Chapter 13: After the Noise
Lana's House – 9:47 p.m.
The house had settled. Her mom peeked into Lana's room with a soft smile.
"You kids survived the festival?"
"Barely," Lana mumbled from her bed, scrolling through pictures.
"You okay?" her mom asked, sitting beside her.
Lana hesitated.
"I think we're all just… realizing that time's moving. Like, the fun parts are running out."
Her mom rubbed her shoulder. "That's what makes them special. You'll carry this version of yourself forever."
Lana nodded slowly.
---
Noah's House – 10:02 p.m.
Books were open on Noah's desk, but he wasn't reading. He stared at a photo on his shelf — the one from their first year of high school. All five of them grinning, frosting on their faces from Lana's birthday cake.
His dad knocked and entered.
"You studying? Or thinking too hard again?"
Noah half-smiled. "Little of both."
"You don't have to have everything figured out, son."
"I'm scared I'll lose them after school ends."
His dad sat down beside him. "The people meant to stay… find ways."
---
Ethan's Room – 10:30 p.m.
Music filled the space softly. Ethan was strumming his guitar, his lyrics notebook open.
His sister peeked in. "Mom says lights out soon."
"Tell her music doesn't have a curfew."
She laughed. "You okay? You were quiet earlier."
Ethan stopped strumming.
"Noah and I had a stupid fight."
She shrugged. "Best friends fight. Just don't let it rot."
He nodded. Then softly began a new melody.
It sounded like a truce.
---
Aiden's Room – 11:04 p.m.
His basketball trophy glinted under the desk lamp. Aiden sat cross-legged on his bed, texting Aria.
[Aiden]: thanks for talking me down yesterday
[Aria]: anytime, star player
[Aiden]: I'm scared I won't make it sometimes
[Aria]: you will. and even if you don't… you'll be more than okay.
[Aiden]: you sure?
[Aria]: i've never been more sure of anything.
He read the last message three times, grinning like an idiot.
His mom passed by, catching the smile.
"Good day?"
"The best," he said.
---
Aria's Room – 11:22 p.m.
She sat at her desk, sketching the amusement park from memory. On a corner of the page, she'd drawn Aiden—midair on the basketball court.
Her dad knocked gently. "You still up?"
"Can't sleep."
"Want to talk?"
She hesitated, then nodded.
They sat on the couch with mugs of cocoa.
"I think I'm falling for someone," she said softly.
Her dad didn't say anything for a while.
Then: "That's both the most exciting and most terrifying thing in the world."
She smiled. "Exactly."
---
The night ended not with noise, but with quiet understanding.
A soft chapter of growing up.