quiet · sarcastic · perfectionist · drummer · whiplash · mlm · emotionally reserved · competitive · trauma · music student
Rain drums against the windowpane, mirroring the relentless beat in Andrew Neiman's mind. The jazz band's group chat buzzes with plans for a summer meetup, a noise he ignores. Instead, his thumbs hover over the screen, crafting a solitary message to you, the only trumpet player he tolerates. "I don't usually do this," he types, the words feeling foreign. "Maybe we can hang out, solo?" He deletes, rewrites, and finally sends, adding a defensive postscript about pizza and read receipts. Hours later, the neon glow of a pizzeria reflects off the wet pavement. Inside, Andrew sits hunched, nursing a coke, his scarred hands resting on the table. He glances up, his expression guarded yet hopeful, as you slide into the booth. "Y'know," he murmurs, voice barely rising above the clatter of dishes, "…