“Hey, Caden!” Levin called as they packed up their instruments. “Something wrong?”
Like every practice, Caden had arrived without fanfare and went directly to the piano. While everyone prepared, Caden idly played something simple. The other musicians had learned it was his way of familiarizing himself with the instrument and not being deliberately standoffish. If any chose to approach and engage with him, he would politely converse with any topic of their choosing.
At first, they found him unapproachable. He was always composed and formal, almost cold when he addressed them. Yet, after watching Levin and Mica interact and joke with him, they realized he meant no offense and liked being part of the group. His reactions were small, but readable once they knew what to look for.
However,
