Shani Petroff - Airports, Exes, and Other Things I’m Over

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FOR MY BROTHER AND COUSINSAN INCREDIBLE CREW THAT I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GROW UP ALONGSIDE. HAVING YOU (AND YOUR FABULOUS SIGNIFICANT OTHERS & KIDS) IN MY LIFE IS SOMETHING FOR WHICH I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL.

Could people actually pass out from excitement? I was starting to think so as I clutched my best friend Trina Gibsons arm. My body was trembling. Literally. I didnt even know that could happen. Sure, in rom-coms and steamy, smutty novels, but in real life? Come on. Yet, here I was shaking like a kindergartener desperately in need of a bathroom. All because Kevin Wayward, music god, had taken the stage, and I , Sari Silver, music god wannabe, was there to witness it firsthand. There wasnt even an adjective to explain what I was feeling. Exhilarated, elated, ecstatic, euphoric, some other e-word? All I knew was that this was where I needed to be.

It didnt matter that I didnt get a table, despite getting to the club a couple of hours early and being subjected to two less-than-stellar (to put it nicely) bands, or that I was squished next to my best friend and a bunch of strangers up against a musty-smelling wall. The discomfort was worth it. Spring break was beginning in the most kick-ass way possible.

We are actually here. This is really happening, I said, practically squealing.

I know, Trina said. We earned this. She held up her free arm, the one I wasnt latched onto, and the fluorescent green wristband slid down her dark-brown skin.

Yes, we did. Everyone in the music world knew the Meta Club. Countless legends got their start there, and often returned to perform. Trina and I wanted in. It was a twenty-one and over club, but we didnt let that stop us. There were months of failed fake ID attempts, begging, singing outside the club until we sweet-talked (or bugged to death, depending on who you talked to) them into letting us in. Since then wed seen so many amazing shows, and tonight was the icing on the cake. Sure, we had to wear wristbands that kept the bartenders from serving us drinks, but who cared? We were in Meta, and the place gave me a natural buzz.

Kevin held up his hands to quiet the crowd, and I grabbed Trina tighter. I was about to hear Kevin Wayward live. There was a good chance I really was going to lose consciousness.

As some of you know, he said. I wandered into this little club in the Village five years ago and, well, the rest is history. History that included getting discovered his first time performing here and going on to win five Grammyssomething I would kill for. But I havent forgotten my start and thats why Im back tonight.

Everyone started screaming and applauding again, and Trina turned to me. Thats going to be you someday.

I crossed my fingers and my toes. Hopefully.

Definitely, she said.

I knew she was just being a good best friend, but I couldnt help praying her words would come true. The image of people lining up to see Sari Silver in concert washed over me. It was what I wanted more than anything.

Kevin Wayward picked up his guitar, stepped closer to the mic, and within seconds let his music pour out. Chills ran through my body. He was so good. It wasnt just that his voice was raw and soulful but that his lyrics were haunting and catchy at the same time. It was just him and his guitar, but it was enough. If I could affect people with my music even a portion of the way he did, Id be very happy.

By the time Kevin finished his set, Ill admit, I was in total awe. In one song the guy had me almost in tears, the next totally wanting to kiss my boyfriend, and the last tapping my foot and singing along with the rest of the audience at the top of my lungs. Listening to his recordings was nothing compared to hearing him liveit was like the emotions registered ten times higher.

My hands were numb from clapping so hard. That was incredible, I said, once the room died down. Trina and I moved to a nearby table. Another act was about to take the stage, but the room had pretty much cleared out once Kevin left. I cannot believe Mike didnt want to come.

Mike Wilson was her boyfriend of three years.

She waved her hand. You know he has no taste in music. Even if he hadnt gone away with his family for the weekend, he wouldnt have showed. He would have been all about Pauls party.

Well it is the party of the year, I said, making air quotes. At least thats what Paul and everyone else were calling it. Not that they werent right. A party at the start of spring break our senior year, in Pauls giant town house while his parents were out, had the makings of an epic night. Although not as epic as this concert. This was everything.

Thank you for skipping it to come here with me, Trina said.

Are you kidding me? Like Id miss this.

She shrugged. Yeah, but Zev is Pauls cousin; I know he wanted you to be there.

You and I have been planning tonight for ages. My boyfriend can handle the evening without me. No way I was going to cancel. This is our night. Besides, Zevs got me all week. I raised my eyebrows up and down. Tonight was just the start of my vacation, and if it was any indicator of what was to come, this was going to be a week Id still be talking about when I was eighty.

She shook her head. I still cant believe you convinced your parents to let you spend spring break in Florida with your boyfriend.

Just call me the parent whisperer. Although we both knew that wasnt true. My parents could be a little helicopterish, which meant I had to fudge the truth here and there. In this instance, I told them I wanted to spend my vacation at my grams in Florida. It wasnt until after I booked my nonrefundable flight that I let them know Zev was going to be spending the week down there, too. His grandparents lived about seven minutes away from my gram in Boca. My parents were less than thrilled with this development. But, hey, it wasnt my fault the area was basically a mecca for old people from Manhattan. At least thats how I explained it to them. They gave in. Probably figured I couldnt get into too much trouble while staying at a retirement village. I hoped to prove them wrong.

We can still catch some of the party if we go now, Trina offered. Dont tell me youre not curious. Youre always curious.

Seriously, Im fine with anything. Its totally up to you. We Are Now is performing next. Theyre pretty good.

Trina scrunched her nose. Theyre okay. Im just sick of them already. I dont know why they keep getting booked every single week. You should be up there.

Tell me about it. Id been leaving demo after demo for Sheila, the clubs owner, but so far all Id gotten was an Ill let you know . We can do something else if you want. This night is all yours. Youre the one stuck here all break.

Yeah. Trina let out a sigh. With my sister. Why does NYU have to have the same break as us?

Her sister, Keisha, was a junior at New York Universitythe same school Trina had decided shed go to next yearand she was driving Trina batty with her nonstop college wisdom and experience. I would never tell Trina this, best-friend code and all meant I had to take her side 100 percent of the time, but I could see where Keisha was coming from. Id probably do the same thing if my little brother wound up at the same school as me.