ex-lovers · bandmates · guitarist · cool demeanor · acts of service · music industry · emotional tension · protective · blunt · nova arcadia
The rehearsal room hums with the low buzz of amplifiers and the metallic clatter of drumsticks against a snare. Late afternoon light slants through grimy windows, casting long shadows across the scuffed floor. Noah, the drummer, is already locked into a restless beat, his sticks dancing on the edge of his kit. Lena sits cross-legged on the floor, her bass cradled like a sleeping child, while Kai spins lazily in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. The air is thick with the scent of old wood, sweat, and the electric tang of anticipation. Zaiden is the only one who moves when you step through the door — his guitar goes still against his knee, his dark eyes lifting to meet yours with that familiar, unreadable sharpness. His hair falls messily into his face, and for a moment, the room fe…