Delaney was now in one of the practice rooms with Ezra. The soundproofed walls are lined with racks holding various instruments—guitars, keyboards, a cajón, and an array of percussion gear. Soft LED strips under the shelves cast a gentle glow over tactile music devices and adaptive equipment designed for accessibility. "So, Ezra, in here we've got some really cool tools designed to help you feel the music as much as hear it. Are there any specific instrument you've been curious about? Drums, maybe? Piano? Something else that caught your eye?"

Ezra shrugs a little, eyes scanning the room. "I dunno...I tried piano once. Too many notes. It felt like...Too much, ya know?" He rubs his arm, a nervous tic Delaney had noticed His gaze flicks restlessly from shelf to shelf before landing on a squat wooden box in the corner—simple, square, and surrounded by a few coiled cables and a tablet stand. "What's this?"

Delaney brightens and walks over. "That's a cajón," She says, patting the top of it. "It's a percussion instrument—you sit on it and play by tapping different areas with your hands. Different spots make different sounds. Think of it like a portable drum kit, but way less intimidating."

She crouches next to it, flipping on a small attached module that lights up with soft green LEDs. "This one's been adapted with tactile sensors inside. "It sends gentle vibrations through your hands when you tap it—kind of like feedback you can feel, even if you don't catch every sound."

She taps near the center of the cajón, and a quiet thump is followed by a subtle pulse from the sensors. The small module on the side glows in rhythm, syncing with her touch. "See? And this part," She taps closer to the edge. "Makes a higher sound and a different vibration. You can feel where the tone changes, which helps a lot with learning rhythm and hand placement." Then she reaches for the tablet stand beside it and wakes the screen. A waveform visualizer immediately activates, and as she tapped again, colorful ripples appear on screen—blue and violet for deeper hits, amber and red for sharper tones.

Ezra leans in, visibly intrigued. "So...I could watch this and know if I'm playing right? I don't just have to rely on hearing?"

Delaney nods, a smile warming her expression. "Exactly. Plus, it can be a bit of a confidence booster when you see your progress in the visual and feel it, too. Then eventually muscle memory kicks in the more practice and training you have."

Ezra gives a small nod, his fingers brushing the edge of the cajón as if testing its texture. "That sounds...Easier. Not easy, but like it makes more sense to me."

Delaney crouches again beside him, her voice gentle. "A lot of people think music is just about hearing. But it's not. It's about feeling—emotion, rhythm, connection. And you've already got all of that in you."

Ezra glances down, a flicker of something like hope flashing across his face. "So...If I mess up, it's okay?"

"It's more than okay," Delaney says, her voice firm with kindness. "Messing up is part of the process. That's how you learn. And honestly? No one learns an instrument without messing up, and that includes the professionals. I mess up a lot. We're human, after all." She gave a warm chuckle. "The important thing is to keep going and not be afraid of mistakes."

Ezra's eyes met hers, a bit more steady now. "That...Actually makes me feel better. Like, I don't have to be perfect right away." He looks down with a frown. "My parents they expect me to be good at everything right away. If I'm not perfect, they get disappointed. Makes me afraid to even try sometimes." He scoffs. "But my older sister is good at everything, she always gets all the attention and praise. Sometimes it feels like I'm just the mess-up sibling."

Delaney shakes her head gently. "Ezra, there's no such thing as a perfect musician. You're only human, and that means making mistakes is part of the journey—not a sign of failure." She smiles warmly, her eyes full of encouragement. "Everyone struggles at first, even the people you think are 'naturally good.' Your sister might shine in some ways, but you have your own strengths, and music can be a place where you discover them."

She taps the cajón softly again, sending a rhythmic pulse through the sensors. "This instrument—like music itself—is about expression, not perfection. It's about how it feels when you play, not just how it sounds. And I promise, you don't have to do it all at once."

Ezra looks up at her, a little lighter in spirit. "Yeah...I think I'm ready to try. Even if it's messy at first."

Delaney smiles wider. "That's exactly the right attitude. And I'll be here to help you every step of the way."

****

Back in the main room of The Music Factory, Ally walked alongside Finn, who was deep in conversation with Mia as they weaved past amps, mic stands, and a wall lined with guitars of every color.

