Read A Is for Abstinence Online
Authors: Kelly Oram
A Is for Abstinence (33 page)
“So, Val, now that we’ve finally done it, there’s only one thing left to do.” I held out my hand and curled my fingers in a “give me” gesture. “Hand it over. I’ve earned it.”
Val knew what I was talking about. She shook her head and laughed as she unclasped the infamous necklace from her neck. “Yes, I suppose you have earned this,” she said into the mic as she placed the chain with that little white-gold
V
on it into my hand. In a dry voice she added, “Many, many, many times.”
This time, I burst into laughter right along with the crowd. I undid my bracelet and held it up in front of me. “I definitely don’t need to wear this anymore, either. I know it’s yours, but it’s been a good luck charm for me for so long that I’m going to hang on to it. However, I did get you something to replace your necklace. I slipped my bracelet into my pocket and pulled out the necklace I’d bought to replace Val’s
V
. It was white gold just like her old necklace, but instead of a
V
charm it had a shiny little
K
dangling from it.
I held it up and watched Val’s eyes gloss over. I guess I’d done well. She chewed on her bottom lip as I reached up to clasp it around her neck, and then brushed her hands over the charm when it fell against her chest. “It’s beautiful,” she said into the microphone, “but what does the
K
stand for?”
The crowed laughed and I pulled her against me. “Kiss me,” I said.
I wasn’t sure if it was an answer to her question or simply a command, but either way she said “Okay” and slid her arms around my neck.
I was still hyped up on a performance high, and this kiss was going to send me over the edge. It was time to finish this show and get busy enjoying the rest of my night. “I think we need to go out with a bang tonight!” I shouted to the crowd as soon as I broke our kiss. “Shane! We gotta do it, brother! Count it off!”
I glanced back at Shane and he gave me a huge smile, shouting, “One! Two! One, two, three, four!”
She’s smokin’ hearts with a burnin’ flame
She’s got a wild side without a name
And when she’s riled it’s a cryin’ shame
Yeay! Yeah! Yeah! I’ve got it bad
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! I’m goin’ mad…
The audience went crazy when they recognized the intro to “Cryin’ Shame.” I hadn’t performed this song for a crowd since the last time I was on this stage with Val. I’d cut it from my life when she’d cut herself from mine, and now that she was back, it didn’t feel right not to sing it. I’d written “Worth Waiting For” for Val, but “Cryin’ Shame” always was, and always will be, her song.
Judging by the state of the crowd as I sang, I was going to have to make this my show closer for the rest of the tour.
What can I say? It really is my best song.
Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen–a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which family and friends still tease her. She’s obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and loves to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and four children. Connect with Kelly through social media:
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