(a rainy city, a dusty high school hallway)

He felt like a character in a movie where the stakes were low but the feelings were high. The track’s playful energy made his breath hitch in a way that wasn’t quite anxiety and wasn't quite joy—it was just anticipation . Like something big was about to happen, or maybe nothing was going to happen at all, and that was okay too.

The sun was barely up when Mateo stepped onto the porch, the cold air hitting his face like a sharp reminder. He clicked his headphones into place, and the bright, rhythmic strumming of "Up The Spout" kicked in.

It was the kind of song that made the mundane feel like a montage.