Page 16 of Shattered Melodies

“Hell yeah, we did!” Mark chimed in, his grin so wide it looked like it might split his face.

But Liam had gone quiet, his expression suddenly thoughtful. I nudged him gently. “Hey, you okay?”

He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite decipher. “I just… I can’t believe it. My parents didn’t even show up, but we still won. We did this without them.”

He stared at me for a long moment, and then a slow smile spread across his face. “You know what? You’re right. I don’t need them. I’ve got you, and Sarah, and Mark. That’s all I need.”

I felt my heart swell with pride and affection. “Damn straight. We’re your family now, Liam. And we’re not going anywhere.”

He grinned, and then he was hugging me again, laughing and crying at the same time. Sarah and Mark joined in, turning it into a messy, joyful group hug.

As I held them all, surrounded by the chaos of backstage and the sound of the crowd still cheering, I knew that this was where I belonged. This weird, wonderful, makeshift family of ours.

“Hey,” I said, pulling back to look at Liam. “Let’s get out of here, yeah? I want to show you something.”

Liam wiped his eyes, looking at me curiously. “What is it?”

I grinned, feeling a rush of excitement. “You’ll see. Come on, I just got my license and I’ve been dying to take my new wheels for a spin.”

That got a smile out of him, and we said our goodbyes to Sarah and Mark before heading out to the parking lot. When we got to my car - a beat-up old sedan that I’d bought with my savings - I couldn’t help but puff up with pride.

“I know it’s not much,” I said, patting the hood. “But it’s mine, and it gets me where I need to go.”

Liam laughed, shaking his head. “It’s perfect, Caleb. I love it.”

We hopped in and I headed out of town, the night air whipping through the open windows. Liam fiddled with the radio, finally settling on a soft rock station that filled the car with soothing melodies.

I drove for a while, until the town lights faded in the rearview mirror and the road opened up into the countryside. Finally, I pulled off onto a dirt track, following it until we reached a small overlook.

“I come out here sometimes,” I said, cutting the engine. “When I need to clear my head, or just get away from everything for a bit.”

We got out of the car and I led Liam to the edge of the overlook. The view was breathtaking - a vast expanse of rolling hills and glittering stars, stretching out as far as the eye could see.

“Wow,” Liam breathed, his eyes wide. “It’s incredible.”

I hummed in agreement, sneaking a glance at him out of the corner of my eye. The moonlight played over his features, making him look almost ethereal. My heart stuttered in my chest.

We stood there in silence for a moment, just taking in the view and enjoying each other’s company. But there was a tension in the air, a crackling energy that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

Liam turned to me, his eyes reflecting the moonlight. “Caleb,” he said softly, “can I ask you something?”

My heart skipped a beat. “Sure. What’s up?”

He hesitated, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. “Do you ever feel, I don’t know, different? Like you don’t quite fit in?”

I nodded slowly, surprised by the vulnerability in his voice. “Yeah, I do. Especially lately.”

Liam’s eyes met mine, searching. “It’s just since I met you, I’ve been feeling all these things I don’t understand. It’s confusing.”

My breath caught in my throat. Was he feeling it too? This strange, overwhelming connection between us? “I know what you mean,” I said carefully. “I’ve been pretty confused myself lately.”

He stepped closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “When we’re together, making music it’s like nothing else matters. Like I’m finally being myself. Does that make any sense?”

“It makes perfect sense,” I replied, my heart racing. “I feel the same way.”

Liam’s eyes widened slightly. “You do?”

I nodded, suddenly feeling brave. “Liam, I’m not sure what this is between us, but it feels important. Special.”

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