One Tiny Lie – Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,54

to project. It was interesting to watch Isabela sing. A quiet glow came over her face. Luna could tell the music spoke to her. Luna could teach Isabela a few fundamentals that would help her voice carry, but there was no magical way to give her the confidence she was lacking. Watching Isabela sing was like watching herself. Luna had a good singing voice, but the thought of singing in public tied her in knots. That’s why she’d opted to write the songs and stay in the background. Luna still had no idea what she was going to do about Todd’s birthday party. They were expecting her to sing. Luna could probably make herself do it, but no way could she perform like Ava.

They were almost done with the last song when Isabela suddenly stopped, her face rigid.

A guy a few years older than Isabela stormed in. He was handsome in a bad-boy, surly way. His hair was jet black, and he had a gold chain around his neck. “You look like a freaking moron up there,” he jeered.

Luna’s fingers paused on the piano. Outrage surged through her as she looked at Isabela’s distressed expression.

“What’re you doing here, Felipe?” Isabela asked.

He climbed up onto the stage. “I’m getting you out of here before you make a complete idiot of yourself. You’re loco, girl, thinking you can get up there and sing in front of people. They’ll laugh you off the stage.”

He stood a foot from Isabela, his feet planted in a battle stance, hands on his hips. “Let’s go.”

Tears pooled in Isabela’s eyes. “I—I’m so sorry,” she stammered as she looked at Luna.

A hot anger spiked through Luna as she stood and glared at Felipe. Talk about scum of the earth. “You need to leave, now!” she ordered.

Felipe’s eyes widened as he chortled out a hard laugh. “Stay out of this, lady,” he taunted. “This is between me and my girl.” He stepped up to Isabela and yanked her arm. “I said let’s go,” he said savagely.

To her credit, Isabela stayed rooted where she was. “Stop it! You’re hurting me.” She looked up at him with wounded eyes, giving Luna the impression that a timid mouse was trying to escape the clutches of a ruthless cat.

Luna’s purse was resting beside the piano. She grabbed her phone and held it up. “If you don’t get out of here right now, I’ll call the police,” she warned. Anger raged through her like an inferno.

“It’s okay,” Isabela said in defeat. “I’ll just go with him. I don’t know why I thought I could do this anyway,” she muttered. “He’s right. I’m not good enough.”

Luna’s chin shot up. “Oh, yes you are! You’re great.” Her voice cut like a whip through the cavernous space. “So much stronger than you realize. Don’t let anyone—especially not that pathetic excuse for a man—tell you that you’re not good enough!”

“Lady! You’re asking for it!” Felipe thundered, his face darkening.

“You need to leave,” Isabela said, her voice surprisingly commanding.

“What?” Felipe snorted, shock blitzing through his eyes.

“You heard her,” Isabela hissed. “If you don’t get out of here now, she’s calling 911.”

Felipe got up in Isabela’s face, his eyes blazing. “If you don’t leave with me this instant, me and you are over!”

Isabela jutted out her chin. “Fine. It’s over. Get out of here.”

He barked out a laugh. “Okay, I see how it is.” He released her arm as he held up his hands. “The two of us are through!” He gave her a malevolent look. “I was done with you anyway.” He turned on his heel and stalked to the edge of the stage where he hopped off.

When he was gone, Isabela put her face in her hands and started weeping. Luna went to her side. “It’ll be okay,” she soothed as she placed her arm around Isabela’s shoulders. The sobs gave way to sniffles. When the crying had subsided, Isabela looked up at Luna through tear-stained eyes. “I have to go after him.”

“What?” she exploded. “No! You can’t.”

“He’s right,” she sniffed, wiping her nose on her sleeve. “I can’t get on stage and sing … in front of people.” Her eyes darted fearfully around the empty auditorium.

An incredulous laugh gurgled in Luna’s throat. Oh, the irony! “You can.” Her voice gathered intensity. “You have more strength than you realize. Do you know why Felipe doesn’t want you to sing at the talent show?”

Isabela’s eyes were black ovals of doubt. “Why?” she squeaked.

“Because he wants to keep you down.