Page 62 of Unfinished Noise

She blinked, then pointed between the two of them. “Hold on. You’re not—are you guys connected to them somehow? You’re giving off a vibe.”

Alfie snorted. “We’re not in the band.”

Jamie added, “Just… close to it.”

Her face lit up, but in a softer, more earnest way. “That’s pretty cool. Okay, well—pick your jewelry. I’ll get you set up.”

Jamie relaxed. This was better—natural, gradual, not the instant fangirl moment that made him feel like he’d stepped into a spotlight he hadn’t asked for. Just someone who remembered the music and put the pieces together on her own.

The case had everything from tiny studs to dramatic dangling pieces. Jamie pointed at a set of small black hoops with little chains hanging off them—simple but with a bit of edge. Alfie grabbed silver stars with dangling charms because of course he did.

They sat in the folding chairs while she cleaned their ears and lined up the piercing gun. Jamie tried not to think about how flimsy the chair felt under him.

Alfie leaned over. “You nervous?”

Jamie shrugged. “A little.”

“Same,” Alfie whispered. “But in a fun way.”

Jamie smirked. “It’s just a pinch.”

“And then we look badass,” Alfie said.

Jamie snorted. “Sure.”

The woman didn’t waste time. She pierced Alfie first—three quick clicks along the curve of his ear. Alfie flinched at the first one, hissed at the second, and tried to pretend he was fine by the third.

“I’m good,” he said, voice a little too high. “Totally good.”

Jamie rolled his eyes. “Drama queen.”

Then it was Jamie’s turn. The cold metal touched his ear, and he braced himself. Click. A sharp pinch. Another click. Another pinch. Then warmth spread along the side of his face.

He exhaled slowly. “Okay. That wasn’t bad.”

The woman handed them their dangling earrings and helped them fasten them into the fresh piercings. Jamie’s hung lightly against his neck when he moved, a soft brush that made him grin.

Alfie looked at him with wide eyes. “Dude. You look hot.”

Jamie touched the earrings gently. “You do too.”

They paid, thanked the woman, and walked back toward the rink, both of them smiling like idiots. Jamie’s chest warmed as if he’d done something small but important, something that belonged entirely to him.

He snapped a selfie of the two of them—sweaty, grinning, wearing Black Shadows shirts with three fresh piercings each and dangling hoop earrings—and sent it to Spencer with a caption: We didn’t die. Also… surprise.

Alfie nudged him. “He’s gonna lose it.”

Jamie grinned. “Yeah. But in a good way.”

And they headed back onto the rink, earrings swaying with every wobble and laugh.

Then he tucked his phone away, grabbed Alfie’s arm, and said, “Come on. One more round.”

Alfie groaned but followed him back onto the rink.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Spencer