I Can't Hear You Over the Music Anyway

Chapter 11

Hey sorry. I know I said I wasn't going to write it. And I'm sorry if I lied to you. I need something to write. And this is the least angering thing I can think of. Lemme know what you think.

Nat was taken aback. Pretend to be her boyfriend? She wanted to be with him that much? He stood there in awkward silence for a minute before trying to change the subject.

"Piano?" Nat nodded and walked back to her car.

As Abigail pried her small piano from her car she couldn't help but feel a sense of deep sadness. If Nat didn't say anything when she proposed they put on the biggest lie of either of their lives then that means that she had no one. After she lost her brother she knew she could cling to Kyle. Once she left then Abigail really started contemplating who was left in her life. Of course since her dad butted in she didn't have much of a choice. She had to stay with Nat and Alex. Or else she would have no one.

Abigail helped get the piano out of the car and placed it on the pavement. Nat was already pushing it inside the house before Abigail could do anything else.

"Gracie." Nat called into the house. There was a clattering of footsteps before she appeared around the corner.

Gracie signed a quick hello to me before turning to Nat.

"Yes?" She asked quietly.

"Gail brought you a present." He said pushing the piano toward her. Her eyes grew wide as she took small steps toward the gift. She played a few stray notes as she walked by it. By the time she made it to the end she was sprinting toward Abigail. She wrapped her arms around Gail's legs.

"Thank you." She said in a small voice. Gail nodded and moved to help Nat get it up the stairs and around the corner. The hardest part of the whole venture was getting it through the doorway to Gracie's room. Once it was set up in the corner Nat patted her head and turned to lead Abigail away but before he could Gracie grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the instrument. She pulled Abigail down to the correct level.

"Play something." Gail pursed her lips and shrugged. She played a few of the opening notes of Greatest Prize, probably the most accomplished song she had ever written even without all the lyrics completed. After a minute of her fooling around she drew her arms into herself and sighed.

"Alright. Dinner is probably almost ready. Go get washed up." Nat said to Gracie to make her leave. Nat sighed as she walked down the hall toward the bathroom. Gail stood up and nodded slowly as she walked out of the room. In that moment she was glad she was mute. If she had started talking to Nat she would've embarrassed herself severely and/or broken down into tears after spilling her guts about her friends and family.

When she made it out the front door she felt Nat grab her arm. He sighed as he closed the front door behind him.

"I'm gonna be honest with you," He started. Abigail was sure this was going to be the end of their relationship, "I really do like hanging out with you," He was going to crush her heart and soul, "But lying will get us both into trouble." He sighed. She nodded and turned to walk away when his grip tightened around her arm. "So... why not hang out anyway? I mean we're both adults. And I'm sure we wont be having repeats of the other night. And even if we do who cares?" Gail let out a sigh of relief and nodded vigorously. He smiled and put an arm around her shoulders as they started down the front steps.

"Nat." Alex said peeking his head through the newly opened door, "Gracie wants ice cream and I don't have any money to spare- you know with me trying to make a movie and all- and I was wondering if you'd take her?" Nat sighed and nodded.

"Send her out." Alex nodded and stepped outside with Gracie already on his back. Nat sighed, "Are you coming too?" He scoffed. Alex was already in the car waiting, "How about you?" He asked. She shook her head and waved. He said he'd see her later and jogged to get into the car.

The boys waved as they started pulling out the driveway without Gail.