The final bell hit like a release valve, and Lowtown High emptied out in waves. Lockers slammed shut, people shouted goodbye over the noise, and the hallways turned into a river of backpacks and tired footsteps. Luke walked with his friends out through the front doors, the afternoon air warmer than it had been that morning, sunlight reflecting off windows and neon signs that hadn't quite switched on yet.

Dante stretched his arms overhead like he'd been fighting for his life all day instead of sitting through classes. He was a kid with so much energy, it was hard to for him to stay still and such.

"Freshman year is already trying to take me out," Dante said,"already feeling the life draining from me."

"You act like you went to war," Jazz said

"Mentally, I did, the mind is a warzone itself ya know?"

"You fell asleep in second period," Maya said

"That was a tactical recharge."

Eli adjusted the strap of his backpack, looking between the two.

"We still going to grab snacks before Malik's thing," Eli asked

Luke nodded, already turning toward the corner store a few blocks away. Since the one they usually go to is closed, they were heading to one a few blocks down from the school.

"Yeah, best not showin' up empty-handed," Luke said,"people get weird about that for some reason."

"People get weird about everything," Jazz smirked.

They walked together down the street, Harlem shifting around them as the school crowd thinned out. Kids peeled off toward bus stops or apartment buildings, couples lingered near corners, and the occasional car rolled past with music loud enough to rattle windows. The neighborhood felt different after school hours, more alive, louder, like it was stretching after being held back all day.

The corner store sat on the edge of their usual route, a small place wedged between a laundromat and a barber shop. The sign above the door was faded, the "OPEN" light in the window flickering like it might give up any day now. Luke had been coming here since he was a kid, grabbing chips and soda when he had spare change, running errands for Christina, talking to the owner like he was family.

They stepped inside, the bell above the door chiming, and the smell of candy, cleaning products, and stale fried snacks hit immediately. The aisles were cramped, shelves packed tight with chips, canned food, random household items, and knockoff phone chargers hung near the counter. The owner, Mr. Rosario, stood behind the register with a tired face, pretending like things were normal.

Except it wasn't when Luke noticed it the second he stepped further in. The way Mr. Rosario's eyes didn't lift fully when he greeted them, and the way his shoulders stayed tight. The way two men stood near the coolers pretending to browse while clearly watching the front entrance. Both were wearing black, but both wore had golden bandanas wrapped around their arms

Dante noticed too, his joking energy faded, replaced by a sharp stillness. Jazz's gaze narrowed as she scanned the store, instincts kicking in as she knew these types. Maya's voice dropped, her eyes glancing at the two thugs and Luke, who stared at the two as he grabbed his soda.

"Luke," she whispered

Luke didn't answer her, he was already walking toward the counter, slow and controlled, eyes locked on the situation. Eli hung back slightly, not scared, just smart enough to observe first and then move in to assist.

One of the thugs was tall and lean, hoodie up even though it was warm outside. The other was stockier with a shaved head and heavy rings on his fingers. They exchanged a glance as Luke approached, like they were annoyed someone had wandered too close. The shaved-head guy stepped forward, stopping near the counter like he owned the space.

"Mr. Rosario, you got the money this time or what," Thug 1 asked

Mr. Rosario swallowed, hands tightening around the edge of the counter.

"I told you, I paid last week," Mr. Rosario said,"also business has been slow. I don't-"

"Ain't no 'I don't'," Thug 1 said, then he leaned in, voice low but menacing,"let me remind you of the situation here. You pay the protection fee, because you like your store. You like being able to open your doors tomorrow, not having an...accident."

The other thug chuckled softly like it was funny, tapping his fingers against a stack of gum near the register. Luke stepped up beside the counter, making his presence known. He slammed his drink down with a thud, along with other things for the party.

"You serious right now," Luke asked

Thug 1 glanced at him like Luke was a bug that just landed on his shoe.

"Who the fuck are you supposed to be," Thug 1 asked

Dante moved beside Luke, shoulders squared, voice calm but edged.

"Someone who lives here, someone who knows Mr. Rosario," Dante said,"also someone who ain't gonna let you shake him down like this."

Jazz stepped a little closer, one hand already casually slipping her phone out. She didn't point it in their face yet, just held it low like she was checking messages. Her expression stayed neutral, but her eyes were sharp.

"Oh look at this, Harlem's got superheroes now," Thug 2 said mockingly

Luke didn't flinch at the mans words, he also didn't raise his voice either. He just leaned forward slightly, the way people did when they were done being polite.

