Jason sighed, trudging up to the stage. He sat down near the back of the stage, next to another girl playing the tenor sax. He ignored her, more focused on trying to blend in and disappear like a chameleon. A few people were chatting avidly, others more intent on setting up their instruments. All the different emotions around him were making his head swirl.
He felt out of place sitting with the rest of the group. Smart, funny, loud people who were all having fun playing the instruments they loved. Jason would rather poke needles in his eyes. He didn't do public places. They just weren't his thing.
He pried open his saxophone case and, hazel eyes focused on the ground, he pulled off his favorite necklaces and tucked them in his pocket. Then he popped the reed in his mouth and started to as-semble his sax. The entire time he had a throbbing headache.