Cameron
He tilted his steering wheel to the right, leg on the brake, he slowed down encountering a traffic junction. While he was waiting for the green signal, he tapped his fingers and thought about his recent meeting with Solana.
Brought my hand up to my level and grinned, lightly tracing my finger against my wound. She hasn't changed much, she is still the same fiery kitty I picked up, two years ago. But now, after we talked I'm not sure. She seems so different, that she is almost a new person. I thought I knew her well... It isn't like her to suddenly let me go... maybe she has changed.
Her voice echoed in his head 'I have moved on, now it your turn' I gritted, tightening my jaw. There is no way, I going to let you go without a flight!!! Even if you hate me... maybe she does hate me...
And when we were talking, even though she was friendly, I could notice, that she wasn't comfortable with me!
I know she hates me but there was nothing I could do to change that... yes it is my fault... I did kiss Amanda...
I shook my head within my hands. A bucket of cold water was poured over me, the fire in my eyes went out and I sighed.
The traffic started moving, I released the clutch and continued driving.
Maybe I should wait until things get sorted out, I just don't know how to bring myself to tell her the truth... will she accept me? he wrestled, battling with his thoughts. Forget it, there is no point in thinking about it.
At the same time, my cell rang. I took in a deep breath and picked up the phone. "Hi Dad"
A frown grew on my face, I bitterly nodded my head and said "Yes Dad, I know... I already broke up with her... Yes, we are done"
My lips quivered, when my father praised me, I balled my hand into a fist and caged in my anger and stiffly said "Yes, I will be there tomorrow"
"Okay, I will bring Amanda"
"Fine, yup Amanda is fine"
"Okay bye" the phone call ended with a light beep. I threw my phone behind, it bounced off the backseat, landing on the carpet. 'Thud'
Of course, it's that bi**h fault!
Yes, It is all her fault. I growled and punched the dashboard, cursing under my breath.
When I calmed down a bit and pulled my wallet out, sliding an old photo of Solana to my view; goggling, adoring her cheeky smile.
My face brightened, recognition dawned upon me, it glowed with helpless.
"Sorry Solana"
=====
Music echoed in the halls, her hands went back and forth on her strings, strumming the guitar. Mr. Pearson stood over her, watching her play. He said "Stop" Solana's hands froze in their place, she looked up. He said "You did a good job but good isn't enough! You paused for two seconds before you shifted from C to F#m and in the middle you played the B chord five seconds longer and it wasn't sharp enough..."
"Oh"
Solana puffed a breath, feeling thirsty, she drank her juice.
Mr. Pearson said "Ahem... today, I will train your ears." he took the guitar from her, he played a random chord and asked her. "Which chord is this?"
Solana pondered, trying to remember the chord shape. "Is that a D#m chord?"
Mr. Pearson nodded his head, he said "Yes, it is, now try to remember the sound" he strummed the strings and paused.
Solana listened carefully...
Two hours later, Solana was able to memorize five chords. He stopped playing, he patted his jacket, pulling a blindfold from his pocket and said "Come closer"
Solana wasn't sure what was going on? she hesitated, looked at him with wariness, she slowly tilted her head forward, allowing him to tie the blindfold, covering her eyes. He said "Dont worry, it is just a test"
Mr. Pearson adjusted himself on the couch and played a chord, said "Which chord is this?"
Solana contemplated, she said "Professor, can you play it again?" he played the chord again.
Solana said "It is a C#m" "Wrong, this is the Am chord" Mr.Pearson said.
'Shoot, I got confused, nevermind next time I will get it right' She relaxed herself.
After ten more minutes, instead of what Solana expected. that next time never came and got all of them wrong.
Solana held her hair tightly and pulled it back, she exclaimed "Are you kidding me? Ahh"
Mr. Pearson was packing his bag, without looking, he calmly said "Sorry, but I never kid"
Solana rocked herself on the couch, nibbing on her nails. 'I still can't believe it! I got all of them wrong...'
"Don't take it to hard, even music prodigies take a couple of months to master their hearing. It is only recently that you picked up the guitar." Mr. Pearson said, walking to the door.
"But still..."
"Tell me how many days has it been since you started playing the guitar?" he paused his steps.
"Three, no... four days, Sir."
"Have you even heard someone mastering an instrument in a few days?" he cocked his head back.