"Nah, we're just not letting you pull that protection bullshit on one of our people," Luke said

"Your people," Thug 1 asked, teeth strained

Dante gestured lightly toward Mr. Rosario, the store itself, the neighborhood outside. He was empathizing that no matter where you're from in Harlem or New York, they were his people, and they'll defend them no matter what.

"Yeah bitch our people," Dante said,"this ain't your block, so that means this isn't your store. He doesn't owe you anything, not what your puny brain dumbasses think."

For a second, the shaved-head thug looked like he might actually swing. His hand flexed at his side, and Luke could see the anger rising fast, the kind that didn't care about consequences. The other thug shifted too, stepping slightly to the side as if to position himself away from the fight . Then Jazz lifted her phone, not dramatic, just steady, the camera lens catching the light.

"Smile for the internet sluts," Jazz said, making both thugs froze.

Their eyes flicked to the phone, then to Jazz's face, who had a smug smirk on her face. The shaved-head thug's expression twisted with frustration, but it wasn't fear. It was calculation, he wasn't scared of Luke or Dante cause they weren't tough. He was scared of evidence, something that can be presented to cops, and that was bad news

"You recording little bitch," Thug 1 asked

"Mm-hmm," Jazz said

"Man, this ain't worth it," Thug 2 muttered under his breath,"if we get caught, boss won't like us."

The shaved-head thug held Luke's stare for a beat longer, then backed up slowly, hands raised like he was the reasonable one.

"Whatever, keep your little store," Thug 1 said,"don't act like you won something."

He turned toward the door, the other thug already moving with him. As they stepped outside, the shaved-head guy shot one last look back over his shoulder, having a mean mug. And then they were gone, swallowed by the street like they'd never been there at all.

The store fell quiet in their wake, the tension leaving the air slowly instead of all at once. Mr. Rosario exhaled shakily, one hand still gripping the counter as if his legs weren't sure they could hold him.

"Thank you...I didn't want to cause any trouble," Mr. Rosario said

"You shouldn't have to deal with that, Mr. Rosario," Dante said, his voice a little softer now,"not here."

Luke shook his head, frustration tightening his chest as he glanced toward the door they'd left through. Maya gave a low sigh, as Eli just rolled his eyes and grabbed some chips. Jazz lowered her phone, slipping it back into her pocket as she did a little dance, high fiving Dante.

"I swear, place is filled with dumbasses," Luke said

"They'll come back ya know," Jazz said

"They always do," Eli said, quiet but certain.

Dante's eyes stayed on the street outside for a moment longer than necessary. His expression wasn't angry the way Luke's was. It was something else, like he felt bad about one of the thugs.

"You know those two," Luke asked

"...Yeah, well not small and scrawny," Dante said,"big guy, yeah I know, he's a good guy...just...he has shitty bad luck."

Luke looked at him, frown deepening, like he wanted to argue but didn't know what he'd even be arguing against. Luke looked back to where the thugs were, he didn't say anything cause he didn't know the full situation, and didn't want to sound like an ass.

"Yeah, but still, not enough reason to shake an old man down," Luke said

Dante didn't disagree, he tied to help the man out, but seems nothing to work for the guy. He just let out a breath and looked away, grabbing his favorite candies with some sweets for the party.

"I know man," Dante said,"all I'm just sayin' is...I've seen him before all this. He wasn't always like that."

Luke glanced back at Mr. Rosario, who was still trying to steady himself, then down the aisles lined with snacks and cheap products that people needed to get by. Luke's hands tightened at his sides, jaw clenched as he hated bullies who feed on the innocent. Luke didn't say it out loud, but the thought sat in his chest like a spark.

Harlem was tired of being prey, and the people who called themselves gangsters were getting too comfortable acting like they owned the place. Luke grabbed a bag of chips off the shelf, then another, tossing them into the basket with more force than necessary.

"Come on, we got what we came for," Luke said,"

They moved through the aisles together, buying snacks for a party like everything was normal, but the mood had shifted. The laughter from earlier was quieter now, still there, but edged by something real.

On the way home, Jazz was cracking a couple jokes that didn't hit as hard as they normally did, Maya staying close and checking on Mr. Rosario one more time before they left, Eli quietly reminding them what time they were meeting up later. Dante kept glancing over his shoulder like he expected those thugs to come back around the corner, but he didn't say anything else about it.

By the time Luke reached his block, the day had shifted into early evening. The sun was lower now, throwing long shadows across the sidewalk, the neon signs along storefronts beginning to glow one by one as if the neighborhood was waking up again for a second life. Cars rolled past slow, music humming out of open windows, kids still played on stoops, and somewhere down the street a man yelled for someone to stop running before they broke something expensive.

