Tenney in the Key of Friendship

Double Booked

As the jam session wraps up and Tenney snaps her guitar case shut, Logan Everett shuffles over. He shifts from one foot to the other, as if he can’t decide where to put either of them. He tells her good job, and she thanks him for helping make the song better. Logan admits he thinks the two of them work well together. Tenney catches a flicker of quiet respect in his eyes, and unsure how to respond, she just nods.

Before she can dwell on the moment, Ellie calls the group over with news on the City Music Festival brunch, which Tenney had nearly forgotten during rehearsal. Zane claps his hands together and tells Tenney and Logan that if they keep working this hard, he’s confident they can pull together a fantastic showcase of a set for the brunch, then asks whether the two of them are interested in performing. Tenney and Logan trade a glance before both answer yes.

Zane slaps his knee in delight and reveals that the festival kicks off the second week of April, with the artists’ brunch landing on the eighth. Tenney’s throat tightens. Isn’t the eighth a Saturday? Ellie confirms it, and Tenney’s heart plunges. That’s the same day as the Magnolia Hills Spring Clean, when she, Jaya, and Holliday are supposed to run the book sale fundraiser for Mina’s school.

Zane notices her expression falter and asks if the date’s a problem. Playing at the brunch feels like too amazing an opportunity to pass up, and Tenney can’t bring herself to admit she’s torn between the chance of a lifetime and her promise to her friends, so she just promises she’ll be there, hoping privately that Jaya will understand. She presses Ellie for more details and learns the brunch wraps up around one o’clock, while the Spring Clean runs until two, so if Tenney hustles afterward, she could still make it in time to help close out the sale.

The next morning before school, Tenney is a ball of nerves as she waits by Jaya’s locker to break the news. She spots Jaya coming down the hall deep in conversation with Holliday Hayes. Jaya glides up already exclaiming that Holliday’s dad is donating $200 to help them meet their fundraising goal. The longer Jaya talks, the more Tenney’s stomach twists.

Tenney can’t figure out how to pull Holliday aside, so she blurts the news out in front of both girls. Something’s come up, and she’s going to be late to the book sale. Jaya’s eyes go wide. She asks why. Tenney explains the whole thing, the brunch and the fact that it falls at the same time as the Spring Clean, promising she’ll be there for the end, even if she misses most of it.

Jaya’s voice comes out thin and strange. She nods, opens her locker, and disappears behind the door. Tenney adds weakly that she can still help collect books beforehand, and that she’s really sorry. Jaya shuts the locker hard and mutters that it’s fine.

Holliday jumps in to smooth things over, telling Tenney not to rush, that she and Jaya have it covered. Jaya manages only a stiff half-smile and a “Don’t worry about it.” Tenney puts a hand on Jaya’s shoulder and promises she’ll be there. Jaya explains she needs to go ask Mr. Balcom about printing more flyers before class, and she and Holliday walk off together, leaving Tenney feeling like she’s just been stung by a bee.