The Universe of Music - restorationx

Chapter 4: A Little Love And Hope

  *Contains a crapload of romance-ish & ships, fangirling recommended!!! ;D*

'Hey, guys?' Fran said while everyone was getting to work.
  'What do you want to tell us?' Theodore asked.
  'I just got a text from my mother. She said she found a new guy,' She replied.
  'Really? Who?!' Ms. Lily said, surprised.
  'A guy named Darren. He lives opposite our house,' Fran explained.
  'She didn't even bother asking about my whereabouts,' She muttered after that.
  'Fran, it's okay. If we escape, you can come live with me. We'll go to my brother's house,' Ms. Lily offered.
  'I'd love that,' She grinned.
'Now, Fran. Come with me to the printing machine after you're done creating those petitions. Remember, you need a minimum of 10000 signatures for it to pass. I'll ask my harp to help hand them out to everyone.
'Aren't we supposed to be doing that?'
Before she answered, she pulled Fran into a quiet corner. 'I know you want to go with Theodore and practise with him. I can see it in your eyes.' Ms. Lily grinned.
Fran gave her a mean glare and punched her arm playfully. 'I don't like him!'
'Of course you do, I can tell! He likes you too, y'know.'
'I'm twelve, Aunt Lily.'
'Your thirteenth birthday is coming up. You do realise that, right?' She reminded Fran.
'I forgot. How do you even remember?'
'I put a reminder on my phone for all my relatives' birthdays. Just happens to be yours tomorrow. Don't worry, all of us will celebrate with you.'
'Thanks, Aunt Lily. I can't believe I forgot. I hope my mother didn't,' She said.
'I'm sure she won't, Fran. Back to Theo-'
'AUNT LILY!'
  'Okay, okay! Are you at least done with the petitions?'
  'Yes, actually. Let's go to the printing machine now.'
  'What's with all the shouting, you two?' Shayla asked.
  'Nothing,' Ms. Lily replied to her.
  'M'kay,'
  Ms. Lily and Fran went to the printing machine. As they got closer, they finally noticed the endless lineup of instruments and people wanting to use the printer. They looked at each other with pure annoyance and waited. And waited. And waited for another several hours, until finally, it was their turn. In fact, they had been waiting for so long-that a huge line-longer than the one that they were waiting in just now-had built up behind them.
  Fran took a picture of the petition on the computer and printed a few hundred pages. Some curious people and instruments tried to look at what they were trying to print, so Ms. Lily happily gave all of them the printed petitions. Behind the long line, was Drum6, the Universe Of Sounds news reporter, and the president of the Photography Club. They immediately took out their camera and took many photos of the petition as it was handed to them.
  'Wait until the readers of the Whimsical, Musical News hear about this! They'll be in dire need to know the creator of this life-changing petition!' They exclaimed.
  Here's what it said, for all you curious little readers:
𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬!
𝐖𝐇𝐘?
• 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞!
• 𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐲!
• 𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬!
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞! 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫!
______
☆ 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐬. 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠!
   As the printer produced more pages, more and more people picked them up and looked at them.
  Finally, the printer came to a stop. Ms. Lily and Fran left a few scattered pages around, for people to pick up. They took a stack of over one hundred papers, and went to the Art Club, where most of the harps were lingering around, painting sculpting.
  Ms. Lily knocked the door slowly.
  'Is any harp willing to volunteer to help us hand out these petitions! Everyone is welcome!' She announced. Some harps and different instruments gathered around them to see what the papers were about.
  'Make sure to pass these to anyone you can find. If you can, try and print more to spread the word! We're collecting every single signature on semester's test day, but you can hand it in immediately!' She reminded as many instruments each took either a piece of paper or a small stack to go hand it out to everyone. Fran and Ms. Lily watched with glee as the instruments started spreading the word like wildfire. Soon, they received many signatures immediately.