Luke let out a breath as he climbed the steps to his apartment, keys rattling in his hand. He unlocked the door and stepped inside, the scent of home hitting him right away; warm air, faint cooking spices, old records, and the kind of comfort you didn't notice until you were gone from it.

"You better not eat my snacks," Lily said, her voice came from the living room immediately.

Luke kicked the door shut behind him, dropping his bag onto the floor by the couch.

"The first thing you say to me is about snacks," Luke asked in mock hurt

"Yes, because last time you said you weren't hungry and then somehow my chips disappeared," Lily said

Luke walked into the living room, and Lily was sprawled across the couch with her phone in one hand, a duffel bag half-zipped at her feet. She had that look on her face like she was pretending to be mature about something while still being excited underneath. Luke chuckled at her, patting her head then nodded at the duffel.

"Sleepover," Luke asked

"Yeah., its gonna be at Tasha's," Lily said,"her mom said we can stay up late and watch movies."

"Her mom definitely lied to make y'all stop asking."

"Don't act like you weren't begging to stay up when you were my age."

Luke paused like he had to think about it. He was a hyperactive kid, well more so after Christina took them in, and he wanted to change up on cartoons and tv shows he missed out on. Let's say his old parents hogged the tv a lot, hardly let them watch anything that wasn't a porno or drug shows. So she was right...but he wasn't gonna admit that

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Luke said with faint ignorance

Lily pointed at him without looking up from her phone.

"You used to cry when Mama said bedtime," Lily said

"That is slander, and you know it," Luke said

"It's history boy."

He was about to fire back when Christina's voice called from the kitchen.

"Luke, can you come here for a second!?"

Luke sighed like he was being summoned to court, but he headed into the kitchen anyway. Christina was standing near the counter, purse open and one of her earrings in her hand, trying to clasp it while talking at the same time. She wore a simple outfit that still looked like she put effort into it, hair done, makeup light but clean, like she was going out to remind the world she was still that woman.

Luke leaned against the doorway, watching her with a smile. She hasn't had a night to herself or went out with friends much since she took the two in, but...she never complained or anything about it. She just smiled and went with it, and the two were so grateful for that, so they made sure to make it less hell for her.

"You heading out with the girls," Luke asked

"Yep, first girls' night in a while," Christina said as she puts her last earring on

She glanced over at him, eyes narrowing slightly like she was already doing the mom-scan. Luke had changed into his favorite neon colored shirt, black jacket, pants and green shoes, and was carrying his backpack with gear.

"And you're going to Malik's party, " Christina asked

"Yeah," Luke said,"and if I know Dante, he's gonna need an adult to supervise him."

"Mmhmm, ain't that the truth."

She finished her last touch of makeup, then walked up and adjusted Luke's jacket collar the way she always did, even though he was taller than her now and didn't need it. Luke stayed still, letting her do it, because he knew it was just her way of saying she cared without making it awkward.

"Have fun, but be smart and be safe," Christina said,"don't be out there doing anything stupid."

"I won't," Luke said, but Christina's stare didn't soften.

"Luke."

"Okay okay, I really won't. I promise mama, cross my heart."

Christina nodded once, satisfied enough, then her tone shifted into something calmer, more personal.

"Call me if you need me, at any time," Christina said,"I don't care if it's two in the morning."

"I will," Luke said, nodding quietly.

Christina stepped closer and kissed his forehead before he could dodge, pressing her palm against his cheek for half a second like she was grounding herself.

"I love you baby," Christina said

"Love you too mama," Luke said

She grabbed her keys, then turned her head toward the living room.

"Lily, get your shoes on," Christina said,"your ride's almost here."

"I'm putting them on," Lily groaned dramatically

Luke stepped back into his room while the apartment filled with movement again. Lily zipped her bag and checked her phone every ten seconds, Christina did one last sweep of the kitchen like she was making sure the world wouldn't end while she was gone. Luke sat on the edge of his bed and stared at the floor for a moment, letting the quiet settle back in now that he was alone with himself.

Then he got up and started getting ready for the party. He grabbed a small sling bag from the side of his closet and opened it, checking what was inside. Not weapons, not anything dramatic, he didn't like guns due his father. Instead he had a portable speaker cord, flash drive and his headphones, along with a small notebook with scribbled lyrics and design ideas.

He pulled out the flash drive and held it between his fingers, thinking about what he and Dante had been messing with lately. Beats built off samples, melodies they'd played with until they sounded like Harlem at night. Luke wasn't the type to brag about it, but he liked making music. It made sense in a way most things didn't.

You could take noise and turn it into something that mattered, and Harlem...this was his home. He slammed as he zipped the bag, slung it over his shoulder, and stepped back into the living room just as Lily was putting her shoes on.

