The Music Of Loving You

10. Plans, Scams, and Helping Hands

(A/N) hey everybody! I know that I haven't posted in a while (sorry about that) but I'm posting now! And I'll try to make this extra long. And a special shoutout to KoalaBear119 ! Congrats on reaching 1K reads!!! Anyway, I hope you enjoy! Please read and vote if you like it!

OCEAN'S POV
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I stood outside my dad's office door, listening to his hushed conversation. He'd locked himself in his office and hasn't come out for days. I tried everything I could think of but he wouldn't come out. I'd resorted to standing outside the door, listening to his phone calls and his mumbled conversations to himself.

"I don't want to either Don, but we don't-" his voice cut out as he coughed loudly. There was a deadly pause and I could hear Don yelling on the other end.

"I told you Michael!" The phone cut out before Don's voice returned, "I swear I will. Don't think I won't"

"Okay. Yes sir" I heard the click of a phone hanging up. I could imagine the scowl on my dad's face as he ran his hands through his hair, trying to figure out what to do. Our plan had, for the most part, been figured out, but there was still the question how to get our next phase into action without suspicion.

I walked back down the hall to my room and went inside. I locked the door behind me and slid down against it. What was I going to do? My step mom was out with her sister right now but she would get back tonight. She'd find my dad locked in his office. She'd find out about the gun shots. She'd find out about the plan and she'd make us stop. But it's the only way. After listening to my dad's phone calls, I knew that this was much bigger than the three of us. And I was not going down without a fight.

**************

"Are you sure this is going to work?" My father was back on the phone again. "Okay." There was another pause. "I'll let her know" the sound of my dad unlocking the door shocked me. "I need to talk to you Ocean" he said. His face held pain and regret behind his frown. Something terrible must be going on.

****************

"Jackson's in a coma?" I yelled. I couldn't believe it. I'd heard he'd gone to the hospital but I didn't know how bad it was. "He's going to wake up, right?" My father got quiet.

"Hopefully so" he mumbled.

"But-but" I swallowed back tears and rubbed my eyes. This is what happens when you stir up a hurricane of hate, sometimes you get the ones you love involved. "Isn't there anything we can do? Can we call Bella? Can she do anything?"

"Not without Millie noticing. She's been by Jackson's side none stop. Even with our spies in the hospital, we still can't get past Millie." My dad said. He rubbed his chin, which held the beginnings of a beard.

"Well, we'll have to move on with stage three of the plan anyways" I said, trying to act strong. Bigger things then my heart were at stake here.

"Good girl. Now, let's get ready for tonight." My father stated. I nodded and went to get the papers.

***********

MILLIE'S POV
I watched helplessly as they dragged Jackson out of the room. My voice still hadn't returned and no one would read what I had written on a napkin. It had been three days since the accident and Jackson was still out. I knew it would take some time but it was like waiting for someone to die. To keep myself occupied, I researched Ocean's family. After a lot of digging (and I mean A LOT) I found a post about a man named Don Farfield that told about his dealings with Ocean's father, Michael Cooper.

Don was deemed legally dead on July third two years ago, but, within the last few months, has reappeared again. He reappeared a few days after Jeannette Farfield, his wife, died. And, strangely enough, shortly after his admit to life, Micheal Cooper lost his business and became, not broke, but in debt.

I showed this to Skylar and asked her what she thought. Sadly, she didn't know what to make of it. All I know is that this story keeps getting more and more confusing.

I sat in front of my piano, staring mindlessly at the keyboard. Usually I could make a song out of my emotions. But today it was as though I had drowned all my ideas in silent tears. I sighed, rubbing my hands over my face. What had I done? And what was I going to do?

"Millie?" Bryan asked. I looked up to see him poking his head into my room. "Mom says we're going out for dinner." He said. I nodded. "Are you coming?" I shook my head. Bryan, realizing that something was wrong, came in and sat beside me on my piano bench. "He's going to be okay" Bryan said. Despite of everything, I smiled. I hugged Bryan and, after a short consideration, he hugged me back. "I love you Millie" Bryan said. I hugged him tighter, wishing and hoping that he know I loved him too.

We sat in a booth in a diner, waiting for our food to be served. Our waitress, who's name tag read Eleanor, lounged on a barstool. There was only one other person in this restaurant and it was a man with graying hair and a sad smile.

"Excuse me" our waitress asked as she appeared out of no where. My mom looked up and Eleanor fiddled with her apron. "Are you Millie?" I nodded. "Good. I have some important business to discuss with you, can you come with me for a second?" She said. I nodded and followed her over to a table out of earshot but close enough so my mom could hear me scream incase I needed her.

Eleanor was quiet for a minute before she spoke. "You can't see Jackson anymore" she said.

"What?" I mouthed, a screech escaping my mouth.

"Just trust me. No matter what, you can't see him" she said.

I shook my head but before I could protest, Eleanor disappeared.

I went back to my table and sat down. My mom gave me a questioning look but I just shrugged.

***********

I lay in my bed, looking up at the ceiling. It was amazing how quickly things had changed for me. In just a few days, I'f gone from having no friends, to having a few, and from barely knowing someone, to feeling like I can't live without them, and then possibly having to learn to.

I was surprised to hear my phone vibrate. I picked it up and saw a message from an unknown number.

"I really need to talk to you Millie" the text read.

"Who is this?" I texted back.

"Tiffany" my jaw dropped. Tiffany? Too nice to not be fake Tiffany?!

"What's going on?"