Its Not Living (If Its Not With You)

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When the two teenagers got to the house, Hannah helped Clay out and they headed in the door. Clay said he felt tired so Hannah led him up to her room and she gave him a pyjamas and left him there. When she was sure he was asleep, she went downstairs to the music room.

She had lied to Clay earlier in the day. She had been playing piano since she was 5 and guitar since she was 8. She had won almost every talent show she competed in in her old town, and anyone who knew her could tell you she had a beautiful voice.

After she shut the door, she picked up a guitar and started tuning it. She played a few songs and then went over to the piano she had gotten from her aunt. Whenever she played it, she thought of her and remembered her and it made her play more powerfully. She had died of suicide the previous year, and Hannah still hadn't gotten over it.

Today, she decided to play her cousin's favourite song, from her favourite band. The Scientist by Coldplay.

Come up to meet you
Tell you I'm sorry
You don't know how lovely you are
I had to find you
Tell you I need you
Tell you I set you apart
Tell me your secrets
And ask me your questions
Oh, let's go back to the start
Running in circles
Chasing up tails
Heads on a science apart

No one said it was easy
Its such a shame for us to part
No one said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
Oh, take me back to the start

And, almost as in the record, she heard guitar strumming behind her for the interlude. She looked back to see Clay, playing along with her. They didn't stop playing, they just smiled at each other and kept playing the song.

When they were finished their little duet, Clay put the guitar back on the stand and got up from the seat. Hannah got up from the stool and they walked over to each other.

"That was......amazing.", Clay said, completely in awe at her skills at music.

"I can say the same to you.", she replied to him.

"You lied to me, Hannah. 'Oh, I'd never be able to play an instrument' to one woman band. How long have you been playing?"

Hannah chuckled and said, "Piano for 11 years, guitar for 8. That piano, over there," she motioned to the piano she had just played, "is my favourite instrument in this room. I have ukuleles, guitars and a keyboard, but that one is special. My aunt gave it to me a few years ago. She took her own life last year."

She choked over her words in the last sentence. Clay immediately brought her in for a hug.

"I'm so sorry to hear that, Han. She must've been special to you.", he said to his friend in a comforting voice. He wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. She smiled at this.