“So, we are officially dating,” Dan said.

That. Fucking. _Bitch_.

I mean, it’s not like Nora _did _anything to piss me off, but… y’know what, they did. I lied.

It all started the first day of sophomore year, when Dan and I got paired as roommates.

“You must be…” I said as he walked in. He did not look like the name I was told.

“Dan,” he finished, “I’m trans.”

“Oh, alright. I’m Dió.” We shook hands. “I didn’t think they let trans people room with other guys.”

“They just introduced it this year, which is _so_ nice, but they won’t let me change my name unless I get it legally changed, which is shitty,” he explained.

“Yeah, must be.”

Over time, we became friends and eventually started making some music together. My girlfriend, Akari, eventually gave us some much needed drums. With me on rhythm guitar, Dan on lead, and Akari on drums, we were doing good, getting a few small gigs as _Dante’s Demons_.

Nora and Akari knew each other from Environmental Club and a couple classes, and she formally introduced me to them on her birthday. We got along pretty well, and when Dan came over, they really hit it off. Turns out they were childhood friends, and hadn’t spoken since they were about 7.

At some point, Nora came to a couple band rehearsals to play bass, and it went _great_. They had a good amount of musical knowledge and a good ear, so we were able to get going fast.

But they weren’t able to come every rehearsal, and neither was Akari. Turned out Environmental Club got pretty busy come spring. So it was a lot of me and Dan, polishing our songs for (hopefully) an eventual album recording.

But one day, that one _fucking_ day, I went over to Akari’s dorm to hang out. I walk in and who do I see? Fucking Nora. Making out with Akari. I stood there in total shock, and she eventually noticed.

“**SHIT!**” She yelled. Nora turned around to see me, and their expression turned to horror. “I- I’m-“

“What the fuck? What, the _fuck_, are you doing?” I asked.

“It’s not what it looks like!” Nora exclaimed.

“Bullshit. We’re over, and _you’re_ out of the band.” I pointed at Nora. “Goodbye,” I said on my way out.

“Wait! I can ex-“ Akari rushed after me.

“Okay then, explain it! What the hell were you doing, making out with Nora? Don’t they know we’re dating? Did you just, _forget_ about me?”

“It’s not like there were sparks,” she said, ashamed.

“Sparks my _ass_. You know damn well that doesn’t matter, you just wanted to kiss someone who gave more of a shit about the environment. You know I make sure the shit I smoke is healthy.”

“It’s not that, it’s just…” She trailed off.

“What? Just what? You know you can’t explain it, so come talk to me when you can. Goodbye, Akari.” And with that, I left. I told Dan what happened, and he was sympathetic. Nora stopped coming to rehearsals altogether, and me and Akari made up.

Then summer came, and we all kept in touch, kept making music and performing gigs at local places. I knew that both Dan & Akari still talked to Nora, but neither of them brought them around me.

That was, until Dan invited all of us to a local coffe house we had performed at, Toe Beans.

I walk in with Akari and see Nora. I’m immediately pissed, but manage to keep my cool, but only because we’re in public and Akari’s there.

“I- We, have something to announce.” Dan said. “So, we are officially dating,” he announced.

I start taking deep breaths, and manage to say, “Good for you.”

Akari is, of course, happier about it. “Congrats! How long have you been together?” she asks.

“A couple weeks,” Nora answers. “And I’m really sorry for what happened with Akari. I can guarantee it won’t happen again.”

“It better not,” Both me and Dan say. He means it lightheartedly, but I mean it more seriously. The jinx get a laugh out of me, though, so I’m starting to feel better.

“And I know you might not feel good about this, but I was hoping they could rejoin the band? We kind of still need a designated bass player,” Dan stated.

“What?” I can’t believe this.

“I know we aren’t on the best terms, but I was hoping we could leave the past behind us.” Nora held their hand out. “Truce?”

“… truce.” I said, begrudgingly. Dan is right, it would be nice to have a bass player, but… they’re right. The past can stay in the past, so I take their hand and shake it.

“Now can we get some coffee? You did bring us to a coffeehouse, after all,” I say.