Brandon's POV
The applause still throbbed in my bones long after the curtains swallowed us. It was loud backstage — hugs, slaps on the back, instruments clattering, voices buzzing high with adrenaline.
But inside me?
Hurricane.
Mr. Pat was already charging toward us, his grin stretched so wide it looked like his face could barely contain it.
"THAT—" he grabbed my shoulders, shaking me like a proud dad whose kid just scored the winning goal, "— THAT! That was history. Absolute history. The emotion, the control, the switch, the solo oh my God—"
Pete got yanked into a headlock hug. Jason was punching air. Oliver nearly threw his sticks across the room from excitement. Everyone kept shouting something — bro, dude, holy shit we did it, are you insane, that tear bro that TEAR.
I could barely hear them.
It was like the sound went muffled around me.