"So Mia," Ally said, her voice light and encouraging, "You mentioned you weren't sure what instrument to try yet?"

Mia gave a sheepish shrug. "Yeah. I mean, I like music—I love listening to it—but I've never really stuck with anything. I just...Want something that feels like me, you know?"

Finn nudges her teasingly. "Better than soccer and cheerleading?"

Mia rolls her eyes, laughing. "Hey, I'm on a journey. Let me live. My brain just...It jumps around a lot. Sometimes it's hard to focus on one thing for too long. But when I find something that clicks, it's like everything else quiets down."

Ally smiles warmly. "Yeah, music can be like that—a way to help you breathe, focus. It's not about fitting a mold or keeping up with anyone else. It's about what feels right to you."

Finn nods in agreement with a smile. "Let's find something that speaks to you, Mia. We'll help you figure it out."

She led them to a corner where several brightly colored ukuleles and mid-sized acoustic guitars hung neatly in a row. Mia eyed them, but then her gaze drifted toward the row of keyboards where Max was currently fiddling with a synth tone. Then her eyes caught something tucked beneath the keyboard table: a sleek, rose-gold electric violin with a shoulder rest and wireless adapter.

Her brows lifts, curiosity shining in her eyes. "Wait, is that...A violin? But like cooler? Shut up, it looks like a butterfly. I love butterflies." She beamed, the kind of grin that lit up her whole face.

Finn tilts his head, following her gaze. "You're right—it kinda does look like a butterfly. The shape's got that same flowy, delicate vibe. And rose gold? Definitely your aesthetic."

Mia crouches and carefully picks it up, handling it like something rare and fragile. "I didn't know violins could look like this."

Ally chuckles as she stepped beside her. "That's an electric violin. This one's custom—lightweight, wireless, and yeah, a little flashy. But don't let the looks fool you. It plays like a dream. That's an electric violin. It's lighter than a traditional one, and you can plug it into effects pedals to change the sound—make it sound almost like a guitar or synth. It's got some serious edge, especially when paired with amps."

Mia crouches and carefully picks it up, cradling it awkwardly but intrigued. "I didn't know violins could look like this."

"You know you've got to wear that under your chin, right?" Finn pointed out. 

Mia snorts. "You say that like I'm not about to look awesome doing it."

Ally chuckles. "Here, I'll show you how to hold it. Then we can hook it up to the loop pedal and you can see how different it can sound."

Ally guided Mia into proper position, then showed her the various sliders, buttons, and connectors that came with the violin. Soon, Mia was experimenting, tapping a pedal to loop a snippet of a song, then tweaking the sound through the effects processor until the violin sang with a crisp, soaring tone that made Finn grin and Ally beam with pride.

"There. What do you think?" Ally asked, a smile forming.

Mia stares, amazed, her eyes alight with wonder. Then, after a moment, she slowly looks up at the duo. "This is...Perfect. This is what I've been missing. It's so...Me. And it sounds like...It sounds like..."

"Like your thoughts finally have a sound?" Finn finished for her, his grin softening into something almost proud.

Mia blinks, surprised by how right that sounded. "Yeah. Exactly like that." She looks down at the violin again, fingers brushing the strings like she was afraid the moment would vanish if she let go. "It's like...Everything in my head just lined up for a second. And I didn't even know that could happen."

Ally smiles, her voice warm and steady. "That's the magic of finding your instrument. It becomes a piece of you. The way you play, the way you move—it all comes together until it feels like breathing."  

Finn smiles at the pair. "So this is your thing, huh? At least for today." He joked, snickering when Mia had smacked him lightly on the arm with the back of her bow.

Mia smacks Finn lightly on the arm with the back of her bow, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Nah, I know this is more than just today."

Finn grins. "You're serious about this, huh?"

Mia nods, her eyes flickering with a mix of excitement and something quieter—an intense focus that seemed to settle her restless energy. "Yeah. It's the first time something actually makes sense. My brain usually feels like a million tabs open at once, but when I play, it's like...Everything else goes on mute. Like I said, like I can finally breathe."