  'I think we might actually be able to do it. We've gotten over a hundred already!' Fran said, cheerfully.
  'Indeed. This was a fantastic idea, Fran. Good job! This way, we'll free everyone! They can see their families again!'
  'Mhm!'
  'And maybe Theodore'll confess to you.'
  'AUNT LILY I SWEAR-'
  'I'm just playing. Let's go see how the others are doing.'
  They went back to the dorms and saw Theodore playing the piano and Shayla and Thomas discussing about the escape plan.
  'So, what have you all found out?'
  'We found the perfect time to escape. Stargazing night,' Shayla retaliated. 'Everyone, even the guards will be distracted by the beautiful constellations. That way, we'll escape easily. Stargazing night's a weekly event, by the way. It's going to be held next week on semester's test day.'
  'We know, Shayla. However, that's great news! We're doing good as well. Our petition is getting more popular as we speak. How are you doing, Theodore?' Fran said.
  'Good, thank you for asking, Fran. I think I've mastered most exam pieces. My fingers are getting quite sore though, so I think I'll get some rest. It's already nine o'clock. Goodnight,' He answered, tiredly. He went back to his twins' and his room.
'Ooh,' Ms. Lily cooed.
  'Aunt Lily.'
  'I think I see what's going on here. Thomas, do you want to go back to your dormitory as well so I can have a girl chat with Fran and Ms. Lily?'
  'For sure. I'm exhausted. See you guys in the morning,' He said before leaving.
  Shayla looked around to room for eavesdroppers before saying, 'Fran, you like Theodore, don't you?'
  'I really don't! What's going on with you guys?'
  'Just admit it,' Ms. Lily commanded.
  'I genuinely don't.'
  'If you don't, he definitely does,' Shayla told her. 'It's so obvious. The way he looks at you, it's love. I remember when you just came. Theodore, Thomas and I were in the back of the Stage Of Choosing. He was straight in love when he laid eyes on you, girl!'
  'Are you certain he really does?' Fran asked them.
  'He totally does,' They both said.
   'I don't know how to feel about that, to be honest. Y'know what, let's talk about this when we get back to Earth. Give me both of your phone numbers.' They exchanged numbers and each went back to their own room after saying goodnight to each other.
  The next day, the group met for breakfast. When they ate their scrambled eggs, Fran could tell from Theodore's swollen hands that they were still sore. 'Theo, your hands hurt.'
  'They do. I don't think I can eat,' He said as he put down his cutlery.
  'I'll save your food for you. Today, you really need to get some rest. You played non-stop yesterday.'
  'I know. Thanks for caring, Fran. You're so nice and..pretty,' He told her.
  'Ooh!' Shayla and Ms. Lily cooed.
  'I get it! That's what you three were talking about yester-'
  'Keep your mouth shut, Thomas the Train Engine,' Shayla said, jokingly.
  'Hey! Don't call me that. Besides, I don't even like Thomas the Train Engine,' He replied.
  'Well you're as annoying as him,' She said.
   'I can agree,' Theodore agreed. 'However, what were you three talking about last night, anyways? I heard a little screaming,'
  'Oh, we were just talking about ghosts,' Shayla lied. She put on a straight and casual face, so Theodore couldn't tell she was lying.
  'Anyways, Ms. Lily. Did you get any news about our petition yet?' Fran questioned her.
  'Yes. We're already at 500 signatures. Isn't that splendid?' She told the group.
  'It really is, congratulations,' Someone said, coming up to their table. It was Mr. Kenneth.
  'Oh! Mr. Kenneth. Didn't see you there,' Ms. Lily said.
  Fran elbowed her and smiled gleefully.
  'Gosh, Fran. Don't do that infront of Mr. Kenneth,' Shayla whispered to her.
  'I don't mind, honestly,' Mr. Kenneth answered.
   'You can hear me?'
   'I have good hearing. Plus, you whisper a bit too loudly.'
  'Hey!'
   'Just saying,'
   'Guys, I think we just have to wait for the inevitable,' Thomas said.
  Everyone agreed.
 
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