Chapter 3

A guitar amp hummed on his end. Noah walked a few steps somewhere quieter.

"We've always done it this way. What's the problem?"

"Before, I knew for sure I’d always be in the band."

Dead silence on the other end.

I waited a few seconds before Noah finally spoke. "So you're really planning to walk?"

"I haven't decided."

"You say you haven't decided, yet everything you're doing is packing up to leave."

He was right. I couldn't deny it.

I looked at the printed lease, remembering how we’d painted those walls together. I’d picked out the ugly outlet covers by the window, and photos from our very first gig were still taped up inside.

If I really left, there was a lot I’d miss—which was why I didn't want the landlord taking the room back just because I was gone.

"I'll ask the landlord how a transfer works," I said. "Until the paperwork goes through, we'll stick to the usual arrangement."

"Does it really have to be right now?"

"Yeah," I said. "I can't keep running errands for you guys forever."

After hanging up, I emailed the landlord to ask if we could go month-to-month for now while another band member applied to take over the lease.

Maya walked out of the kitchen, saw me staring at the lease, and asked, "What happened?"

I filled her in.

"You're quitting, and you still have to tie up their loose ends for them first?" she asked.

"I poured my own blood and sweat into getting this band where it is today. I don't want things to get ugly."

"Fair enough." She took a sip of coffee, not pushing back. "Better to get it over with this morning so they don't come hounding you later."

That night, I recorded another take of my audition.

After checking the audio, I sent the updated video to the festival.

When I opened my folder again after hitting send, that old garage track was still sitting right at the top.

For years, I’d been so used to running every lyric change by Noah that I’d grown completely dependent on him.

That dependence tricked me into thinking I couldn't survive without him.

Now I was realizing I could handle all of it just fine on my own.

The landlord replied the next day: *Month-to-month works for now; however, until a new tenant is approved and the transfer is finalized, you remain liable under the current lease and rent must be paid as agreed.*

I forwarded the email to Ben and Noah, noting the withdrawal date.

Ben texted back right away: *I'll reach out to the landlord. Until it's sorted, we'll keep sending you the money like usual.*

Nothing from Noah.

That afternoon, I went to the practice space to grab my old electric guitar and tape recorder. Ben opened the door.

"Saw the email about the lease," he said. "I'll send my paperwork over tonight."

"Thanks."

He stepped aside to let me in, lowering his voice. "Noah barely slept last night."

I didn't bite.

Lila was standing at the mic, headphones slung around her neck.

Spotting me, she slid them off.

"Ivy, I heard about the poster," she said. "If you want it changed, I can ask the festival people."

"What did Noah tell you?"

"He said you weren't crazy about the poster."

Not technically a lie, though it left out everything that actually mattered.

"I'm just here to grab my gear," I said.

My locker was stuffed with my guitar case, the old tape deck, and a few patch cables that were long overdue for the trash.

Pulling out the recorder, I noticed a little strip of blue tape on the power cord—something I’d stuck on years ago so it wouldn't get mixed up with everyone else's cables.

Noah walked out of the tracking room next door, saw me packing up, and came over.

"Are you seriously quitting the band?"

I nodded and kept packing.

He rubbed a hand over his face in frustration. "You really can't wait to clear your stuff out, huh?"

"This is my personal gear. I need it tonight."

"Ivy," he glanced at the others. "Can we talk outside?"

"Sure."

Out in the hallway, he pulled the door shut behind us. "What do you actually want? I explained the poster, and Ben’s taking over the lease. Now you're cleaning out your locker today."

"I'm only taking what's mine. The band's shared cables are still in there."

"You know I'm not talking about cables." He took a deep breath. "We've been together six years. Do you really have to blow this up in front of everyone?"

"Everyone already knew Lila was singing that song. I had to find out from a poster."

"Because I figured you'd understand."

"I don't." I looked right at him. "You never once asked me."

Noah stopped, his eyes dropping to the tape deck in my hands.

"You get stage fright every time you go up there. After that open mic at Danny’s last year, you were shaking when you came off."

"Yeah."

"So I thought letting you stick to songwriting and arranging would be more comfortable for you. I didn't think you'd hold a grudge this long over a lead vocal spot."

"I get nervous on stage," I said. "But I never said I didn't want to sing."