Chapter 3

Nexus Mapping Sequence

6847 1312 – song – Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke

6655 7298 – film – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

0012 4302 – song – Weezer – Only in Dreams

* Nexus Mapping Sequence media is provided to support chapter contents.

Eager to get to Marco and Bobbi's, Ethan practically jogged the last few blocks to their house. The excitement of his father’s message and the intensity of the music still buzzed in his mind, though he hadn’t finished the song yet. The heavy guitars and relentless energy of The Decline echoed in his headphones, but as he approached the door, Ethan hesitated.

Pacing outside the house, he debated letting the track play out. His thumb hovered over the pause button, but finally, he relented. Shoving the iPod into his pocket, he knocked on the door.

When the door opened, Ethan’s thoughts screeched to a halt. Standing in front of him was a woman who was, quite simply, stunning. She had a cascade of black, curly hair that framed her face perfectly and dark eyes that seemed to see straight through him. Ethan felt every ounce of the confidence he’d built up while listening to NOFX evaporate under her gaze.

"Um, hi," he stammered, suddenly unsure of himself. "Is Marco here?"

"Yeah," she said, her lips curving into a smile so dazzling it felt like it could stop time. "Come on in."

Before Ethan could find his footing, Bobbi appeared behind her, grinning as he swung the door open wider. "Dude, I was starting to wonder when you were going to show up."

"Sorry," Ethan said, stepping inside. He felt awkward, as though the intensity of his own thoughts might somehow betray him. "I had a… thing come up."

"No worries," Bobbi said with a laugh, leading Ethan into the living room.

The house was as familiar as it was rundown, a two-bedroom at the end of a worn-down street with mismatched furniture and peeling wallpaper. But Ethan loved it. The place had personality—a kind of unpolished charm that made it feel like home in a way his mom’s perfectly kept house never could.

"You know Alex, right?" Bobbi asked, gesturing to the woman who had opened the door.

"I don’t believe so," Ethan said, though he couldn’t hide his curiosity.

Alex smiled again, more warmly this time. "I sat next to you at work today," she said.

"No way," Ethan replied, guilt flooding him. His mind raced to recall any interaction but came up blank. "I’m sorry—I didn’t even realize."

"Don’t sweat it," Alex said, her tone easy and understanding. "My first day was a blur too. Those training videos? Total torture."

"Yeah, first days always suck," Bobbi chimed in as he plopped down on the couch.

Ethan took a seat next to Alex, still trying to piece together how he could’ve missed her entirely at work. He glanced around the room, half expecting a crowd of people, but to his surprise, it was just the four of them.

"So, are we watching Scott Pilgrim?" Marco asked, tossing a bag of chips onto the coffee table.

"Of course," Bobbi said, grabbing the remote.

As the others got comfortable, Ethan stole another glance at Alex. He couldn’t shake the feeling that meeting her tonight might somehow change everything.

While Ethan was undeniably attractive, he possessed the confidence of a brick wall. Most of his life had been spent nursing quiet infatuations that never went anywhere because he stumbled awkwardly when speaking to the opposite sex.

Now, sitting in Marco and Bobbi's living room, he felt that familiar mix of excitement and dread creeping in. But this time, there was something different—Ethan genuinely believed he might have a shot with Alex. Marco was happily committed to his girlfriend, and Bobbi was openly asexual. Ethan had always found Bobbi’s perspective fascinating and admired his clarity about what he wanted—or didn’t want—in life. Bobbi was the smartest person Ethan knew, and while Ethan couldn’t help but see him as a happy weirdo, he deeply valued their friendship. There wasn’t a thing Ethan wouldn’t do for him.

With no competition in sight, Ethan allowed himself a flicker of hope. Maybe tonight was his chance.

Standing to grab a drink, Ethan was momentarily struck by how clean the house was. The place might be a dilapidated rental with peeling wallpaper and sagging furniture, but Bobbi kept it spotless, a testament to his quirky but meticulous nature.

Ethan sat back down next to Marco and pulled out the iPod.

"Dude, check this out," he said, holding up the silver device. "My dad's friend Will gave it to me. It was my dad's. He left it for me."