Solana pondered, said "No, Sir."
He said "And the way you are progressing, shows your diligence and your passion for music... keep up the good work!"
He mumbled under his breath. "Who know? you might surprise me!" a smile was formed on her lips, internally appreciating his encouragement. 'Looks like he isn't like I put him out to be!'
Without saying goodbye, he continued walking to his car.
Solana closed the door, she walked to the kitchen, fixing herself a sandwich. 'It is so strange, one moment I was attending the princess, and the next I find myself in a more advanced, futuristic world. I know hundreds of years have passed.... but I can't help but feel... that it has only been a few days.'
'Besides I'm not sure whether I am in the future or in a highly developed world.'
She swiped butter on a slice of bread.
"Maybe, I should check that thing they call 'computer' for answers."
'Overall this world is far more easier and what is that word...' a finger tapped on her forehead. 'yeah convenient. Super convenient!'
"Haha... If I told them about the future, where carriages ran without horses or about the indoor plumbing, they would surely freak out and scoff!"
"It would surely be amusing to see their reactions. Haha" Solana pushed a stay hair out of her eyes, while she fixed a sandwich for herself. 'Maybe, I should try that P&J sandwich, which I have heard so much about!'
She made another sandwich and carried the plate to her room, she went back down to arrange the living room.
She climbed up the stairs, with a guitar and books in her arms. Pushing the door open with her foot. She gently rested her guitar on it's rack, next to the window and threw her books on the desk. 'Thud'
Solana dragged a chair to the window and sat down with a guitar on her lap, she practiced again, listening carefully to the sound.
An hour later, she stopped playing. Solana gazed through the glass pane, admiring the birds in the trees. 'Birds, I remember when I was younger, I once wished to be a bird because they could go here and there, wherever they want, without anyone stopping them.... but now, I think it is a foolish wish.'
'If I was a bird, then how will I play music or sing songs... sure they tweet and whistle but it isn't the same.'
The phone on her desk buzzed, breaking her from her thoughts. She turned and saw it was a message from Robby, her face scrunched and a line appeared between her forehead.
She clicked it and it displayed his message.
Robby: Hey, how are you?
Robby: I just want to tell you, there is a parent-teacher meeting tomorrow morning, it starts at 10:00.
Robby: Oh and after that day, we will have a meeting discussing about the homecoming dance next week!...
Robby: I can't wait for prom! I hope, that I would be the lucky guy... to be your dance partner. a smiley emoji, a wink emoji.
Robby: Bye, see you tomorrow.
Solana replied, she typed and said.
Solana: Hi, I am well.
Solana: And thank you for informing me about the meetings.
Solana: Yeah me too, can't wait!
She put the phone down, exhaled a breath.
'I am not sure whether I should reject him or not?' 'Maybe I should give him a chance... '
She shook her head, absentmindedly doddling on the back of her music book. 'I don't know, I like Aaron and this body has feelings for Cameron... ah it is so complicated!'
Anxious, Solana chewed on her nails. 'I already have too much on my plate, first Cameron and now Robby... why? And now, I just don't know whom to choose or believe?'
'I thought Cameron was a cheater, but now I'm not sure. The previous Solana might have missed something. And he didn't seem happy when I talked about his relationship with Amanda...
Maybe, we both misunderstood him and drew the wrong conclusion. There is no way he can fake his emotions. I have been in the palace long enough, to see all kinds of machinations and I can tell and feel that his feelings were genuine.' 'Anyway, I should just focus on myself and wait until he is ready... '
Solana suddenly laughed, thinking about their last encounter.
She glanced down, saw her messy drawing and clicked her tongue.
'Man I need a quill, I'm still not used to writing with a pen. Maybe, I should make one... but then I need feathers'
Bored, Solana went to her closet and put on a pair of jeans, a dusty brown top and a straw hat. Before she left, she took a pair of gloves and a small pouch from her drawer.
She shouted "Dad, I am going out for a walk"
Henry replied from another room "Sure, bye... remember to be here before twelve"
"Okay Dad, Bye" Solana closed the door shut and walked to the garden, searching for feathers. 'What am doing? These feathers won't work! There are too small.'
'A perfect quill is made from the fight feathers of large birds... Oh, I know a swan even a goose would do!'
