The Boy Who Couldn't Cry

Chapter 6- New Happiness

"See, you got the hang of it."

It had been two months since meeting Hannah and since she started teaching me piano. We practiced every day on the piano behind the curtain. I was getting pretty good at it, but nowhere as near as good as her. The way her fingers flew across the black and white keys. The way the music blended perfectly together. It was amazing.

We sat together at lunch every day, and worked on homework while at each other's houses. I didn't know it at the time, but I was starting to feel again. Gradually, I was starting to feel emotions once again, and I was happy.

Eddie and his gang actually never really bothered us again. I'm not sure why. I guess he just didn't think we were worth the trouble. Hannah had convinced me to be in the school play with her, and who'd have guessed? I was actually really good at acting.

We both participated in our school's musical of Alice in Wonderland and I played the White Rabbit and even sang a short solo. Acting was a lot easier when I had emotions, and a friend to act stupid on stage with me. Hannah played the Red Queen, and during the scenes she wasn't in, she played piano. She did great.

Basically, my life was good. I found talents and passion in things I didn't know I would ever be good at. I was good at piano, acting, singing, and playing baseball. I had begun to be happy with my life, just like it had been before all of my feelings faded.

After Hannah and I became friends, we met other people at the school and became friends. Isaac, Jeremy, Lilly, and many more. I had become quite popular at school, but not for being a jerk like Eddie. For being myself. Apparently I was awesome.

But even with all the other friends, none compared to Hannah. She was with me no matter what. No matter what crazy thing I was doing, she had my back, and I had hers.

By March of the next year, I was getting seriously talented at the piano. I thought of Hannah every time I played.

The song I first heard her play, that day behind the curtain, was called The river flows in you. That was also the first full song I learned to play, after I learned to read the music of course.

My birthday had just passed, and my parents bought me a new dog. A husky that I named Tempest. Hannah and I would spend time with Tempest, running through the woods or splashing down near the lake. It was a good life.

I thought my happiness would last forever. It seemed as though nothing could break it. But that's where I was wrong.

It all started going downhill when an old friend came back into town.

"Hey, Zach." Yelled Hannah while we were playing with Tempest at the park.

I threw the Frisbee toward her and she caught it easily then ran off with Tempest on her heels.

"Over here, Hannah!" I called. She threw the Frisbee back and caught it as Tempest ran up and tackled me to the ground.

I landed with a grunt while Tempest happily licked my face. Hannah ran over and gave a slight grin.

"Are you okay?" She asked with a chuckle.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I said, standing back up.

She still looked a little worried and tilted her head a bit when she looked at me. "Zach?" She asked.

"Tag! You're it!" I shouted after punching her shoulder and running off.

"Hey! No fair!" She shouted with a laugh. She chased after me, along with Tempest who barked with joy.

I barely made it to the basketball court before Hannah caught up and tagged me. We laughed then went to sit on the bench near the court.

It was the bench we always sat at. We normally talked for hours while sitting on that bench. We walked over to it, out of breath, but before we reached it, we noticed someone else sitting there.

I got closer, and suddenly, I recognized the person. My heart felt a stab of pain as I realized who it was.

"No..." I whispered to myself. "It couldn't be."

"What?" Asked Hannah curiously.

But there was no mistaking him. Even though it had been over two years since seeing him. The familiar red hoodie, the black and white checkered ear buds, the laidback position he was sitting, and of course, his short, gelled hair practically standing straight up.

I had to go see if it was actually him though. I still wasn't fully convinced. I didn't want to see him, but I had to know. I increased my speed, until I was running. I stopped two feet in front of him. He slowly looked up, then cracked that familiar cheeky grin of his.

"Well, well. Long time no see, Zach." He said.

Jake.