Chapter 72: A season of growth

Jace walked into the living room, stretching his arms as he took in the sight of his grandmother setting down a tray of tea. The cozy warmth of the house was a stark contrast to the chilly December air outside. "You're finally awake," his grandma teased. Jace yawned. "It's a Saturday. I deserve to sleep in." His grandma chuckled, but before she could respond, the front door opened, letting in a burst of cold air. Joseph Edmond stepped inside, shaking off the slight winter chill from his coat. "Morning, sleepyhead," he greeted, his deep voice filling the room. "Where did you go early in the morning?" Jace asked, squinting his face. "To get groceries for mum. And dude, it's almost 12 o'clock, so how's that still early?" Joseph said, walking past him. Jace made a funny face at his dad, making grandma chuckle. "What are you still doing here? You should be at work by now," Jace said as his dad came out of the kitchen. Joseph grinned, settling down on the chair next to grandma. "I figured I'd stay for the holidays. Thought it'd be nice to spend Christmas with my favorite son." Jace smirked. "I'm your only son." "Exactly," Joseph said, ruffling his hair before sitting on the couch. "So, what's the plan for the holiday?" Jace shrugged. "Not much yet. Just trying to get through exams first." His dad nodded. "Fair enough. But we'll have to do something fun. Can't have you locked up studying the whole time." Jace chuckled. It was always easy being around his dad. They didn't have the awkward tension most people expected from father-son relationships. Joseph had always been supportive, and Jace appreciated that more than he could say. His grandma smiled warmly at them. "It'll be nice having you home for a while, Joseph." "Glad to be here, Mom," Joseph replied before turning to Jace. "But seriously, tell me you at least have holiday plans besides exams." Jace hesitated. "Well... there's a winter performance coming up." Joseph raised an eyebrow. "Are you performing?" Jace rubbed the back of his neck. "Not exactly... but I might. I mean, I'm thinking about it." His dad's expression softened. "You don't have to rush anything, Jace. But if you do perform, I'll be in the front row." Jace felt a small smile tug at his lips. "Thanks, Dad." His father chuckled and reached out to ruffle his hair. Jace groaned, swatting his hand away. But there was something comforting about the moment, something he hadn't realized he missed. For the first time in a long while, the house didn't feel so big. So empty. The week before exams turned the school into a battlefield. Students hunched over textbooks in the library, whispered formulas under their breath in hallways, and even turned lunch breaks into last-minute study sessions. With Christmas just around the corner, the school halls were buzzing with energy, some from the holiday excitement, others from the stress of upcoming exams. Jace sat in the library with Miranda, flipping through his notes. His brain felt overloaded, but he was determined to push through. Miranda groaned, dropping her pen. "If I see one more math question, I might actually cry." Jace chuckled. "We're almost done. Just one more week." "Easy for you to say," Miranda muttered. "You actually understand this stuff." Jace smirked and said, "Need help?" Miranda sighed dramatically. "If you could somehow transfer your brain to mine, that'd be great." Jace shook his head but started explaining the question anyway. Despite the stress, there was something nice about these quiet moments studying together, teasing each other, and just getting through it together. He grinned. "You still owe me lunch for this, though." Before Miranda could reply, the rest of the band joined them. Ronald flopped onto a chair, groaning dramatically. "I swear, if I see one more math problem, I'm quitting school and becoming a street performer." "Shhhh, keep it low. You're in the library. Don't forget that," Jace said, hitting him with his pen playfully and he chuckled. Maxwell nodded solemnly. "Numbers were created to ruin lives. That's my theory." Dorah smirked. "And literature isn't much better. Who cares what some poet from 200 years ago was trying to say?" Jason leaned back in his chair. "You guys stress too much. Just focus on what matters." Ronald shot him a look. "You say that, but weren't you the one freaking out over your last science test?" Jason cleared his throat. "That's not the point." Jace chuckled, shaking his head. Despite the stress, moments like these reminded him why he loved being around them. Miranda stretched her arms and grinned. "Since we're all doomed anyway, how about we form a study group?" Miranda had been getting close with the Young Star lately, and they all seemed to enjoy her company too. Jace groaned. "Do I have a choice?" Miranda smirked. "Nope." And just like that, they all fell into the chaos of studying together. Despite the exams, the upcoming winter break event lingered at the back of everyone's minds, especially for Young Star. As the school's only band, expectations were high. The music room became their second home, the air filled with the sound of strumming guitars and humming melodies. "We need to finalize our setlist," Dorah said, flipping through her notes. Maxwell leaned back, arms crossed. "We should go for something classic, something the crowd can vibe to." Jason nodded. "But we also need something that lets us show off our talent." Ronald turned to Jace, who had been unusually quiet. "You're the lead vocalist. What do you think?" Jace hesitated. "I think we should do a mix, one familiar song and one original piece." "That's a solid idea," Dorah said, grinning. Jason smirked. "Look at you, actually making decisions." "Shut up," Jace said, rolling his eyes. But inside, he felt something shift. Maybe, just maybe, he was starting to believe in himself again. Jace stood outside the auditorium, staring at the closed doors. His hands clenched into fists. Miranda's voice broke through his thoughts. "You're thinking about it again." He turned slightly, finding her standing beside him. There was no teasing in her tone, just quiet understanding. "I want to try again," Jace admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't know if I can." Miranda didn't hesitate. She reached for his hand, lacing her fingers through his. "Then let's try together." Before he could protest, she pulled him inside. The vast emptiness of the auditorium stretched around them. The stage, once a place of suffocating fear, loomed ahead. Miranda turned to him, still holding his hands. "Breathe with me," she instructed softly. "In... and out." Jace followed, his chest rising and falling in sync with hers. The panic that usually gripped him felt distant. "Now," she said, squeezing his hands gently, "don't look at the stage. Don't look at the seats. Just look at me." Jace's eyes locked onto hers, and for the first time, he didn't feel like he was drowning. She smiled. "Take a step." With her by his side, he did. His heart still pounded, but it wasn't from fear. It was something else, something lighter. A few days later, Jace called his friends to the auditorium. "What's this about?" Jason asked, arms crossed. "Don't tell me you're planning to go on stage again," Dorah said, frowning. Jace didn't say anything. "You know you don't really have to do this," Mr. Alfred said, watching Jace as he was fighting the battle in between. "It's fine. He's fine," Miranda said, giving them a reassuring smile. Jace didn't respond to any of them. Instead, he walked onto the stage. As he got on stage, everyone was looking at him worriedly. He turned his gaze to Miranda, who gave him a smile and made a sign for him to take a deep breath, which he did. And then, he sang. His voice filled the auditorium, strong and unwavering. He wasn't perfect. He wasn't fearless. But he was trying. And for the first time in years, the stage didn't feel like a prison. It felt like home. When he finished, his friends were silent for a moment. Then, Dorah grinned. "Well, damn." Maxwell whistled. "That's what we've been waiting for." Ronald clapped him on the back. "Proud of you, man." Jace exhaled, a slow smile forming. "Thanks." For the first time, he felt free. And this was only the beginning.