(delaney's outfit for this part of the chapter)

Ever since the store got back to the Dawson's family, they decided to upgrade it. They were going to have to fix the store after the wrecking ball went through it anyway, so they figured they might as well make it even better. With Ally's growing fame and the community's support behind them, the Dawsons transformed Sonic Boom into The Music Factory. Still a Music Store, but now a place where kids could come learn music and perform. It was the perfect mix of what they all loved most—and the change didn't stop there.

The Music Factory became more than just a store—it was a dream space. It kept the charm of Sonic Boom alive, but now with new and exciting features. The store had a new layout, including a stage, a soundproof recording booth, and many other cool features. Delaney, Austin and their friends were so excited to get this up and running. They loved their old hangout, and were relieved they could still call it home—even if it had gotten a major glow—up. The vibe was the same, just with a lot more sparkle.

"Sorry, were late. We were at Gigantic's getting a gigantic pair of scissors for the ribbon cutting ceremony." Dez explained, referring to him and Austin being late that morning.

Ally stares at him in confusion after warily glancing at the scissors. "Why are they covered in mustard?"

"We also split a gigantic hot dog." Austin admits with a grimace. "Now I have a gigantic stomachache."

"Guys, the grand opening of The Music Factory isn't until next week. Today's just a preview for some reporters to generate buzz." Trish explained.

Dez pouts. "Aw, so I don't get to cut anything?"

"You can cut this tiny thread off my shirt, it's been bugging me all day." Ally offers, gesturing to a thread on the back of her shirt, turning around for him. Dez perked up and used the gigantic scissor to cut the thread...But he accidentally cut more than he meant to. "Oh, did you get it?" She asked hopefully.

Delaney grimaces along with the others. "Should we tell her?" She murmured to Finn.

"Tell me what?" She asks in confusion and then gasped at noticing a gap in the back of her shirt where the one thread had been. "Dez!" She scolded, glaring at the now sheepish red head.

"Here, babe." Finn said quickly, already shrugging off the black leather jacket he had on. He steps forward and gently places it over Ally's shoulders, letting it drape across her back to cover the gaping hole. "You can borrow this...Y'know, until we patch up the fashion emergency."

"Thanks, baby, you're the best." Ally beamed at him, pulling on the jacket that was slightly bigger on her but still comfortable and even matched her outfit. She leaned up to kiss his cheek, which turned a faint shade of pink as Finn smiled shyly and rubbed the back of his neck.

Delaney smiles fondly at the scene, turning to Austin when he had wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "You ready for this?" He murmured to her.

She takes a deep breath. This was her first big event around the press, and while the excitement was definitely there, so was the flutter of nerves building in her chest. A few months ago, loud speakers had exploded during a rehearsal for a concert she'd been preparing for—and ever since, things hadn't quite been the same. She'd been diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss in her left ear, and though the doctors had fitted her with a sleek, almost invisible hearing aid, it was still an adjustment. 

She was used to having two perfectly functioning ears—not one and a half. It was an ongoing challenge, and some days were harder than others, especially when her mind would remind her of her loss and she'd spiral into self doubt. It was a battle, one that wasn't easily won, and one that didn't just end because she got fitted with a hearing aid. But despite the struggle, and all the fears, Austin and her friends were right by her side, never failing to reassure her when she needed it, or distract her when the doubts started creeping in. She was learning to accept this new part of herself, even on the days it felt overwhelming. Like how she knew today was going to be.

"You've got this." He whispers again, this time brushing his lips softly against her temple. "And if it gets to be too much, just give me the look."

Delaney raises a brow. "The look?"

"You know," He grins, nudging her playfully. "The 'get me out of here before I implode' look. I've seen it. It's cute."

She let out a small laugh, tension easing from her shoulders. "You think that's cute? You should see my 'I'm going to throw up from nerves' face."

He chuckles. "I have and somehow it's still cute."

"You're biased." She nudged him back.