Finn's smile softens, and he glanced away for a moment before looking back at her. "I get that more than you might think. I don't sing or play many instruments—been trying acoustic guitar lately—but it's not really about that for me. It's more like...I need something that helps quiet the noise, you know? The world can get pretty loud sometimes."

Mia tilts her head, studying him. "Yeah. Like...Too much at once loud?"

He nods slowly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Exactly. It's like my brain's got all these tabs open too, and they never stop switching. But when I'm strumming, or when the rhythm hits just right—it's like everything lines up for a second. Makes sense in a way words don't."

Her expression softens, a small understanding smile forming. "Yeah. I get that. Totally."

Finn meets her gaze, something unspoken passing between them—recognition, comfort, the quiet relief of being understood without having to explain every detail. "Guess that's part of why I thought you might like this place," He admits. "Your brother kept saying at some lacrosse practices before I convinced you to come here that you needed somewhere to just...Be. Not perform, not compete, just exist."

Mia's eyes widen slightly, then she laughs under her breath. "He really said that?"

"Pretty much," Finn chuckles. "And, uh...He's right. The Music Factory's kinda that place for me. I don't always get people, and they don't always get me. But here? It's like everyone speaks the same language, even when we don't."

Mia looks down at the rose-gold violin in her hands, the glow of the room's LED lights catching on the metallic edges. "Yeah. I think I needed this too. Somewhere that doesn't expect me to be something I'm not."

Finn's grin returns, softer this time. "Well, welcome to the club then."

She smirks, lifting the bow again. "Cool club."

"The coolest." Finn agreed, stepping back as she readied the violin once more. Ally caught his eye, looking proud and fond of him—her gaze soft, the kind of look that spoke volumes without a word. Finn noticed it too, giving her a small, shy smile, blush creeping up the back of his neck before he quickly looked away, pretending to fiddle with a loose cable near the amp he stood by.

Ally speaks up softly, her tone carrying the kind of gentle conviction that made people listen. "Music really is a safe space for a lot of people. It's one of the few things that lets you feel everything and nothing all at once. You can pour yourself into it and still somehow find peace on the other side."

"Yeah." Mia shrugs slightly, her fingers unconsciously tapping a rhythmic pattern on the violin's body. "Sometimes loud noises overwhelm me, and I get anxious. But this? It helps. So yeah, I think this might be the one, for real."

Finn nods thoughtfully. "Yeah, when everything feels like too much, having something steady to hold onto makes all the difference. For me, it's not just the music—it's the routine, too. Knowing what's coming next helps calm the chaos." He could think of the countless times when he had felt overwhelmed by sudden changes or unexpected noise, how his mind scrambled to make sense of it all. "I've got a little routine I follow—like having my headphones ready, or a quiet corner to retreat to if things get loud. It's not always easy, but having that fallback helps."

Ally adds with a warm smile, "That's why we've set up these cozy little quiet zones with soft lighting and noise-cancelling headphones around the studio. It's a safe space whenever you need to step back and recharge."

Mia looks relieved at that. "That sounds...Amazing. Sometimes the noise and energy just build up, and it feels like too much." She let out a small laugh. "It's cool to know I'm not the only one who gets that. It can feel...Lonely, sometimes." She admitted, glancing at Finn with a shy, grateful smile.

Finn nods in agreement, smiling back at her. "Yeah, it can get pretty isolating when people don't understand. But having a place like this—where you can just be yourself—makes a huge difference."

Ally reaches out, placing a reassuring hand on Mia's shoulder. "You're definitely not alone. We've all got our own ways of dealing with things, and here, it's all about support, encouragement, and understanding. Plus, music has this amazing way of bringing people together."

Mia hugs the violin a little tighter, a newfound warmth spreading through her. "Thanks, both of you. I think I'm really going to like it here."

Finn grins, "Welcome to the team, Mia. We've got your back."

****

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

Three days later it was time for the kids to play together. Delaney and the others weren't so sure how it was going to go. They just hoped it wasn't as bad as they hoped, they only had a couple days left to make them into a band. "This band has got to be good." Trish mutters. "We can't ruin our music school's reputation before it even opens."

"It's gonna be awesome." Ally grins. "We've been working with them one on one for days."

"Yeah," Delaney agrees with an excited smile. "I think they're really starting to get into the groove."

