Golden Melody

Chapter 2.6

Miexha Verra

Her pov

The music room always smelled like old wood and dusty sheet music, a comforting scent that usually calmed me down.

But today, even the smell of the grand piano couldn't stop the storm brewing inside me.

It had been a month since Zatariel's awkward escape at my birthday party, and I still couldn't believe he'd just... run away.

"Seriously?" I muttered, polishing the trumpet.
"Was I that bad? Did I have something stuck in my teeth? Or was it just the fact that I'm, like, totally unlikable?"

I sighed, wiping down the trumpet with a sigh.
Zatariel, with his shy smiles and nervous glances, was giving me more stress than trying to play a perfect solo in front of the whole school.

Suddenly, a knock on the door startled me.
I opened it to find Zatariel standing there, his eyes looking at something way above my head.

"Uh, hey," he mumbled.
"The council wants you to play at the Valentine's Day thing. Uh, they said you should wear red. I, like, uh..."

"Riel, if you're too awkward to talk to me, just tell someone else!" I snapped, slamming the door shut. "You're the president, not a messenger boy. Just go!" I was so mad, but also kind of guilty.

I quickly opened the door again, expecting him to be gone, but he was still there, looking pale and holding his nose.
"Whoa, oh my gosh!" I asked, rushing over to him.

He just stared at me, his eyes wide and confused.

I grabbed the first-aid kit from the shelf and started cleaning the blood from his nose.

"Seriously, just tell someone else," I said, my voice softer this time. "You don't have to be the one to..."

He shook his head, nodding as I dabbed a bandage on his nose.

"He was still so cute, even with a white band-aid on his face." I mumbled

He just kept staring at me, not saying anything, just nodding as I mumbling.

I couldn't help but feel a weird flutter in my chest, like a butterfly trapped in my stomach.

Maybe it was just the adrenaline, or maybe it was something more.

But as I looked at him, his eyes locked on mine, I felt this strange connection, like we were speaking a language without words.

I wondered if he could hear the music playing in my heart, a mix of confusion, anger, and a tiny spark of hope.

Suddenly, Zatariel's cheeks turned a bright red, and he looked like he was about to bolt.

"Uh, I, uh... I gotta go," he stammered, backing away from me.
"See you later, maybe?" He said, turning and practically running out of the room.

I stood there, staring at the closed door, my heart pounding.

Was he really that shy?
Or was he just playing hard to get?

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.
Maybe I should just focus on the music, and let him figure out his own feelings.
But the truth was, I couldn't help but hope that maybe, he felt something for me too.

As I picked up the trumpet again, a small, almost inaudible giggle escaped my lips.

I couldn't help but smile at the thought of Zatariel, all flustered and blushing, running away like a scared puppy.
Maybe it wasn't so bad after all, this whole awkward, confusing thing between us.

Maybe it was just the beginning of something beautiful, something messy, something full of music and laughter and a little bit of chaos.

But then, I saw him, just a few steps away, his back pressed against the wall outside the Student Council room.
He looked like a deer caught in headlights, his eyes wide with panic.

I couldn't help myself.
I had to know what was going on.

I set down the trumpet and ran after him, my heart pounding in my chest.
I reached him just as he was about to turn the corner, and we collided, stumbling together in a tangle of limbs.

We landed in a heap on the floor, me on top of him, our faces inches apart.
I could feel his breath on my cheek, and the warmth of his body against mine.

For a moment, everything went silent, except for the sound of our hearts beating in unison.

Zatariel scrambled to his feet, his face even redder than before.

He reached out a hand to help me up, his eyes wide and pleading.

"I, uh... I'm really sorry," I couldn't hear him clearly, his voice barely whispering.
"I... I don't.... what.... doing."

My heart sank.
He looks really uncomfortable.
He didn't like me.

I had been so caught up in my own feelings, I hadn't even considered that he might not feel the same way.

"Don't you ever show your face to me ever again!" I shouted, my voice trembling with anger and hurt.
I turned and ran, my tears blurring my vision, my heart breaking into a million pieces.