Burning Willow

Chapter 2

I moved my desk so I was sat facing Fraser and lifted an eyebrow.

“So?”

“So what?” he scowled. I smiled widely knowing I was irritating him.

“We going to start this project or what?” He sighed again.

“Fine, whatever.” He snatched my class schedule off my desk and scanned it quickly. Throwing it back down he said, “We both have a free period fourth so just meet me in the library.” He put his head down on his desk, so I poked him. “Shoo.” It took a lot to prevent me from laughing.

Ms Wilkes chose that moment to walk past.

“Fraser, no sleeping in my class.” She didn’t even break her stride! I shook my head and pulled my desk back to its original place. The bell went then. I grabbed my schedule off my desk and picked up my bag before swinging it onto my back. Olly came up beside me and swung his arm over my shoulders. I raised an eyebrow in his direction.

“Do you mind?” I asked shrugging him off.

“Nope,” he replied, popping the P and putting his arm back over my shoulders. I ignored him and continued walking towards my next class, but I looked at him again when he yelped and withdrew his arm.

“What now?”

“She bit me!” he exclaimed, attempting to rub his hand and point to Bex at the same time. She feigned looking innocent but failed when she started giggling. I smiled at her widely. I had really missed her.

“What’ve you got next?” she asked.

“Umm music with Mr. Peterson.”

“Same!” both she and Olly exclaimed at the same time. They both took an arm and dragged me down the hall despite my protests.

When they got to the door I hesitated and my breath hitched in my throat. Bex threw me a concerned look.

“You okay?” I nodded mutely.

“Just give me a second,” I said kind of breathlessly. Olly shrugged and walked in. Bex stood still but I shot her a small smile. “Go on.” She didn’t look satisfied but went in anyway. I followed after her and sat at the seat beside her and kept my head down. Mr Peterson greeted the class and didn’t notice I was there until he did the register.

“Chris Ball?” he said in a bored tone. “Siobhan…Carter?”

“Yes sir,” I said still looking down.

“Ms Carter please come and speak to me after I have finished explaining the task.” Bex shot me a look that said ‘what did you do?!’ I shook my head and looked down again.

I zoned out completely until Bex nudged me slightly pointing to Mr Peterson. I stood up slowly and went to talk to him. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Fraser watching me but I couldn’t make out his expression; so I just ignored it.

“Yes sir?” I asked.

“Do you still play?” he asked immediately. I tried to keep my face neutral as I replied, “No.”

“Why not?”

“I chose not to anymore.” I shrugged.

“Very well, you can go and sit down now.” I sighed gratefully.

“What was that about?” Bex asked as soon as I sat down.

“Nothing. What did you get for number 3?”

The lesson went on as normal until the bell went. My bag had slipped became my chair so I turned to pick it up when my eyes landed on the grand piano and Fraser sat beside it with his guitar sat on his lap. Bex poked me.

“You coming?”

“I’ll catch up,” I said absentmindedly not taking my eyes off the piano. Bex said something else but I wasn’t paying enough attention and waved her away. The door slammed behind the last student and it was just me, Mr Peterson and Fraser left. I placed my bag down on my desk and went over to the piano.

“Do you mind?” I asked Fraser. His expression was unreadable as he moved to sit on the chair instead of the piano stool. I placed my fingers on the chipped keys and began to play random chords slowly, the music washing over me made me happier then possible. I closed my eyes as my hands continued to fly over the keys.

When I open my eyes Fraser was staring at me with confusion and curiosity filling his eyes.

“What was that about?” he asked, eventually looking straight into my eyes.

“Nothing. I’ll see you later,” I said quickly standing so he couldn’t say anything else. As I walked out I saw Mr Peterson grinning at me.

“Glad to have you back Ms. Carter.”