[Monday]
As Juliette sat in the corner of the living room, the familiar chords of "Hallelujah" echoed softly from her acoustic guitar. The sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the room, but the atmosphere felt tense with anticipation. Her mother, Hadley, sat opposite Juliette on the couch, her eyes fixed on her daughter with an intensity that made Juliette's nerves twang like a taught guitar string.
"That was better, Juliette" She remarked as Juliette finished the first verse, "But you need to project more emotion. This piece demands a depth that you're not quite capturing yet"
Juliette nodded, trying to absorb her critique without letting it deflate herself, "Okay, Mom. I'll work on that"
"Working on it isn't an answer, Juliette. You need to be perfect" She replied sharply, "This recital is important. It's not just about playing the notes correctly; it's about moving the audience, making them feel something"
"I know, Mom" Juliette said softly, her fingers finding the strings again to begin the next verse
Each note was a delicate balance between technical precision and emotional expression, a tightrope walk Juliette felt pressured to master, "You can't afford to make mistakes like that" Hadley continued, "Every detail counts, especially with such a renowned piece. You have to be flawless by Friday"
The pressure mounted with each passing comment, and Juliette could feel the weight of her mother's expectations settling like a stone in her chest. She played on, trying to channel her mother's feedback into her performance while fighting the rising sense of inadequacy.
"And Juliette" Hadley added, "Practice makes perfect and the Thompson's are always perfect. I expect perfection come Friday"
"I understand, I'll keep practicing" Juliette managed to say
"You do that" Hadley replied with a nod
As Juliette continued to practice after her mother left the room, the weight of her words lingered in the air, mingling with the music. The countdown to Friday felt both daunting and inevitable, a test of not just Juliette's musical ability but her resilience in the face of relentless expectations.
[Tuesday]
Juliette received a text in the group chat to meet in the library after finishing her music practice. She walked in to see the girls already sitting down, with the only spot left next to Noa. She tried to act normal as memories of Halloween night resurfaced.
"Hey, guys" Juliette greeted, sitting down as Noa shifted slightly, "So, what's up?" She asked
"So, Tabby and I met with that guy who called me" Imogen informed them
"And you're still alive, I see, so it went okay?" Juliette responded
"Well, he told us that Angela Waters' mom was committed to the Radley Sanitarium in Rosewood" Imogen said
"Okay, but are we sure we can trust a man who lives in a train car?" Faran questioned
Noa and Tabby pointed to Faran, "Stellar point" Tabby said
"And just to ask a question, is there any universe in which...creepy train guy is A?" Mouse asked
"Absolutely" Imogen replied
"Except for the fact that he didn't try to kill us, but definitely a person of interest" Tabby added
"Anyway...we looked up the Radley Sanitarium. A few years ago, it was shut down and turned into a hotel. Mr. England..." Imogen explained
YOU ARE READING
Hidden Flames
FanfictionIn the small, secretive town of Millwood, Juliette Thompson navigate the complexities of friendship, love, and danger. As she faces the threats alongside five other girls she never thought she'd talk to along with the pressures of their own lives, a...
