Secret Love Song // A Paul McCartney Fanfiction

ǝuo ɹǝʇdɐɥɔ

The worn paper hit the table marking the unexpected end to a thirteen year prison sentence. Sienna Malbrook had been fiddling with it all morning before her meeting. It's edges were almost as thin and floppy as the hair plopped on the man sitting in front of her.

"Are you sure about this?" He questioned, concern heavy in his eyes as he perceived the choice as hindering rather than opportunal. Sienna was just as stuck in her ways as him though. She knew the depth of her decision but it only excited her more.

"Positive." She grinned and with a slightly judgemental look, he lifted the parchment from his desk and reviewed the scribbled signature of consent from the girl's mother. As the paper left the position of the desk, so did the weight of anxiety that had been piling on Sienna's shoulders each day since she was 13.

"Well then, I wish you good luck for your future Miss Malbrook. I hope you've made the right choice." The man stated with a hint of snark in his tone but Sienna, now beaming as bright as her hair, paid no mind to it. She had escaped. She had conquered. She was free.

After a polite 'thank you' (contradicting the devious 'see you never' look plastered on her face), Sienna exited the building. She could've waited one more year but it would have been a waste. She didn't even know what she wanted to do now, all she knew is that it wouldn't be high school.

Racing home, she found her parents anticipating her arrival.

"So? Is it finalised?" Her mother rushed towards her daughter. Sienna nodded and thrust her arms into the air, almost in the same notion as throwing a graduation hat.

"I'M A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT!" She yelled and cheered as her parents looked at one another, wondering whose fault it was that their child was celebrating dropping out of school at seventeen.

Over the course of the Christmas holiday period, Sienna researched things she could do to make finishing a year earlier than her peers worthwhile. Being an only child, she always had to find ways to keep busy and avoid boredom. She had two jobs, a barista at the Strawberry Bush on a Saturday, and teaching piano to children twice a week on a Tuesday and Thursday. It wasn't enough though. If Sienna was not going to attend school she desired more, and making flat whites for all the 'Susan's and 'Judith's of her town was not her idea of a dream job. The issue was that the things that she adored in life were difficult to find careers in, as she had been playing piano since she was seven but was barely making more than minimum wage teaching it. She loved to write songs too but her work was kept hidden in her private journal and she hadn't told anyone about them out of fear of humiliation.

Her future seemed to hit a dead end, until a brilliant idea arose in the form of an eleven year old boy.

"Riley! How's my favourite little man going?" Sienna exclaimed whilst sticking her palm out and receiving a glum high five from the boy.

"I'm alright." He replied, moving almost robotically into the cramped music room. Sienna kept up her smile. She knew that some kids needed a little extra time to warm up and feel comfortable so this wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

"Up to date with all your homework?" Keeping the conversation light and chatty seemed to normally work.

"No. I have so much to do. I've got to practise my times tables and spelling everyday! I hate school." He finally burst.

'If only my problems were just spelling and times tables', Sienna thought.

"Well are you at least up to date with my piano homework?" She smirked at Riley, who began to smile a little in amusement.

"Yeah, but that's fun. I just want to do piano instead of school."

"You and me both, my friend." They both shared a giggle.