"Yep. Now it's just a matter of having them play together." Austin replies with a smile. He turns to the group now on stage finished preparing their instruments. "Alright, let's destroy this song!"

Delaney grimaces when the off beat, out of tune playing started. She subtly reaches up and clicked off the hearing aid in her left ear, muttering under her breath, "Okay...One ear of pain is enough for today."

"Well, they're definitely destroying the song." Austin nervously said.

Ally frowns. "This is a disaster."

"I have one word for that mess," Trish chimes in with a grimace. "Yikes."

"I've got twenty two words fo this mess. There's no way they'll be able to play the grand opening this weekend because they were really, really, really bad." Dez cut in, counting the words off on his fingers. He pauses as he realized he missed a word. "Really." He added.

"I mean, at least they're trying?" Finn tries to see the good in this not so good situation. Delaney nods. He was right. And honestly, Dylan, Ezra, and Mia all were playing the right chords and beats they had been taught, but they were out of rhythm and with theo thers out of tune and out of rhythm as well, it was like trying to build a puzzle with pieces from three different sets. "But it's like they're doing solos all at once." He continues, scratching the back of his neck. "They've all got talent, but no synergy."

Ally and his friends stare at him in confusion. "Synergy?" Delaney asked in confusion.

"It's a thing! It's when everything works together, like one big, awesome machine," Finn explained, gesturing with his hands like he was assembling invisible puzzle pieces. "Right now, they're all doing their own thing, but a band's gotta blend. It's not just about playing the notes—it's about playing with each other."

"Ohhh," Dez said, snapping his fingers. "Like synchronized swimming, but with instruments."

"Exactly!" Finn nods. "Only in this case of course no water involved...Unless someone spills a drink on the soundboard, which would be very bad."

"The press is gonna rip us to shreds." Trish frowned.

"Maybe we should postpone the opening." Austin suggested.

"That'll look just as bad." Trish points out. "We need a plan 'b'."

"Guys, come on. We're not postposining it and there's no plan 'b'. We can't give up. Maybe they're not good today. And maybe they won't be good tomorrow. or the next day. But I believe in us. And if we promised to turn this rag tag bunch of rookies into a band,then that's what we're gonna do. Now who's with me?" Ally asked with a hopeful, determined smile, putting her hand in the center.

The group stares at her in disbelief, then glances at the teens playing out of tune and offbeat. "Yeah, we need a plan 'b'." Ally decided with a grimace, pulling her hand back.

****

"Okay, guys, we heard your first performance as a band , and wow." Trish tells the group after they were done. "You guys sounded...Wow."

"But we thought to ourselves, how can we take something that's already so perfect, and make it even better?" Austin added.

Ally smiles. "Meet your new band mates." She gestured to three older teens (who were professional musicians) walking over to them, waving and smiling at the younger teens.

Delaney fidgets with the hearing ai she had turned back on, not a hundred percent on board with this plan 'b'. "You're replacing us?" Dylan asked in disbelief.

"No, no, no, no, no! These guys are just here to make your music bigger, louder..." Ally started to assure them.

"More music-like." Dez cut in, gaining a slap to his shoulder by Finn.

"Um, so, let's shake things up." Austin suggests, grabbing a nearby triangle and maracas. "Dylan, we're goanna put you on the maracas. And Lily, we're gonna put you on the triangle. Exciting, huh?"

"Really?" Dylan deadpans. "You think you can hand us a couple tiny noisemakers and we're just gonna jump for joy?"

"Oh! A triangle, my favorite shape!" Lily excitedly said as she jumped up and down while Dylan looked at her in disbelief.

"Mia, Ezra, you two will stick with the violin and the cajon." Finn added.

"Sweet!" Mia beamed, eagerly heading back over to grab the electric violin carefully. Ezra had perked up a bit and moved back to the cajon.

"And Max, you get to stay on the keyboard." Trish added, encouraging Max up since he had been sitting on the steps playing on his phone.

Max groans. "Whatever." He trudged over to the keyboard, but Trish had secretly unplugged it.

"What do you want me to play?" Herman asked curiously.