"Nooice," Bobbi said, drawing out the word with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Gotta love the vintage goods."

"He left me a bunch of audio recordings too," Ethan continued. "Messages he recorded before he died."

Ethan handed the iPod to Marco, who turned it over in his hands like an ancient relic.

"My dad died in Iraq when I was a kid," Ethan explained, glancing at Alex. Her eyes softened, her curiosity tinged with sympathy.

"Oh, I’m so sorry," Alex said, her voice gentle.

"What did he say in the recording?" Marco asked, his tone careful.

"I’ve only listened to the first one so far," Ethan admitted. "There are like twenty more on here. The first one… he said how sorry he was that he couldn’t be here and shared one of his favorite songs."

"Really?" Bobbi asked, his enthusiasm bubbling over. "Can we listen to it?"

"Dude, that’s kind of personal," Marco said, shooting Bobbi a look.

"No, it’s okay," Ethan said, waving off Marco’s concern. "I’d be happy to play the song. It’s by some band called NOFX."

"Oh, yeah, they’re great," Bobbi said with a grin. "I saw them play at a grungy bar in Costa Mesa once. Fat Mike was hammered the whole time. It was awesome!"

Ethan chuckled at Bobbi’s comment, as he often did, then got up and walked to the stereo. He fumbled with the auxiliary cable for a moment before plugging in the iPod.

"Just a heads-up—it’s pretty intense," Ethan said, glancing over his shoulder.

"Just play it," Alex said, her smile disarming. Ethan’s heart skipped, and he had to fight the urge to crumble under her gaze.

Finding the right spot in the first track, Ethan hit play and returned to his seat. As the drums and guitars roared to life, he couldn’t help but grin. The second listen was even better, and to his surprise, everyone else seemed to enjoy the song too.

"I forgot to mention," Ethan said after a moment, "the song’s like 18 minutes long."

Bobbi pulled out his phone and began looking up the lyrics. "This is insane," he said, passing the screen around so everyone could read along. Ethan’s appreciation for the song deepened as the lyrics transformed the music into something sacred.

When the song finally ended, Ethan leaned back, closing his eyes. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt a genuine sense of happiness.

"Sorry, I should’ve warned you the song was long," his dad’s voice said, startling Ethan as the next track began.

"We don’t have to keep listening," Marco said gently, sensing the significance of the moment.

Ethan opened his eyes and smiled at his friend. Marco had an uncanny way of knowing exactly what Ethan needed, always there to support him without pushing too hard.

"No, it’s okay," Ethan said, his voice steady. "I want to hear more. I’m kind of excited to see what my dad has to say."

"I promise," his dad’s voice continued, "most punk songs aren’t that long. Usually just two or three minutes."

Ethan laughed, wiping at the corner of his eyes. Of course his dad would play him the longest punk song first. It was a classic dad move.

As his father continued, Ethan felt a warmth settle over him. For the first time, he wasn’t just a guy struggling to figure out his life—he was a son learning about his father, one song at a time.

"This song just kicked my butt," Ethan’s dad said, his voice alive with passion and grit. "I had so much anger and frustration growing up, and this was the first song that spoke directly to it. The world is screwed up, and I can only assume it still is. So many people live in ignorance of the suffering that goes on across the globe."

"He’s not wrong," Alex said, her voice cutting through the room with a quiet intensity. "The world is still screwed up."

Ethan felt a jolt of joy at her words, inexplicably thrilled by everything Alex said. Her insight, her presence—it all felt magnetic, pulling him in further with each moment.

On the recording, his dad’s voice grew heavier. "I saw this firsthand in Iraq. We were taught to vilify the people there, but all I ever saw were kind souls trying to survive while their homes kept getting blown up around them."

"That sucks," Marco said, shaking his head solemnly.

"Really, I just want to say: don’t lose hope. Keep up the fight for what’s right," Ethan’s dad continued. "That’s what punk is all about—calling out injustice and screaming at the status quo."

"Punk rock!" Bobbi shouted, throwing his fist into the air and headbanging theatrically from his recliner.

