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“Okay, I don’t think I can do this,” Steve gulped, loosening his tie. Around him, other teachers from his school and a few of the other counselors mingled having overlapping conversations.
“You can do this,” Eddie encouraged, straightening Steve’s tie. “They didn’t choose you for Counselor of the Year for nothing.”
Steve glanced at stage left to see the superintendent walk in and start chatting with the principal. His stomach dropped; maybe there had been some mistake?
The thought sent a sick shiver through him.
“Wish they could just hand me the thing and be done with it,” Steve grumbled. He pressed a hand to his stomach as another sick flip turned in his abdomen. “Ugh, I feel like I’m gunna be sick.”
“Hey, you’re okay,” Eddie assured. “It’s okay to be nervous and don’t forget, you practiced it like, three times last night. Just pretend you’re talking to me. Worst comes to worse, you can glance at your cards.”
Steve gave Eddie a pained look. “I will not be the loser who has to pull out their cards in the middle of a speech.” He groaned as he looked at the ceiling. Maybe there was a magic escape hatch that could take him far, far away from having to ever public speak ever again. Maybe he could disappear off the face of this earth right as they call his name.
“It’s a podium. No one can tell,” Eddie amended. He booped Steve’s nose.
The hum of conversations died down slightly and the lights dimmed. Steve swallowed hard. “Fuck, I really could vomit right now.”
Eddie laid a comforting hand on Steve’s shoulder. “Deep breaths, Steve. You’re gunna do great.”
The principal began to gather and escort the other teachers and counselors to their seats. She gave Steve a warm smile as she passed by. “We’ll be starting in five, okay?”
Steve did his best to look more confident than he felt. “Thanks, Ms. Watson.”
She went back to ushering people to their seats, and in minutes the backstage was empty besides the tech crew, Eddie, and himself. He felt sweat pearling at his temples and on his palms.
“Hey, hey, look at me,” Eddie guided.
Steve reluctantly met Eddie’s eyes.
“You’re the best in the district, babe. The best. And you have this incredible ability to connect with your students. Just do what you do with them, with us out there, okay?”
Steve felt a small seed of confidence plant in his chest. He pulled in a deep breath and let it out.
“Okay.”
“See you out there?”
Steve nodded. “And Eds?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll be looking at you out there.”
Eddie smiled at that and blew him a playful kiss. “I’ll be the one in front.”
Then, Steve was alone.
His heart was in his throat and his stomach knotted and unknotted as he waited. But there was no escape and when he heard his name, he let out a breath before walking out to the roar of applause.