Beneath the Noise

Chapter One: The Perfect Illusion

    The dim lights of the venue pulsed in sync with the heavy beat of the bass, casting an electrifying glow over the crowd. Roan, dressed in her signature black leather jacket, adjusted her microphone, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline. The anticipation in the air was thick, a palpable energy that coursed through her veins. She glanced sideways at Jace, who leaned casually against his guitar, his unruly hair falling over his eyes, a playful smirk plastered across his face.    "Ready to rock, JJ?" she teased, masking the bitterness that simmered beneath her cool exterior.
     "Always, Roan," he replied, his tone just a touch too cocky, and she felt the familiar stir of irritation. "Just try to keep up."       The crowd erupted as the first notes of their opening song sliced through the air. Roan took a deep breath, pushing aside the memory of their last backstage argument—their raised voices echoing in the silence, the harsh words exchanged, the promise that they'd never see eye to eye.    

      But on stage, everything was forgotten. For the fans, they were a seamless duo, their voices intertwining effortlessly, embodying the perfect rock star relationship.

      As they played, the world outside faded away. The crowd sang along, their energy infectious, and for those moments, Roan could almost convince herself that everything was fine. But as the last chord faded and the cheers erupted, reality crashed back in.       

"Good job, team!" Lilith, or Nyx as she was known on stage, beamed as she hopped off her drum kit, her vibrant hair shining under the lights. Damien, the enigmatic Grim, nodded appreciatively, a small smile playing on his lips. "You two really nailed it."     

 "Thanks, Nyx," Roan replied, her heart racing—not from the thrill of performing but from the confrontation that awaited them once the curtain fell. She could feel Jace's gaze on her, his expression a mask of faux adoration, and it made her blood boil.     

 Just then, the backstage door swung open, and in walked a new face. Sam "Rook" Park, the band's new sound engineer, fresh from a big gig with a rival band, strutted in with an air of confidence. "Did I miss the fireworks?" he quipped, a playful smirk on his face. He had an easy charm that instantly lightened the tension in the room.      

 "Just the usual," Damien replied, a knowing glance exchanged with Sam. "Roan and JJ are at it again."  "Nothing new there," Sam chuckled, leaning against the wall. "But I've got some tricks up my sleeve that might help you both find some harmony. Just sayin'."   

   Roan rolled her eyes but couldn't help a small smile. Sam had a knack for breaking the ice, even in the thick of their arguments. "Thanks, but I think we need more than tricks to get on the same page," she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.  As the applause faded and they exited the stage, the atmosphere shifted. Backstage was a different world—chaotic, raw, and real. The moment they were out of sight, Jace's charming facade slipped.      

"What was that?" he snapped, his eyes narrowing as he tossed his guitar to the side. "You completely missed the bridge!"  "Oh, give me a break!" Roan shot back, frustration spilling over. "Maybe if you weren't so busy showing off, I could've followed your lead!" Jace stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "Showing off? I'm just trying to keep this band from falling apart because of your egotistical attitude!"  "Egotistical? You think I'm the problem? You're the one who always needs to be the center of attention!"    "Why don't you try sharing it for once, Roan?" came a voice from the back. It was Lily "Echo" Winters, the band's new backup singer and songwriter, who had joined them just a few weeks ago. She was quiet but fiercely observant, with a talent for harmonizing that had already earned her a place in Roan's heart. "This isn't just about you or him. We're a team, remember?"  Lilith exchanged a worried glance with Damien, both of them sensing the impending storm. They knew better than to intervene, having witnessed the volatile relationship between their bandmates countless times.     

 "Maybe if you actually listened for once, you'd realize we're supposed to be a team!" Jace's voice rose, echoing through the narrow corridor.  "Team?" Roan laughed bitterly. "You mean your team, right? Because it sure feels like I'm just the backup singer in your show!"  "Enough!" Damien stepped between them, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to their explosive argument. "We just finished a killer set. Let's not ruin it now. We have a tour to think about."  Roan took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. Jace's words stung, but she knew better than to show him how much they affected her. Instead, she forced a smile and crossed her arms. "Fine. Let's just focus on the tour. We'll figure it out on the road."  "Yeah, let's put on a show for the fans, like we always do," Jace muttered, irritation still bubbling beneath the surface.   

    As the five of them regrouped to discuss their upcoming tour, Roan's mind drifted. She hated the way Jace made her feel—angry, frustrated, and undeniably drawn to him. The chemistry they had on stage was electric, but off-stage, it was a battlefield. And as the first leg of their tour approached, she couldn't shake the feeling that this battle was far from over. The lines between love and hate were about to blur, and she wasn't sure if they would survive it—or if they'd discover something deeper lurking beneath the surface. Little did they know, the road ahead would be filled with unexpected twists, testing their patience, pushing their limits, and challenging everything they thought they knew about each other. The perfect illusion of their on-stage persona was about to collide with the chaos of their true selves. And in the end, they might just find that the sound of silence between them was the loudest of all.

HIIIII guyssss, I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter of Beneath the Noise!