In Every Bird.

Chapter 8: Home for The Holidays

t's show day.
My music class is finally performing our big Christmas recital.

I'm back stage and I peek through the curtain.
I see Cole in black fitted jeans, black dress shoes, and a dark red fitted sweater.
He's so clean and sharp all the time, it's so attractive.

He looks on his phone and finds his seat.

I've never been so nervous.
Not only is my boyfriend watching but his dad is my teacher.

We have 5 minutes until show time and I'm on the verge of needing a shot before I go out.

"Hey." Emily says.

"Hey." I say. Emily can hear the stress in my voice.

"Nervous?" She asks.

"Very." I reply.

She keeps me company the rest of those five minutes, and when I walk out and sit I can kinda of spot Cole behind the lights.
He's in the fifth row, very close.

His dad raises his hands up with his batons in hand and starts.
Our first song is carol of the bells, starting off strong with the fastest tempo.
I don't mess up besides once or twice and it's not enough for anyone to tell.
I try not to even look at Cole, but once the song is over I make eye contact with him and he smiles.
It actually made me feel less nervous.
We continue the hour long show with a 15 minute intermission half way through.

After we're done Cole meets me in the back with a dozen red roses in one hand and a single rose in the other.
I give an upside down smile in awe.
I've never been given flowers before.
"You did so good." Cole says and kisses me swiftly then hands me the roses.

"Awe so cute." Emily says as she walks up to us.

"This one's for you." Cole says and hands her the single rose.
Emily frowns as well but in a sweet way and takes the flower.

"This is so sweet Cole." She says then hugs him.

"You guys did amazing, I can't even imagine how hard that was especially the opener." Cole says.

"Don't remind me, my fingers are callused beyond repair." Emily says.

"Alright are we going to dinner?" I ask, starving because I don't eat a lot before shows.

We go to dinner for about two hours just chatting, then we head back to our dorms and houses.

"Hey dad can you send me the pics you've been sent from tonight?" Cole asks.

"Yea hold up." Graham says and Cole goes downstairs to his room.

About three minutes later Graham sends around 15 pictures that were sent to him from the photographer tonight.
Once Cole gets to the end he sees a picture that definitely wasn't meant to be sent to him.
A woman.

"What the fuck." Cole says under his breath.
The woman is at a dinner table, but he doesn't know this person or know where he would've been to have taken a picture like this.

Cole goes back upstairs.

"Who's this?" Cole asks in a stern tone and shows the picture.
Graham blanched.
"Are you seeing someone?" Cole asks.
A sigh comes from Graham.

Cole scoffs and turns around.
"I cant believe you."

"Son, I go to dinner with a different woman for the first time in eight years and you act like this?" He asks.