I didn't know. Something about the way she played made the deepest of my fears alive. Maybe it was how at ease she was with everyone or the way she closed her eyes as her delicate fingers consumed the piano like it was her own favorite miracle. That scared me because whenever I looked into her soft green eyes, I had to know everything that she did and felt; it was like we were connected by unbreakable strings. I couldn't get enough but something inside of me told me that I shouldn't have let her in because love was like killing yourself slowly. I loved my mom but she left, so I was biased about love.
She stopped playing and took a deep breath as if she was afraid to speak to me. It was something about the aura I radiated around her but my colored eyes couldn't leave hers. It was like our eyes were interlocked into an attraction phase that made the whole world around us stop.
I wanted her to continue and she saw that on my face as she shyly giggled, enjoying my desperation. Her fingers touched my hand as she guided my fingers on the piano keys. I didn't know what was more breathtaking, the sight of her or the grand piano that held various keys.
My mind went to blank when she urged me to go on as I tapped random keys making a light tone. I honestly didn't know how to play any instrument.
"Mom, can I play with that guitar?" I asked as I pointed to the display center of the shop, where it had a blue electric guitar.
"No, honey, they won't let us." Mom reasoned with the pained expression.
"Why not? Don't you like to try?" I questioned.
"I tried once and ended up with your father." She sniffled as if she wanted to let go of her tears.
Something about Evangeline irritated me, it was like she was a locked case that I couldn't manage to open her door of secrets. It wasn't just curiosity, it was more than that. It was bigger than me and her.
You talk like you're whipped. You barely know the girl and she's scared of you.
Internally saying, I had to disagree because she was no longer hesitant when she spoke and she was shy around me. Her blush looked fucking cute on her.
"For a beginner who didn't touch a piano before, you sure know your taste of tones." She commented when I hit a lighter tone of sound while my other finger was on the deep resonating sound. I let out a small smile and she got baffled, realizing I had my guard down, I changed my expression and she looked away.
I was not sure what to say about her flattering comment so I ignored it as the music room only had us and Evangeline looked awkward with her hair falling behind her back when she flipped it from the front to her back.
I was aching from how much I wanted to stroke her hair, it seemed so soft to the touch but I refrained and reminded myself that I should never let my guard down and let her in a world of darkness. Sensing her actions before when she cried and looked in fear, she already had a heavy past so putting mine was unnecessary and it would put her in danger if my dad knew about her.
My dad was an asshole because everything that I got interested in before was shattered by him. Like the moment I entered a contest for boxing, he made sure I didn't make the cut and locked me up. He was irritated that I was better than him at something. If he knew that I liked a girl, he would use her or blackmail her to get away from me. I wasn't going to put anyone through that.
"What's your major?" She asked out of the blue, actually starting a conversation with me. I was stunned.
"English Literature," I answered in a clipped tone, slightly regretting it when she looked downward.
"Well, that's interesting." I didn't realize that being so good to someone after the shit treatment was even a thing to do. That girl was still good to me after the many indications and warnings.
"Uh, yeah, it is," I answered, amazed that this girl continued to smile at me like I just didn't embarrass her.
"Where are you from?" she continued to ask as her eyes brightened with warmth towards me, making me feel more agitated.
"I'm from Detroit." I replied with my usual clipped tone of voice.
"Did you transfer schools?" She questioned out of curiousity but I didn't know how much I could take. The memories were too much for me.
"I couldn't afford to get into a school. I was homeschooled by my mom." I said in a hushed voice, the familiar ache in my heart returned back.
My eyes turned to Evangeline as her eyes stared at the piano keys with light pink cheeks and bit her lower lip like she regretted asking me.
"What about you?" I surprised myself when the words tumbled out of my mouth. I didn't even know if I could hold a conversation any longer. The new me was making me feel overwhelmed.
"I am from Detroit too and I have been here all my life just like my mother." she whispered, it was loud enough for me and I remained silent, not knowing what to say.
My dad was in the hospital earlier for breaking his head on the Whiskey collection he had and was reported immediately but I didn't care because I knew my dad; he had nine souls so he was going to be fine.
I decided to skip detention since the phone call that happened from the hospital informed me about dad's condition, they asked me to pay the bill and I was broke. I got in Michigan school by the police since we didn't have anything at all due to the wastage of money dad had put us through.
The time was late, it was five pm and I had to go before dad locked me up or came home. I talked to the police previously to pay for the hospital since dad didn't have money on him.
"I have to go." With that sentence I said to Evangeline as she gave me a quirky smile making her orbs shine in welcome, I took off as my defeated amber eyes drooped in tiresome. I didn't sleep and didn't eat properly, the sore bruises across my back pained me every time I moved or leaned against something, that was probably why I avoided the wall in the class as I sat in the back seats.
Coming back to the fucked up house, I was angry at the sight of a man and another prostitute almost stripping.