That Melody

Chapter 10

          

Every second the clock ticked by seemed to drag against Chloe's conscience. Last night she stayed up too late playing her feelings against the strings of her violin. By the time she got out of class all she wanted to do was go to sleep. Her eyes were already drooping. It had been a long time since the last time she pulled an all-nighter.

With a yawn Chloe grabbed her violin and slung it across her shoulder. In the corner of her eye she could see Maybaline run towards her. Out of all the people she shared classes with she shared the most with Maybaline. It was strange because they didn't hate each other but they wouldn't call each other friends either. The whole relationship was professional, only talking to one another when it could benefit something. It wasn't a bad relationship; it was just different to her.

"Your violin seemed slower today than usual. Did you get enough sleep?" The question threw Chloe off. Maybaline never asked about someone's wellbeing. The way Maybaline was, was that someone was either her understudy or her competition, and there was no way that Chloe was an understudy to anyone. After the odd look that Chloe aimed towards her, Maybaline folded her arms and looked the other way. "Don't look at me like that. It's not like I care about your health or anything. I just don't want my rival to be using some lame excuse like exhaustion when I wipe the floor with them."

As much as she tried to be harsh, Maybaline's true character was starting to poke through for the first time. She wasn't good with people. She was always so used to being the alpha dog of the pack that she didn't know how to socialize with people of equal talent. If Chloe wasn't so tired, she would have found it highly amusing. Or maybe it was because Chloe was so tired that made Maybaline seem so childish all of a sudden with her soft bouncing blonde curls and blue eyes.

"I stayed up a little late last night is all. I'll be right as rain by tomorrow." Chloe managed between yawns. "Don't worry, I won't be beaten that easily." She chuckled with a wave of her hand as she tried to make her escape.

Behind her she could hear a snort from Maybaline as if she was suddenly trying to deny the thought of her worrying about Chloe altogether. Chloe just let out another laugh before leaving her earshot. As much as she wanted to go to sleep her subconscious wouldn't let her, and neither would her body. Step by step like clockwork she made her way through the familiar route to the lone building up the hill.

The sound of that piano was as necessary to her ears as air was to her lungs. She didn't think that there was any level of exhaustion that could tear her apart from it. The spot under the window was showing her daily visits by the dying grass and the bent bushes. Dirt from where she sat every day peeked through the yellow and brown grass as if marking her seat. Without missing a beat, she sat down and without missing a moment, the music began to play. It was beautiful. It always was.

She didn't know when but her eyes started to drift closed as the music danced inside her eardrums. The sound was soothing and calmed her ragged nerves. It was as if coming here and listening to the piano was the solace to her very soul. No matter who it was that played it didn't matter. All that mattered was the sound that this person made. It made her heart sore and proud of the love that she had for such a sound.

~

Shane didn't hear the sound of Chloe leaving so he peeked around the corner of the building to see if she left or not. A frown appeared on his face as he noticed the familiar form of Chloe's sleeping body against the wall. Every once and a while she would fall asleep to his music. Shane quietly tip toed around to her and kneeled in front of her. It was dangerous to stare so long at the pixie like girl, but he figured if she was going to be his partner one day then he should be able to handle it.