Pitch:

Myles Bennett hopes his punk band will be his ticket out of an abusive home, but a viral video of him and Mal, the band's lead singer, puts a spotlight on his deepest insecurities and breeds jealousy among the band. When the buzz lands them a spot at a major music festival, it should make all of Myles's dreams come true, but the stage may prove too big for him to save everything—and everyone—he loves.

Excerpt:

Hank eases out of his truck, his lips lurking in his silvery goatee like a serpent coiled in the grass. He motions for me to get out of the car.

“Going somewhere, Myles?”

I close my eyes. Obviously, I’m not going anywhere. Not now, as he blocks me in with his bigass truck and acts like a sheriff pulling over a speeder. I wipe my hair back.

“We’ve got a show tonight.”

“A show, huh?”

He knows this already. The skate competition at the warehouse starts in 40 minutes, but the band still has to set up and run through soundcheck. Not that Hank cares. He’ll ask why anyone would want to hear us play such garbage because he only likes music with lyrics about hunting, fishing, or defending freedoms—none of which I’ve ever seen him do.

He studies the station wagon, drums and amps stacked neatly in the back. “You’re taking Nan’s car?”

“Yeah, I told you about—”

Hank holds up his hand, but I look away. I can’t quite face those sunken black pits that flank his nose.

“Maybe you did, but I specifically remember asking you to do some things around the house.” He makes a show of looking around. “Doesn’t look like any of that happened.”

My pocket buzzes—either Noah or Mal wondering where the hell I am.