"Seriously, just let me know if you need a break. We'll sneak out the back, grab some food—whatever you want." Austin said with a wink.

Delaney grins at that, butterflies erupting in her stomach as she leaned up to kiss his cheek. "I love you."

His expression softens, his hand gently squeezing her waist. "I love you too, Laney."

He leaned in to kiss her, pulling back quickly and sheepishly when Trish had suddenly opened the doors to let the press come in. Delaney took a deep breath in an attempt to steady herself, the flutter of nerves rising again as the murmur of voices and the flash of camera lights began to fill the space. She instinctively reached up, adjusting her hair so it slightly covered the hearing aid, even though she knew she didn't need to hide it. Austin sent her a reassuring look as he stepped back from her but still remained by her.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we are very excited to welcome you to a sneak peak of The Music Factory."

"As you can see, we've built a state of the art music academy." Ally started to explain with a smile.

"We have every instrument a kid could dream on our one of a kind music carousel." Trish continues, pointing out to the music carousel, turning it on with a small remote she held. The press immediately started taking pictures of it, murmurs filling the building. "A professional recording booth..."

Delaney steps forward slightly, her voice steady despite the butterflies fluttering in her chest. "And for kids like me," She adds. "

Who have hearing challenges but still dream of making music, we've worked with audiologists and music therapists to design specialized adaptive technology, including: Vibrational sound systems that let you feel the beat through the floor and instruments, visual tuning aids that display sound frequencies in colorful, easy-to-understand ways, customizable hearing aid-compatible equipment so no one misses a note, tactile feedback instruments that translate music into touch sensations, and interactive apps that help train your ear and rhythm through fun games and exercises." She paused, scanning the faces of the reporters, then gestured toward a nearby station.

"Let me show you one of these in action." Delaney moves to a compact drum kit fitted with small vibrating pads on the drumheads and foot pedals. She taps the drums lightly, and the pads sent gentle pulses to a wristband she wore, synced perfectly with each beat. "This tactile feedback system helps you feel the rhythm, even if the sound isn't always clear," She explains, smiling as she tapped out a simple beat. "It's been amazing for me during practice—it helps me stay in time and connected to the music."

She then taps a tablet nearby, and a colorful visualizer burst to life on the screen, showing waves of sound in bright, shifting hues. "This is the visual tuning aid. It translates pitch and tone into colors and shapes, so you can see when something is sharp, flat, or perfectly in tune." 

She glances down at the tablet screen, watching the colors ripple and change with each tap of the drum. "It's like a language of music made visible," She said softly, her eyes bright with excitement. "For someone like me, who sometimes struggles to hear every nuance, this helps bridge that gap. You learn to trust what you see as much as what you hear." She turns back to the crowd, her confidence growing. "And it's not just for drums—this technology can be used with guitars, pianos, other instruments, and even vocals. The goal is to make music accessible, fun, and empowering for all kids, no matter their hearing abilities."

A reporter raises his hand, curiosity evident. "Delaney, how has this changed your own experience with music?" He inquired.

She smiles warmly. "It's given me freedom. I don't have to worry about missing a beat or being out of tune. Instead, I can focus on expressing myself, on feeling the music in a whole new way. It's made me believe that my hearing loss doesn't have to limit my dreams—it just means I get to experience music differently."

Austin steps forward, wrapping an arm around her gently. "Delaney's story is just one example of why we built The Music Factory this way—to give every kid that chance to shine." Delaney smiled fondly at him and leaned into his warm embrace. She She felt a steady calm wash over her in that moment, his support grounding her amidst the flashing cameras and expectant faces. The noise around them softened into a distant hum as she drew strength from the connection.

"Music," She said softly, "Is about more than just sound. It's about feeling, connection, and expression. And here, no one has to be left out."

"Exactly," Finn chimes in with a smile, stepping forward to add, "Not only do we have accessible technology for kids with hearing loss who want to learn music, but we've also made sure The Music Factory is inclusive for kids with a range of other needs. For example, we offer sensory-friendly practice rooms designed to minimize overwhelming sounds and lights, so kids with sensory processing differences can focus and feel comfortable.."

