Forgive Me

Chapter Fifteen

     The piano in the music room was old and simple. This was no grand instrument. Cracks dimpled its once-shining surface, and the keys twanged sharply on some notes. Jorrie loved it.

    Pulling out a dusty bench, she swept her hand across it, flinging dirt particles into the air. The bench cushion lay a few feet away, and, carefully, Jorrie tucked it onto its proper place. And then she sat, breathing in the smell of the dusty, dark room. No one would be here on a Sunday. They just didn't seem to care anymore.

    Jorrie sighed as she ran her finger lightly across the keys, barely making a whisper of sound. She didn't even know how long it had been since she'd played. Her skills would be a little bit... rusty.

   "That's okay, just get on with it." she said aloud, flexing her fingers and placing them lovingly onto the keys.

   And then she played.

    Starting with the left hand, she began with a simple harmony. The notes were dark and soft. Her right  fingers unconsciously slipped onto the instrument, chiming out a sweet melody. And, as it so often happens when she really felt the music, her mind began to slip away. Sunny skies and green grass filled her mind, and her notes become upbeat and lively. Unknowingly, she laughed aloud as she remembered the fierce snowball fight with Green. The song peacefully died out. Jorrie lifted her hands smoothly from the beloved instrument, allowing a smile to linger on her face.

   "That was beautiful," said a voice from the doorway. "How long have you played?"

    Jorrie's face flushed an embarrassed red, and she whipped around to stare at him. Green.

    Of course. He always turns up at the worst of times.

   "A-a long time." she stammered.

   Nice going! Nope, that didn't sound self-centered at all!

    "I've always wanted to play an instrument." He eyed the piano curiously.

      The red faded from Jorrie's cheeks, and the embarrassment swiftly flitted away.

   "No one ever plays anymore." she said softly, placing the  cover back over the keys. "I almost don't have the time, but I just have to..."

      Silence crept in.

     Unwilling to become embarrassed yet again, Jorrie awkwardly attempted to change the subject. "Did you need something?"

     Did I really just say that?

    Green opened his mouth to speak, but abruptly shut it again. Jorrie's heart skipped a beat. Was he going to talk about what they'd seen in the woods?

      She began to speak, but was suddenly cut off. Voices drifted through the air. Someone was coming.

    Wildly, she motioned for Green to come into the music room. For some reason, she just knew  they should be hiding. If nothing came out of this, she thought to herself, then she would just have to label herself a drama queen.

   Green had quietly strode forward as her thoughts were battling, and now began to crouch behind the piano. Silently, she followed him, choosing to ignore that they sat just feet apart. This was not the time.

    The voices grew louder.

    Jorrie's eyes widened.

    "It's Tral." she mouthed.

    Green closed his eyes, listened for a brief moment, and nodded. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. Alarm spread across his features.

    Panic crashed into Jorrie. What? What was so horrifying to him? She listened for a moment, attempting to catch who the other voice was.