The faint hum of the fluorescent lights and the soft thud of sneakers against polished wood filled the air as the group stepped into the studio. Laura adjusted her bag on her shoulder, her gaze sweeping over the sleek equipment and soundproof walls with a satisfied nod. "Alright, let's get to work," she said, her voice crisp and confident.
Laura had arrived first, as always. She placed her belongings neatly by the mixing board and started organizing their materials, mentally running through the day's plan. This new studio felt like a tangible step forward for Euphony Trio—a professional upgrade compared to Axel's cluttered garage or her music room. The space was sleek, clean, and equipped with everything they could need. It was exactly where they needed to be.
Axel arrived shortly after, just barely cutting it close as usual. He strolled in with a casual air, carrying his bag slung over one shoulder. "Hey," he said with a grin as he saw Laura already settled in. "See? Not late."
Laura raised an eyebrow. "You're on the edge, as always."
Axel chuckled, leaning against the edge of the desk. "That's how I keep things exciting. Besides, you'd miss me if I was late."
"Focus, Axel," Laura said, though her tone softened slightly. She couldn't deny that she appreciated his relaxed presence, even if his timing often pushed her limits. Axel, for his part, stole a quick glance at her, as if weighing whether to press the banter further, but thought better of it.
Zane walked in just behind Axel, surprising everyone by showing up on time. Dressed in his usual bold style, he paused briefly to survey the studio. "Not bad," he remarked, nodding appreciatively. "Definitely better than what I've been working with."
"Told you it was a step up," Axel said, dropping his bag by the keyboard stand. "Laura's idea."
"It's not just my idea," Laura corrected, already moving to the mixing board. "It's what we need if we're serious about this."
Zane smirked. "Fair enough. Looks like you're leveling up."
Sunny rushed in last, slightly out of breath but beaming with excitement. "Sorry I'm late!" she exclaimed, her golden eyes sparkling as she took in the space. She spun around, letting her bag fall to the floor. "This is so cool! It's like... we're actual professionals now!"
Axel chuckled. "That's the idea."
Sunny glanced at Laura and Axel but kept her teasing thoughts to herself with Zane present. She'd been piecing together their "convenience relationship" for years, and while she occasionally teased Laura privately, she wouldn't say a word in front of Zane. Still, she couldn't help but subtly nudge Laura in her own way, hoping she'd "warm up" to Axel more. He deserved it, after all.
"Alright," Laura said, clapping her hands to draw everyone's focus. "Let's get started. We'll warm up first, then run through the arrangement. Zane, I know you've seen the notes Axel sent you, but let's hear what you've got."
Zane didn't miss a beat. He grabbed the mic and dove into his part with confidence. His charisma filled the room, and even Laura was forced to admit he had talent. However, he threw in a dramatic flourish that wasn't in the arrangement, causing Laura to stop everything.
"What was that?" Laura asked, her tone sharp.
Zane grinned. "Improvisation. Thought I'd spice it up."
"Stick to the arrangement. We're a group, not a solo act."
"Relax, Ice Queen," Zane replied, his grin unflinching. "I'll reel it in."
Axel stepped in to mediate, smoothing over the tension with a joke. "Alright, break it up, you two. Let's run it again." Sunny clapped her hands dramatically, cheering for both of them. "You're both awesome! Let's keep going!"
As the rehearsal progressed, the group started to find a rhythm. Zane surprised Laura by taking her feedback seriously, toning down his flashy additions and focusing on blending with the others. Axel worked on refining the sound, while Sunny's cheerful energy kept everyone's spirits high.
By the end of the rehearsal, Laura admitted, "It's a good start. We'll refine it as we go."
As the group packed up, Axel lingered near the mixing board, watching Laura as she carefully organized their sheet music. He thought about their arrangement and whether it was truly enough for either of them. But he didn't press. Instead, he handed her bag to her with a casual, "Need help?"
Laura glanced at him, her expression softening briefly. "Thanks."
Meanwhile, Zane and Sunny chatted by the door, discussing the rehearsal. Sunny's enthusiasm was contagious, and Zane found himself smiling more than he expected.
"See? This is going to be amazing. I just know it!" Sunny said brightly.
Zane nodded. "Yeah. Might actually be fun."
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As they left the studio, Laura was the first to excuse herself, her phone already in hand as she reviewed her packed schedule. "I've got another meeting to get to," she said briskly. "Good work today. We'll regroup later." With that, she disappeared down the street, as efficient as ever.
Sunny lingered just long enough to wave goodbye to the others, her own plans pulling her away. "I'll catch you guys later!" she called, her voice as sunny as her name. She gave Axel a knowing smile before darting off, leaving him and Zane standing outside the studio.
Axel shoved his hands into his pockets, glancing at Zane. "So... what's next for you? Heading home?"
Zane shrugged. "Not really in a rush. Why?"
Axel smiled. "Well, it's been a while since we actually hung out. You know, outside of work or texting. Wanna grab a bite or something? Catch up on old times?"
Zane raised an eyebrow, his grin faint but genuine. "Sure. Why not? Got anywhere in mind?"
Axel thought for a moment before gesturing down the street. "There's a burger joint a couple blocks away. We used to go there after talent shows, remember?"
Zane chuckled. "How could I forget? You always ordered the same thing every time."
"Some things don't change," Axel said with a shrug. "Come on. My treat."
The two of them started walking, the conversation flowing easily as they reminisced about their middle school performances, their struggles, and how far they'd come. For the first time in years, it felt like they were just two friends catching up—no pressure, no expectations, just the simplicity of shared memories and old jokes.
By the time they reached the burger joint, the weight of their respective careers felt lighter, replaced by the warmth of camaraderie. As they sat down with their food, Zane leaned back in his chair and smirked. "You know, Axel, I've missed this. Feels good to just... hang out."
Axel nodded, taking a bite of his burger. "Yeah. We should do it more often. No cameras, no deadlines. Just us."
Zane raised his drink in a mock toast. "To old times and whatever comes next."
"To whatever comes next," Axel echoed, clinking his soda against Zane's. For the first time in a long while, they both felt a little less alone in their journeys.