OCEAN EYES (ENG)

CHAPTER III

I hear dad playing inside. I suddenly stop there, in the middle of the stairs, while the notes oppress my chest, choking me, leaving me breathless. I used to play the piano. Ever since I was a little kid. I went to piano lessons, and then to the recitals. Dad was my best teacher. And then mom and dad divorced and I smashed my piano with a baseball bat. It just reminded me of all the times spent with him, and I hated that.

A couple months ago I got a university acceptance letter from The Icelandic Academy of Arts without even applying. They said they had been following me ever since I was a little kid; I just won't go there. I won't. I'll never play again, because all it ever does is remind me of my stupidly lame life.

I breathe in and open the front door. Dad stops playing and looks at me over the piano. It's the first time I'm here, in a wide simple room filled with a sofa, a TV, some shelves and a black piano. My piano. I raise my eyebrows and dad just mimics me.

- I'm going to bed.

I head towards the door standing in front of me without having a clue where my room awaits. I open it and come across a toilet. Dad chuckles behind me and I give him a killer look. When he finally points at my room I throw my bag in the bed and take off my jacket.

- Before I get completely grossed out- I jump, stopping mid-taking off my new orange shirt. Jonah is laying in one of the two twin beds in the room, looking elsewhere but me- you should know I'm in here.

- Get out of my room!

- This is our room! Okay? If you wanna sleep in dad's room, that's fine.

I blurt out a loud sigh, pressing my teeth together. Once I get a hold of my pajamas I look at my brother, who's staring at me with a worried sight.

- Neens. - he calls me by my nickname.

- What.

- Don't get mad, okay? - he hesitates- Can you just be a little nicer to dad? I... I just really don't wanna lose him again.

- Did you see his face when he saw you here? - I let out a little smile, sitting in my brother's bed. I feel so selfish for not thinking a little more about how he might feel sometimes- He was so excited! Jonah you've never lost dad, okay? You never lost him and you never will. I promise.

He sadly smiles. I kiss his forehead and head out to the bathroom where I change my clothes and wash my face and teeth. I look at myself in the mirror while holding my hair up in a ponytail. Dad starts playing again, a song I never heard before. I shake my head and get out of the bathroom, pissed off. He's writing something in a music sheet and I just plain ignore him.

- Nina, can I talk to you? - he whispers.

- Sure. - I sigh, sitting lazily on the couch.

- Where were you?

- Out.

- Well, it's almost one o'clock, so...

- You don't have to wait out for me, dad, I'm not twelve. - I say hugging my knees.

- I wasn't worried about you when you were twelve. - he frowns, taking off his glasses.

- Oh and now you are? - I laugh.

- If you're gonna be here, you're gonna have to...

- Well I don't want to be here, dad. - I raise my voice a little too much- That's just it. I don't want to be here. Is that not obvious? Do you not get that?

- Yeah, let's make the best of it okay? - he says, and starts playing again. I chug.

- Are you gonna play? - he stops and looks at me- Because if you are, I'm sleeping outside.

He frowns, then looks at me, but I'm not letting him win this argument. When he puts his hands on the piano lid I slap it and shut it close. He stares at me in silence, with those bright eyes I didn't get from him.

- Hey, congratulations on college.

- Why? I'm not going.

- That'd be a mistake.

- Well, you and mom really know about those, huh dad? - I laugh- I just learned from the best.

- That's enough Nina! Dammit! That's enough! - he shouts.

Almost instantly the door behind us opens, and Jonah looks at us with a frown. I breath and give him a little smile.

- I'm sorry Jonah. - I whisper.

- It's okay son. I'm sorry. - dad says.

- Go back to sleep. - I tell him as sweetly as I can. He sighs- I'll be there in a minute.

- If you're pissed at me- says dad when Jonah closes the door- and you wanna hurt me, fine! Hurt me! Be mad, be angry but... don't stop playing. It's stupid, Nina, it really is. And you're too talented.

- Are we done?

Dad nods and I just walk into my room, getting in bed just wishing one damn thing: for this stupid summer to last as little as possible.