Chapter Text
The warmth emanating from the studio was akin to a harsh slap in the face. The fluorescent lights intricately carved a sharp, golden illumination among the thousands of ripped band posters over the walls, contrasting the gentle dusk on the opposite side of the door.
The AC hummed its own low, comforting tune—the contrarian echoing emptiness of the homely studio was a rare sight to behold for Esmeralda, who had gotten used to emerge within a chaotic cacophony of chatter and laughter. Then, of course it would deviate to the usual scolding of how much valuable time wasted by the others waiting.
Therefore, she was determined to take the earlier train— only it had taken her there twenty minutes earlier than initially intended. Still, the girl tranquilly hummed as she shuffled with her disheveled boots. She figured it was only fair to everyone else and a way for her to experience the desolated silence that usually Axel had been the one to endure.
And the look on everybody's faces when they'd see the surprise that awaited them on the opposite side of the door.
She settled down on the stool behind the neatly placed drumset, relaxing against the wall. Rummaging through her bag, she pulled out her sacred pair of drumsticks— covered in splashes of colours layered on top of each other in a chaotic beauty. The chipped paint held remnants of a shared memory; the camaraderie of an accident involving Austin spilling paint, thus getting it all over a brand new pair of drumsticks, and the echoing laughter as it transcended into a full blown war with paint splatter and ruined clothing. A faint smile tugged at Esmeralda's lips as she delicately ghosted the wood with her thumb.
A tranquil few minutes flew by, Esmeralda checking her notifications until an unexpected rattle of the doorknob caught her attention. Axel, arriving early, again.
Faint mock-disappointment furrowed her eyebrows, a brief sigh escaping. Until he caught her eye.
He chuckled, his voice laced with amused disbelief, "And I thought I was early."
The girl smiled weakly, the gesture brimful of sarcasm, "I took an earlier train, and I didn't think I'd be this early."
"Well, at least you're finally considering the band's feelings."
Esmeralda's features dropped instantly. The sheer audacity from that boy was astounding, of course she was taking the band's feelings into consideration. She was merely tired in the morning and an extreme underestimater of the time, and it was something she had been working hard on.
A retort quickly rushed to her lips without a moment of hesitancy, "Fuck you, man. I do consider your feelings, I just—"
"Esme," he interfered simply, "I'm joking, chill."
The ever-present smugness of his words was subtle, but definitely there. It lingered faintly within his banter and wiped away any sort of clever response from her mind. It left a bad taste in Esme's mouth. Partly because she recognised that she did take it a tad too personally.
She let out a defeated sigh, resentful of the smile she felt tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"Seems I have... touched a nerve."
The audible enjoyment in his voice made it even worse. She shook her head, twirling the drumsticks between her fingers— feeling the walls' rough surface scratch against her back.
A beat of silence.
"And you're terrible at twirling those."
"What?" Her posture shot up, offence knitting her eyebrows. She took the bait so easily, "No I'm not!"
"You literally look like you are about to charge those things right at my face."
Esme raised her eyebrows, a jesterly determination carved into her confident features. "Oh yeah?"
A drumstick cautiously clutched in her hand gradually lifted into the air and flung right into action— hitting the nonprepared target faintly on the shoulder.
Axel winced briefly at the weak thud. His gaze lowered, a light-hearted scoff filling the air. He picked it up and fraily tossed it over again; his feigned annoyance betrayed by a sudden grin mirroring hers.
Esmeralda caught the toss with ease, comfortably leaning her back against the wall once more. She surveyed Axel's every movement as he plugged his guitar in, a lingering mist of gratitude absorbing her mind. The other's demeanour appeared to be less guarded than usual, and the ever-present aroma of ease seemed to settle between the two.
His presence had been a lot less annoying than anticipated.
"Something on your mind?" Axel speaks up, his back turned.
"Hm?"
"I can feel you staring at me."
Esmeralda huffed at his blatant ego, "I wasn't staring."
"Mhm," Axel murmured, his voice ironic. The smirk displayed on his lips was unmistakable, despite only facing his back, "Keep telling yourself that."
"Axel, please." The drummer's face contorted into one of disgust at the insinuating remark. Beneath her repulsed exterior was a tinge of electricity: an ephemeral sensation that brewed intrigue within her. With his guard down, Axel's demeanour carried a sense of eloquence, a fierce solitude. A such sentiment around the others would simply be chimerical.
She shrugged it off quickly— it was merely a throw-away joke he made for the sole purpose of being annoying, like always. "You're so full of yourself."
"You're not denying it."
"I literally just did."
"Then why are you drooling at the mouth?"
There it was again.
"You're insufferable."
He sharply turned on his heel, guitar held firmly in his grasp and eyes burning like embers, "Oh, I know."
An orotund voice pierced through the air— sudden, unwelcomed. Whatever lingered in the air was now gone, taunting them, "Are we interrupting something?"
Austin, Elias and Florence— all standing in the doorway peeking in with suggestive glances flickering between the two. As if they just caught a secret conversation between their parents. Esmeralda sighed, begrudgingly. She grimaced faintly, her nose scrunched above her sarcastic smile,
"Shut up."
"Let's just start this." Axel fiddled with his guitar, his shoulders tense. His face contorted into something she couldn't quite define, but Esmeralda could sense the discomfort radiating through his chest.
She watched as Austin furtively sneaked up behind the figure, unpromptedly ruffling his hair into a brown mess. It was a way to loosen him up, a way to be affectionate. The impromptu greeting was a successful magnet for Axel's startled laugh as they initiated a handshake.
"I'm surprised you're here," Elias uttered suddenly. His voice cut through Esme's surveillance of the scene infront of her, making her aware of the slight heartfelt smile on her lips.
She noted the genuine tone in his voice, mirroring his smile."I know, crazy right?"
Elias began adjusting the settings on the amp, neatly arranged behind the instrumental equipment and alongside the drumset in the corner. Esme continued, "I felt bad for being so disrespectful of your time, I'm sorry."
"It's fine," The other replied softly, successfully plugging Austin's guitar in, "Just hope you'll keep this up."
Elias always carried a responsibility to the group, reminiscent of a parent. The 'older brother' instincts were rooted into his constant concern, determination, or desire for expressing empathy. Esme smiled softly, cocking her head in an understanding manner.
"I will. Really, I'm sorry."
Earning a simple nod and smile— Florence chimed in with a subdued tone and her ever-so classic smile, "You're fine, don't worry so much about it. But yeah, keep it up."
The band geared up, suspense building up as Esmeralda lifted her drumsticks up in the air and the count began — ready for yet another day of practice, banter and chaos.