Read Online Fever Pitch by Heidi Cullinan - Free Book Online Page B

breathe, and he didn’t know how to make the pain stop. When orientation dismissed to smaller groups for their tours of campus, Aaron went to the restroom and curled up on the seat inside a stall for several minutes, blaring “No Light, No Light” through his headphones until he could breathe again.
    By the time he emerged, all the orientation groups were gone. While part of him was relieved, it meant he had no idea what to do with himself. He could go to his room, but odds were good Elijah would be there now. Aaron wasn’t in the mood for any more bad encounters. He could go somewhere and eat, but he wasn’t hungry. Getting drunk sounded fantastic , but he had no way to get alcohol.
    In the end he wandered aimlessly around campus, giving himself a tour that largely involved watching for Giles so he wouldn’t run into him. As he passed the activity-fair booths, an eager, overweight young man with a crazed look in his eye tried to give Aaron a cross-splattered flyer for Campus Crusaders. Aaron murmured a decline and glommed on to a group heading with purpose out of the fair. Putting his headphones on, Aaron followed the herd and let his music drown out the world.
    At some point his group wandered into the music department. Realizing he might encounter Giles here, Aaron thought about leaving, but the hallways were crammed tight. Following this tour would be easier than fighting the clog at the entrance. When their slow forward shuffle came to a full stop, Aaron loitered against the wall, arms folded.
    A girl next to him glanced down at papers in her hand when she wasn’t looking around the hallway. As Aaron watched, her gaze switched to a set of double doors ahead of them. She pulled out a cell phone. After a series of furious texts, she stood rigid a second, then started to shake. When tears rolled down her cheeks, Aaron couldn’t stop himself.
    Taking off his headphones, he touched her arm. “Are you okay?”
    She wiped at her eyes. “My accompanist can’t make it. Her daughter got sick. I’m going to blow my audition. I’m not going to make it into choir.”
    Choir? Aaron took another glance at the papers in her hands, crinkled by her stress—sheet music. He regarded the now seriously thick crush of people with new eyes. “Is that what this is? The line for auditions?”
    The girl nodded, still wiping her eyes. She couldn’t stop crying. “For the Saint Timothy Chorale. For guys it’s not much of a contest. All you have to do is show up and prove you can stay on key. For girls it’s brutal. Half of us will have to go into the Women’s Chorus, which is a total ghetto. Not like the Ambassadors at all.”
    â€œAmbassadors?”
    â€œThe men’s a cappella group.” The girl eyed Aaron suspiciously. “Why are you here if you’re not auditioning?”
    Aaron was not going to admit what a fuckup he was. He indicated her sheet music. “Can I see that?” When she handed it over, he flipped through it and smiled. “Hey, this isn’t hard at all. If you want, I could play for you.”
    He thought for an awkward moment she was going to kiss him. “Are you serious?”
    â€œI warn you, I’ll probably stumble a bit. But I figure this is about you, and I’m good enough to fake it.” He grimaced at the door. “I wish I’d thought to sign up myself.”
    â€œOh, you don’t sign up. You stand in this line with your music.” Her expression turned melty. “You’re amazing. I totally owe you for doing this.” She let go of his arm and held out her hand. “I’m Jill Ottosen. But you can call me Jilly.”
    â€œAaron Seavers.” Aaron wasn’t comfortable with the overly friendly look in her eye. He was not dating a girl again.
    â€œSo you’re going to audition too, right?”
    He wished. “I don’t have any music.”
    â€œUse