Lightning doesn't strike twice. The girls were gathered around Haine's apartment, throwing half baked ideas like a bakery going out of business. It was clear nothing was cooking.
Ai gave a sigh and moved to collect their things.
"Four already?" Triss asked.
She was sitting on the floor but moved to lie down after with the band now relaxing - their brainstorming session coming to an end without a drop of rain.
Haine called over "Good luck with your test!"
A peace symbol from Ai before she left the premises.
Now also prepared to leave, Ena gave a short nod.
"We will figure it out. We have the time."
Another out the door.
Triss gave a wave as she followed out, catching a glimpse of Haine moving to turn on her TV. Small trickles of snow had broke from the sky. Not enough to be anything meaningful - but it was the first break. Triss looked up for a moment after exiting the apartment building, with her eyes slowly falling to a coffee shop across the road.
With latte in hand, she carefully moved to find somewhere to sit. It was surprisingly busy here, with only one spot at a table with a familiar tall lady with white hair sitting there. Her face was mostly covered from drinking from her mug but there was another tell-tale sign she couldn't hide. Only one person wears sunglasses in weather like this.
Taking a seat across from Ena, she took a sip of her drink. Placing the mug on the table Ena had already managed her entire drink.
"How do you feel about the band so far?"
A blunt question. Triss was still drinking.
Placing it on the table, still unfinished she answered.
"It's pretty chill. Uhh still not really sure on the whole love song thing but it's not the worst. I'd prefer more practices to be honest."
Another sip.
"More practices?"
The mug was placed on the table again.
"Yeah so like when we played Emotions my fingers started aching really bad though I still don't know why. Pretty much did the same as usual."
Whilst saying this she motioned stretching her fingers in and out before going to take another sip of her latte when she finished speaking.
"How is your positioning?"
Triss pointed at her drink she was midway through causing Ena to sit back and wait this time.
After she had finished her drink, Ena was showing her how she should play their song to avoid injury, expertly moving her hands as if she was playing in that moment.
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Looking on at first with amusement Triss had actually started paying close attention now as she realised the advice being given was genuine.
"Wait that actually makes sense."
Triss tried to copy her with her hands causing Ena raised her eyebrows.
"It would be easier to show you at my place."
The girl looked down in dismay at Ena's disapproval but hearing the last part she looked up again in surprise.
Ena saw this look. "What?"
Ena's apartment was much nearer to the city centre, not within any lavish towers or beneath forgotten shadows though. It was one of many mediocre silvery spires with a similar layout. Most people of the city lived within these style of buildings - devoid of any strong personality or passion.
Opening her door Ena paused. Triss tried to talk to her but got no reply for a moment. As the door slowly revealed a mountain of mess.
Her bed had a mattress and duvet, but no cover atop it or sheet to go with it. Spoiled across the floor were empty pots of noodles and music memorabilia. Ena was red.
"I mean it's not that bad..."
Triss said as she moved to turn on the lights, with the litter seeming to quadruple in size.
"...Ok it's pretty bad."
Ena was still frozen for a moment so Triss took the imitative to step into apartment.
"Come on then, we got some work to do first."
A meek "Yeah..." from Ena.
Through tidying Ena's cool girl personality recovered as did the room. Digging deep into one of the few remaining piles, Triss pulled out an old framed photo. Four girls, three of whom wearing very androgynous and grungy attire, with one in the centre wearing much more feminine bright clothing with long straight black hair and beautiful eyes beaming with hope. Smiles all around. Looking to the bottom of the frame now in a small gold-like plated label which read "First Major Performance".
"Hey Ena what's this?"
Turning to see the photo she almost froze again but calmly moved over to take it.
"The band I used to be part of."
Still cleaning her pile Triss contemplated that.
"Really? None of them looked like you."
Ena moved to place the photo on a now clean bedside cabinet.
"I was different back then..."
Tilting her head to Triss, Ena gave a small slight smile that seemed to have trouble staying.
"Take a guess who I was."
Triss stood up from crouching and moved over to the photo.
She scanned the top three girls having a clear assumption.
"The one on the left?"
"That's me in the centre."
"Shut up right now."
"It's true."
"Aww your adorable."
"Ok back to tidying."
Triss struggled to brush off her questions on what she had learnt so after the apartment was finally in a respectable state and Ena was getting out her own bass guitar, Triss asked.
"Soo what band was it? The one you played in?"
Tuning her instrument that had certainly not been used in a while Ena responded.
"DreadDead. We were an Indie Rock style band."
Ena now played over their first song Emotions, but Triss was still distracted.
"What happened?"
Ena played the wrong string, pausing to answer.
"Lost the spark. Replaced genuine sound with corporate slop."
She played their song again, this time getting it right.
Before Triss could ask another question Ena reminded her why they were here.
"Pay attention now."
The rest of the evening the two practiced together with Triss trying to sneak in further questions when she could. As Triss prepared to leave Ena asked her to wait for a moment.
"Can you not tell the others about it. The band." She asked.
Triss' eyebrows shuffled slightly. "Sure I guess?"
Ena nodded with a smile that this time refused to budge.
"Thank you."
As Triss left her room Ena walked around for a moment, taking a seat at her bed.
Her smile dimming as she looked at the photo again.

