Strung Together ~ Lrh

Chapter One ~ August

Hello everyone! I have started writing again and I feel inspired! Thanks for checking out the first chapter of my new story Strung Together! Love, Gracie

The practice room was my small piece of heaven on earth. Each one had a piano, two chairs, and stacks of blank sheet music. Our music teacher Quinn always managed to keep the practice rooms loaded. There was a narrow hallway that had small walk-in-closet-sized practice rooms lined up and down the corridor. I've been using the same practice room, 1A, for two years now. I skipped lunch and study hall every day to get in an extra hour and a half of practice. Everything was just fine until Luke Hemmings showed up.

Study hall was third period. I grinned knowing that I would soon be able to practice alone in the safety of my room. The crowded hallway was filled with students, jackasses, and faculty. The sounds of slamming lockers and obnoxious chatter filled the halls like a thick mist. I spotted my friend Michael buying Mountain Dew out of Calum Hood's locker and walked towards him. "Hey girl jeans." I said casually. Calum laughed and Michael blushed furiously. "I swear to god, it was only one time! Just let it go already." I ignored him as Calum pulled out our sodas and closed his locker. "That'll be two dollars plus a little something extra from you," he winked at me flirtatiously and giggled like a school girl. Slapping his chest, I turned to Michael and saw him laughing with him. "Y'all are nasty." I laughed, "Do you guys wanna come and jam with me?"

They politely declined saying they didn't do any homework last night because video games. It was always video games with those two idiots. Michael and Calum barely ever did school work and they needed to step up or they wouldn't pass junior year. We said our goodbyes and they swerved off to the library.

I shouldered my bag and made my way to my practice room. Grinning to myself, I twisted open the door knob only to find some blonde hair jackass playing my guitar. "What the hell are you doing?" I spoke slowly, eying him down. His skin paled and his eyes widened. "Um..ugh..I was pr-pra-practicing guitar?" he stuttered. "I can see that," I retorted sourly, "I can also see that you are holding my guitar." I sat down in the chair across from him. He seemed to be slightly less alarmed by my sudden presence in the room.

He sighed and looked in my eyes. "I can just switch rooms or something and just bring my own guitar tomorrow." he stated. It was my turn to sigh. "Listen blondey, there are no open practice rooms at this time. You need to sign up for one at the beginning of the year."

"Mr. Quinn told me I could use this room," blondey said firmly. The feeling of annoyance spread across my chest. "I'll talk to him tomorrow, but for now we can share I guess." I opened up, "I'll grab another guitar."

Getting up from my chair, I tripped and fell on the door. Blondey laughed and I turned around to glare at him but ended up giggling a little after I left the room. The instrument room was in the next hallway over. Cellos, violins, viola, and basses lined the walls. The band instruments were kept in the back and a beautiful grand piano sat in the center of the room. Large windows brought natural light into the room that made the instruments glow. I grabbed an acoustic guitar that was leaning against a wooden stool and speed walked back to my practice room. There was still 40 minutes left in the period.

When I got back to the room, Blondey placed my guitar against the chair. I sat down carefully handing him the guitar. "So what music do you like blondey?" I said as we tuned together. He laughed at his nickname and strummed a G chord. "First of all, my name is Luke. Second of all, pop punk I guess. Blink-182, Green Day, All Time Low, Nirvana, Fall Out Boy." he shrugged self consciously. I looked up from my tuning and grinned at him.

"I like some of those bands." I responded smiling. Luke looked up and half smiled at me. An awkward silence hung over us. I couldn't get my A string quite right. "Lemme help you with that." Luke said quietly and reached over to touch my guitar. His arm brushed my shoulder and hair and I slightly blushed. I plucked for him while he twisted the peg until it was just right. I suddenly noticed how close we were. A feeling of warmth spread across me and I blinked, backing up so my back touched the chair. 34 minutes left. "Do you know the song Remembering Sunday?" he asked breaking the silence. "Yeah, why?" I looked him in the eyes. They were blue and clear. "I've been playing the song for years and I've always wanted to have a girl sing the Juliett Simms part." he said awkwardly. Luke was kind of dorky, in a cute way.

"Okay, let's do this I guess." I gulped. I never sang in front of anyone before but the kid seemed like he wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone yell at me if I'm a bad singer. We played the chords in sync and he started to sing.

He woke up from dreaming and put on his shoes

Started making his way past two in the morning

He hasn't been sober for days

Leaning now into the breeze remembering Sunday

He falls to his knees, they had breakfast together

But two eggs don't last like the feeling of what he needs

Now this place seems familiar to him

She pulled on his hand with a devilish grin

She led him upstairs, she led him upstairs

Left him dying to get in

Forgive me, I'm trying to find

My calling, I'm calling at night

I don't mean to be a bother, but have you seen this girl?

She's been running through my dreams

And it's driving me crazy, it seems

I'm gonna ask her to marry me

And even though she doesn't believe in love

He's determined to call her bluff

Who could deny these butterflies?

They're filling his gut

Waking the neighbors, unfamiliar faces

He pleads though he tries

But he's only denied

Now he's dying to get inside

Forgive me, I'm trying to find

My calling, I'm calling at night

I don't mean to be a bother, but have you seen this girl?

She's been running through my dreams

And it's driving me crazy, it seems

I'm gonna ask her to marry me

The neighbor said, she moved away

Funny how it rained all day

I didn't think much of it then

But it's starting to all make sense

Oh, I can see now

That all of these clouds are following me

In my desperate endeavor

To find my whoever, wherever she may be

I felt my sweaty palms clench the neck of my guitar and I blinked hard. Taking a deep breath, I began to sing.

I'm not coming back, I've done something so terrible

I'm terrified to speak but you'd expect that from me

I'm mixed up, I'll be blunt

Now the rain is just washing you out of my hair

And out of my mind, keeping an eye on the world

So many thousands of feet off the ground

I'm over you now, I'm at home in the clouds

Towering over your head

Well I guess I'll go home now

I guess I'll go home now

I guess I'll go home now

I guess I'll go home

We strummed the final chord together and looked up. I felt connected to him while playing the song. It was as if we had known each other for a decade or in a past life. The two of us were in our own little world while we were playing, like no one else even existed. I was terrified about what he was going to say about it. Luke was silent for an entire minute. Still silent, he got up and slung his backpack over his shoulder, still holding the guitar. "Meet me here tomorrow." he said grinning and walked out leaving me even more confused than I was when I first walked into the room.