I stood in the kitchen, carefully layering fresh tomatoes and fragrant basil over the pasta I’d been simmering all morning. I knew Wayne was deep into his studies, working hard to get back on track after the chaos of the Battle of the Bands. That competition had consumed weeks of our lives, and while performing together had been thrilling, I could see he had fallen behind on his coursework. I wanted to help him, and I thought a hearty meal might be just what he needed to recharge and refocus.
As I stirred the sauce, my thoughts wandered back to the past few weeks. The exhilaration of our band’s success was undeniable, but it had also taken its toll on both of us. Wayne had been so dedicated to rehearsals and performances that he hadn’t managed to devote enough time to his studies. I recal
