Chapter 17 - A melancholic melody

"The piano keys are black and white but they sound like a million colors in your mind."

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One month later...

Lilly's POV

One month has passed since that day.

The day I had my heart broken for the first time. The day I lost someone so dear to me, and the day I cried my eyes out for the last time.

I didn't shed a single tear after that day. I didn't give myself the chance to break down. I gathered myself and moved on, lived each day, one at a time.

Everyone tells me that I've changed. Even my parents have noticed it. I focused only on my exams and classes. I started preparing for university, searching for the suitable options and checking every oppurtunity presented. True, more than a whole year still seperates me from that part of my life, but I want to be ready, I want to have the next years of my life all planned out.

I haven't talked with Chase at all after that day. I haven't stepped into their house, I always made excuses so I wouldn't accompany my parents. He never came back to our place either, I am beyond grateful for that.

We no longer hang out, neither at school nor outside it. I've distanced myself from the whole group, especially from him and Aylin. Zack still eats lunch with us sometimes, he uses every chance there is to get closer to me, but I think I made it obvious to him that I am not interested, anymore.

He is really stubborn, though.

Conner also rarely sits with us, he took a break from everyone else just like me. I've noticed how Chase have stopped hanging with both of them. He stays with another group of guys from the soccer team. It still stings a bit, it bothers me that I ruined his relationship with his cousin.

As for Conner, I think it has something to do with Aylin; Well, that's on Chase.

As for Aylin, I try my best to avoid her because everytime I see her and she talks with me, I just remember what happened, I just keep imagining one of my best friends kissing and touching the guy I've...

Well, it doesn't matter anymore.

I know that I still need more time to finally accept what happened. I will, eventually.

For now, I have my classes, my family and Sally. That's all I care about for the time being.

"Jesus, Lilly!" Dad said, more like screamed, pulling me back to the present. My eyes widened and I immediately pressed my feet over the brakes, halting to a sudden stop just seconds before I was going to crash into the car ahead of us.

My heart raced in my chest and adrenaline pumped into my blood. Zoning out, yeah I've been doing a lot of that lately. I turned to dad, who rubbed at his chest, "God, I am too young and hot to die right now," He mumbled to himself before he turned to me, "Park the car aside, that's enough lessons for today."

After my little breakdown one month ago, dad made his mission to cheer me up, he accepts almost everything I ask for, for sure driving my mom crazy on the way. Per my request, he started giving me driving lessons and he said once I get my licence and he's sure I am capable of driving without killing myself or anyone else, I'll get my first car. Yay.

See, life could still be good without having Chase in it.

We switched seats after my almost accident and he drove us back. I noticed him take another turn and my eyes widened, "We're not going home?"

"There is a few things I need to discuss with Ashton first, then we can go back."

"No, no, drop me first at home please, then go," I requested, my heart beating a thousand emotion against my chest. I am not ready yet to face him.

"Lilly, just a couple of minutes, it won't take long," He said as the car came to a stop by their house.

I swallowed hard as I stared at the house ahead of us. Oh god, please don't make him be at home, please...

"Come on," Dad said, ushering me to leave the car.

On heavy footsetps, I went down and hesitantly walked forward, calculating the chances of running away before dad could stop me. The door opened and auntie Katherine welcomed us in.

She immediately wrapped me in a tight hug reducing the possibility of me making a run for it, "Oh my god, I feel like I haven't seen you in so long, where were you?"

"Just exams and all," Avoiding your son and all...

Dad went to talk with uncle Ashton while she took advantage of my presence and dragged me with her to the kitchen, "I am baking a cake, come and help me."

A couple of minutes passed with just Katherine and me, chatting and baking. I released out a sigh of releif, at least I haven't seen him yet. Maybe I would be able to leave here without having to encounter that dreadful moment.

As if life is being totally ironic with me, just as relief passed through me, footsteps got closer grabbing my attention to the door. Chase walked into the kitchen, he had the earphones in his ears, his eyes on the phone in his hand. He was wearing the blue sweatshirt he once gave me, accompined with a faded blue shorts, his hair all ways of messed up and a bit damp. Jesus, he looked like a damn candy...no wonder my mouth watered all of a sudden.

I convinced myself it's just the cake's smell, it has to be. Yeah, sure it is.

The straps of the sport bag hanging from over his shoulder accompined with his attire and hair proved me that he was at the soccer practice. How could someone look so good after working out and playing? How? Make me understand, how?

He removed one of the earphones out of his ear, "Mom, do we-" His words stopped midway when they flickered up and fell on me. The color of the sweater reflected on his eyes, giving them a deeper shade of blue. As a result, I felt myself sucking into a deep calming breath.

I knew I was no way near ready to see him yet.

I turned my attention to the bowl placed ahead of me and I mixed the ingredients, pouring all of my distress and anxiety into the poor cake batter.

"What is it, sweetie?" Katherine asked.

"Nothing, nevermind." He mumbled before he reached for a cup and filled it with cold water.

