Lover/Leaver (Jake Kiszka)

Chapter 4: Finals and Friction

The morning sun peeked through the library's large windows, casting a warm glow over the study tables scattered with textbooks, notes, and laptops. Amelia was hunched over her music theory notes, trying to absorb as much information as possible before her final exam. Around her the library buzzed with the quiet hum of students buried in their studies, each one grappling with the pressures of finals week.

Amelia glanced at her watch and sighed, she had been at it for hours, and her brain felt like it was going to melt. She looked around at her friends, who were similarly engrossed in their own study materials. Max was furiously typing away on his laptop, working on a paper for his history of rock music class, while Lisa flipped through her notes on advanced music composition.

"Break time?" Amelia suggested, rubbing her temples.

"Please," Lisa groaned dropping her pen. "I think my brain is officially fried."

Max closed his laptop with a dramatic flourish. "I second that. I need coffee and maybe a donut...or five."

They gathered their things and headed to the campus cafe, the fresh air a welcome relief from the stuffy library. The cafe was bustling with students, the smell of coffee and pastries filling the air. They found a table and settled in, sipping their drinks and enjoying a brief respite from studying.

"So how are you guys feeling about your last finals before we graduate?" Amelia asked, taking a bite of her muffin.

"Terrified," Max admitted. "But we'll get through it. We always do."

"Yeah we've faced tougher challenges." Lisa added. "Like that time we had to play a gig the night before a major exam."

Amelia laughed. "True, and we all passed it."

Max leaned forward, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "Can we talk about the meeting with Greta Van Fleet? I still can't believe that happened."

"Oh my God yes," Lisa said her face lighting up. "It was surreal. I mean Josh Kiszka kissed your hand Amelia. How are you still not freaking out?"

Amelia blushed, a smile tugging at her lips. "It was definitely a moment. But honestly, I was so nervous about playing for them that everything else was a blur."

"They were super cool, though," Max said. "Josh, Sam, and Danny were really encouraging."

"Except Jake," Lisa pointed out, rolling her eyes. "What was his deal? He seemed so critical."

Amelia sighed, taking a sip of her coffee. "I don't know. Maybe he's just really intense about music. I mean, I get it. They've worked hard to get where they are."

"Still, he didn't have to be such a jerk," Lisa said. "But hey, the rest of the band seemed to love us."

Max grinned. "And we're going on tour with them! Can you believe it? This is huge."

"It really is," Amelia said, her excitement bubbling over. "This could be our big break. We have to make the most of it."

"We will," Max said confidently. "We've worked too hard to let this slip through our fingers."

Lisa nodded. "Yeah and we'll show Jake that we deserve to be there just as much as anyone."

They chatted for a while longer, their conversation a mix of finals stress and tour excitement. After their break, they headed back to the library, feeling a bit more refreshed and ready to tackle the next round of studying.

Later that evening, the Echoes gathered in their rehearsal space, ready to work on a new song. The room was filled with familiar sights and sounds of their creative process. Instruments scattered around, notebooks filled with lyrics, and the occasional burst of laughter as they brainstormed ideas.