"Try not to embarrass yourself," Lily said

"Try not to text me every ten minutes," Luke said

"No promises."

Christina gave him one last look before heading for the door.

"You got your phone charged," she asked

"Yes, plus I have my computer in case anything happens," Luke said

"And you know where you're going?"

"Yes."

"And-"

"Mama, I got it covered, promise."

Christina laughed quietly, finally satisfied with the answers, then opened the door. Lily stepped out first, waving without looking back, already focused on her ride. Christina followed, pausing just long enough to glance at Luke again with her worried mom smile.

"Be safe, baby," Christina said

"Always," Luke said

The door shut, and Luke stood there for a second in the sudden quiet of the apartment. No voices, no music playing or the sounds of traffic outside of honking cars. Just the hum of the city outside and his own thoughts trying to crowd in. He didn't let them, cause they were just bad memories wanting to come back. So he adjusted the strap of his bag, grabbed his keys, and headed out.

The evening air hit him the moment he stepped outside, cooler than earlier, carrying the smell of food from open windows and the sound of music starting to bleed into the streets again. The neon lights were brighter now, glowing against the brick buildings like Harlem was dressing up for the night.

Luke made his way toward Malik's, walking with purpose but not rushing, blending into the crowd of people heading out to do the same thing. Groups of teens laughed on corners, cars rolled by slow, and somewhere down the block someone shouted his name in greeting.

Luke nodded back automatically, his face calm, but his mind still carried that image from earlier-the store owner's hands shaking, those men acting like they owned the neighborhood. He saw street performers playing for the people and the tourists that came to New York, making some money to keep them afloat or just enough to make them happy

And Dante was probably already running his mouth like he owned the party. Luke shook his head with a small smile as he walked, the sling bag bumping lightly against his side. But whatever happened, he wasn't walking in empty-handed, he had his gear and knew his friends was gonna be there to help.

He could hear music from Maliks halfway down the block, bass thumping through the walls, laughter spilling out onto the sidewalk, voices overlapping as people stood around the front steps like it was the official entry line. The building itself was an old brownstone with enough space inside that Malik's parents had long since accepted that "a few friends over" meant half the freshman class showing up.

The windows glowed warm, the front door propped open, and the air outside smelled like cheap cologne, fried food, and that faint sweetness of someone trying too hard to hide something they weren't supposed to have. He smiled as he saw kids his age and up just chilling, drinking, eating and some already making out below the stairs and on the stoops

Luke slowed as he reached the steps, adjusting the strap of his sling bag to make sure it didn't fall. He wasn't the type who got hyped over parties the way Dante did, but he didn't hate them either. It was just...a lot for him, lot of people, a lot of noise, and lots of moments where you had to pretend you were perfectly comfortable when you weren't.

Still, the moment he stepped inside, familiar faces started calling out.

"LUKE," a random student yelled

Luke lifted a hand in a brief wave, keeping his smile small but real.

"What's good," Luke asked

Someone slapped him lightly on the shoulder as they passed, and Luke sidestepped to avoid getting crushed by a group arguing about what song had the best beat drop. Malik himself was moving through the crowd like a host, tall and grinning, clearly enjoying being the reason everyone was here. Malik spotted Luke and immediately pointed at him, smiling like a fool.

"There he is," Malik yelled,"yo Luke, what's up boi!?"

Luke made his way over, weaving between people, careful not to step on shoes or bump drinks. Malik pulled him into a quick half-hug, all energy and excitement like he always was. The two fist bumped as they walked to the stage Malik set up on the rooftop, it wasn't massive, but enough to hold a decent concert.

"You came through," Malik said

"Yeah, told you I would," Luke said, then Malik looked down at the sling bag.

"You bringin' gear for this?"

"Me and Eli. We're setting up behind the stage."

"Say less my boy, got the back room open. Just don't blow my speakers up, alright?"

"That happened one time," Luke said as he gave Malik a flat look.

"And my mom still talks about it like it was 9/11."

Luke couldn't help the quiet laugh that slipped out. Malik clapped him on the shoulder again and moved off, shouting greetings at someone else, already pulled into the flow of the party.

Luke exhaled once and slipped deeper into the house, heading toward the back where the noise softened just enough to think. He spotted Eli near the hallway entrance, already waiting like he'd been assigned a job and took it seriously.

"Took you long enough," Eli said

"I had to walk through a stampede of drunk and horny teens," Luke said

"That's why I came early. Less chaos, and less stupid people to deal with."

