Back in the dressing room, the air hummed with a mixture of post-show exhilaration and exhaustion. War in the Hell's performance had been electric; their energy seeped into every corner of the venue and left the crowd chanting for more. Yet, as Nalani stepped inside, the cheers felt like a distant echo, a backdrop to the storm raging within her. Her bandmates were already sprawled around the room, their laughter and banter filling the space, but to Nalani, it was a blur, a muffled scene playing out in the periphery.

Josh was the first to notice her entrance, his eyes narrowing in mock suspicion. "Well, well, the star returns. Took your time out there, didn't you?" he teased, tossing an empty water bottle in her direction. It bounced off the couch next to her, and she blinked, forcing herself to focus.

"Yeah, sorry," she muttered, the words tasting flat on her tongue.

Jeremy leaned forward, his grin playful. "Come on, Nala, don't just stand there like a statue. We were just about to dissect the epic disaster that was Josh's guitar solo," he said, winking at Josh, who rolled his eyes dramatically.

"That 'disaster' got the loudest scream of the night, thank you very much," Josh countered, throwing his head back in mock indignation. The room erupted in laughter, a warm, familiar sound that usually wrapped around Nalani like a security blanket. But tonight, it felt hollow, a distant warmth that refused to thaw the chill in her veins.

She sank into a chair in the corner, her gaze unfocused, eyes darting to the walls lined with posters of bands who had once stood where she did. Each face seemed to look back at her, challenging her to snap out of her daze, to feel the triumph of the night. But all she felt was a gnawing sensation, an ache that made her chest feel heavy and her limbs weak.

Mark, their manager, sat up from where he had been scrolling through his phone. "Nalani, that last note in 'Nightfall Symphony' was pure magic. You had the whole crowd—"

"Yeah, thanks, Mark," she interrupted, trying to inject a smile into her voice, but it wavered like a weak flame. He tilted his head, eyes narrowing just enough to register his concern, but she avoided his gaze.

Nicole, perched on the arm of the couch, tilted her head in Nalani's direction, her brow furrowing. "You okay? You're quieter than usual. Did Noah say something to you again?" She said it lightly, but the room fell silent at his name, curiosity sparking in her bandmates' eyes.

Nalani stiffened at the mention, a wave of heat rushing through her body, followed by an icy prickle down her spine. She felt exposed, as if Nicole had pulled back a curtain she wasn't ready to admit existed. Her fingers gripped the edge of her chair, nails biting into the fabric, grounding herself against the swirl of emotions that threatened to spill over.

"No, it's nothing," she lied, the words feeling jagged as they left her mouth. It wasn't nothing. It was everything. The conversation with Noah replayed in her mind, his voice, low and fierce, ringing in her ears: "How can you be this blind to not understand what am I feeling for you?"

The declaration had shattered the thin layer of detachment she had desperately tried to build. It played on a loop, striking chords in her that she didn't know how to name. Was it anger? Confusion? Hope? Each beat of her heart felt like a question she didn't want to answer.

Josh, who had been watching her more closely than the others, leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His voice softened, teasing edge gone. "Nala, you don't have to keep it all in, you know."

She swallowed, eyes flickering to him before looking down at her hands. "It's really nothing, Josh," she whispered, trying to convince him, trying to convince herself. But even she could hear the tremor in her voice, the crack in her defenses.

The rest of the room grew quieter, the lightness replaced with a watchful silence. Jeremy exchanged a look with Edward, and for a moment, Nalani felt the weight of their concern, pressing down on her. The room, which was supposed to be a haven of camaraderie and shared victories, felt stifling.

She needed air. She needed out.

Pushing up from her chair, she forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm going to step outside for a bit," she said quickly, grabbing her jacket. Before anyone could protest, she was out the door, the cool hallway air biting at her skin.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind Nalani, a heavy silence settled over the room. Josh watched the spot where she'd stood moments before, brow furrowed in concern. The sound of Nicole sighing broke the silence.

"She's not okay, is she?" Nicole asked, the question more of a statement.

Josh shook his head. "Nope. Not even close." He leaned back on the couch, folding his arms across his chest. "So," he began, breaking the quiet. "Who else thinks this whole situation is just one giant, dramatic movie waiting to happen?"

Nicole chuckled, crossing her arms. "You mean the part where we watch Nalani deny every single feeling she has for Noah while he practically combusts every time she talks to someone else? Oh, definitely."

Edward rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the grin tugging at his lips. "Don't count out Nick. Have you seen the way he looks at her? If anyone has a chance, it's him."

Jeremy nodded in agreement. "Nick's always been there for her, you know? It's obvious he cares."

Josh tilted his head, eyes narrowing playfully. "But Noah, though... You have to admit there's something electric between them. It's like watching a car crash and a symphony at the same time."

Nicole snickered, throwing a glance at Mark. "So, boss, what do you think? Team Nick or Team Noah?"

