The Gathering by S L Dearing

looked at the earrings.
    “I like those.”
    Sam looked at his great hulking friend and smiled.   Sara turned around and proceeded to buy the earrings.   Sam once again looked at Coeli, who was looking at him.   He smiled at her and she smiled back.
    “Hi, Coeli.”
    “Hi.”
    Sara turned back around and smiled brightly at Sam and Scott.
    “So, are you boys going to the main stage?”
    They nodded and Sam crossed his arms and smiled at Sara and then heard an enormous sigh from over his shoulder as Brandon and the girls looked angrier by the minute.  
    Coeli looked at the sky and then grabbed Scott’s wrist to see his watch.
    “Oh, by the gods!   C’mon we’re late!”
    The crowd was overwhelming as Coeli looked around.   She turned and looked at Sara and raised her hands in defeat.   Sara stepped forward and took the young men by their arms.
    “How about a little help, Guys?   We have to get the kids to the stage.”
Scott shrugged and stepped forward, scooping all three kids into his enormous arms.   They all laughed and shrieked as he ran through the crowd with children.   Coeli followed closely, but turned to see Sara take Sam’s arm as they walked through the remaining open path leading to the stage.   She turned back around and tried to focus on her songs.   Once again she felt the green monster raise its ugly head and felt her face getting hot.
    James Tippen was now sitting on the steps leading to the stage, hyperventilating into a bag, when a great hulk of a young man brought the Stark children to him.
    “You’re late! You’re all late!   Where are those other twins?!”
    As if on cue, Chris and Tanner walked from the opposite direction with Ian Turner.
    “Right here.”
    “Yo.”
    Kaley turned to see Ian, who gazed right into her eyes and smiled.   She felt herself smile back and then turned around as she felt herself begin to blush.
    "Stop it, Stupid," she thought to herself.
Sam and Sara were talking as they walked up the path and as Sam walked Sara over to the steps, she leaned over and kissed his cheek.   He felt odd and looked over at Coeli, who was trying desperately not to be angry as she watched from the corner of her eye.
    James Tippen's breathing was beginning to normalize again.
    “Ok, three left.”
    From the direction of the castle, Brian Stark came running over with the Turner boys and Joe Levine.
    “I’m here.”
    "Me, too."
    Rebecca came running from the opposite direction with Rachel Levine, Chelsea Hearst and Hannah Turner, who ran up on stage to hug Coeli and Sara hello, before running back down.
    James turned to Kaley, who was now trying desperately not to laugh. The defeated look in his eyes was almost more than she could deal with, but before he could speak of his anguish, they heard a familiar voice.
    “Ok, I’m here.”
    Alisha and Vance arrived at the stage and James looked completely relieved.   He stood up and clapped his hands.
    “Ok, everyone, places for tuning and practice.   Please, your mother will be here shortly.”
    Vance kissed Alisha and all the friends told each other they would see them after they were done.   Kaley felt a hand on her wrist.   She turned to see Ian next to her.
    "Are you doing anything after?” he whispered.
    "No, no plans."
    "I thought we could get a drink...or if not that then maybe dance or talk or something."
    Kaley smiled and nodded.
    "Yeah, I'd like that."
Ian let his hand slip down her wrist and felt the softness of her fingertips against his own.   Kaley turned as Ian's hand left hers and she felt the onset of butterflies in her stomach, much to her joy and equal chagrin, but she smiled nonetheless.
    The children walked to their places and Sara went to stand by Coeli who took a step away from her.   Sara looked at Coeli but couldn’t understand why she was moving away from her.
    Sara took another step towards her and Coeli turned to look at her sister.
    “What’s wrong with you?” Sara asked.
    “Why do you