Breaking Boundaries (unordinary love story)

Chapter 13: Nyctophobia

Today was shady, and above was just a dark, threatening gray. The veiling clouds were pregnant with rain that could birth any moment. The clouds weren't promising - they invaded the sun's ring of warmth and engulfed the sky of its blue.

It was tutorial time. I always spend Tuesday's tutorials studying in some quiet place. The library was somewhere I knew Rand would hunt for me, so I looked for another place.

The music room, for instance. No one used that place to hang out during tutorial time. I made my way to the music classroom in the pavilion, but as I got near I heard music drifting from it. Piano music. It sounded so nice. I poked my head in the door and saw Rick sitting in front of the piano, tapping at the keys, the notes amalgamating into something enjoyable to listen to, weaving together to form a beautiful, incandescent composition. The sounds stirred to life. He seemed so...passionate.

I moved closer and waited for him to finish the song. I had no idea he knew how to play the piano.

Once he ended the song with the last ravishing note, I applauded him.

Clap clap clap.

He turned to look at me, surprised I was standing there.

"Bravo," I said.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I was going to study here, but you were already here before me. The song sounded really nice. I didn't know you played."

"I don't," he said.

"No?"

"Not anymore, at least." Rick stood up and scooped up his backpack.

"Why not?"

"It doesn't matter."

"You quit?"

"Only because people laughed at me about it. They said I was trash at it. It ruined my motivation."

"You're not trash at it. You don't have to always believe what others say."

"I don't believe what you say right now. I can't believe you stalked me. That was humiliating."

"No audience," I said.

"Like I care. I'll leave you to your study," he said, leaving for the door.

"It really wasn't bad. I'm not lying, Rick. You're talented."

"Whatever."

He pushed on the doorknob, but it didn't budge. "Why is it locked?"

"It shouldn't be," I said.

But it was. I couldn't open the door either when I tried.

"Weird," I said.

"Thanks a lot," he said. "Now we're stuck."

"Because of me?"

"I don't know. Maybe?"

"It's OK, maybe we can figure a way out."

He tapped his foot. "OK, I'm waiting for your big idea, genius."

"I'm thinking. OK, I don't know, but how is it locked from the inside?"

"Someone locked us inside or something." He kicked the door and threw himself at it, but it didn't even budge.

"OK, it looks like we're stuck in here," I said. I sat down on the floor and hugged my knees.

He sighed and sat down beside me.

Then he unzipped his backpack and reached inside and pulled out something - my sketchbook. The one he and Rand had stolen from me last week.

He looked at it, then said, "Here. It's yours."