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1119 Words
CHAPTER 23 — The Briefing Hall
The cultural briefing hall stood at the end of a narrow street lined with lampposts coated in powdery snow. Warm yellow light glowed from the tall windows, casting long reflections onto the icy pavement. The storm had eased, leaving the city washed clean—almost too quiet, as if Madrid itself was waiting for what would happen next.
Jimmy and Jane reached the entrance at the same time.
They both stopped.
Not intentionally, not dramatically—
just naturally, as if the moment required a pause neither had expected.
The doors opened in front of them, releasing a wave of heated air that smelled like cinnamon pastries and hot chocolate—the event staff had prepared refreshments to warm the participants after the storm.
Their bands walked around them, entering the hall in clusters. Some members glanced back, confused by the sudden stillness between the two leaders, but neither Jimmy nor Jane noticed.
They were too focused on their own thoughts.
Jimmy stepped aside with a polite nod, gesturing for Jane to enter first.
Jane hesitated.
She wasn’t used to courtesy from him—not real courtesy, not without sarcasm.
But the moment felt strangely… respectful.
“Thanks,” she said quietly before walking through the door.
Jimmy followed, closing the storm-worn world behind them.
Inside the Hall
The interior was grand, with high arched ceilings, marble floors, and red velvet curtains lining the walls. Christmas garlands hung from the balconies, and a massive chandelier sparkled overhead, reflecting light across the polished floors.
Both bands settled into different sections of the hall, warming their hands with steaming cups of hot chocolate given by staff members.
Jimmy and Jane stood apart but close enough to hear one another if they spoke.
Neither did.
They were both distracted by what they felt but couldn’t name.
A few minutes later, the host of the competition—a tall woman with silver hair and an elegant coat—stepped onto the platform.
“Welcome, participants,” she began. “As you know, the unexpected snowstorm has shifted our schedule. Tomorrow will mark the official Spain Prelude Round, the first stage of performances that will determine who moves forward.”
The room buzzed with nervous excitement.
The host continued:
“We encourage all groups to rest tonight. The storm may continue, so stay safe. Hotels have been notified and will accommodate any changes.”
Jimmy and Jane exchanged a glance at that last line.
Not a hostile glance.
A shared understanding.
The storm was unpredictable—
and they both knew unpredictable things had already started happening between them.
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CHAPTER 24 — Moonlit Madrid
When the briefing ended, both bands stepped back out into the night.
The snow had stopped completely, leaving behind a city that glowed under the moonlight. The palace walls shimmered. The trees twinkled with Christmas lights. The entire plaza looked like something out of a winter fairytale.
Fans gathered at a distance, snapping photos and waving lightsticks despite the cold.
“Scarlet Echo! ¡Bienvenidas!”
“Starlight Pulse, you’re amazing!”
Their voices echoed off the stone walls.
Jimmy frowned slightly, not at the fans—but at the overwhelming noise. His band members adjusted their scarves, bowing politely as they began making their way toward the hotel.
Jane pulled her jacket tighter, guiding her group forward as they waded through excited admirers. The cold bit at her cheeks, but the energy of Madrid warmed her heart.
She noticed small details about the night that she had never paid attention to before:
how the snow concealed the uneven stones of the plaza
how distant musicians played Christmas melodies on brass instruments
how the moonlight illuminated Jimmy’s silhouette as he walked ahead with his band
She stopped herself from staring.
Almost.
Two Paths, One Direction
Both groups ended up walking the same main street—the safest route back, cleared earlier by city workers. Snowbanks lined the edges. Street vendors wrapped themselves in shawls, closing their stalls for the night.
As they walked, Jane’s eyes drifted to the storefronts:
A bakery with golden lights and pastries shaped like stars
A bookstore with steaming windows fogged from warmth inside
A tiny shop selling handmade nativity figurines
A mural depicting the history of Madrid beneath snowflakes
Every corner felt alive with stories.
Jimmy felt it too, though he wouldn’t say it aloud. The city seemed softer tonight, gentler, as if inviting him to lower his guard—not something he did easily.
He noticed the same things Jane did.
But he didn’t realize she was noticing them at the same time.
The Almost Conversation, Part II
When both bands reached a narrow intersection, they paused to let a street-cleaning vehicle pass.
Jimmy and Jane ended up standing side by side again—
pure coincidence, but it felt intentional.
Neither looked at the other directly.
But both felt the tension like a quiet electric hum.
Jane’s voice broke the silence.
“Your group handled rehearsal well today.”
Jimmy blinked.
Was she… paying him a compliment?
“Thank you,” he answered calmly. “Yours expressed the choreography with strong emotional resonance.”
Jane raised a brow.
“That almost sounded like praise.”
He turned slightly.
“It was.”
For a heartbeat—
one long, suspended heartbeat—
they simply stood there, surrounded by falling snow and the murmur of their bands behind them.
Something was changing.
And for once, neither of them tried to stop it.
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CHAPTER 25 — Hotel Reflections, Once More
By the time they reached their hotels, both leaders were caught in a haze of thoughts they couldn’t push aside.
Jane entered her room first, dropping onto the armchair beside the window. She watched the snow fall, the city lights reflecting off the icy streets.
Her heart felt… unsettled.
Not in a bad way.
Just in a way she didn’t understand.
Jimmy’s voice.
The way he looked at her when he said “It was.”
The strange softness surrounding him tonight.
She pulled a blanket around her shoulders, unsure how she felt about any of it.
Across the city block, Jimmy sat at the edge of his bed, uncharacteristically distracted.
He tapped a pen against his notebook but didn’t write anything.
Jane’s voice echoed in his mind.
“Your group handled rehearsal well today.”
Compliments were rare between them.
He didn’t know why her words mattered.
But they did.
Outside their separate windows, the snow continued to fall—
silently, steadily—
covering Madrid in a blanket of white that hid the day’s footprints
but not the memories of two leaders slowly beginning to see each other differently.
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- Writer
