Chapter # 1

Chapter #1

There is always a melody that earns the heart.

And your has earned my soul too.

©Elif Hoorain

Jane Arnold's P. O. V.

My breath catches in my lungs. My heart races. This voice, this symphony casts a spell on my senses. I close my eyes. Glide against the wall. I am lost in the cadence, shooting in the air. A mysterious lovely feeling wells up in my heart, a feeling I am unable to share. I do not dare to get up from the ground, to peek through the small window. I am afraid that I would seem crazy.

"All is okay?" Someone asks, probably me. I am not sure, my eyes are stuck to the sky and my mind is inside the studio.

"Hey," I hear, the same voice again. I blink and look to my right.

A woman in blue dress smiles at me. I get up from the ground and flash her a smile.

"Yeah, all is ok. Superb actually." She nods with a smile and walks away.

I finally realize that I look ridiculous, slid against a building, on this thronged street. I flick my hair, to the right, just to have a glance at him. His back is to the window. I want to stand here and stare at his back until he turns around. I want our eyes to meet. Want those lips to ask me to come in. Want those fingers to guide me, on the strings of his guitar. I want him to teach me the melody that has earned my heart and soul.

"Good evening Mr Nathan." A teenage girl, greets him entering the studio. She takes out her guitar from its bag and holds it properly in her lap. She gives its strings a stroke, then begins matching its tempo with Nathan.

In April, on the wet pavement, I stand outside the studio, my eyes fixed on the scene inside the room. I do not look for long. I do not want the girl to catch me looking and name me a psycho. It has been my daily routine to wait for his arrival for 15 days, as the sun goes down. Hoping to be someday inside of it. I wonder, has he ever noticed me? If yes, then why does he never bother to say something?

Twenty minutes pass by. The crowd on the street fades away slowly. Oblivious to the world outside, he carries on his adoration of his loving practice.

I think about stepping ahead to knock on the glass door. Still, I change my mind and walk away. Maybe, he will ask me himself to be a part of his melodious world, someday.

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"That old Nathan is not going to get you in a medical college." She grumbles, passing me a towel, as I exit the bathroom. I pat my face dry with it and spread it on the back of a single sofa. Switch on the tv and slump down on the couch.

"Are you even listening?" She steps towards me from one corner of the living room. About six steps and she is already, standing beside me. Such a compact living space we have. I can't ignore her wail about my visit to Nathan's Studio for a long time.

"I have listened to every single word you said. Is approving it necessary?" I do not raise my voice. I am exhausted.

"Yes, Jane Arnold, you have to give me the approval. You must behave." She is furious. Whenever she calls me by my full name, I know my luck is not with me today.

Holding the tv remote in one hand, I swap it off and get up from the couch. She straightens up, and even raises her neck, with a tight mouth. In this position, she even seems taller than her usual height.

"Mom." I hold her hand in mine and speak softly. "Nathan is 30 and 30 is not old."

It takes her a moment to process my words. She opens her mouth and again shouts my full name, bending to pick up the nearest object to throw at me.

"And you are only 18."

Luckily, it is a cushion. I dodge it and run upstairs, suppressing my laugh, leaving behind her tantrum. As I am about to open the door of my room, I hear her last shout.

"Do not sleep without having dinner. I have made your favourite spaghetti." This makes me burst into a giggle at once. With all of her anger and mood swings, I know she loves me the most.

"Ok, mom," I speak loud enough for her to hear me.

We always argue about studies and Nathan. However, we always develop a truce with the dinner.

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After dinner, I take shower and slip into a pink cosy t-shirt and trousers. Finish my assignment and open the window to look at the world beyond it.

The night gets darker than before. Clouds spread their sheet over the stars and moon. It might rain tonight too. It often does frequently in Eureka Springs. The wind pre-rain brings the spring's scent with it. I inhale it, gazing at that single place in that street which is lit up still, like ever. I feel blessed to have such a view, from the window. Hilly areas have many benefits. One is noted.

The tune of his guitar replays in my mind. I move away from the window and start dancing in the small space of my room. My mouth is softly making sounds of his song. My body is moving as if bound to some spell. I wonder, how would my heart and soul react when he will be just a few steps away playing his melody? I perhaps will be fainted by the time he finishes his song.

I laugh at my cliche thinking. Thump down on the bed and close my eyes. With that melody still playing on my mind, I drift off to sleep.

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"Jane. Jane. Jane" The voice that calls me from behind is quite recognizable. I spin around popping out chew gum. Jessie is still running towards me yelling my name.

"Jane..." Her breath is irregular. She is still bent, holding her knees to steady her breath.

I open my mouth to say something but she stops me, holding up her palm.

"We need privacy." She looks around with squinted eyes. We are standing in the hall of the school, students walk by without even noticing us. Still, for my friend our privacy is not safe here.

We exit the school gate and go to a cafe at the back of the school. We take our seats on the table, facing a window.

"He was asking about you." She blurts clasping her hands in front of her on the table, leaning towards me.

I forget to blink for a few seconds, staring at her round face and black ogling eyes. I can't comprehend her words. I stay silent for her to continue.

"Ah, so now you would pretend that you do not get me." She throws up her hands dramatically.

"No. No pretending. I don't get what you are saying." I smile at her giving my head a slight shake.

"Ok. By he, I am referring to Mr Nathan Campbell." She whistles, just to tease me.

"Oh."

Oh is all that comes out of my mouth. I am all of a sudden, happy and nervous.

"What? Just, an oh? I was expecting a chirpy and bit hysterical reaction." She puckers her lips and wiggles her eyebrows.

"Why would I react hysterically?" My face crumples in irritation.

"Because you love him." She flutters her eyelashes. She is so blunt, oh God!

"No. I don't." I look around to see if there is Nathan anywhere near us, listening to this stupidity. Thank God, he is not here.

"Do not lie. I know how you stand about half an hour outside his studio just to see him."

"No, not to see him, but hear him. I...I love his voice and the tune of the guitar." I speak softly looking down at the table.

"There is no need to be shy of accepting your love for him." She leans further towards me and blinks her eyes. She has this habit of blinking whenever she gives any opinion.

"I am not shy. I just have never thought of it." I shrug, looking away from her face.

"Hmm. Then, you should at least meet him. Yesterday you didn't wait for him outside his studio. Maybe, he noticed it and missed you."

"I had to head to the home earlier, so I didn't." I lie.

The real reason is the voice of my subconscious which kept on saying; what if he doesn't notice you again?

I am glad, I listened to it.

"So, will you go or not?" She asks me, eating her doughnut.

"I will." My answer makes her grin. I am also grinning, cause I can see my chance to have a look into his world.

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