Dolce Dissonance // 'Sweet Dissonance'

Chapter 35

✔️ ANGEL (@ANGEL) // 210M followers

[Image description: A figure from behind in a black jacket, holographic angel wings printed on the back with the words 'ANGEL DEBUT TOUR'. A silver guitar is held by the neck, the base resting on the ground, crossing behind the figure's legs. The figure in black appears to be standing on a stage, looking out at an empty stadium. Artist @R.E.D is tagged to the image.]

🖤 14,979,802 likes

ANGEL✔️ "The crowds in stands went wild" 🎶

See link in bio for ticket sale dates. See you soon🤍

→ Y_should_I_tell_U screaming, crying, throwing up.

→ That_dam_swifty guys this quote isn't from any of his released music!

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Will Solace was sat in the plush leather chair of Hedge's office, staring rather intently at the door. Not because he was expecting anyone to enter, nor was there anything particularly interesting about it; a standard dark wood and simple doorknob. But it was certainly better to look at than the disappointment in Hedge's eyes.

The noise of the street below was an ever present hum, a stark contrast to the silence that had settled over his creative mind in the past month. Since the breakup with Nico and his loss at the Grammys, Will hadn't written a single song. Every attempt had ended in frustration, the words and melodies evading him. Hedge had been patient at first, until one week turned to two, then turned to four and now Will's empty notebook is splayed out on the desk. Hedge maintained that their meeting was a 'check-in' not a disciplinary meeting, but Will wasn't so sure.

Hedge, with his usual gruff demeanour, sat across from Will, one hand on the desk, its fingers drumming impatiently, and the other wrapped around an energy drink despite it being nine in the morning. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken expectation.

"Will, we need to talk about your music." Hedge repeated when Will seemed uninclined to respond the first time.

Will tore his gaze from the door, meeting Hedge's piercing eyes and immediately regretting it when he saw the pity and ill-concealed frustration swirling in them. "I know. I'm sorry."

Hedge nodded, his expression softening slightly. "I get it. The breakup, the Grammys, it's a lot to deal with."

Except he didn't...'get it', that is. No one quite understood what it meant for Will to lose his confidence and love in one fell swoop. They didn't hear the voice that whispered to him that he 'couldn't make it on his own' and the temptation that called for him to run back to his parents' studio back home.

Hedge continued, "But we're in a tough spot right now. ANGEL just announced his tour, and Reyna tells me he's got new music coming out soon. If you don't get back in the game, you're going to lose the spotlight. Your fans need to hear from you."

ANGEL.

Will found himself oscillating between longing and resentment. He would catch glimpses of Nico in everyday moments—his songs on the radio (the channel quickly changed), a familiar scent—and his heart would ache. Yet, at the same time, he couldn't shake the resentment that lingered.

The announcement of ANGEL's tour had only stirred up his unruly emotions. Hearing Nico's voice again, seeing his lyrics plastered across every media outlet, was a constant reminder of everything unresolved between them.

The two girls at his coffee shop, with skull rings hung from chains at their neck, loading the ticket sale dates into their calendars and giggling over the latest articles making predictions about ANGEL's appearance.