02.Her

The soothing finger brushes my hand had played on the piano was like an electric stroke to my heart as the emotions came to life and whirled around me. I was here in my second home, Michigan school. They had the music room open from the morning till the evening and it was all for me, the black grand piano was there for me and for my mother, who died promising me that she could watch me play. She was a no-show and dad had to tell me that she died when I was seven years old, playing on the same piano.

"You're still here." Alexa Jones whined at me. I flushed red as she pestered me about having the social life everyone was in. Aside from my insecurity that differentiated me from the gorgeous brunette that was my best friend, she was there for me when my mom was gone, we were kindergarten best friends and remained to be, even in our senior year. She had a bright big dimple on her left tanned cheek and forest eyes.

"Shoot, I'm late." I groaned when I stopped playing and checked my watch. I had the first class at eight and it was five minutes ago.

"You're always playing that thing and missing your classes." She rolled her eyes as I bit my lip in protest. She didn't know the feeling as well as I did. I tried teaching her but that failed tremendously because she would often forget the keynotes I taught her and focused more on her nail polish color.

What she said was true, though. I wasn't paying attention to class because of the piano classics I played were always in my head. Soft and delicate against my fingertips. I was training for Julliard, I really hoped I had a chance to land on the finalists.

"Let's get to class." She had her arm around my shoulder as we both walked with our books in hand. I was in the music room a lot, in mornings and even after school. I was a music addict and each melody was my lifeline.

•••

"Class, I want you to meet our new student," the principal announced before lunch break in distaste, "Ryson Adams." The class gasped at the guy that entered while I was putting in the music notes for my new piano player. It was probably some jock wanting to show new attention to the female dogs.

I was elated to start my new music sheets for the annual winter ball in our school, I was going to take lead pianist. I couldn't wait, the time had already passed and I had lunch break then two classes only. My blonde locks were neatly tied at the back of my head but I usually let it loose when I sit in front of my piano in the music room, I thought it added to the appeal aside from my collection of music sheets that I wrote.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He snapped at the guy when I lifted my eyes to the source of trouble. He had tattoos of the devils along his arms and had a nose piercing, what caught my attention were his amber colored eyes with green around his pupil when he glared intimidatingly at the other guy that attempted to trip him to make him the new target of their immature pranks.

"Chill man, it was a little prank." Said the quarterback, Jonas Devens, also known as the king of pranks and new people torturer.

A punch to the jaw had Jonas landing on the floor and away from his seat. My eyes widened as the principal held the guy, Ryson, back.

"Behave yourselves." The principal shouted as they both stilled and Ryson sat on the back row with his arms crossed tightly against his chest.

"Did you see how the new guy punched the prank king? It was hot." Alexa fanned herself with her eyes gleaming excitingly. I huffed at her antics, she could have any guy she wanted, my piano was calling my name. Yes, I was that addicted to the practice. The bell had already rung to signal the half an hour lunch break. I wasn't hungry because my focus was solely on the annual winter ball practice I needed.

"I will see you after the lunch break." Alexa waved at me as I practically ran to the music room with my books in hand.

The music room was serene and utterly mesmerizing, it had a lot of space where music books and other instruments were placed. We had formed an orchestra along with the kids instrumental competition to get them motivated. I was the leader along with Mrs. Davidson who quite liked my passion for the instrument.

I untied my hair when it was time to start playing, I also carefully settled my books beside my chair on the floor with my floral dress and brown jacket along with my black converse. My eyes softened as I played the notes that I created on my piano, my long slender fingers began to form the sound of C major with my other fingers on my other hand pressing the Db major chords, the beautiful sound wafted around the room as I closed my eyes and practiced.

"What's your story?" The husky voice stopped my fingers as I opened my emerald eyes. My back was in front of him and yet, I was afraid to face that lost unplanned soul that was standing behind me. Mom always told me to stay away from these types for they had the chance to ruin my plans.

"Who are you?" I asked with a trembled voice and shaky fingers, I wasn't the best in socializing with strangers.

"The new guy, Ryson Adams. I saw you this morning playing the piano."

He crept up closer and I could feel the end of his shirt touching my back. I sighed, I couldn't avoid him, that was rude of me and I couldn't be judgemental like my mother was.

"I just love it here," I murmured in reply, I could hear the faded footsteps on the wooden floor as he walked out of the music room, I let out a breath of relief that the bell rang, ending the lunch break.

I hoped it was the last time I encountered that strange angry guy.