Luke chuckled and nodded, stepping into the back room. It wasn't huge, but it had enough space for a little setup for the night. Someone had cleared the furniture to the sides, leaving an open floor, and there was a small table against the wall that looked like it had been claimed as the "music station". Though...it was still kinda...messy

Luke unzipped his bag and started pulling equipment out carefully, like they were children. A compact audio interface, a couple cords coiled neatly, a small microphone stand that folded in on itself, and a laptop case. Eli, without needing to be told, took the other end of the table and started clearing space, pushing aside empty cups and snack wrappers with mild disgust.

"People really don't know how to act," Eli said

"Dumbasses my friend, dumbasses," Luke said

Eli smirked faintly as Luke opened the laptop case to begin work. He plugged in cables, checked ports, and ran his eyes over everything twice before connecting it, as he didn't want any mistakes. His movements weren't flashy, but they were precise, like he couldn't stand the idea of something failing because he wasn't careful or negligent .

"You sure this is enough for the room," Eli asked

Luke nodded, though his nerves buzzed faintly under his skin. He got those nerves when he got like this, when it came to stuff like this, he felt like he had to be perfect or fail miserably.

"It'll hold, might need a little extra boost on the highs, though," Luke said,"this place has weird acoustics."

"You can tell that just by standing here," Eli asked, blinking in surprise

Luke shrugged, plugging in the interface.

"Yeah," Luke said,"it's the walls. Brick and old wood produce different sounds differently, very bad combination."

Eli watched for a moment, then shook his head at Lukes statement...but held a smile.

"You're a nerd dude," Eli said

"You're literally in robotics club," Luke deadpanned him

"That's different."

Luke didn't argue, he just chuckled and focused on the work. The room wasn't silent, but it was quieter here, muffled laughter and music coming through the walls like it was underwater. Luke took advantage of that, testing the microphone, adjusting levels, listening carefully through one earbud while the other ear stayed open to the room.

His foot tapped lightly on the floor as he worked, not out of impatience, but out of habit. Then Luke reached into his bag again and pulled out something Eli hadn't seen yet. It was small, palm-sized, and looked homemade in that way only Luke's work did, clean enough to function, but clearly built from pieces that weren't meant to be together.

It was a modified signal booster, wired into a casing that used to be part of an old portable radio. He build it from the savaged gear around the music stores getting rid of their old equipment and radios. Some they gave away, but others he had to work many shifts to pay for them, but to him they were so worth it.

"What is that," Eli asked

Luke hesitated, suddenly aware of how nerdy it sounded out loud.

"Just...something I made," Luke said, making Eli stare at him.

"Luke."

Luke sighed, then held it up like he was presenting evidence.

"It's a stabilizer, boosts the signal strength and smooths out distortion when the bass gets heavy," Luke said,"it'll stop the mic from peaking when Dante decides to scream like he's performing at Madison Square Garden."

Eli blinked again, then slowly leaned back like the thing was some kinda bomb.

"You built that...for a party," Eli asked

"It's not just for a party," Luke said, his cheeks warming a bit

"That's not what I said."

Luke plugged it into the chain, carefully checking the output levels again. The audio immediately smoothed slightly, the response cleaner, the interference reduced. Eli leaned closer, impressed despite himself, he was a robotics nerd. But Luke had a talent for music technology, plus his own inventions were huge improvements then anyone in Harlem made

"Okay...that's actually insane," Eli said

"Yeah, just don't tell Dante," Luke said,"he'll start acting like I built him a stage."

"You kind of did dude."

Luke rolled his eyes, but his nerves eased a little as the setup started coming together. He tested the mic again, tapped it lightly, then spoke into it under his breath.

"Check and check," Luke said

The sound came through clean, crisp, no feedback. He adjusted the levels one last time, then stepped back to look at everything. It wasn't professional concert quality, but it was more than enough for a high school party. He let out a slow breath, hands resting on his hips, eyes scanning the room like he was expecting something to go wrong.

"You good man," Eli asked

"Yeah, I just...don't want it to mess up," Luke said, making Eli tilt his head.

"It's just Dante singing man."

"Exactly, just don't want to let him down."

Eli laughed quietly, shaking his head.

"Dude relax, you got it all set up," Eli said,"nothing's gonna explode."

"You said that like it's guaranteed," Luke said as he gave Eli a deadpan stare

"Okay, nothing's gonna explode because of you."

Luke exhaled through his nose, that small, nervous energy still lingering but kept under control. They heard door open and Jazz appeared first, carrying a plate piled high with food. Maya followed behind her with a couple bottles of water and a stack of napkins, both of them looking like they'd already dodged three conversations they didn't want.

"Alright, we have secured supplies," Jazz said

Maya set the water down and looked at Luke and Eli's setup, eyes widening slightly.

