💕Title: *Sounds of Summer💕

Mia had always loved the quiet hum of summer in her small town. The sound of cicadas in the trees, the rustling of leaves in the wind, and the distant laughter of children running through the sprinklers—it all sounded like music to her ears. But this summer, something felt different. She was different.Mia had just turned 16, and everything in her life seemed to be changing. Her old friends had drifted away, and even the people she had trusted had begun to drift away, lost in their own lives. The more Mia looked in the mirror, the more she felt she couldn't quite recognize the person staring back at her. It wasn't just new growth or her clothes not fitting right—it was something deeper. Mia wasn't sure what she was becoming.It was early July when she first saw him: Noah. He was a year older than her, with long, unkempt brown hair falling into his eyes, and a smile that lit up the entire room. Noah had just moved to town, and he seemed strange in a way that both surprised and frightened Mia. He had no one who grew up there, and he was surrounded by people who knew each other.They met at a local coffee shop one Friday afternoon. Mia was sitting by the window, sipping a half-finished iced latte, staring at the same old street she'd seen every day for years. Noah came in, a guitar case and a notebook in his hand, looking like he didn't belong here. Mia didn't think he would notice her—she was just another face in the crowd. But then, as he passed her table, he stopped.

"You're Mia, right?" he asked, his voice low but clear. She blinked in surprise. "Yeah," she replied softly, trying to recognize him. She couldn't. "I'm Noah. I'm new here." He smiled awkwardly, his hand running through her hair. "I was wondering if you knew of any good places to play music around here. Like, open mics or something?"

Mia hesitated for a moment. The thought of talking to him more, of talking to such a confident man, was making her nervous. But she didn't want to be rude either. "Actually, there's a coffeehouse down the street that has open mic night every Thursday. It's a little small, but…" She paused, unsure of what to say next.Noah smiled again, his eyes twinkling in a way that made Mia's heart leap a little. "That's perfect. I've been looking for something like that." He paused. "Maybe I'll meet you there sometime?""Maybe," she replied, a little breathless. He waved and walked out, his guitar case slung over his shoulder, and Mia couldn't help but watch him go. The entire encounter had lasted less than five minutes, but the way he'd looked at her stayed with her.The next Thursday, Mia found herself walking into the coffeehouse, her hands nervously clutching the strap of her purse. She didn't even know why she was there. Yes, Noah had said they could meet again, but she hadn't expected that to happen. And yet, when she entered, she found him sitting on the small stage, playing his guitar and humming softly.

When she entered, he looked up and smiled, his face lighting up as if he'd been waiting for her. Mia felt her heart beat a little faster, but she forced herself to smile and sat down at a table near the window, feeling like a stranger.Noah's music wasn't what she'd expected. It wasn't pop or rock, but something more intimate, raw—perhaps folk. It was music that made you feel like you were alone in the room, as if he was singing just for you. After his set, he came and sat down in front of her, his guitar still in hand."You came," he said, his voice mocking yet loving. "I wasn't sure if you were just being polite or if I actually convinced you to come."Mia laughed, her cheeks flushing. "I didn't want to miss a good performance," she said, and then quickly added, "That's really great. I wasn't expecting that."

"I know," he winked. "People don't usually do that. There was something easy about the way he spoke to her, something that made her think that maybe—just maybe—he wasn't on her level.They talked for hours that night. About music, school, books, and moving to a city where no one knows your name. As the night progressed, Mia found herself laughing more than she had in months. It wasn't the fake, nervous laugh she usually gave, but a genuine laugh that seemed to come from somewhere deep inside.As the coffeehouse was about to close, Mia didn't want to leave. But when she did, Noah walked her to the door, his hand touching hers for a moment. He paused, looking into her eyes.