Behind Shaded Eyes

Chapter 5: Meeting the Inevitable

Everyone always has those elementary school crushes, it's inevitable.

You never think you'll see them again after you move to a different school.

Well the inevitable had come true when I'd got home from school one day and Riley had invited a couple familiar friends over to help with a school project.

I walked in the house and immediately froze when I recognized a familiar blonde headed boy sitting on the couch.

"Hey, I'm glad you're home!" Riley exclaimed nervously.

"Uh, y-yeah." I stated. "Is this what you wanted to tell me?"

My sister nodded. "Hazel, you remember James and Vanessa."

"It's nice to see you guys again." I kept my eyes astray from James. "Almost a couple years passed by since I've visited you, Nessa."

Vanessa's eyes softened as she hugged me. "Two years too long, Hazel Diane." She said, making me chuckle.

"I'll come more often, I promise." And I meant that, as cheesy as it was.

James kept silent while I was there catching up with Vanessa. To say it was the most awkwardest situation I was in would have been such an understatement.

I stood up and pulled my bag over my shoulder. "Well, I should get some work done myself." I announced. "You guys be good, okay? I don't need the house on fire when Mom and Dad get back."

They all nodded and I left as fast as I could to my most sacred place in the house: the secret music room our foster parents made us when Riley and I were little.

I was always in the music room even if I didn't have work to do. It was my own safe spot. A place where ai could get some time to myself.

I was at the piano, playing around with a couple notes wen someone decided that the music room wasn't my sacred spot anymore.

I kept my eyes trained on the sheet music in front of me, fully knowing who had opened the door and stood in front of the piano. The blonde haired, blue eyed boy I didn't think I'd see for a while. Or at all.

"I knew you would be here," James Kallaway had announced, choosing to invade my boundaries and sit next to me. "Piano buddies know each other from the start."

I kept silent, making him continue. "I didn't know you visited East High two years ago, I would've been happy seeing my West High pal after six years."

Pal? Is that what he thought I was for the six years I hadn't seen him? Just a pal?

"Your silence makes me worry, you know?" James said. "You weren't always this quiet in elementary school, then again, you were always at the piano bench whenever I saw you." He started messing around with a couple keys.

"I know you remember the duet we played," he continued, letting out a low chuckle while continuing to play.

Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin

"Come on, Hazel." James nudged my arm. "If you won't talk to me, then play."

My hands had eventually touched the surface of the piano keys. James started the song while I followed. A small smile made its way to my face once my fingers recognized the familiar tune.

I sighed after we finished the song. "A lot has changed in six years, James." I tell him, avoiding his sight. "I held what you said to me over my head for the longest time and I-"

"Hazel, we were in sixth grade when I said that I didn't want anything to do with you. You didn't really take that to..." His voice drifted in realization. "You did take it to heart, didn't you?"