Deception **ON HOLD**

Chapter eighteen

**after a few days**

Today is our concert and I'm so excited that I've played all the songs over and over which has been annoying Matt. as I take a shower I try to hum the songs but I'm very disappointed when i can't.

I get out and put my newest outfit on which is a navy blue sweetheart neckline dress with matching heels. I do a dark blue smokey eye with winged eyeliner and curl my hair for more volume.

I finish getting ready and head out to the kitchen. Matt looks over at me and smiles before saying, "my little Sarahbug you aren't so little anymore." I nod and we continue talking for a little bit until the doorbell rings and all my friends come in dressed as fancy as me.

After a few minutes of talking I stomp my foot to get all attention and sign, " it's time to go." they all nod and we head over to city hall where our concert hall is. When we get there Matt heads to find his seat and we head to the back of the stage to get ready. I sit at the beautiful white piano behind the big dark red curtain to get my songs in order for the show.

** about fifteen minutes later**

I'm running my fingers across the keys waiting for my cue to start playing the melody to "warrior" and make sure my hair is in my face so no one sees me until i stand up for mrs. ethans to announce my name. The stage hand moves his left arm and i start with my fingers pressing the rights keys as the curtain moves to show the stage and i.

I finish warrior and Mrs. Ethans comes out to introduce our class. I grab "what happened to perfect" because that is the next song.

I sit and listen to each name called and applaud when Logan, Ashley, Alyssa and Jacob are announced then the rest of the class. I stand when I hear Mrs. Ethan's say, " And please welcome our wonderful pianist Lynn Allen, who recently joined but cannot sing or talk due to a few problems. Anyways enjoy the concert."

I sit back down and wait while everyone else gets in position. I start the melody and first Alyssa starts singing then steps back and stops as Logan starts and so forth through the class before they sing together.

Each song is done the same way as the concert goes on and at the end Ashley's solo is "here without you" which I wrote a while back.

As she finishes everyone comes back on stage and form a line leaving a spot In the middle between Logan and Jacob. We all bow as everyone cheers and I look around for Matt and see all my old friends in the front looking shocked ,besides Beth, at seeing me.

We all head up to the second floor to a gathering for us and people from the town come up. As my old friends enter I jump up with an excuse to go to the bathroom and run out onto the roof passing Beth, Mason and Bryce. I feel a hand reach out but I dodge it.

The door slams shut as I run onto the roof and my breathing gets shallower making me realize I'm going into an anxiety attack. I don't hear the door open and close again as I try to calm myself and regain my breathe. With the my head on top of my knees and my hands on my head.

Someone bends down and removes my hands before lifting my head up. My eyes met theirs and I realize it is Mason and I start freaking out again.

He quickly says," shh....it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to help. Now breathe in slowly and let it out slowly and repeat." He starts demonstrating and I follow along.

After a few minutes my breathing is back to normal and my body isn't shaking. I sign," wow I haven't had one of those in almost a year now." He looks shocked and asks, "Really?"

I nod before signing," since meeting my brother Logan and his twin Ashley, all my attacks and nightmares have went away." He says," wow I'm happy for you."

In the distance I hearing screaming and look alarmed at Mason. We both jump up and run to the side to see smoke rising to the sky.

We run to the stairs and see fire on the second floor blocking any exit from the stairway. I start freaking out causing Mason to pull me back to the rooftop with him. He looks at me and tells me,"we may have to jump to the fire escape and it may not be completely safe."

I nod and climb over the side before mason grabs my hands to lower me as much as he can. Seven feet from the fire escape all of a sudden Mason's hands slip and let go and I scream," Mason!" As I fall to the fire escape. I stand and don't see mason but as I went to move the fire escape let's go and I fall screaming to the ground blacking out.

****hours later****

I wake up in the hospital I'm all too familiar with and see Matt asleep beside me and I croak out," Matt!" He jumps up started and looks around. I sigh and say," you dummy it's only us in here."

He looks at me shocked before saying," are you alright?" I look at him and say," my head hurts but that's all." He nods and leaves to I guess go get the doctor.

A young man in a lab coat comes in. "You are one lucky woman." He says to me. I look confused and it makes him continue," the fall should have busted your head open and you should have broken bones AND you should still be mute. But you only have a concussion, sprained wrist and your voice is back." I nod and look at Matt who is happy that I'm not even more broken.

The doctor leaves after asking a few questions and telling me I can go back to Britain like planned tomorrow. I turn to face Matt knowing he isn't telling me something.

I ask him," what happened?" He looks sad before saying, " someone set City hall on fire. We all knew you and mason were on the roof. We thought you guys got out and was behind the building. Then we saw mason trying to help you into the fire escape then you fell and he disappeared."

He takes a deep breath before continuing, " they couldn't find him sarahbug. The roof had collapsed and after the fire was out they starts looking but they couldn't find him."

I nod," Okay. It's sad but okay." He gies hiks to pack the rest of my bags and I close my eyes remembering mason and I's talk in the roof.

**the next morning**

After getting dressed I sit back down on the bed right before my friends bust through the door. Ashley looks straight at me before bursting out in tears and runs to me throwing her arms around me.

Everyone just surrounds me and my breathing gets shallower and Matt comes in and yells," back up she is going to have a panic attack." He rushes over and makes me look at him and breathe with him.

Right after I get my breathing to normal Mrs Ethans comes in announcing we must leave before we miss our flight. I tell meet goodbye and promise to come see him soon.

We go to the airport, get on our plane and settle in our seats before soon everyone starts talking of what to do once we get back as I close my eyes. I feel Logan put a blanket on me and arm around me causing me to lean into him and I feel a kiss on my forehead before I fall asleep.