Finding My Muse - Nicholas Galitzine

Chapter Three: Practice Room

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--Esmerelda's POV--

"Where are you going?" Kylie asks as she checks her phone, "It's almost ten o'clock," She points out. I look at my guitar case and book bag and wonder if she does this on purpose.

"This is the only slot available for the practice room today," I tell her as I shove my keys into my jacket pocket. She tells me to be careful as I start walking out the front door. I speed walk towards the school trying not to slip on ice. When I walk in I open the door seeing someone sitting on the bench, "Sorry I have this slot booked," I tell them not wanting to sound rude.

The man turns around and Nick looks at me with an unamused look, "Oh it's you," I state placing my stuff down. I swear I can see him mocking me by the way his head moves. He stays with his hands hovering over the piano, as I stand there awkwardly.

"I think you have the wrong room," he says refusing to look at me.

I walk to the outside of the room and rip the sign-up sheet from the wall. I slam my hand down on the top of the piano as he rolls his eyes, "Why can't you just use another room?" He asks.

"This is the room I always use. Since you're new here...I'll let you in on a little secret," I whisper moving closer, "You're cute little British accent will only get you so far," I tell him as he turns around smirking.

"So, you think I'm cute?" He says crossing his arms over his chest. I stare at him with a blank expression as he grabs his back from the floor, "Fine. I'll leave. I was done anyways," he says, turning the piano off. I stand off to the side as he walks out, leaving the door open. I close my eyes and try not to throw my water bottle at the back of his head. I trudge over to the door and shut it behind me, twisting the lock. I sit in front of the piano and let my fingers glide over the keys.

After getting everything set up I hear some students walking in the hallway. One of them is playing guitar loudly as they walk past, only freshmen would play in the lobby of the practice hall. It's not like anything was coming to me anyway. Hours go by and the only thing I managed to accomplish was playing random commercial tunes. I grab my phone off the top of the piano and my wallet, before walking into the hallway. A vending machine was put in last year and it has become my favorite source of food since then. I think if I was cut open my body would be half organs and half hot Cheetos. I dig around in my wallet finding $1.25 in quarters. I go to put the first quarter in when a hand reaches around me. I spin around seeing Nick observing the choices in the machine like it's the most interesting thing he's ever seen.

"No, go ahead I wasn't using it or anything," I tell him as he keeps a straight expression. I take a step back feeling my heart drop as he presses the combo I know all too well. A-7. I look at the conveyer belt and see he took the last bag of Hot Cheetos, "You're joking".

"I didn't feel like waiting around for you to look through your bag," he says bending down and picking up the bag that fell to the bottom.

"Why are you even still here?" I ask as he moves out of the way, leaning on the wall.

"Harry doesn't like being kept up until three am listening to me play," he says ripping open the bag of Cheetos. I feel my stomach growl as the smell hits my nose. God, I'm like a primal gorilla looking for its next kill.

"I guess Kylie and him have that in common," I whisper looking at the other choices. I never really look at them. They are kind of boring. I decide on a bag of gummy candy. When I press the button combination the lights above us dim. I look at Nick and the look on his face is priceless and he stares down the hall.

"What is this?" he asks as two other people come out of their practice room and down the main halls.

"The school has the lights on a timer. It's their way of kicking us out of the building so we sleep," I explain as I bend down picking up the gummy packet, "It was implemented after a student went psycho trying to finish their final project," I add. He lets out a laugh and I'm surprised he actually has human emotions.

I start walking back to the room with my stuff in it, "I guess that makes sense," he says with an amused smile as he starts walking in the direction that I'm heading in. He's probably in the room next to me, probably convinced someone to leave with that stupid smirk

"Looks like we are stuck packing up in the dark," I tell him while pushing my hand on the door. I give him a weird smile as I walk inside leaving him alone. I turn my phone flashlight on and grab the pieces of paper off the floor. I grab my folders out of my bag and try and organize them as much as possible. Another light shines over me as I kneel on the floor. Nick is standing in the doorway with his phone propped up as he leans in the doorway, "What are you doing?" I ask as I zip my backpack up. He doesn't answer my question as I stand up grabbing my guitar case. He holds the door open for me as I walk out with my things.

"Did you forget how to get to the apartment from here?" I ask as we walk into the cold air.

"You really talk a lot," he says as I clench my jaw, "I'm walking you home cause it's two a.m. and I'd rather not hear from Harry about how Kylie is all depressed cause you died," he says as I let out a small laugh.

"Well then thank you...I guess," I tell him suddenly feeling awkward, "Are you working on a piece for class?" I ask trying to make small talk. I can see him biting back a sarcastic remark as he adjusts the strap of his bag.

"I have to make a song using the beat of an 80s song and the lyrics of a current song," he says sounding interested in the small assignment.

"Oh is that for Professor Lark's class? I loved her. Just an FYI...if you use songs she's heard before she knocks it down a couple points," I tell him as he grabs the doors to our apartment building. He holds it open above my head and lets me slip in. A shiver goes down my spine as warm air surrounds me.

"Yeah, she seems kind of cool. I just don't know if I'm really into this school," he says shocking me. He sees the look on my face and backtracks, "The classes are whatever but I just hate playing music for a grade," he says as I press the button on my floor.

"No, I totally get it. Some professors just suck out your soul just to give you a B minus," I tell him as the elevator door stops. I pick up my case off the floor and take a step out, "Thanks for walking me home," I tell him as he leans against the back wall with a small hint of amusement on his face. When the doors close I turn back around and continue walking to the apartment. Okay, he's still an asshole but he has a basic respect for womenkind. I guess I can respect that.