"Wow, you actually did it," Maya said impressed

Luke nodded, pretending it wasn't a big deal.

"Yeah, it's fine," Luke said

Jazz leaned closer, inspecting it like she was checking for bombs.

"This looks expensive as hell Luke," Jazz said

"Eh not really, it's mostly salvaged," Luke said, making Jazz give him a look.

"That somehow makes it worse."

Luke snorted quietly as Maya handed him a water bottle. Nodded thanks to her, then twisted the cap open and took a sip. The cool water helped settle him down, wetting his dry throat. Eli grabbed a chip off Jazz's plate without permission, so Jazz slapped his hand.

"You didn't earn that," Jazz said

"I'm the talent support," Eli said

"You're the cable organizer."

"That's important."

Luke watched them for a second, the familiar banter anchoring him. His hands rested lightly on the edge of the table, fingertips brushing the casing of the stabilizer he built. It was small, barely noticeable, but it felt like proof of something. Not just that he could do it, but that he belonged in rooms where things were being made.

Even if he didn't fully believe that yet.

Luke glanced toward the doorway again, listening to the party noise on the other side, then back to the setup, nerves flickering again at the thought of all those eyes and all that attention once the music started. He swallowed it down, this wasn't about him, it was about giving Dante a moment.

A small part of Luke wished he could feel comfortable under a spotlight like that. But instead, he settled into what he knew best, building the stage from the shadows.

Soon the back room had filled up more than Luke expected, more than he wished. At first it was just a few people drifting in, curious about why the furniture had been pushed back and why there was a microphone stand set up like Malik had suddenly decided he was running a concert venue. Then it spread like wildfire through the party the way things always did, one person calling another over, a small circle turning into a crowd until the space was packed shoulder to shoulder.

People leaned in from the hallway and stood on the edges of the doorway just to watch, talking over each other, laughing, shoving their friends forward like they wanted to claim a better view before anything even started.

Luke stayed at the table with the equipment, hands steady even though his stomach felt tight. He checked the connections one more time without meaning to, finger sliding over the audio interface controls, eyes moving between the laptop screen and the room. The levels looked clean, the stabilizer was doing its job, and nothing was clipping.

Eli stood beside him, arms loosely folded, acting casual but still keeping a careful eye on the cables like someone might trip over them on purpose.

"If someone spills soda on your laptop, I'm not helping you bury the body," Eli said

Luke didn't look away from the screen.

"If someone spills soda on my laptop, I'm swinging first," Luke said

Jazz and Maya had claimed a spot just off to the side, close enough to see everything but not in the crush of the crowd. Jazz had her arms crossed, expression relaxed but watchful, while Maya held a bottle of water in both hands like she was already preparing for Dante to pass out from adrenaline.

Then the crowd shifted again, like the room itself made space without being told. A ripple of cheers rolled through the hallway, growing louder as a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"AYOOO! MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!"

Luke lifted his head in time to see Dante pushing through the crowd with the confidence of someone who had never once feared being judged. His jacket was half unzipped, hair slightly messed up like he'd been running late on purpose, and his grin was bright enough that it almost looked like he'd brought extra light into the room. A few people slapped his shoulder as he passed, shouting his name, hyping him up like he was already on stage.

"DANTE!"

"YO LET'S GO!"

Dante made it to the front, right to the mic stand, then turned and lifted both hands, playing it up like he couldn't hear them unless they were louder.

"Nah, nah, I can't hear you," Dante yelled,"that's weak!"

The crowd answered immediately, yelling back, stomping, laughing, a few people whistling loud enough to make Luke's ears ring. Dante soaked it in like he was born for it, then pivoted and strode over to Luke and Eli with a purposeful walk, like he was finally clocking in for his shift.

Dante stopped at the table, eyes flicking over the equipment in one quick scan before settling on Luke.

"Alright, talk to me boys," Dante said,"we set?"

Luke nodded once, calm and simple, which was enough for Dante. Eli gave a small, confident motion of his hand toward the laptop.

"We set," Luke said

"Audio's clean, mic's stable," Eli said,"no feedback, clipping or disasters."

Dante's grin widened as he leaned in closer, lowering his voice just enough that it felt like a private moment in the middle of the chaos.

"You really did it, huh," Dante asked

Luke rolled his eyes, but his mouth twitched like he was fighting a smile.

"Stop acting surprised," Luke said,"you know I wouldn't give you half shit man."

"I'm not surprised, I'm impressed," Dante said,"there's a difference."

Luke looked away for half a second, pretending to adjust a knob that didn't need adjusting.

"Go do your thing," Luke said

"Say less superstar," Dante said, then gave Luke a quick two-finger salute like he was a soldier going to war.

