Louis leans back against the worn couch, staring at the ceiling while Isa strums a few random chords on her guitar, lost in her own world. The warehouse is quieter than usual—a lull in the storm before they head out later tonight. It’s been a few days since Sona left, and her absence feels like a ghost haunting the place. Louis can’t help but notice it.
“What’s Sona up to, anyway?” Louis asks, trying to sound casual, but there’s an edge of curiosity in his voice. He’s been trying not to think about it, but her being gone is like a missing piece in the puzzle.
Isa raises an eyebrow, looking over at him with a teasing grin. “Aw, you miss our little hothead, don’t you?” She leans closer, her smirk widening. “I get it—you’ve got a thing for girls with a fiery temper.”
Louis’s face flushes red. “No, it’s not that,” he says quickly, fumbling for words. “I just… I dunno… I’m just wondering where she is, that’s all.”
“Relax, man. I’m just messin’ with you,” Isa laughs, leaning back and plucking out a few more chords. “She said she was chasing down an old lead. Typical Sona, always running off on some wild mission.”
Louis tries to brush it off, but Isa’s comment lingers in his head. It’s hard to shake the feeling that Sona’s absence has been tugging at something inside him. “Anyway,” he continues, his tone shifting. “I don’t really know why, but every time she’s around… I feel happier. It’s weird. Kinda like deja vu, like I’ve known her longer than I actually have.”
Arven, who’s been quietly listening sets his drumsticks down and finally speaks up, his voice steady and calm. “Life’s funny like that. Sometimes people walk into your life, and it’s like they’ve been there from the start.”
Isa leans in, her chin resting on her hand as she sits. “Maybe it’s your brain trying to connect dots you haven’t figured out yet, maybe something deeper, I don’t know.”
Arven pauses, his eyes drifting as if he’s searching for the right words. “If you’re still holding onto stuff from your past, it’s okay. Just don’t let it stop you from being present now.”
The mention of the past makes Louis pause. He knows exactly what Arven means. “Yeah… I feel that… it’s been a while now since Roxanne left, and I’ve been trying to move on, but there’s just a part of me still misses her...”
Isa stands up, her expression softening. “That’s normal, Louis. You can’t just cut someone out of your heart like that. But you gotta leave space for what’s in front of you, too.” She gives him a sly grin. “And hey, in case you haven’t noticed, Sona’s single.”
Louis huffs a small laugh, shaking his head. “You’re impossible, Isa.”
Before anyone can say more, they hear the familiar creak of the garage door rolling up. Pops steps into the room, wiping his hands on a rag. He grunts in greeting and a nod.
The group is still hanging out, lost in conversation, when Isaac walks in through the already open garage door. His casual confidence and trademark grin are instantly recognizable. He heads straight for Pops, who gives him a nod in greeting before turning toward the others.
“Louis!” Isaac’s voice carries a tone of genuine surprise and delight. “Didn’t expect to see you here. You finally decided to join the dark side, huh?”
Louis can’t help but smile. “Yeah, something like that. It’s good to see you, man.”
Isaac claps Louis on the back before shifting his attention to the rest of the crew. “Got some news. Roadies are starting the final concert preps at 5, and everything’s looking smooth so far. But…” He trails off, his expression growing a bit more serious. “There’s been talk on the streets. The cops have been ramping up their efforts lately—new tech, new tactics. Things might get a bit tight out there tonight.”
Arven doesn’t flinch, his arms crossed as he absorbs the information. “Figures they wouldn’t make it easy for us. We’ve handled their crackdowns before. Just means we need to stay sharp.”
Isa, still strumming her guitar absentmindedly, adds, “We’ve been through worse. Let them bring whatever they’ve got. They’ll never shut us down.”
Pops grunts in agreement, giving a thumbs-up as if to say they’re ready regardless of the risks.
Louis’s grin mirrors Isaac’s as he feels the anticipation building. “Looking forward to it.”
Just as everyone starts gearing up, a voice cuts through the air, dripping with playful sarcasm: “You guys were gonna see a concert without me?”
Heads turn toward the open doorway, and there she is—Sona, leaning casually against the frame with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She sticks her tongue out and flips them off playfully, smirking at their shocked expressions.
Louis’s eyes widen in surprise before a grin spreads across his face. “Sona?! Where’ve you been?”
She saunters in, hands shoved in her jacket pockets, looking as nonchalant as ever. “Miss me already, Louis? Don’t get too clingy now.” Her teasing tone makes everyone chuckle.
Isa crosses her arms, a smirk of her own forming. “Look who finally decided to show up. You back for good, or just dropping in to steal the spotlight?”
Sona laughs, walking over to bump fists with Isa. “Can’t have all the fun without me, right? Figured I’d make sure you all don’t screw this up for our friends at Dai-Riot.”
Arven nods at her in approval. “Just in time, as usual.”
Isaac gives Sona a knowing look. “You’ve got a habit of showing up at the last minute, don’t you?”
Sona shrugs, then looks at Louis with a playful wink. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. You ready to rock, newbie?”
Louis, still grinning like a fool, feels a jolt of excitement. “You bet I am.”
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