Chapter 5: Almost, But Not Quite

The cafeteria was unusually loud that Friday. The energy buzzed as if someone had secretly passed around espresso shots.

At the far end, Emily sat with Noah, one leg lazily crossed over the other, twirling a plastic spoon between her fingers like it was some kind of royal scepter.

"You know," she said, squinting at him. "You talk way less than I expected."

"I like quiet," Noah muttered, stabbing at his food like it had insulted him.

"I like chaos," Emily replied with a grin. "Perfect match."

Noah blinked. "You're... weird."

Emily beamed. "You're not the first to say that. You won't be the last."

Across the room, Emma sat with Liam and Jason. She was trying to focus on Liam's joke about their music teacher's outdated phone (something about a flip screen and snake game), but her eyes kept drifting.

There it was again. Emily tossing her hair. Noah actually, smiling. Smiling. That was illegal, wasn't it?

Jason noticed. "You okay?" he asked around a mouthful of sandwich.

Emma blinked. "Huh? Yeah. Totally fine."

Liam watched her face shift—confused, uneasy.

"Want to head to the studio early?" he asked gently.

She nodded way too fast. "Yes. Great idea."

Jason trailed behind as they walked out. "She's definitely not fine," he muttered to himself. "Which means this will get very interesting."

Later That Evening – Band Room

Tension filled the room like thick fog.

Noah strummed his guitar, ignoring everyone. Emily sat on the edge of a piano bench, legs swinging like she was five years old and ready for trouble.

Liam adjusted the mic. Emma fixed a tangle in the speaker cables—aggressively.

Jason entered last, holding a pizza box. "I brought carbs and chaos."

No one laughed.

Jason looked around. "Y'all good?"

Emily stretched. "I'm fabulous. I think Noah and I should collaborate. Like, on a duet. Something raw. Something... burning."

Emma dropped a cable with a loud clang.

Everyone jumped.

"Sorry," she said tightly. "Slipped."

Emily smirked. "Easy, sis."

Emma gave her a sideways look. "Duet, huh?"

Liam blinked. Oh no. This was the beginning of that thing girls did. The tone shift. The eyebrow twitch. The passive-aggressive comedy.

Jason opened the pizza box. "And now we enter The Hunger Games: Sibling Edition."

Emily leaned toward Noah. "I mean, we have a vibe, right?"

Noah, caught mid-sip of water, choked. "I—uh—I guess?"

Emma squinted. "We vibe?"

Jason muttered, "Cue the battle theme."

"Just saying," Emily added, "I think I bring out his soft side."

Emma dropped the other speaker cable. "Oops."

Liam stood in between the two sisters like a referee who regretted taking the job. "Okay, maybe we should rehearse? We have a gig coming up next week, remember?"

Emma crossed her arms. "Some of us are more focused on gigs than vibes."

Emily grinned. "Some of us need to unclench."

Noah stared at both sisters. "I'm scared."

Jason slowly placed the banana hat on Noah's head. "For protection."

Noah left it there.

Eventually, Emma walked out for air. Liam followed quietly.

Outside, under the glow of the streetlamp, she kicked at a pebble. "I don't even know why I care. It's not like I own Noah. Or Emily. It's stupid."

Liam didn't say anything.

"I think I just..." she paused, sighing, "I don't like being replaced."

Liam gave a small smile. "You're not being replaced. You're just realizing that other people shine too."

Emma turned to him. "Since when did you get wise?"

"Since I started finding my voice," he said, then added, "...and paying attention."

They stood in silence for a moment.

Then Emma chuckled. "You think I'm being greedy?"

Liam shrugged. "Maybe a little."

Emma laughed louder. "Ugh! Fine. I am! It's like I want everyone I care about to just... stay where I put them. But that's not how life works, right?"

Liam shook his head. "Nope. People move. Sometimes forward. Sometimes apart."

Emma nodded, then whispered, "I hate when you're right."

Back inside, Emily sat on a beanbag beside Noah.

"So, you and my sister," she said suddenly. "You've got history, huh?"

Noah looked up. "Yeah. Kind of... intense history."

"She still talks about you, you know," Emily added. "Even when she's pretending she doesn't."

Noah didn't respond. But his fingers found the guitar strings again. And the notes came out softer this time.

Emily leaned back, eyes closed. "This band's gonna be the end of me."

That Night – Emma & Emily's Room

They lay on opposite beds, the lights low, only the ceiling fan spinning.

"You were extra today," Emma said.

"You were jealous," Emily shot back.

"Was not."

"Were too."

Silence.

Then both started laughing.

Emma tossed a pillow at her. "You're a menace."

Emily grinned. "I'm your menace."

They paused.

Emma said, softer now, "If you like him... I won't stop you."

Emily turned serious for once. "I don't know what I feel yet. But I promise—whatever happens—you come first."

Emma smiled. "Same."

From the floor, Jason's voice piped up suddenly.

"Can you guys keep it down? I snuck in through the window and I'm trying to nap in peace."

They both screamed.

"JASON?!"

Jason peeked up from under a blanket. "I brought pizza crumbs."