The Rose of Anthacena

Chapter 19

After that first talk, Arin and Violet renewed their friendship. It almost seemed as if nothing had happened, although neither of them could fully forget or ignore what had taken place. Rather than forcing them apart, though, it somehow brought them closer. It was almost like, in one afternoon of talking, they became better friends than they had in the five months they had had before.

Violet could in no way understand why that would be the case. She puzzled over it for weeks, but then realized that, as with so many other things here, she would have to learn to live without the answer.

Other changes took place as well. The biggest example of this was that Will was training Violet in her voice. He had heard her singing in the hall one day, and told her that he had been a voice teacher once. Will said it had been a very long time since he had taught anyone, but if Violet would accept him, he would be honoured to teach such a talented singer as she was.

Violet was surprised at Will's offer, of course, but she did accept it. So now she took voice lessons with Will twice a week. Since he had nothing else to do during that time, Arin would come and watch, with eyes only for Violet (not that he could see Will anyway).

Every time he sat and heard her sing, he would get so wrapped up in her voice that he was always startled to come back to reality once she stopped singing.

Violet noticed his enthrallment and the look of rapture on his face as she sang one day, and was greatly puzzled by it. When she asked him about it that evening, Arin smiled and thought carefully about his answer.

"I-I can't really tell you," came his reply at last. "It's not really something that-can be explained to someone that doesn't feel it. But I'm sure that someday, one way or another, you will understand."

Arin's answer only puzzled Violet further. She lay awake that night going over it in her mind. A little voice popped into her head saying, He loves you. But the idea of that was so ridiculous that Violet pushed the voice away and went on, soon forgetting all about it.

* * *

Violet finished getting ready for bed, then sat down cross-legged on her bed and opened her journal. She wrote the date, then paused for a few moments, staring into space before continuing.

Nine months ago today was when I first came here. I look back and laugh at myself for all the fears I had when I stepped through the door for the first time, my fear of not fitting in (which, in a way, I don't, but it no longer matters to me). My fear of being terribly unhappy here. My fear leaving my old life behind and starting a new one here. My fear of Arin. And most of all-my fear of the unknown. I think all of these fears were unfounded.

These past nine months have been some of the happiest months of my life. To be sure, I miss my family. I miss them more than I can say. But I don't regret coming. There is so much I would've missed out on if I hadn''t.

Will is a wonderful, wonderful teacher, and he really knows what he's talking about. I can tell I've become much better under his training, and I can only thank him for it.

Then Sarah. She's Will's younger sister, and-there are no words that can accurately describe her. So all I will say is that-I love her.

And then there's Arin. Dear, dear Arin. He is a beast, and he may be ugly to look at. But-he's beautiful in his own way. Except for that one time, he has always treated me well. As best he can, I believe.

There is something more to Arin than meets the eye. I have not yet been successful in determining what it is. Furthermore, I don't think I ever will be.