The day had arrived. It was as if everything we had been doing over the past few days had culminated in this exact moment. We hadn't had time for grand preparations or endless rehearsals; we had simply gathered a few times to make sure we wouldn't completely ruin the song. But here we were, ready to fulfill Olivia's whim.
We were in Olivia's dorm room, surrounded by scarves, loose cables, and an alarming number of objects she insisted on calling "essential." Olivia had declared that her room was the perfect place to get ready because, according to her, "creative chaos stimulates genius." In reality, I think she just wanted to make sure no one escaped before fulfilling their part of the deal.
"Do I look okay?" Olivia asked for the tenth time, spinning in front of the full-length mirror attached to her door. She adjusted her scarf three times in a row and then looked at me with wide eyes. "Do you think they'll notice I'm sweating? I can't sweat! Sweating is for the weak!"
I raised an eyebrow as I packed my guitar into its case.
"Olivia, you didn't even sweat when we chased you all over campus after you tried to sneak into the faculty cafeteria. I think you'll survive."
She shot me a glare but then sighed dramatically and collapsed onto her bed, which was covered with embroidered pillows bearing phrases like "Life is art" and "Anything is possible if you believe in yourself."
"It's just that… this is important, you know? We can't mess it up. This is our one chance. Debut and retire, friends. There's no room for mistakes."
Lindsay, who until now had been quietly reviewing her notes, looked up and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Relax, Olivia. It's just one song. Besides, even if something goes wrong, no one will remember anything tomorrow."
Olivia snorted.
"That's not true. If something goes wrong, everyone will remember it forever. We'll be known as The Disastrous . And I don't want that. I want to be remembered as The Creative Genius Behind the Musical Miracle ."
I burst out laughing, unable to help myself. Olivia always had a way of making me forget any worries, even in moments like this.
After loading everything (and after Olivia insisted on bringing her "special effects equipment," which basically consisted of an old flashlight and a couple of loose cables), we decided to make a quick stop at Lagunitas Lake before heading to the Frost Amphitheater. It was our favorite spot to relax, and I thought some fresh air and calm water might help ease our nerves.
When we arrived, the lake was as serene as ever. The small ripples reflected the sunlight, and the distant sound of birds chirping was almost hypnotic. We sat on our usual rock, letting the silence envelop us for a few minutes.
"You know," Olivia said suddenly, breaking the spell, "I still can't believe I won that pumpkin carving contest. It was epic. My pumpkin had more personality than most of the people I know."
Lindsay rolled her eyes but couldn't hide a small smile.
"Yes, Olivia. Your pumpkin was amazing. Now shut up and enjoy the lake."
Olivia nodded solemnly.
"You're right. This is our last moment of peace before we change history. Well, at least for us. After today, we'll never play together again unless you guys want to."
We fell silent for a moment, reflecting on what she had just said. It was true. This would be our only performance. Olivia had demanded her prize for winning the pumpkin carving contest: a full day where she could force us to do whatever she wanted without objections. And, of course, she had chosen to use that day to make us perform a song in public.
When we finally arrived at the Frost Amphitheater, the place was already filled with curious students. Some had brought blankets and snacks, others were chatting animatedly while they waited. Seeing so many people gathered made my heart race faster, but it also filled me with pride. This was real. We had achieved something.
We climbed onto the stage, adjusted the instruments, and got ready to start. But just as we were about to play, Olivia realized something.
"Wait!" she exclaimed, stopping all of us. "We haven't said the name of our band!"
Lindsay and I exchanged a confused glance.
"The name of our what?" I asked, incredulous.
"Our band!" Olivia repeated, as if it were obvious. "We can't just go out there and play without an epic name that captures the essence of our greatness."
Before we could protest, Olivia turned to the audience and announced triumphantly:
"Welcome to the debut of Broken Dreams ! Get ready to be moved, cry, and maybe reconsider all your life choices!"
Lindsay looked at me, horrified.
"Broken Dreams ? Seriously?"
"It's poetic," Olivia responded with a shrug. "Besides, I already said it. There's no going back."
Resigned, we prepared to play. When the first notes of "A Bad Dream" echoed through the amphitheater, I felt all the tension melt away. Lindsay's voice was pure magic, filled with emotion and vulnerability. Every word seemed to connect directly with the audience, and I could feel everyone listening intently.
When we finished, there was a moment of absolute silence. For a second, I feared something had gone wrong. But then, the place erupted in applause. Strangers cheered for us, some even stood up. It was one of those unforgettable moments, where you feel like you've touched something deep inside another person.
As we stepped off the stage, Olivia hugged both of us enthusiastically.
"We did it! We're legendary! The world will never be the same!"
Lindsay and I exchanged an amused glance.
"Well, that was fun," she said with a mischievous smile. "But I think we've fulfilled our duty. After all, this was only thanks to my prize from the pumpkin carving competition. We don't need to play anymore. Debut and retire, friends. It's better this way."
Lindsay and I were left speechless.
"What?" Lindsay asked, incredulous. "We're not playing anymore?"
"Exactly," Olivia responded, as if it were the most logical thing in the world. "Debut and retire. That way, it'll be more legendary. Besides, who needs more when we've already reached perfection?"
We laughed, resigned but happy. Maybe Olivia was right. Maybe this one song was enough. After all, it wasn't just about the music. It was about us, together, sharing something special.
And so the day ended, with laughter, applause, and the certainty that, no matter what came next, we had created something unforgettable.