Aftermath

 KC knew from the get-go they didn't have a chance at the talent show. It was for kids and teens. Millie was just out of high school. And he knew he wouldn't be much help since he was older, but Millie assured him the crowd loved him. And they did.

KC let a sheepish grin give away.

"See, this is why I brought him to the show," Millie giggled into the microphone and looked back at him. He cranked up Blondie's Heart of Glass. They were only supposed to do one song, but they did three of Blondie's covers and Millie told everyone they could find them at Jerry's Soda Fountain this summer.

He had a feeling he knew why she was doing this. It wasn't to win, but to give themselves a commercial, or maybe she was advertising for her uncle.

KC was full of jitters before the adrenaline got going, and yes, the crowd wanted more, but it was just a talent show.

"It's OK if we get disqualified," she smirked as they hustled to get their gear out of the way. It was a rush because they'd gone over their time limit.

"They'll remember us," KC remembered her saying and he still felt her words later when they met up with Maddie. But she was with Boone.

Before they could talk the fireworks happened on the lake.

"Are you guys camping at this lake?" He wondered.

"Of course, not," Maddie winced at him. "We drove all the way back just to see your band."

"It's not-"

"Sunday Girl." Maddie shrugged. He looked to Millie who kept smiling. She did have a sweet disposition. Definitely, not somebody he would think of as a rocker. She was in her Wednesday Adam's outfit. He didn't know how she sufficed in this humidity.

Boone talked more than Maddie. He even invited them to the Village Inn. After all, it was faster to walk there than to drive in the traffic. 

"Did you think you would win?" Maddie wanted to know later, over milkshakes and fries.

"No." They both cracked up. And they didn't. Some nine-year won for singing 'I'm proud to be an American.'

"I guess we shouldn't have entered," Millie said politely. "It was just a way to get over the fright."

"So you mean, you can go anywhere to sing now?" KC looked at her with an open smile.

"You can hit him if you want to," Maddie pursed her lips as if she approved of Millie.

KC sighed. He was glad Maddie liked Millie. Finally, he realized who he was all along to Maddie. 

She was right, he thought. They couldn't be in a relationship. They were already family.

"Did you see Harley tonight?" Maddie shot KC a look. He shook his head no. "What in the world was she wearing?"

Of course, she had him interested, but he didn't want to know.

"Brick was with her, wasn't he?" KC stared at Maddie who would obviously know.

"No, just her cousin Kimmy."

KC was glad he didn't even look out at the crowd. Just knowing Kimmy was there made him nauseous.