Love Does Exist (Ross & Heather Fanfiction)

Chapter 33 Hope

To hold it in my hands again, a smile comes across my face. I look at Ross and lean forward. I look at Ryland, who is smiling too. He nods, I smile and nod back. His smile grows. I start to play, and I feel six sets of eyes on me. I get butterflies, which is easier to deal with than the pain, so I take it. I don't sing, but I play. Ross knows what I'm playing, and so does Ryland that I know of. Half way through the first verse, Riker and Rocky lean forward. Ellington is sitting with eyes glued on my fast moving fingers, and Rydel is smiling at my with a prideful smile. She knew I could play, and she kept my secret. I smiled at her. Everyone besides Ross, Ryland and Rydel had no idea I could play, other than what they were told, but clearly they didn't believe it.

I feel the nerves building up. Ross puts his hand on my back, and I smile looking down at my fingers. I don't have to look at him for him to know I was smiling at him. Everyone looked at Ross and Ryland. Apparently they had spilled, and now they believed. When the song was over I moved straight into another. The music was helping, I would find out later if it helped for the good or for the bed, but at the moment, I felt like a million bucks. When the second song ended, I bottled the nerve, and started playing one of their songs. I had everyone's undivided attention now. I smiled again, thus felt great.

I played a few more, showing off now. I was feeling confident. I played nearly every song from the first album, in order on top of that. Rocky was more surprised obviously. Riker next in line. Even Ross and Ryland, they only heard me play one. Nine songs later I moved onto the newer album. Now I was showing what I got. I didn't want to stop. I felt on top of the world. I eventually ran out of songs, next thing I know Rocky is going and getting his. He trades Riker spots, and sits next to me. I'm on key with almost every note. Riker was even surprised when I pull off a few babas notes.

Not long after, Ellington is on his knees drumming the beat on the table, Rydel has her portable keyboard on the table, Riker has his bass in hand and everyone is singing. I'm watching Rocky closely, and when I would mess it up, Rocky would nudge me to let me know that I needed help with that part. When we ran out of songs, I look at the clock. It was nine o'clock. We played for three and a half hours. Everyone looked at me in shock. I just laid the guitar in front of me, my knees supporting the neck so it didn't fall over. Although Ross was smiling at me, he still watched me with concerned eyes. I smiled at him, telling him I felt great. I didn't say another word, just laid my head back. What energy I did have was gone now. I just smiled at Ross while everyone apologized to Ryland and Ross.

I laid back closing my eyes. My mind wasn't distracted anymore, I was coming back to the normal. "Are you okay?" Ross whispered in my ear. I nodded and smiled. I remembered the last I saw dad. I remembered his smile. In my mind I could see him smiling watching over me. He was proud of me too. Than I did something stupid.

I though back to the last conversation I had with him. When I called telling him I was staying a few more nights with Ross and his family. I had lied to him so he wouldn't be disappointed. Now I couldn't make up for that. I jumped up, losing my balance. I catch it on the table and run for the door. I fall a few times, but get back up and run again. I make it to the yard, just a fraction of a second before Ross. He was watching my closely, waiting for me to break again. I fall to my knees in the yard, and fight the ache in my chest. I wrap both arms around my chest, afraid it is going to rip open on me. Ross closes the door so nobody else comes out.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry......I'm sorry daddy....!" I scream as loud as I can. Ross figures out right away what I talking about and sits on the ground next to me pulling me on his lap. My chest is tearing. Heart breaking. Sobs creeping up. I fight it with all I got. "Go get it....please." He knows what I'm talking about, so does Rocky at the door. He goes and fetches my guitar, bring it to me. He squats on the ground in front of me, handing it to me. I start to just strum, not playing anything in particular, and I remember every key, locked in my mind.

I play it i really and over, until the pain stops. Just than the sun peaks through the clouds, shining rays down to earth. I smile, hand Rocky back the guitar and lay back against Ross. Laying my head against his shoulder, he looks at me. Rocky points out what I'm already staring at. Ross looks at the rays for a long minute with me. He wrapped both arms around me. I hold him tight. I just smile silently toward the sun. Maybe my subconscious mind playing games with me but it helped, I heard dads voice in my head. "I'll always love. I'll miss you. I'm with your mother again. She says she loves you. Be happy. Don't be sorry for living him. I forgive you sweetie." One tear escapes. "I love you guys too. Miss you."