Soundstage

Five

Holy hell, no. There was no way.

Fingers closed around Jack's wrist and he jumped, turning to meet Madison's gaze. She was staring between him and the TV set, her eyes widened as she started to piece together exactly what was going on. "No. No way, Jack, this is impossible. Holden Robinson?!"

"Jack!"

Jack jumped, turning to the TV set again, where there was an image of Holden Robinson leaping to his feet excitedly. "His name's Jack! I can hear my soulmate's sounds, he's called Jack!"

A sudden cheer soared up from the crowd, and Jack stuttered back a step, pressing a hand to his forehead where the sounds echoed overwhelmingly loudly inside his head. He drew in a shaky breath, his thoughts failing. Because. What?!

"Jack!" Madison was staring at the TV set too, her eyes wide. "Jack, is this – are you serious?! Holden Robinson can hear me right now?!"

"Yes!" Holden Robinson replied from the TV set, and Jack's legs gave out, sending him tumbling onto the sofa. Holden Robinson stared happily into the camera, his smile stretching so wide that it sent funny ripples down Jack's spine. "Whoever you are – person who keeps saying Jack's name – I can hear you."

Madison squealed.

Holden Robinson winced, placing a hand to his head.

Jack just stared, stupefied, between the TV set and Madison's shocked face. He could still hear murmured conversations in his skull – presumably the band members talking to Holden Robinson – because yes, Jack could hear Holden's surroundings right now. He could hear the presenter's excited chattering, the rumble of the crowd, the footsteps of the cameramen.

But that was all impossible. Because that would mean that Holden Robinson...

Holden Robinson...

"What," Jack finally managed to rasp out, "What the hell is happening?"

Madison squealed again, jumping into place beside Jack. "I can't believe it! I actually think you just found your soulmate!"

Jack didn't take his eyes off the TV screen, glued to the image of Holden Robinson standing in the middle of the commotion. He swallowed, mouth dry. "How – how –"

"I don't know, either," Madison hummed, a hand on Jack's arm, "But Holden Robinson definitely just replied to me, so..."

"Yes!" Holden Robinson spoke to the camera again, his eyes wide. "I can hear you, female person – I can hear you talking to my soulmate. Oh, my goodness, are you – are you watching the interview?"

"Yes, we're watching the interview!" Madison yelped right into Jack's ear, and he flinched away, rubbing at his forehead at the exact same time as Holden winced on camera.

"Loud, Lou," Jack muttered, but he still couldn't take his eyes off the screen.

Holden grinned at the camera, then back to the presenter, who was cooing over the moment with the crowd's accompanying awws.

"Well, folks," the presenter spoke to the camera, "It looks like we'll have to cut this interview short – but never fear, we have other bands lined up!"

"No, no, no!" Jack was up on his feet again, running up to the TV screen and staring as the Sunshine Squad were herded out of the studio. He could still hear the crowd in his head, but the sounds were dimming. He could only watch in despair as the Sunshine Squad disappeared from the shot, watching Holden Robinson's broad back get swallowed up by the crowd.

"No, where's he gone?!" Jack got as close to the TV as he could, eyes wide.

Madison chuckled behind him. "I don't think eating the screen is going to get you any closer to him, Jack."