Benn's fingers fiddled with the strings of his guitar, as if testing their responsiveness.
Abel appreciated the readiness—it showed confidence. He loaded the track on his laptop and hit play.
The room filled with a strong, steady rock beat, the kind that could anchor a crowd, but it lacked depth.
That was where Ben would come in.
Abel glanced at Jason, who also looked curious and eager. He knew they were both praying the same prayer: don't let this one fail.
It would be a messed-up day if it did.
After a minute of playing, Abel stopped the track.
"Got it?" he asked.
Benn nodded, this time with more resolve. He adjusted the strap of his guitar, plugged it into the amp nearby, and tapped the strings to check the sound.
When he was ready, he looked at Abel.
"I'm good," Benn said.
Abel restarted the track.