"While I am a punk at heart," his dad went on, a faint warmth returning to his tone, "there are so many incredible genres and songs out there. I love music. All music. I think this next song has a finger on the pulse of that love. Stevie Wonder is a legend with countless masterpieces, but Sir Duke? That song is timeless. It came out before I was born, but it still holds strong."

As the horns burst through the speakers, their bright and jubilant tones filling the room, Ethan felt a spark of recognition. There was something familiar about the melody.

"I love this song!" Alex exclaimed, her face lighting up. "My dad used to play this for me all the time."

Without hesitation, Alex stood up and started dancing, her movements fluid and effortless. The energy of the song seemed to flow through her, filling the room with joy. Ethan couldn’t take his eyes off her, mesmerized by how easily she let go and gave herself over to the music.

Being the only girl, Ethan hadn’t expected anyone to start a dance party, but Alex had other plans. As the horns swelled and the rhythm grew irresistible, Alex approached Ethan, her hand outstretched.

"Come on," she said, her smile practically glowing.

Ethan’s heart raced as he took her hand. She led him to the center of the living room, her confidence a stark contrast to his complete lack of rhythm. He couldn’t dance to save his life, but at that moment, he didn’t care. This wasn’t about skill—it was about the incredible moment he was sharing with her.

As they moved to the beat, Ethan stumbled a few times, but Alex laughed it off, her joy infectious. He felt completely alive, letting himself get lost in the music and the connection between them.

When the song finally ended, Ethan found himself wishing it could go on forever. Why couldn’t Sir Duke be eighteen minutes long too?

Alex released his hand, her cheeks flushed from dancing, and Ethan made his way to the stereo. Turning off the iPod, he left it on the stereo and returned to the couch, sliding into the seat beside Alex.

"Man, that is incredible," Marco said, his tone genuinely impressed. "That’s cool that your dad did that for you."

Ethan met Marco’s gaze, and his friend raised an eyebrow, glancing subtly at Alex before smirking. Ethan didn’t need words to know what Marco was thinking. His friend had already picked up on how captivated he was by her.

"Yeah," Ethan replied, his voice tinged with a joy he couldn’t contain. The excitement coursing through him felt like it could light up the entire room.

A comfortable lull settled over the group after the song ended. Alex pulled her phone out, quickly responding to a text message. When she finished, she set it face-up on the coffee table. Ethan’s eyes drifted to her lock screen—a photo of Macklemore mid-performance, bathed in colorful stage lights.

"I love Macklemore," Ethan said, gesturing toward her phone.

"Oh my god," Alex said, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "The Heist is seriously my favorite album. I took that picture at one of his shows—we had front-row seats!"

"That’s awesome," Ethan said, grinning. "I’ve always wanted to see him live."

With every word Alex spoke, Ethan felt himself floating. She had this gravitational pull, and he was more than happy to orbit around her.

"So, are we going to watch Scott Pilgrim or what?" Bobbi interjected, snapping them back to the moment.

"Let’s do it," Alex said, her smile widening as she turned to Ethan.

"I love this movie," Alex leaned in and whispered to him as the lights dimmed.

"Me too," Ethan replied, a shiver running up his back at her proximity.

As the opening credits rolled, Ethan leaned into the couch, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. For the first time in ages, he felt invincible, like he could conquer anything.

But as the movie played on, that invincibility began to waver. Thoughts of reaching out and holding Alex’s hand crept into his mind, and with them came the familiar surge of nervousness and doubt. His pulse quickened, his confidence faltering as he debated whether to take the risk.

Before he could muster the courage, Alex leaned over, her head resting lightly on his shoulder.

"There’s something special about you," she whispered, her voice so soft it barely rose above the soundtrack of the movie. "I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s definitely something about you."

Ethan’s heart soared, and his breath caught in his throat. He didn’t know how to respond, so he simply let himself sink into the moment, relishing the warmth of her presence.

As the movie unfolded, the day’s events began to catch up with him. The cozy darkness of the room, coupled with the emotional weight of the iPod and the thrill of Alex’s attention, left him fighting to keep his eyes open. Despite his best efforts, Ethan started to nod off, the edges of the film blurring as sleep began to take hold.