He gestures toward a softly lit room down the hall. "We have rooms have adjustable lighting, soundproofing, and calming textures. Plus, we have specially trained instructors who understand how to work with kids on the autism spectrum or with other learning differences, making sure everyone can thrive here."

Delaney nods with a warm smile. "Yeah, music is for everyone. We want every child to find their own way to connect with it, no matter the challenges they face."

A reporter in the front row raised a hand, his tone edged with skepticism. "Delaney, if you don't mind me asking, how practical is it really to pursue music when you have significant hearing loss? Isn't it just...Limiting? I mean, can you really compete with other musicians who don't have those challenges?"

A hush fell over the room. Delaney's smile falters for a moment, the old nerves creeping back, but before she could respond, Austin steps forward swiftly, his voice calm but firm. "Let me stop you right there," Austin said, locking eyes with the reporter. "Delaney isn't just pursuing music—she's living it, creating it, and inspiring people through it. Hearing loss doesn't define her talent, and it doesn't put a ceiling on her potential. She's already an incredible musician, and here at The Music Factory, we're proving that talent isn't limited by what others might see as setbacks—it's fueled by passion and resilience. We're about expanding possibilities and giving every kid a chance to shine. But today we're here to talk about The Music Factory and the incredible potential it unlocks for all young musicians—no matter their abilities or challenge."

Delaney looks at her boyfriend fondly her expression softening as he stood beside her with quiet strength. His words had steadied her nerves, and now, with the spotlight gently returning to her, she found her voice again. "He's right," She says, her warm determined gaze sweeping the crowd. "What we're doing here isn't just about me. It's about building something bigger than any one person—a place where no one has to feel like they're on the outside of the music world just because they experience it differently."

Trish smiles at them and nods. "They explained it perfectly. But what Delaney and Finn mentioned we have isn't all we have, we have much more to help kids learn music easy. We also have a stage for preforming, another stage complete with virtual concert simulator goggles." She added, gesturing to the smaller stage Austin now stood on with a pair of the goggles. He had moved over to the stage to demonstrate the goggles while she was explaining.

"Thank you, Miami!" He calls out before taking the goggles off, grinning at the press. "Man, this thing is awesome. it lets you preform anywhere on earth."

"Or anywhere not on Earth." Dez cut in, joining him on stage with a pair of goggles on. "Thank you, planet zytrax! Boom!" He does the same sin Austin had did, but then looks panicked. "Oh, no. Incoming asteroid." he screamed and jumped off the stage. Austin just shrugged when the press stared at him.

"Moving right along." Ally quickly interjects. "Our goal at The Music Factory is to spread the joy of music. And that's something you can't put a price tag on."

"But to be clear there is a price tag." Trish intervenes. "Three hundred bucks, cash only."

A woman reporter at the front speaks up. "Beverly Robbins, senior editor, Miami daily star gazette." She introduces herself, emphasising the word 'senior' for some reason which caused Delaney to share a confused look with Finn. "So, what was your motivation for the redesign?"

"Well...It was important for us to create a nurturing environment for our young students. So they can learn music in a comfortable, safe setting." Ally explained.

"No one is safe! We're being attacked by aliens!" Dez's panicked yell gained their attention to see him running by holding the gigantic scissors.

Austin ran after him to stop him. "Stop! You're in virtual reality!" He took the goggles off Dez after Dez said 'huh' in confusion.

Dez's eyes widen and he relaxes at seeing where he actually was. "Oh. Whoo! That's a relief. What's that?" He asked suddenly, looking down at the ground at a pile of something. He picked it up and Delaney's eyes widen, sharing a shocked look with Finn at seeing it was a chunk of hair Dez had accidentally cut off running past the press and reporters using the scissors to protect himself in virtual reality. But Dez hadn't known he had accidentally cut part of someone's hair off in the process.