A middle aged lady passed her, carrying her shopping bag. Solana called her and said "Ma'am do you know if there is a pond or a lake nearby?"
The lady said "Sorry, I don't know" and continued strolling.
Solana sat on the footpath, waiting for a passerby, to answer her question. Resting her chin on the knuckles of her fist, while the sun baked, tanning her pale skin. A Porsche suddenly stopped exactly in font of her, it screeched, alerting her from her daydream. A hand over her brows, she squinted through it and examined the car. She tried to get a glimpse of the driver through the tinted windows. The door opened, his shiny, brown shoes stepped out, on the asphalt before the door spread wide. He stood tall under the sun, wearing his shades. It was Aaron, he said "Hey, Solana what are you doing here?" he walked closer, with a bottle of water in his left.
He frowned and said "Don't you know you can get a heatstroke in this weather? Here take it" he handed her the bottle, before she could speak. He opened it and shoved it into her mouth. "Drink"
Befogged by the sudden chain of events, Solana blinked, batting her lashes in annoyance and forced herself to drink. 'I get it! you idiot... stop' Solana muttered while she was drinking. Aaron said "What did you say?" he pulled the bottle away. She said while catching, her breath. "I'm alright, you dummy!"
Aaron grinned, said "Good, now aren't you missing something?"
Solana scrowled, with sarcasm, she said "Yeah, thanks hero!"
Aaron grinned, flashing his ivory teeth, he said "I was just trying to help!" he clicked his tongue, 'Tsk' and pensively said."Some people can never appreciate good help..."
Solana teased him, said "Help? Help me with what? to drown?" Aaron smirked, mocking her with his eyes and said "Hmm... Why didn't I think about that?"
Solana saw his creepy grin and cringed, walking backward. She flee "Then, Let me help you drown!" He shouted, as he ran after her, across the street with a bottle of water in his hand.
Solana laughed as she dodged, avoiding his grasp. Out of the blue, water fell, drenching her hair and her blouse darkened. She shrieked, feeling the cold splash of water on her skin, her hands trembled. She narrowed her eyes and stared, digging into his flesh.
Aaron's snicker turned into a laugh, he said "Sorry, I just wanted to have some fun." He removed his marron blazer and drapped it over her shoulder. Solana growled and said through her teeth. "I am so going to get even with you"
He said."Sure. Sure, take your time" taking her threat lightly. Solana pouted and pulled her tongue out.
He walked her to his car, on the way, he picked her fallen hat and dusted it, placing it on her crown. He wrapped his arms around her, bringing her close to his chest. "Anyway, I have a few spare clothes in the trunk... You can wear! And I don't mind, if you sneakily rob a few without me noticing." he winked.
Solana said "It cannot be considered ad robbing if you the owner are suggesting me to steal them"
"Maybe, he said it because he wanted to bait the real thief and catch him red-handed!" Aaron said.
Solana tapped his shoulder, comically said while mimicked the hand gestures of a noble lady "My, my I am offended..."
Aaron played along, he said "I apologise madam and as a token of my apology..." He opened the trunk, Solana gasped when she saw the fancy dresses. He continued talking "You can take two more dresses" She gulped, before her lips curved into a grin. She said "Do you give free clothes to all of the girls you meet or is it just me?"
"No madam, only you" Aaron said, he chuckled, breaking his character. He flicked his fingers, said "You win!"
Solana smugly raised her nose in the air, said "I know, I always win"
"I am sure,
"You right, I do have an ulterior motive"
Solana arched a brow, said "Do tell"
Aaron said "I wanted to ask you..."
"to a dance right? she interrupted, finishing his sentence.
Aaron smiled said "Close, I got a gig at a fancy five star restaurant. I heard that a high class engagement ceremony would take place tonight. Anyway, since I will be preforming, I was given an extra invite..."
he pulled out a card and showed it to her.
"And I want you to act as my girlfriend...You can call it a date if you want!" Aaron said, with his signature smile.
Dumbstruck, Solana's mouth gaped, blankly looked down. Totally not expecting him to ask her out, so early in their relationship.
Impatient with the silence, Aaron tapped his foot and snapped his fingers. He said "So, what do you say?" he lifted her chin and saw the glimmer in her crystal blue eyes. He tilted his head and asked her again. "Is it a yes or a no?"