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This stage was supposed to be hers alone. No ghosts. No drama. Just one shot to prove she belonged.
The lights pulsed red and gold behind the thick black curtains, casting jagged shadows on the scuffed backstage floor. Riley Carter adjusted the mic clipped to her collar, willing her hands to stop shaking. She’d done this before—auditions, talent shows, local events—but tonight was different. This stage wasn’t just a stage.
It was a way out.
A backstage assistant passed by, giving her a quick thumbs-up. “You’re on in two,” he called, already rushing toward the next contestant.
Riley nodded stiffly, barely hearing him over the pounding in her ears. This is it, she reminded herself. Your moment. No distractions. No one to steal it this time.
And then—she heard it.
Footsteps behind her. A rhythm too familiar.
She turned—and her breath caught.
Jade Monroe stood ten feet away, leaning casually against the wall like this was just another rehearsal at school. The same piercing stare. The same cocky half-smile. Her hair, now dyed deep plum, was longer than Riley remembered, curled over one shoulder. A pair of headphones hung around her neck like a badge of pride.
Riley’s whole body tensed—shoulders stiff, fingers clenched into fists. For a moment, she was seventeen again, standing on stage alone, microphone trembling in her hand, wondering why her best friend never showed up.
“Hey, Riles,” Jade said, her voice light. Too light. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Riley blinked, trying to steady her voice. “Clearly.”
Jade raised an eyebrow. “Still holding grudges?”
“Still running from explanations?”
Jade gave a short laugh, but there was a flicker behind her eyes—something sharp, something unsure. “You’re not still mad about that night, are you?”
Riley took a step forward. “The night you bailed on me without a word? Our biggest performance yet? You vanished, and I had to sing solo in front of two thousand people with no warning. So yeah, I guess I’m a little mad.”
Before Jade could answer, a man in a black headset stepped between them, glancing at a clipboard.
“Carter and Monroe?” he asked.
Both girls responded instinctively. “Yeah.”
“You’re paired for Round One. Surprise duet challenge.”
Riley’s jaw dropped. “I’m sorry—what?”
“New format this season. You’ve got five minutes to prep. Then it’s lights up. Judges want chemistry and vocal harmony. Oh—and just so you know, only one of you might move on.”
He turned on his heel and disappeared before either of them could protest.
Jade let out a low whistle. “Well… this just got interesting.”
Riley crossed her arms, trying to hold her composure. “Of all the people they could’ve paired me with…”
“Hey, I didn’t ask for this either.” Jade tilted her head. “But maybe we’re both here for a reason.”
Riley narrowed her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
A booming voice echoed from the speakers overhead: “Contestants to the stage. Five seconds.”
The curtain began to rise.
Riley gripped the mic in her hand, heart thundering against her ribs. Jade stepped up beside her—too close, too familiar—and for a brief moment, Riley caught the scent of the same vanilla body spray Jade used to wear when they practiced late at night, singing into hairbrushes and dreaming of stages like this one.
It hit her like a wave she wasn’t ready for.
But this wasn’t that. Not anymore.
This time, if Jade tried to take the spotlight—Riley was ready to burn the whole stage down.
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