When He Is Younger Than Me

The music room hummed with energy as Isabella strummed her guitar, her fingers gliding over the strings, tuning it just right. The scent of old wood, the soft buzz of the amplifier, and the familiar creak of the wooden floors made her feel at home. This room, the one where she and her best friends had spent countless hours practicing, was the heart of their band. They had started as just a hobby, a group of music lovers who wanted to make something special. Now, after a year and a half of small street concerts, they were finally making it official. The band was becoming a college club. As she adjusted the mic stand, Isabella looked around. There was Axel, her best friend and the band’s bassist, fiddling with some cables. Tessa, their drummer, was busy checking her drum set. And then there was Theo, the keyboardist, lost in his own world, testing out some chords. The group had become like family—each of them bringing their own spark, their own creativity to the music. Together, they made something beautiful. "Everything ready?" Axel asked, looking up from his cables. "Almost," Isabella replied, tuning the last string of her guitar. She loved playing it—loved how the music made her feel free, alive. But there was always something different when they played together as a band. The synergy, the rhythm, the harmony—it was magic. Tessa stretched her arms and flashed a grin. "Can’t believe we’re actually doing this. After all this time, it’s finally a real club." "Yeah," Isabella agreed, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Feels surreal." The door to the music room creaked open, and five students filed in, each of them holding their instruments or looking nervous. They were the new recruits—the ones who had made it through auditions. They were here to join the band and add their own flavor to it. Axel was the first to greet them. "Welcome, welcome. You guys made it. Ready to rock?" There was a murmur of excitement from the group. Isabella watched as one by one, the new members introduced themselves, nervously, but with excitement in their eyes. A guy with a quiet demeanor stepped forward. "I’m Michael. I play the bass." Next was a girl with bright red hair. "I’m Zoe. I’m a backup vocalist." And then there was Max, who, with a casual smile, introduced himself as the drummer. His long, tangled hair reminded Isabella of a lion’s mane, and she couldn’t help but chuckle. After the introductions, it was time for the last person to step forward. Isabella hadn’t noticed him before. He was the last person to enter, his posture confident, yet relaxed. The moment the door closed behind him, Isabella found her gaze lingering on him. He had dark, wavy hair that was long enough to tie back, but it fell loosely over his forehead, framing his sharp features. There was something intriguing about the way he carried himself—like he didn’t need to try, yet everyone noticed him. His dark eyes scanned the room, lingering for a moment on Isabella before settling on Axel. Axel raised an eyebrow. "You’re the last one. What’s your name?" The boy gave a half-smile and pushed his hair back, a casual, easygoing gesture. "Nathaniel," he said, his voice smooth. "I play the guitar." Isabella felt something stir in her chest. Nathaniel. The name itself had a certain ring to it—like he was meant to be part of something bigger, like his presence was destined to shake things up. But that wasn’t the only thing that caught her attention. She realized, with a growing sense of confusion, that she had never seen him before. Not once. How was that possible? She had gone to every freshman class to introduce their band and invite people to audition. She had made sure to spread the word, talking to nearly every freshman she met. Yet, here was Nathaniel, standing in front of her as if he had just appeared out of nowhere. Is he a freshman? She watched him carefully as he set down his guitar case. His confidence was undeniable, but there was something else in the way he held himself—something calm, almost unbothered by the attention he was getting from the group. Sienna, one of Isabella’s closest friends, nudged her. "You okay? You’re staring." Isabella blinked and quickly looked away, feeling her cheeks flush. "I—uh, I was just wondering where he’s from. I don’t think I’ve seen him around." Tessa, overhearing the conversation, leaned in with a teasing grin. "Oh? You’ve got a thing for the new guy?" Isabella rolled her eyes. "No, I—" She stopped herself. What was she saying? Of course, she was curious. But it wasn’t just curiosity. There was something about Nathaniel that pulled her in, something she couldn’t quite explain. Axel clapped his hands together, bringing the group’s attention back to the matter at hand. "Alright, now that everyone’s here, let’s get started with practice. Nathaniel, we’ll get to know you better as we go. For now, just pick a spot and let’s play." Isabella nodded, adjusting her guitar and stepping forward. They had to make a good impression on their new members. But as she did, her thoughts kept drifting back to Nathaniel. She had seen dozens of freshmen. She had met all the people she could, but not once had she encountered him. How could she have missed him? Maybe it was the way he walked into the room—like he belonged but wasn’t desperate for attention. Or maybe it was the way he smiled, like he wasn’t even trying. Whatever it was, it left a mark on Isabella. As they began to play, Isabella focused on the music, but Nathaniel’s presence lingered in the back of her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was more than just another band member. There was something different about him. And as she sang the opening lines of their first song together, she couldn’t help but wonder: Was it just the music that was making her heart race, or was it him?