He turned and walked back to the mic, the crowd parting for him again, people pressing closer as soon as he stepped up. Dante gripped the microphone stand for a second, then picked the mic up like it belonged in his hand. He tapped it lightly, once, twice, waiting for the sound system to catch. Luke watched the levels spike and settle, it was lean.

Dante brought the mic up and leaned toward the crowd, voice carrying naturally even before the speakers amplified it.

"Yo Harlem," Dante yelled

The room answered immediately, a wall of sound hitting back.

"YEEEEAAAH!"

Dante nodded like he approved.

"Nah, nah, nah," Dante said,"don't do me like that. I said...HARLEM!"

"YEEEEAAAHHH!!"

The energy lifted again, bodies bouncing in place, hands in the air waving with drinks or food in hand. People were laughing, yelling, already acting like the song had started when it hadn't. Dante paced a step or two like he was building tension on purpose, then pointed out into the crowd.

"I better see everybody awake in here," Dante yelled

People shouted back, one dude near the front yelling something unrecognizable that made his friends laugh.

"This is Malik's house and we are NOT disrespecting him with no weak energy tonight," Dante said

Malik, somewhere near the doorway, lifted his hands in victory like he was already taking credit. Dante grinned, then rolled his shoulders, voice dropping into something smoother, more serious, like he knew exactly how to grab attention when he wanted it.

"Aight, listen up, y'all know me so I need no introduction," Dante said,"and tonight...I got something for you...but I'm not alone tonight!"

A ripple moved through the room again, anticipation sharpening in the air. He stepped to the side and pointed with the mic toward Luke, standing behind the equipment table.

Luke stiffened and first instinct was to duck, not physically, but emotionally, like he wanted to shrink into the background where he was comfortable. But the second the crowd followed Dante's finger, their eyes landing on him all at once, the room erupted again. People cheered, shouted, clapped, a few of them calling Luke's name like they actually knew him well enough to do it.

"LUKE!"

"THAT'S HIM!"

"HE BUILT THIS?!"

Luke's face warmed instantly, and he tried very hard not to look like he wanted to vanish through the floor. Luke shot Dante a warning glare, but he knew it wouldn't work.

"Don't you dare," Luke said

Dante cut him off by raising the mic like he was announcing a champion.

"This man right here is the reason this is about to sound good," Dante said, making Luke's eyes widened.

"Bro," Luke groaned out

Eli leaned slightly toward Luke, voice low, amused.

"You're cooked dude," Eli said

"I hate all of you," Luke muttered back through his teeth.

Dante turned fully toward Luke now, grin sharp, voice loud enough to shake the room.

"START THE MAGIC, SUPERSTAR," Dante yelled

The crowd went wild like he'd just told them the concert was starting and the world was ending at the same time. People screamed, hands went up, bodies surged forward, and the room filled with the kind of raw hype that made Luke's heartbeat jump even though he wasn't the one holding the mic.

Luke stared at Dante for a beat, equal parts embarrassed and irritated, then finally gave in. He exhaled, rolled his shoulders once like he was resetting himself, and placed his fingers on the laptop controls. Eli stepped back half a step, watching the levels like he was a co-pilot in a plane about to take off.

Luke's eyes flicked across the screen one last time, checking the track name, the output, the timing. Everything was ready. Everything was his. The beat, the layers, the instruments, the small choices nobody would notice individually but would feel together.

Luke pressed play...and the room changed.

Not loud at first, not overwhelming, just enough to make people pause mid-conversation, heads turning toward the speakers as the sound rolled out clean and sharp. Luke watched the laptop screen as the track started, the waveform moving smoothly, levels rising the way he expected them to. The stabilizer he built held the output steady, smoothing the bass so it didn't distort, keeping the vocals lane open the way it needed to be.

Dante stood still for a moment with the mic in his hand, eyes lowered like he was listening for the exact second to step in. The crowd didn't understand the restraint, not at first. They were already moving, already bouncing, already shouting, but there was something about that opening that made them settle into it, like they could feel something bigger coming.

Jazz leaned toward Maya, speaking just loud enough to be heard over the noise.

"He's actually serious," Jazz said

"He always is," Maya said,"we just pretends he isn't."

Luke didn't say anything, he just kept his eyes on the equipment and tried to pretend he couldn't feel the weight of the room pressing in from behind him. He wasn't the one on stage, but he still felt exposed, like every person there could somehow see the work he'd put into the track.

Dante lifted his head and stepped forward. And he moment he opened his mouth, the room snapped into focus.

