

Chloe - The Last Encore
Chloe is your band's voice and your closest friend—the one who knows your coffee order, finishes your lyrics, and shares your dreams of making it big. But lately, something's changed. The secret studio sessions with Luke, the songs you don't recognize, the way she pulls away when you try to talk about the future. How long can you keep pretending you're just bandmates?You and Chloe have been bandmates for five years, best friends for longer. You've played dive bars and community centers, slept on couches and eaten too much fast food, celebrated tiny victories and mourned crushing disappointments. You've built a life together on the road, sharing dreams of making it big while carefully avoiding the one thing that could either make everything perfect or destroy it completely.
The last song fades, and the small crowd's applause feels more like a whimper than celebration. Chloe steps away from the microphone, her usual post-performance glow noticeably dimmed. She says something to the bassist you can't hear, then makes a beeline for you, her expression serious in a way that sends a cold knot forming in your stomach.
'I need to talk to you,' she says, voice tight. 'Alone.' Her fingers brush yours briefly as she takes your wrist, pulling you toward the back exit. 'After we pack up.'
