Music is the key

Chapter 2 (Bella)

"Hi." I say. "You haven't changed one bit."

This is obviously a lie. All my memories are flooding back now and he's definitely changed. He's a lot taller (well he is years older) and more muscular. His hair is the same; normal, dark and trimmed short so it's out of his eyes which are bright blue. He smiles his crooked smile and I notice the little gap between his front teeth. It's still there.

"You haven't changed much either." He smiles

"Good to know."

We just stand (or in my case sit) there awkwardly. I'm not sure what to say. It's been years since we last saw each other. I'm trying to think of something, anything to break it.

"Yes." I say quietly.

"Yes what."

"Yes I can play Bach now. What about you? Can you now play the high note on the violin."

He had a lot of trouble when he was younger playing them.

He snorts "Please. I can play the cello, viola and double bass now. "

"Obsessed much?" I shoot back.

"What about you Miss Bella? What can you play."

"Just the flute, piccolo and piano."

"Just? Just? Honestly you have dropped your game while not being near me."

His eyes lock with mine for a split second and I feel goosebumps travelling down my spine.

"Get up." He says.

"What?" I reply, startled.

"We're going for a trip."

"Where?" I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"To your new school. Which just so happens to be mine."

"You're at the Academy of Arts?"

"Yeah." He states, walking out of the room. I scramble up off the floor and follow him.

The Academy of Arts is a music, art and drama based school which is extremely hard to get into, but school doesn't start until tomorrow so I'm curious why we're going there.

I follow James out of the house and across the road, where he gets out his car keys and unlocks the car. He opens the passenger door for me and I get in.

We pull out of the driveway and start down the street.

"So." I ask "Why are we going to school."

"So you can meet your teachers."

"WHAT?! You could have told me that so I could get into something respectable and brush my hair!"

"You look fine. Don't worry, they'll love you."

I look at him and he smiles at me. I suddenly feel a little out if breath.

"So, you're 17 now right." I ask.

He looks at me surprised then nods.

"Which makes you 15." He replies.

James suddenly slows down. We're approaching a large iron gate. James pulls over and parks at the curb.

"Come on, they don't open the car park until tomorrow. We'll take the side gate."

With that, he starts off down the street towards the gate and I follow close behind.