𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐬; 𝘬. 𝘣𝘢𝘬𝘶𝘨𝘰

chapter one

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When you look up to see the clock on the wall, your eyes focus on the hand that counts the seconds as you impatiently wait for it to pass the 12. 55... 56... 57... 58... 59... 0. The clock read 8:00pm, meaning you could finally start shutting down the shop after a long and stressful day that you couldn't wait to be over with. You walk to the front door, locking it shut and checking it twice before heading back behind the counter to shut off most of the lights so no one would try to come in while you were cleaning up. You grabbed one of the pastries from behind the counter and put it in a small paper bag as you put it off to the side to have later since you didn't really eat too much today. You grabbed the rest of the pastries and put them in a bigger paper bag setting them next to the other bag placed on the counter. You went over to the register and counted the money in the drawer, afterwards picking up a spare rag and cleaner starting to make your way around the shop. The music was playing soft classical music as you started to feel small waves of relief each time you made a clean swipe across the table.

Looking around, you admired how you never got tired of the way the shop looked. The walls were painted a dark warm brown resembling soil that was just recently watered, while all the furniture was a light colored oak with plants and lanterns hanging all around on the ceiling and on the walls. Now with the small library addition off to the right of the entryway, it added even more to the shop making it feel more like a safe haven away from all the chaos. At least that's how you had always viewed it.

You enjoyed your job at the bakery, though lately it's been a little more stressful since the owner upgraded the shop, adding a bunch of coffee machines and the little mini library area for people to read and relax in. The place has gotten a lot more customers since then, and the owner was still looking for new people to hire. He usually left you in charge since you've been working there since high school, and has made you the manager recently since he can't always be around. While you were still pretty young to be a manager, you were very trustworthy and a hard worker when it came to this job.

After double checking that everything was cleaned up and accounted for, and that all the plants had enough water, you grabbed your things and the large paper bag of pastries and made your way out.

It's another breezy autumn night, winter is just around the corner and you couldn't be more excited for the colder weather to come. While you were someone who did get cold easily, you much preferred to shiver a little bit instead of having to constantly wipe sweat off your body. You locked the front door of the shop and started to make your way back to your apartment, which was only a couple of blocks away since you found a complex near the bakery to make the trip a little easier everyday.

Before going home, you needed to make the usual stop to the homeless shelter right down the street from the shop. Instead of throwing out the food every night since it was regulation, you always dropped it off to the shelter so it wouldn't be wasted. Some nights you stuck around and helped around the place or just chatted with some of the people there, but tonight you were too tired and just wanted to head home.

You had arrived at the shelter and dropped off the pastries. They asked if you were going to stay, to which you kindly declined and started to make your way home. As you were walking, you noticed how empty the street was, which was probably due to the fact that it was a Tuesday night and no one would really be out here at this hour around this area.

Little raindrops started to fall, but not enough to warrant an umbrella. You enjoyed it when it rained, feeling the droplets land on your face, leaving a cooling feeling on your skin. With the cold breeze following behind the rain, you couldn't help the shivers that escaped your body. You didn't bring a jacket with you today since you weren't expecting to be too cold. Starting to pick up the pace, you kept making your way to your apartment.

As you reached the slightly run down building, you grabbed your keys and opened the front entrance door to the small lobby area. Making your way towards the stairs, you couldn't help but notice a bright pink flyer out of the corner of your eye. You head over to the bulletin board near the front door to see what the bright pink paper was.

GUITARIST NEEDED!!
LOOKING FOR ANYONE WHO CAN PLAY SOME SICK RIFFS AND HAS MUSIC BACKGROUND!! MAYBE EVEN PLAY MULTIPLE INSTRUMENTS!!
Contact the number below with a text or call if you are interested!!

It's been awhile since you played music with other people. Memories of your old band pop into your head leaving a small pit in your stomach that you chose to ignore. You decide to put the number in your phone and head upstairs to your apartment, just in case you decide you may want to look into it. Luckily your apartment was only on the second floor out of the four, so you didn't have to walk up too many steps. The elevator was always an option, but you hated the idea of being in a cramp space like that on an object that could easily just break down causing you to be stuck for hours.

You unlock the door to your apartment to be greeted by Agni, the cutest orange and white haired cat but also one of the most deadly anyone has ever seen. He was known to have a bad temper and become aggressive at times, but he still could be the most adorable little thing and cuddle up with anyone after getting comfortable with them.

You gave him a pat on the head and went to the kitchen to grab him some food and placed it into his bowl. As he ate, you grabbed the pastry you had saved for yourself earlier and started to munch on it as you made your way to the couch. Turning on the television to the news channel, you sat down and listened to the latest updates about the heroes and what villains were stopped today.

"Pro hero Red Riot and Pinky did some amazing work today stopping 2 villains who were trying to rob a jewelry store, leading to no civilians being hurt in the process!"

You heard a loud muffled cheer come from the apartment above you, deciding to ignore it as you continued to watch. They were showing footage from the attempted robbery and the two heroes coming in saving the day. You recognized both pretty quickly, since you always saw them on tv. The male had red hair with black roots that reached a little past his shoulder, while the girl had short pink hair that matched her skin tone, with dark eyes and golden irises. Those two partnered up a lot, and they seem to be pretty good friends.

Once you finish your pastry, you go onto your phone and scroll through some social media before remembering about that flyer you saw earlier. You open up your messaging app and send a text to the number that was written on the paper, hoping that maybe that pit in your stomach was just lying to you. As you wait anxiously, you decide to get up and take a shower. Making your way to your bedroom, you grab some pajamas and head to the shower.

After your shower, you do your nightly routine which consists of brushing your teeth, and if you have enough energy, doing some skincare. Tonight you were worn out so you ended up just brushing your teeth and making your way back to your room to head to bed. You pull back the sheets and slide yourself onto the comfy mattress, and decide to check your phone one last time before you go to bed. To your surprise, there was a message already from the number you texted earlier.

Potential New Band?

hey! I saw your flyer in my
apartment building and was
wondering if the spot was
still open?
read 11:32pm

YES of course!! I'm so glad
you messaged me!! Are you free
tomorrow to maybe stop by
and drop off a demo and
meet the band?!
read 11:41pm

yeah I'm free tomorrow around
then, I'd love to stop by and see
how it goes
read 11:42pm

YAY!! 😁
I'll hit you up tomorrow
and work out the details!!
I'm SO excited!! 🤩
read 11:44pm

As the night carried on, you had fallen soundly asleep, not having any idea what the cosmos had in store for some lucky souls.

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