom's helping, so yeah. My sisters are also there with their friends."
"That's cool, I'll try your dad's cooking then." he said before continuing, "The stage will be assembled by the crew the school hired. Higgins said it would take them 30 minutes and they'll start after the game is over, which means we have an hour to kill. Wanna rehearse?"
***
6:55pm, Needham Stadium.
The game was over and, Needham had, against all odds, won. Anyone could've heard the cheering screams from miles away, and the atmosphere was at an all time high.
The festival stalls had been installed on both sides of the stadium while the stage where the hired band would perform had been set at the center. Everyone was chatting and laughing, enjoying their snacks and beverages while some of the children were playing tag in the narrow gaps left by the adults.
Helen, Lee and Lou were chatting with the Parsons' and Emily. The latter looked at her watch in disbelief.
"He... really didn't come." she muttered.
Leah let out an bitter chuckle while Helen smiled apologetically, "It's not over yet, there's still time."
But even she thought her answer wasn't very convincing.
Lou, who was perched on Lee's shoulders, tapped her father on the head "Jay... Is Jay not coming?" she worriedly asked.
Lee simply smiled, "Let's wait a little more. He promised you he'd see you here didn't he? He wouldn't lie to you now, would he?"
"Un." Lou firmly nodded, "Jay doesn't lie."
"Hahahaha! Maybe he's hiding a girlfriend and was afraid you'd tear into her." John raucously laughed.
All the women glared at him, while Lou asked her mom, "Girl friend? Like Leah and Emily?"
"No, he meant like your mom and I." Lee seriously stated.
Lou gasped and her eyes widened, "Like married? No! Jay is mine! He can't marry!"
This time, even Lisa couldn't help but laugh. She was about to say something when the surrounding lights gradually dimmed until they went off, while the stage lights as well as the huge projector screen were turned on.
Vice-Principal Connors ascended the stage to the delighted cheers of the Needham townspeople.
The man embarrassedly smiled and brought the microphone to his mouth "Good evening everyone. Are you all having fun?" he asked and was greeted by another wave of assenting cheers.
"Well that's good, because it's not over yet! You all know that we hire a different band every year in order to accommodate your partying." that statement earned him a few chuckles and whistles.
"I'm honored to tell you that this year is no different, we've hired The LightRisers from Dover, please give them a warm round of applause!"
A drummer, a bassist and a keyboardist made their way to the stage amidst good natured applause. Some of the people though were at a loss; weren't The LightRisers an instrumental band?
Connors sensed their puzzlement and smiled widely, "As a lot of you are probably aware, they are indeed an instrumental band. But no worries, because we've also managed to book another talent for the singing part. He... is from our very own Needham High, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome... JAY ASLAN!"
***
A sea of people. Jay believed it was the best way to described what he was staring at.
He took a look on the right side and he could see the kids from Horizons waving at him, he grinned and waved back before resting his left hand on the microphone, his right one supporting his guitar.
"Good evening Needham." he said before softly smiling towards where his family was standing. Even from up there he could see their bewildered faces, even his dad was completely stunned and somehow that fact thrilled him.
He chuckled, "I actually kept the fact that I was performing tonight a secret from my family and friends, so I'm kinda enjoying the look on their faces right now."
The audience laughed, some whistled while some others, notably high school students and teachers who knew him were as dumbfounded as his close ones.
"I'm sure you didn't come here to listen to me talk about myself, so let's not waste anymore time." he turned towards the band and mouthed something before they nodded.
"The first song is a cover of [Don't Stop Believin'] by Journey." he said and the intro began.
Jay closed his eyes, and as the crowd quieted down, started singing:
"Just a small town girl
Living in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere..."
Utter silence. It was so quiet it was dreary but no one made a sound. Jay's soothingly husky voice was the only thing resonating through the stadium.
"A singer in a smoking room
I smell the wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they could share the night
It goes on and on and on and on..."
Even when Jay finished the song, the people still hadn't reacted, it was a comical sight.
He let out a boyish grin that was retransmitted through the giant projector and yelled, "NEEDHAM ARE YOU SLEEPING?!"
The deafening cheers that ensued could've woken up even the dead.
Jay heartily laughed, "That's great, 'cause we're only beginning!"