A girl amidst the press storms over to him, one of her pony tails now missing. She glares at him. Dez looks at her sheepishly. "I think this belongs to you." She snatched it back from him after he had tried to put it back in place and stormed out.

"The Music Factory has something for everyone. We can teach you how to dance, how to write songs, how to make music videos." Austin started, now standing on the main stage with the other.

"We can also teach you stage presence when performing," Delaney chimed in with a smile. "Because sometimes, staying composed under pressure is just as important as hitting the right note. Whether you're performing in front of a crowd, a camera, or, apparently, an asteroid." She added with a playful glance toward Dez, who sheepishly smiled and shrugged.

"Beverly Robbins, senior editor at Miami daily star gazette." Beverly speaks up again. "I hate to sound negative, but this just sounds like a couple of pop starts exploiting their fame for a quick buck."

"Wow, for someone who hates to sound negative, you are good at it." Dez mused.

"We get your skepticism, Ms. Robbins. But we take this very seriously." Ally said softly.

"Yep, give these three a week and they can turn anyone into a musician." Dez cut in with a smirk.

Austin follows him down the stage nervously after sharing a nervous/panicked look with Ally and Delaney. "I-I don't know about just a week."

"Yeah, he's right." Delaney agrees with a nervous smile. "I-I mean, it takes a lot of practice and dedication..."

"Yeah! Even if a kid has never touched an instrument, they'll walk out of here a pro." Trish injerected proudly, now standing by Austin and Dez, smiling at Beverly.

Ally and Delaney share a nervous look at that. "Um, I mean," Ally starts, joining the others along with Delaney and Finn. "It would help if they had some experience."

"Ah, Beverly Robbins, senior editor, Miami daily star gazette. So you're saying you can take a child, and turn them into a musician in one week?" Beverly inquired, raising her recorder to the three pop stars who stared at her nervously.

"W-Well...If that's what you recorded us saying then I guess that's what we said." Austin stammered.

"Then prove it." Beverly challenges. "Teach a group of amateurs a song to preform at your grand opening next week."

"Oh, come on." Trish scoffs. "That just sounds like some publicity stunt to generate attention for our new music school." Her eyes widen in realization. "Wait. That sounds like a big publicity stunt to generate attention for our new music school! We're in!"

"Wait, Trish-" Delaney started nervously.

"Um," Ally grabs Trish's wrist, tugging her to the side and smiling nervously at BEverly and the rest of the press and reporters. "Excuse us. Trish, what are you doing?"

"We want to make headlines, right? This is our chance!" Trish encouraged them.

"Yeah, our chance to embarrass ourselves." Austin told her.

"Hey, if anybody can put a band together in a week, it's you guys." Trish reassured the trio and Austin sighed.

"Okay, if you're trying to flatter us into going along with this, it's working." Ally admitted with a small smile.

"Uh, no, it's not on me," Delaney said quickly, her voice pitching up as anxiety crept in. Her fingers fidgets at the edge of her hair, brushing nervously against the hearing aid tucked just behind her ear. She bit her bottom lip, her eyes darting between her friends and the sea of reporters chatting amongst themselves. "We don't know the first thing about putting together a band from scratch. What if we can't finish teaching them in time? Or what if they don't stick around? I'm not even sure I'm ready to lead something like that..." Her voice trailed off as the pressure settled heavier on her shoulders. She glanced down at her hands, twisting a loose strand of hair, trying to steady her breath. Austin placed a comforting hand on her lower back, his thumb rubbing comfortingly. She leaned into the touch for a moment, grateful for the silent support.

Finn steps in with a supportive smile, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Del, you're not alone in this. We all have strengths to bring to the table. You don't have to do it all by yourself. We'll all chip in of course, and together, we can figure it out. Plus, there's six of us. I mean, how hard can it really be?" He added with a chuckle. Delaney gave him a grateful smile and nodded. His calm encouragement eased her doubts, and she felt her confidence grow. Maybe he was right. They were a team, and they were good at solving problems. They could handle making a band from scratch, couldn't they?