"Katherine, come here a bit!" Uncle Ashton called for her from the other room. She wiped her hands, "I will be back, Chase stay here, don't leave the girl alone." She said before walking away.

Chase's eyes widened a bit and he almost choked over his water, "Wait...what?"

Great, he also hates my presence too. As if I am the one who went and slept with his best friend...anyways, whatever.

I bit down at my lower lip and kept my gaze at the bowl as I mumbled over a low whisper, "You don't have to stay." And that was the first sentence I've said to him since exactly one month ago. The words seemed fitting.

He didn't react to my words. Instead of leaving, he just placed his bag aside and seated himself into one of the chairs, he pulled his phone and kept looking at it, avoiding any sort of eye contact with me.

The batter was over-mixed by now. I finally let go of it and looked around for the cake pan. It was on the other side of the counter, closer to him. Great.

I swallowed down and pulled the courageous act on before I circled my way around the counter and reached for the pan. Chase's presence made me forget that this is the same pan we used for the previous cake, the one we pulled from the oven just a couple of minutes ago, the one that's still so damn hot.

"Ahh!" I let out a low whimper in pain and my fingers immediately let the pan fall when the heat from its sides rushed to my fingertips and stung over my skin. Stupid me, stupid...stupid Chase.

I felt his body press against my side and his fingers immediately circled over my wrist, pulling my hand toward him to inspect it. I couldn't dwell long on how close he was to me now at the moment, because the pain coursing from my fingers was unbeareable.

"Couldn't you be more careful!" He mumbled angrily, his jaw tightened as he pulled me from my wrist toward the sink. He opened the cool water and placed my hand under it. I winced and pressed my eyes shut as the water ran over my burned fingertips for a couple of minutes.

When my eyelids glided open, I noticed him staring down at me. He blinked, cleared his throat and looked away almost instantly. He closed the faucet and took my hand in his, to inspect it more closely.

His fingers brushed over my now-red fingertips and I winced again, "It hurts."

Worry tightened his brows and he pulled one of the chairs closer and ushered me to sit on it, "I will get the cream, hold on."

He dissapered into somewhere and a minute later, he came back. He crouched in front of me, "Give me your hand," He said as he extended his.

When I didn't budge, "Just give me your damn hand," he stressed in annoyance.

Wow, he is getting nicer by the day, isn't he?

He didn't wait for me this time, he grabbed my wrist and took my hand in his, mumbling something incoherent on the way. He opened the cream and gently applied it over my burned fingertips.

The sight of him, crouching there in front of me, touching my hand, and being the usual caring - in a way - sweet him and taking care of me, had my heart fluttering and flapping against my ribcage.

It made me realize how easy it is to get lost in him all over again. How dangerous for us to be at a close proximity.

Thank god he's leaving. It will help me get over him faster.

He placed the cream aside and pulled my hand closer to his mouth. My eyes widened a bit and I could feel the heat rush against my chest when he blew over the burned area to lessen the sting.

His eyes went to mine, "How could you hold it with you bare hand like that?" He scolded, "Are you that stupid?"

See, how can someone doing such a nice sweet gesture scold me with words like this. How?

I rolled my eyes at him and mumbled, "It's all your fault."

"What the hell did I do?" He asked in disbelief.

"I told you to leave, why didn't you?"

"How again is this my-" a frustrated breath parted his lips, "You know, whatever, I am really not in the mood to argue with you."

"You're just in the mood to sleep with other girls." The words left my mouth without permission.

"Lilly," he grated out, in warning, the muscles of his jaw working.

"What?" My eyebrow raised and I pulled my hand our of his hold, "I hit a nerve?"

He huffed out and grabbed my hand again, he took the bandage from the side and loosely wrapped it over my fingers.

When he finished, his gaze drifted up, it fell on my hair at first and his eyebrow raised, amused, "I see you only wear the black one these days." He commented, referring to my ribbon.

So he's been noticing me these days, because he surely acts like he doesn't. I did feel a bit satisfied at the realization.

"It reflects how I feel inside these days."

A small smile barely made it to his lips, infuriating me, "What's funny?" I question, "My misery amusing you?"

"A little bit."

"Jerk."

He pulled himself to his feet and at the same time, I stood up, causing us to bump into each other, his hard figure pushing my slim one back and I fall back into the chair.

"Ugh!" I scream, annoyed by him, by his arrogant presence, by his nice sweet gestures and jerk-like words, "I hate you!" I say over clenched teeth.

"Likewise." Is all he manages to say and I hear my heart break a little bit again, more like a creak.

"You hate me?" I can't help but ask.

His whole facial expression shifts at my question. The arrogance, the jerkiness all leaves his eyes as they stare back at me, almost as vulnerable as mine and he asks, "What do you think?"

I don't hesitate as I answer, "I think you do, or else you would've never hurt me like you did."

My words hit him like a slap to the face. I feel it. The shift in his expression, the lines etching between his eyebrows, the blue of his eyes darkening a bit and the teeth digging into his lower lip. He feels the same hurt.

