Chapter 3 : The Calm before The Storm

Alexander Black sat at his desk, eyes scanning over the stack of medical textbooks in front of him. The room was lit only by the dim light from his desk lamp, and outside, the city skyline shimmered under the night sky. He was used to the quiet, the focus. It was necessary when you were juggling medical school and running the Music Club on campus. But tonight, something felt off. His mind kept drifting back to the start of the new semester—new challenges, new faces, new expectations.

He reached for his guitar resting against the wall and strummed a few notes, the familiar sound filling the room, soothing the tightness in his chest. Music was his escape. It always had been. While medical school took up most of his time, the Music Club was where he could breathe, where he could truly be himself.

His phone buzzed on the desk, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was a message from Dylan.

Dylan: Bar at 8? You, me, Ethan, Max, Rayn—let’s blow off some steam before the chaos begins.

Alex smirked, typing out a quick response.

Alex: I’m in. Could use a break before school kicks in.

After setting his phone down, Alex stood and walked to the closet to change. A casual button-down shirt and jeans—nothing too fancy, but enough to feel comfortable. He grabbed his jacket and headed out.

The bar was a familiar spot, tucked away in a quieter part of the city. It was the kind of place where Alex and his friends could relax and be themselves, away from the pressures of school. As soon as Alex stepped inside, he spotted Dylan sitting at a booth in the corner, his glasses reflecting the low light as he read through some medical notes. Max was at the bar, laughing with the bartender, while Rayn was with a group of people near the jukebox, his infectious energy drawing everyone’s attention.

“Alex!” Max called, waving a drink in the air as he saw him walk in. “There he is, the man of the hour. Come join us!”

Alex grinned and made his way over to the booth. “You guys are already in full swing, huh?” he joked, sliding into the seat next to Dylan.

“We have to, man. You know the semester’s about to hit hard. No better way to get the energy flowing than with a little pre-semester chaos,” Rayn said, flashing a grin as he approached the table.

“So, how’s the Music Club holding up?” Ethan asked, always the serious one of the group, but Alex could see the excitement behind his words. The Music Club was Alex’s second home, and it meant everything to him. It was a place where he could combine his love for music with his leadership skills, and he took his role as president seriously.

“It’s good. We’ve got a few new members this year,” Alex replied, feeling a slight shift in his mood as he spoke about it. “But we’re still figuring out the schedule for this semester. It’s gonna be tough balancing everything with med school, but I’ll manage.”

Dylan raised an eyebrow, his usual calm expression unchanging. “Yeah, because you’re not busy enough with all your medical studies,” he teased. “How do you juggle all that? Music club president and med student?”

Alex shrugged with a grin, leaning back in his chair. “It’s not easy. But if I don’t have music, I don’t think I’d survive the pressure of med school. It’s what keeps me grounded.”

Max laughed, shaking his head. “You’re one of a kind, man. Most people would lose their minds by now.”

“I’m not most people,” Alex said with a playful grin.

The group laughed, but soon, the conversation shifted back to the upcoming semester and the challenges it would bring. They all had their own stresses—Dylan with his meticulous study habits, Max with his constant energy and need for adventure, Rayn keeping everyone up to date with the latest gossip, and Ethan always looking out for everyone. They were Alex’s closest friends, and no matter how difficult things got, they always had each other's backs.

“So,” Max leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with mischief, “any new girls caught your eye lately, Alex? You always seem to have a way with the ladies.”

Alex raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a smile. “Not really. I’ve been focused on the club and school. Besides, who has time for distractions?”

Rayn scoffed. “Distractions, my ass. You’re just playing hard to get. You know someone will catch your eye soon enough.”

Alex rolled his eyes, chuckling under his breath. “Let’s just get through this semester first, then maybe we can talk about distractions,” he said, but the group kept teasing him, their conversation bouncing between subjects—classes, plans, and their personal lives.

As the night continued, Alex felt the familiar weight of friendship around him. They may have been in different fields, leading different lives, but moments like this reminded him that they were in it together. For now, that was enough.

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