Everything is just so loud

Lost in the noise, and I can't turn it off
The chaos spreads, and it's getting louder
I run to escape, but it's never enough
It keeps chasing me, it's erasing me again

In my head, but I don't know
Light it up and watch it go
I shut it out, but it all comes back again
Every day, it takes control
Even worse when I'm alone
Can't turn it off 'cause it just gets louder

So turn it off 'cause I'm losing my mind
Are the voices and these noises all I can find?
Is it real? Can I keep up the fight
When the static pushes back and there's nowhere to hide?

The lyrics cut through the music without fighting it, riding over the beat like it belonged there. The crowd reacted immediately, like they'd been waiting for permission to lose their minds. People threw their hands up, shouting along even though most of them didn't know the words yet, the energy coming from the feeling more than anything else.

Someone near the front yelled Dante's name again, pure excitement in it. A couple people jumped in place, shoulders bumping into each other as they laughed, and the room began to move like a single organism, pulsing with the rhythm Luke built.

Luke glanced at the interface, making a small adjustment to keep the vocals crisp, then looked up just enough to see Dante pacing as he sang, gripping the mic with one hand while the other cut through the air in time with the beat. He didn't look nervous. He didn't look shy. He looked like he'd been waiting for this his whole life.

Dante didn't just sing at the crowd-he pulled them into it.

And now I'm screaming over and over again
I just can't stop the overstimulation
Time runs out before it ever begins
And the peace becomes a prison in the end
In my head, but I don't know
Light it up and watch it go
I shut it out, but it all comes back again

Every day, it takes control
Even worse when I'm alone
Can't turn it off 'cause it just gets louder

So turn it off 'cause I'm losing my mind
Are the voices and these noises all I can find?
Is it real? Can I keep up the fight
When the static pushes back and there's nowhere to hide?

The bass dropped a little heavier, and the crowd answered like it was instinct. People screamed, jumping higher, shoving each other in the harmless way friends did when they were hyped. Someone knocked into the wall and laughed it off, still yelling. Malik was near the doorway losing his mind, hands on his head like he couldn't believe this was happening in his house.

"THIS IS MY HOUSE," Malik yelled

Nobody cared, but they loved him for it anyway. Jazz shook her head, smiling despite herself as Maya danced a bit as Eli just tapped his foot to the beat.

"He's gonna talk about this for a year," Jazz said

Maya's eyes flicked to Luke, catching the way his hands stayed steady even though he looked like he wanted to disappear.

"You're doing good," she whispered to him

Luke blinked once, like he didn't know what to do with that. He just lightly blushed a bit at the compliment.

"I'm just pressing buttons," Luke said

Maya didn't argue, she just gave him a look that said she knew he was lying to himself. Dante shifted into the next part, voice rising with the music as he pushed it harder, his tone rougher, more emotional, the kind of sound that made people feel something even if they didn't understand why.

Giving up, giving in, there's nowhere to go
Nothing helps, nothing else, just leave me alone
So turn it off 'cause I'm losing my mind
When the static pushes back and there's nowhere to hide

No!
It pulls me apart, and I can't shut it out
The silence turns to violence in the middle of nowhere
Fading to black, is it all over now?
Why is everything so loud?

So turn it off 'cause I'm losing my mind
Are the voices and these noises all I can find?
Is it real? Can I keep up the fight
When the static pushes back and there's nowhere to hide?

The crowd roared like they'd been hit with electricity. People started chanting along between lines, even making up their own noises to fill in the spaces. A couple students in the back were recording on their phones, screens glowing above heads, capturing the moment like it mattered more than anything else happening tonight.

Luke made another quick adjustment, tightening the mix. The track responded perfectly, the layers of sound sitting clean together. He'd built it that way on purpose, each part balanced so Dante could push without getting drowned out.

And Dante pushed, letting it settle to add dramatic effect. He stepped closer to the crowd now, leaning forward as he sang, eyes sweeping across faces like he could actually see each person individually.

Giving up, giving in, there's nowhere to go
Nothing helps, nothing else, just leave me alone
So turn it off 'cause I'm losing my mind
When the static pushes back and there's nowhere to hide

In my head, but I don't know
Light it up and watch it go
When the static pushes back and there's nowhere to hide
Every day, it takes control
Even worse when I'm alone
When the static pushes back -
Everything is just so loud

By the time Dante hit the last part, the room had fully transformed. It wasn't just a party anymore, it was a moment people would talk about on Monday, a moment people would replay in their heads, a moment where the noise of the city outside didn't matter because this room had its own world inside it.

Luke didn't move from the table, he didn't jump or scream or act like he wasn't nervous. But his fingers stayed steady, his mix stayed clean, and the sound coming out of those speakers was exactly what he and Dante had built together.

And Dante made it live.