Austin wraps an arm around her shoulders, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "Exactly. We've faced bigger challenges before. This is just another adventure, right?"

Delaney smiles softly, the knot of anxiety loosening a bit. "Yeah...Another adventure."

"Yes! We're making a band!" Dez called out excitedly, gaining the press and reporter's attention.

"Great!" Beverly grins. "My son, Max, can be you or first member. Max" She called out, pausing in confusion when she didn't see her son by her. Then a young boy staring at his phone walked over.

"Wow, watching a student embark on his first musical journey really warms my heart." Ally admitted with an excited smile.

Max looks up finally, staring at her as he admits, "I hate music."

Ally's shoulders slump in defeat, a frown tugging on her lips. "And that breaks it."

The six teens watch in surprise and disbelief as Beverly tried to take his phone from him, but Max wouldn't let go. Beverly smiles and chuckles nervously. "Kids, right?"

****

"Welcome to step one of operation make a band in a wee for a bunch of newbies to impress the media on our grand opening." Trish announced later that day.

"Maybe step one should be coming up with a shorter name." Austin suggested and Trish paused, thinking abou tit and then nodded in agreement with a sheepish look.

"Wait, where's Dez? I thought we were all supposed to find a new student to join our band." Ally said in confusion after not spotting the red head.

Suddenly Dez poops up from behind one of the couches, dressed in a school boy uniform and a colorful hat. "Hello, strangers. I'm just a kid with no musical talent. Dez sent me here to jon The Music Factory band."

"So you couldn't find a kid, Dez?" Trish deadpanned.

"No, I could not." Dez sighed, taking the hat off.

"Well, that's okay. The five of us found students and Max makes six. Let's just hope the other kids have a little more enthusiasm than Max." Ally said hopefully.

"Maybe Max just hasn't found the right instrument." Austin suggested.

"I don't think that's the problem." Finn chuckles. "That kid has been clued to his phone all day. But good luck."

"What do you want to play, little dude?" Austin asked Max.

"Right now, I want to play Zombie Shredder." Max reelied.

"Oh, I love that game. I hate to brag, but I made it to level six." Dez admitted with a smirk.

"I'm on level six..." Max started.

Dez smiles. "Oh."

"Hundred and twelve." Max added smugly.

"Nobody likes a show off." Dez grumbled and sat down. Delaney chuckled and patted his shoulder to comfort him.

"Alright, well, I brought Lily. She started piano lessons here last week." Ally confessed, smiling at the young girl sitting on the couch near where she stood.

"I'm super pumped! I've been practicing nonstop!" Lily admitted excitedly grabbing the keyboard Ally had picked up after sitting by her. Lily then started playing notes off key.

"We're the lights on or off when you were practicing?" Dez asked, grimacing when Ally hit him.

"This is Dylan." Austin introduces the girl beside him. who had her skateboard on the ground next o her. "I met her at the skatepark."

"Sup." Dylan nodded at the group.

"Well, welcome to The Music Factory, Dylan." Ally said warmly as she smiled.

"Oh my gosh! I can't believe I'm actually talking to Ally Dawson!" Dylan suddenly fangirls. Then she pauses and scoffs. "Who I've never heard of because I don't listen to pop music."

"So if you don't like pop music then why do you want to join our school?" Ally asked in confusion.

"This Austin guy just kept begging me." She scoffed.

Austin stares at her in confusion. "You came up to me and asked me to autograph everything in your backpack."

Dylan shrugs. "I was just making sure all my pens worked." She scoffs. "I don't think you're gorgeous." She then clicked her tongue giving him a wink before looking down at her feet and sat back down.

Delaney raises her eyebrows, watching the scene with amusement. She then smiles warmly and said, "Well, since we're doing introductions, I brought someone too." She gestures toward a quiet boy sitting near the back, fiddling with the edge of his sleeve. She walks over to him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "This is Ezra." Delaney said softly. Ezra looked up briefly, his eyes flickering with a shy spark before quickly returning to the floor.

