―❝There's no way I can make it without you. Do it without you. Be here without you. It's no fun when you're doing it solo. With you it's like whoa.❞
OR
―❝ delaney ellington used to be childhood best friends with austin moon before she moved away, bu...
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Delaney walked into Sonic Boom, the familiar scent of music, vinyl, and old-school tech filling the air. Ally and Finn were already lounging by the counter, Ally's long blonde hair pulled back into a messy bun as she fiddled with her phone, while Finn leaned against the counter, his trademark smirk lighting up his face. Dez and Carrie were sitting in a corner, joking around, their laughter filling the space in the laid-back way only they could.
Delaney hesitated for a moment at the door, her stomach turning slightly. This was the first time in days she was going to talk to them about what was going on. Austin had insisted she not keep it bottled up, that they deserved to know, that she deserved the support. But still, the fear lingered. She approached the group, putting on a brave face, but even the act felt like a stretch.
"Hey, guys," She greets, trying to sound casual, even though her heart was hammering in her chest. "What's up?"
"Not much, just the usual chaos," Ally replies, her tone light but there was a hint of concern in her eyes. "But you've been MIA lately. Everything okay?"
Delaney shifts from foot to foot, not sure how to start, how to explain the whirlwind of emotions that had been running through her. She takes a breath and then let it out slowly, glancing over at Austin, who had followed her inside and was waiting near the door, giving her the space to do this on her own. She let the words come out in a rush. "I haven't been hanging out because...Well, because I've been dealing with something. It's...It's my hearing. I've got some hearing loss in my left ear. The doctors say it's permanent." She pauses, her voice faltering for a moment. "It's been hard to adjust, and I just...Didn't know how to tell you guys."
The room fell silent for a beat. Dez, bless his heart, blinked a few times, processing the information, and then grins. "Wait, so if you can only hear out of one ear, does that mean you've got a built-in excuse for ignoring all of Ally's boring lectures about proper rehearsal technique?" Carrie swatted at him, but Delaney let out a small, genuine laugh, some of the tension easing from her shoulders.
Ally put a hand on her hip, looking offended. "Hey! My lectures are educational!"
Finn grins. "Yeah, educationally boring." He chuckles when Ally pouts at him. "You're still adorable, babe." He assures his girlfriend, leaning in to give her a quick peck on the cheek. Ally rolls her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile that tugged at her lips. Finn looks over at Delaney with a reassuring expression. "Delaney, we've all got your back, okay? Hearing out of one ear doesn't change a thing. We're still the same group. You don't have to go through this alone." Everyone agreed without hesitation.
Delaney felt her throat tighten, but this time it wasn't from fear or sadness — it was from relief. She blinks quickly, trying to keep the sudden sting of tears at bay. "Thanks, you guys," She said, her voice a little shaky but full of gratitude. "I was so scared that..I don't know, that things would feel different. That I'd feel different."