"You might think you're the victim here, but you are not," I add, "And I want you to know that - I don't forgive you, Chase."

"I don't think I'll ever be able to." Because you're the last person I expected to hurt me.

He doesn't get the chance to reply back as we get interrupted, "Lilly, let's go," I hear dad's voice before my gaze drifts to him, standing by the kitchen's door.

His eyes confusingly flicker from me to Chase, then back to me, he nods to outside, "Come on."

I immediately walk toward him, more than ready to leave here and get as far as possible from Chase. Dad's eyes immediately fall onto my hand and they widen, "What the hell happened to your hand?"

"I burned my fingers." I mumbled as he takes my hand in his and inspect it.

"Goddammit Katherine, what did you do to my daughter?" He scold auntie Katherine, who instantly walks closer to check my hand.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry sweetie," She mumbles, her eyebrows furrowing together as she eyes my injured hand.

I shake my head, "It's not your fault, I just wasn't careful."

Like I wasn't careful when I chose to give your son my heart.

Just like that, it got burned too.

But the problem is, there is not enough bandages to heal that type of pain.

*************

Next day...

"Will you attend the game tomorrow?" Zack asked, his eyes on me as I swallow down my food.

"Yes, of course, everyone is," I answer and wipe at my mouth, "It's the final game of this season. I will definitely be there cheering you guys." Except Chase, I won't be cheering him.

A smile breaks into his features, "Great," He says as he leans closer and presses a soft kiss over my cheek. He stands up after, "I'll see you guys later." He adds, patting me at the shoulder before he walks away.

My wide eyes meet Sally's wide one, "Did he just kiss you?" She asks and shakes her head, "That's sexual assault right there!"

I roll my eyes at her, "Don't overreact," I say, "He is just trying to be extra affectionate these days."

"Don't tell me you're thinking about it." Sally warns me.

I shrug, "I don't know what I am thinking about."

But why not? Till when I am gonna stay single and virgin. God, you'd expect someone as hot as me would have more options, but as far as I am concerned, no one in this whole school grabs my attention.

Only Chase did.

And I did like Zack once. Maybe it's not that wrong to give it a shot. I won't lose anything.

I wipe my hands and mouth one last time and grab my things, "I need to go and talk with Mrs. Garcia, she wants me to enroll into the play they're prepping for and I really have no time for that."

Sally nods and continue devouring her food, "I'll see you in class then."

I walk down the hallway and toward the music room, hoping to find her there and get this done with.

I pause to a stop by the room's slightly opened door. The music coming from inside had me halting in my movement and freezing me in the moment.

The melody playing was hauntingly beautiful. Mesmerizing. It had a melancholic edge. It expressed a feeling.

It spoke louder than any words could.

I closed my eyes and listened more carefully, humming along and astonished at the way each note floated within the other, forming an unrealistic rhythm. My heart stuttered with every tone and I felt myself walking closer, drawn to the music's source.

I pressed my palm over the door and silently pushed it open, not having it in me to disturb whoever was playing this majestic tones.

My stomach knotted in anticipation as I stepped inside. My eyes drifting till they fell over the piano, where the music is being played.

A melancholic melody. Sad yet happy.

Angsty, and drastic in a way.

It's the type of music you'd hear in a Shakespearian play.

It tells a tale without the need for words. It talks about a tragical love story but with a happy ending.

It's extraordinary.

I placed my hand over my heart as I stood there and stared at the person bringing this masterpiece into life.

Emotions squeezed my chest at the sight of him playing something ever so beautiful.

I never knew he could play. How come I didn't know such an important detail about him?

His fingers professionally moved over the white and black keys, bringing all types of colors into life.

The sunlight reflected from the window and into the side of his face, lightening his defined features and painting his hair a lighter golden color. He closed his eyes for a second, listening deeply to the wonders his fingers are bringing to life, his head tilting to the side, deeply concentrated.

The perfect sight beholding in front of me was unreal. He can't be real. Nothing is ever this perfect.

But the scene ahead of me was.

Just like a dream. Right there but still far beyond my reach.

Just like the melody he's playing. I can hear it, I can feel it, but I can't touch it.

The tear trickling down my cheek felt so misplaced. Was it the music? Was it him? Was it both?

I didn't know.

All I knew is that I've fallen in love with someone that is no longer mine.

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Did I give you two updates in one day? Am I amazing or what? Am I perfect or what? *flips hair*

I think I am slowly falling in love with chase and Lilly. At the beginning, for some reason, I wasn't able to completely connect with them as characters, i was still drinking in the feedback of Alex and Cara, but after all these chapters, I think I am finally there!

BTW, I AM KINDA MAD HOW A LOT OF YOU WERE ABLE TO GUESS THE ANSWER TO MY PREVIOUS QUESTIONS! DAMN, I GAVE WAY TOO MANY SPOILERS UGH!

From now on, I won't be asking any questions, *breathes in* gosh, you ask the questions instead of me!

Anyway, I still love ya all lol xD