Ally smiles warmly at him. "Hey, Ezra! Glad you could join us."

Ezra gave a small nod, barely audible. Ally glanced at him with a supportive smile. "What instrument do you play, Ezra?"

"He's been learning electric guitar with me" Delaney continues, her voice gentle but proud. "He's really talented, just needs a little more confidence." She said softly, smiling down at Ezra and gently squeezing his shoulder. Ezra shifts in his seat, still avoiding eye contact but a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Like me, he also has some hearing problems, but he's been working hard to adapt and not let it hold him back," She adds. "He's determined, and that's what counts."

Ally's expression softened with understanding. "That's amazing, Ezra. It takes a lot of courage to keep going, especially when things get tough." Ezra gave a small, grateful nod, his eyes flickering up again just for a moment before dropping back down.

Finn speaks up, gesturing to a girl sitting by him. "This is Mia. She's my teammate Jake's little sister. She's been tagging along to lacrosse practice lately and decided she wants to try out some music too."

Mia gave a small wave, her posture a little stiff but her eyes bright. "Hi. It's nice to meet you. I'm really excited to be here. I've made a list of instruments I might like based on sound frequency and hand coordination. Piano's currently at the top."

Finn chuckles. "Jake told me you just randomly decided to pick up music. Last week it was soccer, and you quit after two hours. The week before, you tried cheerleading—"

"I like to try things in short bursts," Mia cut in matter-of-factly, her voice even. "It helps me figure out what makes sense for me." She pauses, then added with a small smile, "Music seems like it might."

Delaney nods warmly. "That's a great approach. Everyone finds their thing at their own pace. What matters is that you're curious and willing to try."

Mia glances around the room, her shoulders relaxing just a little. "Thanks. I brought a color-coded planner," She adds, pulling a neatly laminated chart from her backpack. "It helps me keep track of everything so I don't get overwhelmed. If I get too many new things at once, my brain starts buzzing."

Mia nods, smiling. "And a sound sensitivity chart. Some pitches bother me, so I'm learning what works best for me."

Ally's smile widens. "That's really smart, Mia. It's great that you know how to take care of yourself while trying something new."

Ezra, still quiet, glanced over at Mia's chart with interest. Mia notices and offers a small smile, scooting a little closer to where he sat so he could see. "You can borrow the blank template if you want," She said softly. "I have extras."

Ezra hesitates, then gave a shy nod. Delaney's heart warmed at the moment of connection. "Looks like we've got a very thoughtful group today."

Dylan, from across the room, mutters with a scoff, "Great. Nerd club and I didn't even bring my calculator." She added in a mocking teasing way.

Mia turned to her, completely unfazed. "That's okay. I brought two. I always come prepared."

"I like her." Ally grinned. 

"'Course you do," Dez muses. "She's basically a mini you." 

"That's a compliment." Mia beams. "Ally is awesome."

"I really like her." Ally looks genuinely touched, her voice softening. "Thanks, Mia. That means a lot."

"This is Herman. He's on my little brother's baseball team." Trish explained, standing up with a dark-skinned boy who wore a baseball uniform.

"I really want to go back to my game. I don't think I'm any good at music." Herman admitted.

"I just watched you at batting practice. Trust me, you're not any good at baseball either." Trish told him.

"No good?" Herman says in disbelief. "I struck out ten times last game. My coach said that's a record!"

"I don't know anything about baseball," Mia speaks up with a grimace. "But I don't think that's a good thing."

"Look, Herman, you may not be good at music now, but you'll be a rockstar by the end of the week." Ally assures him. She smiles at the group of kids. "You all will! The first thing we need to do is find you instruments to play."

A/N pls tell me im not the only one who had found beverly robbins needing to clarify where she worked like everytime she talked lowkey so annoying