H.S | Same song, second verse | Second book

Chapter 23. When Timing Isn't on Your Side

"Alright, let's just wing it, go with what feels right," I say, excitement bubbling up. "Theo, you start us off."

Theo's eyes light up, and he's all in. He adjusts his bass, ready to dive in. I glance around at the band—Kaylee's fingers are hovering over the keys, Harmony's twirling her drumsticks, and Dax leans casually on his guitar, giving me a nod.

I signal the sound engineer to keep recording. "Whenever you're ready, Theo."

Theo's bassline drops, smooth and steady, setting the mood. Kaylee comes in with some chill melodies while Harmony drives the beat. Dax adds his guitar, weaving it all together. I give Harry the nod, and he starts freestyling. "Hallway, come meet me," he sings, and I'm already feeling the flow.

"In the hallway, come meet me," he continues, his voice carrying the rhythm. I adjust the levels, making sure his voice cuts through the track, especially when he hits, "I just left your bedroom, need some morphine. What more can I do?" His words hit hard, and I'm tweaking the mix, making sure every bit of emotion shines through.

The song takes shape, and Harry keeps going, his voice building. "I need to get better, need to get better," he sings, and the whole room is locked in. The energy shifts as the song slows down, reaching this emotional peak before the room falls silent when he finishes.

I step into the room with a smile. "How was that?" I ask.

"Good, fun," Harry says, his eyes catching mine with that look that makes my heart skip a beat.

"Yeah, we crushed it," I grin.

"What do you think?" he asks, clearly looking for my take.

"I think with a few tweaks, this is gonna be a hit. Seriously, I'm proud of you guys," I say, meaning every word.

Harmony's already hyped. "Let's celebrate!" she shouts, and Dax jumps in with, "To the pub!"

We grab our stuff, laughing as we head out to a bar down the street. The place is packed when we get there, and we snag a booth. Harmony raises her glass. "To an epic session and more to come!" Everyone cheers and clinks glasses. Dax leans back with a grin. "I almost gave up, but we're back, baby!"

Then Nelly's "Hot in Here" comes on, and it's like we all know what's happening. Kaylee, Harmony, and I lock eyes, and before I know it, we're on the dance floor. I yell to the boys, "Watch out, the hot trio's here!" We're laughing and dancing like no one's watching.

I run back and drag Dax and Theo onto the floor. Then I grab Harry's hand, still laughing. "Come dance with me!" He shakes his head but follows anyway, and we're all out there, belting the lyrics and having the best time.

Suddenly, I hear someone shout my name. "Noa!" I turn and see Don. "Hey!" I wrap my arms around him, smiling so wide it hurts. We chat for a bit, and he kisses my cheek, making me smile even more. I lead him to a quieter spot so we can talk.

As we catch up, it's clear this thing between us is over. Don asks, "Are you ghosting me?"

I sigh, feeling bad but being real. "I've just been busy, and I'm not really up for a fling anymore." He's not thrilled, but he gets it.

I take him back to meet the band, and he shakes hands with everyone. But I notice Harry's eyes on Don, and it's clear he's not happy. Theo asks how Don and I met, and Dax jumps in with, "Same way Noa and I did!" Everyone laughs, and I'm just sitting there like, "Okay, enough!"

Harmony pulls me into her lap, and we're all cracking up, but then I see Harry storm off. I get up fast. "I messed up, didn't I?" I ask the group.

"Yeah, kinda," Dax says with a grin. "You paraded your ex around after Harry poured his heart out."