The Cost of Dreams

Chapter 1

What was I doing here? In a music school, of all places. That's where he decided to send me.

I knew it was a mistake as soon as I made the deal with him. My older brother. For the last few years, his sole purpose was to get me back into music. Piano, to be exact. The thing I had walked away from, all those years ago.

So what did I decide to do? I decided to make a deal with him. I would do anything he asked of me, as long as he stopped trying to convince me to take up music again.

Of course, the bastard found a loophole. Or at least, he thought he did.

I had agreed to go to the music school of his choice, but only on the condition that I wouldn't have to take music classes. I was hoping that no music school would agree to something so ridiculous, but my brother had his ways. And money from his business. The fact that my name had been blasted around in the music world a couple years ago might've helped too.

All I had to do was survive a year as a highschool student. In a school where the only thing everyone cared about was music. Not exactly easy when you're an ex-music prodigy.

I sighed, burying my head in my hands. People were still crowding around my desk, even after I had been giving them the silent treatment for the last ten minutes. People just don't seem to get the message.

About a century later, they decide I'm not going to talk (which they're right about) and go back to doing whatever they do during homeroom.

That's when he approaches me. The guy who had been writing in his diary for the last few minutes. It wasn't odd for music students to have diaries full of song lyrics. But it didn't look like he was writing lyrics. I'd done that enough times to know.

He approached me cautiously, as if I were a caged animal that would attack if frightened. He seemed to be studying me, so I took the liberty to do the same.

He seemed to be average height, a few inches taller than me. His skin was a few shades darker than mine. A soft, hazel brown. His eyes were blue, but such a dark shade that I hadn't been able to tell until he got closer.

His eyes. There was a sort of familiarance to them. I'd never seen eyes that color, but I certainly had seen those eyes before. I just didn't know where.

His voice drew me out of my thoughts.

"Hello," he said, holding out his hand. "I'm Sevastian Revero. I was wondering if you would like a tour of the school."

I tentatively shook his hand. "Thank you for the offer, but I've already gotten a tour."

"Oh," he said. "Well then, what music course are you taking?"

"I'm not taking a music course," I replied, my voice taking on that cold, unfeeling tone I had perfected over the last few years.

He seemed surprised, but decided not to push for an explanation. Good decision on his part. I decided to spare him the awkward silence and asked the next question.

"What course are you taking?"

"I'm taking the music business course. My father wants me to take over his company so..." he trailed off with a shrug. I nodded.

"What company?"

"Revero Music Corporation. My dad wasn't really original."

I smiled. "I think I've heard of it before. Wasn't your mother a famous pianist?"

"She was," he said. "You've heard of her?"

"Of course I've heard of her!" I exclaimed. "You can't call yourself a serious pianist if you haven't heard of Rosaline Revero! She's one of the best pianists to ever live!"

"So then, you're a serious pianist?" he asked, a cheeky smile on his face.

"I didn't say that."

"I think you just did."

"I didn't—"

I was interrupted by the bell.

"Well then, I'll see you around, Mei," he said, grabbing his bag.

I didn't reply, grabbing my bag rather harshly. How can a nice person become aggravating in less than a second?

I stopped short a few steps after leaving the classroom. I'd gotten careless. I'd let myself talk about music the way I would've years ago. The way I couldn't anymore.

I shook my head. I wouldn't get careless again. I couldn't. Music was my past. I couldn't go back to it.

I couldn't.

I just couldn't.