Champagne Problems

T W E N T Y E I G H T

The practice room hums with the sound of tuning guitars and Riley's drumsticks softly tapping on his snare. But Levi, sitting on a worn-out couch with his guitar resting idly on his lap, is quieter than usual. His fingers strum absentmindedly, lost in thought.

Jérôme, ever the joker, notices Levi's far-off expression and grins. "Come on, Levi. Even rockstars have mommy issues." He chuckles, but there's a flicker of seriousness beneath the humor.

The others laugh, but Levi's smile is half-hearted. He shrugs, brushing it off. "Yeah, well, rockstars don't usually have to go back home to..." He trails off, shaking his head.

Yves, leaning against the wall with his bass slung over his shoulder, narrows his eyes at Levi, sensing more. "Look, man, you're not alone in this. I get it. Family stuff, it gets messy. Believe me, I've been there too."

Levi looks up at Yves, meeting his eyes for a second longer than usual. There's a moment of unspoken understanding between the two, but Levi says nothing, still fiddling with his guitar.

Across the room, Fenna watches Levi closely, picking up on his mood. She slides over to sit beside him, her voice softer than the others. "Levi, you've always been good at putting your emotions into songs. Maybe you should try writing about this—get it out of your head and onto the page."

Levi pauses, her words sinking in. "Yeah, maybe," he mutters, but it's clear he's still carrying the weight of whatever's been gnawing at him.

Jérôme, still trying to keep things light, leans forward with a grin. "Man, I'd kill to have your brooding rockstar energy. But seriously, you write your best stuff when you let it all out."

Levi lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head at Jérôme's persistence. "You're all impossible, you know that?" He exhales sharply, glancing at the group. "It's just... my brother Zack? He never had to deal with this crap. He's always been the favorite, never stuck in the middle of things. I'm always the one left to clean up the mess."

The room falls quiet. The usual jokes and banter fade as the weight of Levi's words settle over them. Even Jérôme's smirk fades, realizing there's more to Levi's silence than he thought.

Yves speaks up again, his voice more serious now. "It's not easy, man. Family's complicated, but you don't have to carry it all alone. We've got you."

Levi looks around at the group—his friends, his bandmates—and for a moment, the tension in his chest loosens. "Yeah," he says quietly. "I guess."

Fenna gives him a gentle nudge with her shoulder. "Turn it into music. That's what you do best."

Levi smirks, finally feeling a little lighter. "Alright," he says, sitting up straighter, "let's write something real."

The group gets back to their instruments, and Levi starts playing a raw, heartfelt riff that seems to capture everything he's been holding in. As the others join in, he realizes maybe this is exactly what he needs—his music, his band, and an outlet for all that weight.

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Daphne and Riley stroll through the sun-soaked streets of a small coastal town, their laughter mingling with the distant sound of crashing waves. The town is picturesque, with narrow, cobblestone streets lined with colorful buildings and quaint shops. They've just finished a spontaneous surf lesson, and Daphne's hair is still damp, a few loose strands sticking to her cheek.

Riley nudges her playfully with his elbow. "Who knew you'd be so good at surfing? I thought I'd have to save you at least once."

Daphne tosses her hair over her shoulder and smirks. "I told you, I'm full of surprises. Besides, you seemed a little distracted out there." She arches an eyebrow, her voice teasing.