The next morning dawned cool and golden in Columbus, with the scent of dew still clinging to the sidewalks and birds chirping like nothing had happened the night before. But the rest of the city knew better.

Because downtown, every newsstand and gas station had the same bold headline plastered across the front page of the Columbus Dispatch:

“LOCAL KID MAKES GOOD: Surprise Rock Show Shakes Up Columbus Neighborhood”

And just beneath it, a photo that captured everything: Jonah mid-air behind the drum kit, mouth open in a yell, his sticks a blur—his old friends in the front row screaming with joy. Behind him, the stage glowed with amber lights, and the faint silhouette of Gabriel, Cassie, and Rico framed the chaos perfectly. In the corner, just barely visible, Mark’s lighting console threw out a flawless red flare.

The article spilled over into the second page, but Jonah stood in the gas station aisle frozen, holding the copy in both hands like it might vanish if he blinked. The bell over the door jingled behind him as Thane and Gabriel walked in, both still yawning, both holding fresh coffees.

Gabriel spotted him first. “Ayyy—local legend!”

Jonah turned slowly, still speechless. He held up the paper. “I’m on the front page. Of the actual newspaper.”

Gabriel leaned in and grinned. “Damn right you are.”

Thane smiled, sipping his drink. “That shot’s pretty epic, not gonna lie. Caught you right at the high point of that fill during Devour the Echo.”

Jonah blinked, overwhelmed. “This is so weird. I used to deliver this paper. Like, that was one of my first jobs.”

Thane chuckled. “Full circle. Now you are the headline.”

They each grabbed a copy, and Jonah bought three more—”for Mom, for Dad, and for the fridge.” The cashier grinned as they checked out. “My cousin lives three blocks from that show. Said it was the loudest thing to hit the neighborhood since Fourth of July. You guys were awesome.”

Back on the bus, everyone passed the paper around while they ate breakfast. Cassie read excerpts aloud between bites of cereal.

“…A crowd estimated at over 2,000 gathered on short notice as the nationally-renowned band Feral Eclipse appeared unannounced in a free performance outside the Windsor Rec Center. The band’s drummer, Jonah Vega, is a native of the area and credited the community with ‘raising him on rhythm and hope.’”

Jonah groaned and buried his face in a pillow. “Did I actually say that?!”

Gabriel grinned, “You did. It was adorable. You had barbecue sauce on your cheek, too.”

Maya leaned over the couch with a teasing grin. “Y’know what this means, right? You’re famous and emotionally available. You’re doomed.”

Jonah shook his head, laughing. “I hate you all.”

But he was glowing. Radiating pride. Because this wasn’t just about being in the spotlight. This was about being seen—not as a celebrity, but as a kid from the block who made it, and who never forgot where he came from.