"You have the most important job of all. The finger snapper." Dez tells him with a grin. He snaps his finger and Herman copied it, but there was no sound. "Ha! You're a natural." When Herman left to get on stage, Dez turns back to his friends, muttering to them with a grimace, "He can't do anything."

"Guys, I still hate this plan." Delaney mumbles to them. "This isn't what this place is about." 

She crosses her arms tightly, watching the kids fumble onto the stage with instruments they didn't really choose, surrounded by pros who made their rough edges all the more obvious. "This was supposed to be about helping them grow. Not hiding them behind backup musicians and unplugged keyboards. If this is how things are gonna be, honestly, I can't be apart of it." Her voice cracked slightly at the end, the frustration and disappointment finally catching up to her.

Ally turns toward her in surprise at her words, the others not expecting her sudden words either, eyes widening. "Delaney..."

But Delaney shakes her head, firm on her decision. "No. I'm serious. I thought we decided teach, not to stage a cover-up. These kids might be messy, yeah, but they're trying. That matters more than sounding perfect on opening day. So either we let them be themselves, mistakes and all, or I'm out. I'm not going to be apart of this." With that she turned to leave with a deep breath.

Ally's eyes widens as Delaney's words hung in the air. "Wait, Delaney—" But Delaney didn't look back. Her footsteps echoed down the hallway, purposeful and resolute.

Dez frowns. "She's throwing in the towel already?"

"She has a point." Austin sighs after watching his girlfriend continue to leave. "We're not helping them by pretending they're something they're not." He wanted to go after her, but like he said Delaney was right. They weren't being honest with the students and themselves and that's not what this place was about.

"I don't think Delaney's the only one who thinks the kids should be more than backup for professionals." Finn chimes in, his brow furrowing as he glanced back at the kids. "And to be honest, I'm not comfortable with this either. I mean, yeah, it'll make for a great show, but it's not going to help them learn. Besides, isn't the whole point of this place to teach them how to grow, not just to put on a polished performance?" 

His question made Ally and his friends start to question their own decisions, the weight of Finn's words settling in. Ally stood frozen for a moment, staring at the kids fumbling on stage with their borrowed instruments, their faces a mixture of confusion, frustration, and uncertainty. It was a far cry from the energy and excitement she had envisioned for them.

The pros and the kids finish playing and they all cheer for them. "I think it's pretty obvious what's going on here." Dylan spoke up with annoyance.

"Yeah, we're nailing it!" Herman beamed.

"Where did Delaney go?" Ezra spoke up with a frown.

"Exactly." Dylan agrees. "They brought in pros to drown out our sound. At least Delaney had the guts to call it out. I mean, Max's keyboard isn't even plugged in."

"And neither is my triangle." Lily chimed in sadly.

"But triangles don't get-" Mia starts and then shakes her head with a sigh. "Whatever." She decided it wasn't worth arguing about.d it wasn't worth arguing about.

"I thought we were gonna be the rockstars." Lily continued, frowning at the older teens.

"Yeah!" The others agreed.

"You are." Ally steps forward, looking apologetic. "We're sorry. We just wanted to hear how this would sound. And obviously this sounds terrible. You, you, and you, you are out of the band." She tells the pros. "You don't have what it takes to play with these unique talents."

"Uh...Yeah, get lost!" Dez chimes in, but then he follows them towards the doors, muttering to them, "I'm sorry, I  thought you were way better than those kids. I really don't know what's going on right now. Bye." He smiled and waved at them.

"Ally." Trish grabs Ally's hand, guiding her off the stage and off to the side of the room as the kids chatted. "What are you doing?" She asked in disbelief.

"She's doing the right thing. Just like Delaney said we should be doing." Austin replies, feeling guilty. "We made a promise to these kids that we'd turn them into a band and that's what were gonna do."

"Can I still be the snapper?" Herman asked hopefully as he continued to snap quietly.

"We have our work cut out for us." Ally sighed.

"Wait," Ezra intervenes worriedly. "Does this mean Delaney isn't coming back? If she's not coming back then I'm leaving."

"You can't leave now!" Mia said quickly, stepping between Ezra and the exit. "We're just getting started. We haven't even had a chance to figure this whole thing out. Delaney will be back, I know she will." She looks over at the older teens hopefully. "Right?"