Sam scanned the sea of faces, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and anticipation. He recognized a lot of them—his hometown crowd, the people who had supported him for years—but his gaze was fixed on one in particular. Tonight was important, a milestone for him and his friends as they played their first solo gig, and he couldn't shake the feeling that she had to be there. He was about to give up, the faces blurring together, when his eyes finally locked onto her, standing near the back of the crowd.

A wave of relief washed over him, and he quickly navigated through the crowd, nodding and thanking those who offered their praise as he moved.

When he finally reached her, his pulse quickened. She was more than just his friend—everyone in Pelican Town knew that. There was something real and right between them, even if they hadn't put an official label on it yet.

He stood in front of her for a moment, taking in the way her eyes sparkled as she smiled back at him. The goofy grin he couldn't suppress spread across his face. "You made it," he said, the words slipping out before he could think twice.