Billy Troll's Arc

Chapter 12 of 14

Billy sat at the kitchen table and watched Dianne refill his coffee. The competition was six hours away. He'd spent the morning texting with Suzie and the girls, trying to figure out if they should still show up. Every message came back to the same question—would performing make things worse for them? Dianne set down a printed news article she'd found online. The headline read "WE WANT JUST GIRLZ" in bold letters across the top. Fans had been posting all morning asking where the band was, saying they'd been waiting a year to see them perform. Billy stared at the page and realized pulling them out wouldn't protect them—it would prove Mic's lie worked. The girls would lose their shot, and everyone watching would think Billy had backed down because the accusation was true. He picked up his phone and texted Suzie: We're performing. Meet at the tent in two hours. Billy drove to the competition grounds and found the rehearsal tent where the girls were already waiting. Suzie looked tired but her drumsticks were in her hands. The other girls sat with their instruments unpacked, watching him. Billy told them the truth—Mic's video had worked, half the town believed he'd rigged the competition, and performing today wouldn't change that. But pulling out would hurt them more than him, and he wouldn't let his mess take their moment. Suzie stood up and said they weren't here because the town believed in Billy. They were here because they did. The other girls nodded. Billy felt something settle in his chest that had been loose for days. They walked to the town square together and saw the banner hung across the main stage: "BAND COMPETITION TODAY." Just Girlz was still listed on the lineup. Mic's name was at the top. Billy looked at the girls and saw them looking back at him, instruments ready, not afraid. He realized he wasn't trying to prove himself anymore. He was showing up for people who'd chosen to stand with him when it cost them something. That was the version of himself he wanted to be—not the one who won every fight, but the one who didn't fight alone. The girls stepped toward the stage, and Billy followed.