The Lifeguard

Chapter 6

I heard a knock on the door, and hoped it would be Connor. We haven't been talking for a couple of days since the movie night. And after the fight we had, I don't know how to face him. I opened the door. Jace was behind it. "Hey. Aren't you going downstairs for lunch?" he asked me.

"Not hungry. What's up?"

Jace entered the door. "Your dad isn't here, so I get a day off. And, I was thinking if you could come with me. I met this girl who owns a music store near by– I kind of promised that I would check it out."

I scoffed. "Oh, no, no, no. If you're just gonna hit on a girl, please leave me out of it," I rolled my eyes. "Go work your magic, Mr. Graham."

"It's not like that," he assured me. "I'm not trying to hit on her or anything. We had a decent conversation, and that's all." He sat down on the couch. "Now, go dress up, and I'll wait here." He stood up again, pushing me to my bedroom.

Minutes passed by, and I went outside my room. Jace was outside, sitting down in the balcony. His phone was on the table while it was ringing. He ignored it and continued to look ahead of him. "I'm ready to go," I called out. He turned around with a smile on his face, and we left.

When we got into the store, Jace opened the door for me. A girl with short, black hair was standing by the counter. "Hey," she greeted Jace and I. "You must be Zoe. I'm Ava," she introduced herself.

"Zoe." I faked my smile, and shook her hand. "This is really nice." I complimented the store.

"Thanks. Feel free to wander around." She smiled back.

"I will do that," I nodded, as I walked away from them.

The store was huge, it consist of a second floor. It has a small open area on the right side of the store, which has couches. Different types of guitars hanging on the wall, and other instruments are displayed around the store. There are shelves filled with cds, and albums. I walked myself in the second floor, where there is another open area beside the piano. Stereos displayed, and more albums and cds. I walked closer to the grand piano, and carefully ran my fingers on it.

"Beautiful, right?" I heard a voice. I turned around, and a guy was watching me. His skin was pale, lips were naturally red, and he had this perfect smile that normally forms on his face.

I eventually removed my fingers on the piano. "Yeah," I answered.

He smiled again, and approached me. "It was originally my grand-father's, passed on to my father, and now to me, and my step-sister."

"Nice."

"I'm Sean," he introduced himself. He offered his hand to have a formal introduction.

I didn't shake his hand. "Zoe Anderson, and not interested." I shrugged my shoulders.

Sean laughed. "Hm. Just to make that clear– interested in making friends or just talking?" I didn't answer. "Well if I may ask, do you play the piano? What instrument can you play? Right. Not interested."

He sat down on the chair in front of the piano, while I was standing up in front of him. As I was watching him, I suddenly remembered my sister. "No. My sister played the piano. We also have a grand piano back home, but no one touches it anymore. The dust keeps it accompany." I fake laughed.

I have an older sister, her name's Chloe. She was alot older than I am, but died almost 3 years ago. No one talks about her death, even my parents. All I know is that during her college years, she got sick all of the sudden. I was only seventeen and didn't know what actually happened. Whenever I try to ask my parents, they would tell me not to mention it.

"Thought you weren't interested," he smirked. "But you should bring her over, then maybe I could listen to her play. You know, we could teach you. We offer piano lessons."

I looked down on the ground, and felt upset. I remember how I used to get annoy whenever she plays the piano. It was so loud, but she was amazing at it. Every morning, the sound of the piano wakes me up, and I would always get mad at her for ruining my good sleep.

"I should get going, so you could do your thing. Jace might be looking for me too." Before he could even say a word, I turned around and started walking on my way to the stairs.

"Hold on," he called out, pulling my hand. I turned around, and he let go.

"Is everything alright?" called out Jace, while he was on the end of the stairs.

"Yes," I answered.

"Did I say something?" asked Sean.

"No, not at all. It's my sister," I cleared my throat. "She's... dead."

"I'm so sorry," he apologized.

I fake smiled. "No. That's fine. It's just that– it's been such a long time since I talked about her again." I chuckled. "Sorry, I'm being a drama queen."

"Sean," called out Ava. Sean and I walked down the stairs, and approached the both of them. "Oh. You met my brother," she says to me. I nodded.

"Ava was talking about a good restaurant that just opened near by, and I thought we all should check it out," says Jace.

"You guys have fun. I'll go back to the hotel."

"Are you okay?" he asked. I nodded. "Okay, we'll drop you off," Jace suggested.

I refused.

"I'll drive her," volunteered Sean.

I was about to refuse when Jace already agreed. Ava walked to the back room, where a girl came out with her. She works for them. Few moments after, Jace and Ava left, while I waited for Sean outside the store. He arrived in front of the store with his car. When he came out, I knew he was going to open the door for me, but before he could even open it, I did it myself and shut the door after me.

"Okay." Sean sighed. "Anderson's Hotel?" he asked. I nodded.

The whole car ride, I didn't talk to him. When he tries to create a conversation, I eventually end it without even trying. In the middle of the car ride, he turns on the radio, as he sang along to the music. I admit, he has an amazing voice. I could listen to it the whole time, but I don't vibe with him that much.

We arrived at the resort, and I got down the car. "Thanks for the ride," I told Sean. He nodded.

"It was nice meeting you," he called out.

"You too." I fake smiled.

When the car left, I turned around, and found Connor in the lobby. I looked at him, and waited for him to approach me but he didn't. He shook his head, and looked away. So I shrugged, and started walking. When I was about to passed by him, he grinned.

"Another victim of yours?" he scoffed.

"Connor."

He glared at me, and left.