Mark, who had been listening with a bemused expression, sighed deeply and leaned against the counter. "Honestly? I just want them to figure it out before it messes with a performance. But if you're asking who's better for her... I'd say Noah. Even if he's a pain, he seems to care more than he lets on."

Josh's smile widened as he exchanged looks with Nicole. "Told you. Team Noah's gaining ground."

Edward scoffed. "Not so fast. We'll see how long that lasts once Nick makes his move."

"Poor Noah," Jeremy said with an exaggerated pout. "Imagine being a metal star and still not knowing how to talk to a girl."

Mark laughed. "Well, considering how many times he's switched between being nice and being a complete jerk, I'd say he's definitely in denial. That whole shouting match with Nalani? Classic 'I'm angry because I care but won't admit it' move."

Nicole leaned back, her eyes narrowing as she put on a voice filled with mock drama. "Ah, the age-old enemies-to-lovers arc. Our dear Nalani caught in the middle of a stormy, tortured love story."

Jeremy threw a crumpled piece of paper at her. "You've been watching too many romance dramas, Nic."

"Oh, admit it, Jem, it's intriguing!" she said, catching the paper and tossing it back at him. "They're practically a real-life plot twist waiting to happen."

Josh grinned, eyes twinkling mischievously. "And what's the over-under on how long it'll take before one of them finally cracks and admits it? Because my money's on—"

"Three weeks," Nicole interjected confidently, raising his hand as if taking a bet. "And it'll be Noah. He'll break first."

Mark raised an eyebrow, shaking his head. "Nah, you've got it all wrong. Nalani's stubborn as hell, but she's got a soft spot. I'd say she'll slip up and say something first, and Noah will have that deer-in-the-headlights look."

Josh nodded, his smile fading into something more thoughtful. "Well, whatever happens, they better figure it out soon. I'm tired of seeing her like this." His voice softened, the teasing gone, replaced by genuine worry. "She deserves better than being caught in this mess."

The group fell into a contemplative silence, each lost in their thoughts as the buzz of conversation from other rooms seeped into the space. The jokes, the theories—they all carried a hint of truth, an acknowledgment of something brewing that none of them could ignore. But for now, all they could do was wait and hope that when the inevitable crash came, Nalani would be okay on the other side of it.

As Nalani stepped outside, the crisp California night air hit her like a wave, cooling the residual heat from the performance and the searing argument that followed. The distant roar of the festival crowd was muffled now, replaced by the occasional chatter of passersby and the rhythmic thrum of her heart pounding in her ears. The lights from the nearby stages painted streaks of purple and gold across the pavement, creating a surreal backdrop that did little to soothe her frayed nerves. She pressed her back against the wall, closing her eyes, willing her heart to slow down. But Noah's words pulsed through her veins, unrelenting. Why did he have to say that? Why now?

She took a deep, shaky breath, trying to settle the tempest swirling inside her. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw Noah's face—angry, conflicted, eyes blazing with an intensity that cut through her like a blade. The memory of his voice, raw and unguarded, echoed in her mind. "How can you be this blind to not see what am I have feeling for you?"

The words replayed over and over, like a haunting refrain. It sent a shiver down her spine, not from the coolness of the air but from the rush of emotions that threatened to overtake her. Confusion, anger, disbelief—all of it tangled into a knot that seemed to tighten with each beat of her heart. She didn't want to admit the fluttering sensation in her chest, the way her breath caught at the idea that his feelings might be more than just tension and hostility.

Why does it matter? she berated herself, hugging her arms tighter around her body as if that could hold in the storm inside her. She had spent so much time convincing herself that whatever they had—whatever fractured, messy connection they shared—wasn't worth examining. And now, that fragile reasoning was crumbling.

The weight of unacknowledged feelings pressed down on her, heavy and suffocating. She paced the small stretch of pavement, the noise of the festival now only a distant hum. Each step felt unsteady, as if the ground beneath her feet was shifting. She drew in a shaky breath, pressing the heel of her hand to her chest, as if she could push the disarray away.

The way Nick had approached her, lighthearted and warm, had been a comfort, an easy contrast to the sharpness of Noah's presence. But the second Noah's tone changed, everything had spiraled out of control. The guilt of letting the situation get so heated gnawed at her, clashing with the anger she felt toward Noah's unpredictable behavior.

Why did he have to make everything so complicated? Why did she have to care so much that it twisted her up inside?

Nalani rubbed at her temples, trying to push away the ache that had settled there. The cool breeze whispered against her skin, pulling a few strands of hair across her face. She brushed them away, focusing on the rhythmic rise and fall of her breathing. But beneath the surface, her pulse refused to slow, caught in the endless cycle of questions she didn't have the courage to answer.

A voice broke through the fog in her mind, bringing her back to reality. "Nalani?" It was Josh, and the concern in his voice was a tether, pulling her back to the present.

She opened her eyes to find him standing a few feet away, his face unreadable. He took a step closer, searching her face for answers. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I don't know, Josh," she said, the words fragile but sincere, "Now I don't know anything."