When He Is Younger Than Me

A Glimpse Beyond the Music

The room was quiet after the final chord echoed through the practice hall, and the once-vibrant atmosphere of the band rehearsal now felt a little still, like the aftermath of a storm. The students, buzzing with excitement from their session, gathered their instruments and belongings, ready to scatter. Laughter and chatter filled the air as the usual chaos returned, everyone slipping into their familiar routines.

But for Isabella, the world felt strangely muted. She didn’t move immediately, still clutching her guitar, her fingers absently tracing the strings. The energy around her felt distant, the voices of her bandmates fading into background noise as her mind wandered. Nathaniel—he was still fresh in her thoughts. She couldn’t quite understand it. The way he played, the way he fit so effortlessly into the group, yet there was something about him that made her feel off-balance. It was more than his skill as a guitarist, more than the way he blended with the band so naturally. It was the way his presence seemed to fill the space, even when he wasn’t speaking, and how every time their eyes met, her heart skipped a beat.

"Hey," a voice interrupted her thoughts, and she looked up, startled to find Nathaniel standing there. He was smiling, that small, quiet smile that made his eyes light up in a way that was impossible to ignore.

Her pulse quickened, and for a moment, she found herself tongue-tied. “Uh… you played guitar really well,” Isabella said, her voice unsure, as though the words had been pulled out of her against her will.

Nathaniel’s smile softened, and he gave a small nod. “Thanks,” he said, his voice calm but warm, just enough to make her feel like she could breathe again.

Isabella swallowed, her heart thumping in her chest as she tried to keep the conversation going. She wasn’t sure why she felt so nervous, why everything felt so different when it came to him. "So… are you a freshman?" she asked, feeling slightly embarrassed for asking such a simple question.

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, as if he were trying to figure out her reaction. "Yeah, I’m a freshman. I joined the college about a month ago," he said, his gaze steady.

Isabella blinked, her mind racing. That explained it. She hadn’t noticed him before, probably because she had never really looked beyond the people she already knew. She felt a little foolish for not paying attention to someone like him earlier, especially considering how naturally he seemed to blend into the group.

"Oh, that’s why we never met before," Isabella said, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips.

Nathaniel nodded, and there was a quiet understanding between them.

“You…” Isabella started, but before she could finish, Axel’s loud voice rang out from the doorway, cutting through the moment like a knife.

“Isabella! Come on, let’s continue! We’re not done yet!”

The sudden intrusion made Isabella jump, her thoughts scattered as she quickly turned her attention to Axel. She shot a brief, apologetic glance at Nathaniel, then nodded. “Yeah, sure.”

She was almost relieved that Axel had interrupted, even though she felt like she was leaving something unsaid, something important between them. She had barely known Nathaniel for more than a few minutes, but the connection she felt, the quiet pull in her chest, was undeniable. She wasn’t sure what it meant, or why she felt so strongly, but she was certain that something had shifted in the space of those few moments.

As they both took their places for the next round of practice, Isabella couldn’t help but glance at Nathaniel. He was across the room, tuning his guitar, and somehow, her focus kept drifting back to him. She couldn’t help it. It was like an invisible thread was pulling her gaze to him, making her aware of every subtle movement, every small shift in his expression.

Axel, ever the observant one, caught on immediately. He leaned in toward Isabella, a playful grin spreading across his face. "So," he said, his voice low but full of mischief, "Looks like someone’s got a crush on the new guy, huh?"

Isabella’s face flushed with heat, and she shot him a quick glare. "Axel, no. It’s not like that."

Axel’s grin only widened. "Oh, come on, Isabella. I saw the way you couldn’t take your eyes off him. It was crystal clear."

“Don’t make things up,” Isabella muttered, trying to brush him off, but Axel wasn’t one to let things go.

"Axel," a voice called from behind them, and Isabella turned to see Sienna, Axel’s girlfriend, walking toward them. Axel’s expression shifted, and he quickly backed off with one last teasing wink at Isabella.

"Go talk to him," Axel said over his shoulder as he turned to leave. "It would be nice."

Isabella, still feeling flustered, reached out to swat the back of Axel’s head as he walked away. "Axel, stop!" she hissed under her breath, but he didn’t seem to care, his laughter trailing behind him.

She waved at Sienna, offering a quick goodbye before returning her attention to Nathaniel. She felt a mix of irritation and embarrassment flooding her chest, though she couldn’t completely dismiss the excitement that lingered in her veins.

As she walked out of the practice room, scrolling through her phone to distract herself from the odd fluttering in her chest, she heard a voice call her name.

"Hey."

Her heart skipped, and she immediately looked up, her gaze locking with Nathaniel’s. It was like time slowed down as their eyes met, and for a brief moment, everything else faded away.

"Oh, hey," Isabella said, her voice almost a whisper, the word falling from her lips with an ease that surprised her.

Nathaniel gave a small smile, his expression a mix of curiosity and something deeper—something she couldn’t quite place. "May I know your name?" he asked, his voice soft but clear.

Isabella felt her pulse quicken, but she forced herself to stay composed. "I’m Isabella," she said, feeling a little breathless at the simplicity of the exchange, yet something about the way Nathaniel said her name made her feel like it held weight.

He nodded, as if filing away the information. "So, your home is around here, right?" he asked.

"Yeah, I live in the 5th block," she replied, glancing down at her phone briefly before looking back up at him.

"Really?" Nathaniel said, a small laugh escaping his lips. "So we’re neighbors, then. I live in the 6th block. That was… unexpected."

Isabella smiled, the coincidence adding a strange sense of connection between them. "Yeah, I guess so," she said, feeling a spark of excitement at the thought.

Nathaniel seemed to think for a moment, then his expression softened. "There’s a party tonight, one of the seniors is hosting it. Are you going?"

Isabella nodded, trying to stay casual. "Yeah, I’m going. My friend Lily is picking me up."

Nathaniel’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, then he nodded. "Okay. Well, I’ll see you there."

"Yeah, see you there," Isabella replied, feeling a strange sense of anticipation fill the space between them.

They said their goodbyes, and as Isabella continued on her way, her heart seemed to beat louder in her chest. She hadn’t expected any of this—the way Nathaniel had made her feel, the strange pull toward him that only seemed to grow stronger. But one thing was certain: she had a lot more to learn about this mysterious, quiet new guy—and perhaps, even more about herself.