2 STRINGS

Connecting

"Good. She doesn't deserve a second chance," Melody muttered, stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets.

"Mel, you've got to let it go. I'm not holding onto it anymore, so why are you?"

"Because I care about you, dumbass," she said, bumping her shoulder against mine.

I smiled. "I know. And I love you for it."

The café was cozy, with mismatched furniture and warm lighting. Nico's mom greeted us with a bright smile.

"It's so nice to meet you all," she said warmly.

The café was cozy, with mismatched furniture and warm lighting that gave the place a homey vibe. Nico's mom greeted us as we walked in, her bright smile making me feel instantly at ease.

"It's so nice to finally meet you all," she said warmly, clapping her hands together. "Nico's been talking about this band nonstop."

As we unpacked and set up, she explained her plan. "We're hoping to have you perform Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 5. It'll bring in customers and give you all some exposure."

The idea sounded perfect, and we all quickly agreed.

"This is huge," Melody whispered, nudging me with her elbow. "Imagine—our names on a flyer."

During the setup, Nico hovered nearby, trying to make small talk. "See? I told you my mom would love you," he said, leaning in a little too close.

I gave him a polite smile. "She's really sweet. We're lucky to have her support."

When practice started, we ran through a few songs while Nico's mom watched from the counter. She clapped enthusiastically after each one, offering feedback and suggestions.

"You've got a lot of potential," she said, her eyes bright with excitement. "I think this is going to work out really well for all of us."

By the time we packed up, the café smelled like fresh coffee and pastries. Nico lingered near me as I gathered my things, casually bringing up song arrangements and asking if I'd want to work on a duet.

I nodded along, but my mind kept wandering to Xolo. I hadn't talked to him all day, and I wanted to tell him about the practice, about Nico's mom, and how much I wished he could've seen us. But more than that, I just wanted to hear his voice and know about his day too.

Nico's voice broke through my thoughts. "So, do you think we should try mixing acoustic with electric for the next set?"

"Uh, yeah, maybe," I said quickly, trying to seem engaged.

He chuckled. "You're not even listening to me, are you?"

I smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I'm just a little distracted."

"You've been quiet today," Nico said, his gaze lingering for a moment too long. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," I said, forcing a smile. "Just tired."

There was something about Nico's lingering stares that made me uneasy. He wasn't doing anything outright wrong, but the way he tried to monopolize my attention felt...off.

Melody and I walked home together after practice, our laughter bouncing off the quiet streets.

"Tell me you saw Nico's face when you hit that high note," Melody said, doubling over with laughter. "He looked like he'd just seen God."

"You've got to admit," she said after catching her breath. "We're kind of killing it right now."

"Kind of?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. "We're totally killing it."

Melody smirked. "And speaking of killing it, I think Nico has a little thing for you."

I rolled my eyes. "No way. He's just making sure we're all comfortable. He's the boss, remember?"

"Please," Melody said, nudging me. "The way he looks at you? That's not just business. Trust me—I'm never wrong about this stuff."

I laughed nervously, brushing off her comment.

Changing the subject, I asked, "How's this thing with Greg going, by the way? You two have been hanging out a lot lately."

Melody shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "He's cool. Actually listens when I talk, which is more than I can say for most guys."

I grinned. "That's Greg—annoying, but somehow dependable... some of the time, anyway." 

We both laughed. 

"Annoying is right," Melody said, but her tone was softer than usual. "He's been helping me with this volunteer project for school. Didn't even ask for anything in return."

Later that night, my family gathered for dinner. Greg teased me about my new "rock star" schedule, while Kooty interrupted every other sentence with his dinosaur impressions.

"You've got to put that energy into soccer," Greg said, tossing a roll at me. "The team needs you."

"I'm still playing!" I shot back, catching the roll before it hit my plate. "But I'm allowed to have other interests, you know."

My mom chimed in, "As long as you keep your grades up, Jamie. No slacking just because you've got gigs now."

"Got it," I said, smiling.

After dinner, I finally texted Xolo.

Jamie: Hey. Haven't heard from you today. You good?

It didn't take long for him to reply.

Xolo: Yeah, just busy with family stuff. You?

Jamie: Practice was good. We're starting to get gigs at a café. You should come see us play.

Xolo: Wish I could. I'm heading back soon.

My heart sank a little at the thought of him leaving.

Jamie: Before you go, can we meet up?

Xolo: I was hoping you'd ask. How about tomorrow?