Beautiful, composed, carefully crafted, and cultivated...perfect. My life has been a series of orchestrated pieces...choreographed moves. I've never questioned any of it...why should I?
But then the hammer drops, the hurricane falls, the tempest h...
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White blouse with a tie. Plaid skirt, slightly shorter than I was used to and penny loafers. Jeez, when was the last time I'd worn penny loafers, when I was like eight. Oh well. I brush out my long hair and decide to leave it long and unhindered. I take one last look at my reflection and come down the stairs where Amber and my father are waiting for me. Amber's face looks like she sucked in a lemon and my father, his face is just unreadable. What? Did I have something on my face. "You look beautiful, Havenlee...I just...I just...can't get over how much you look like me." I shrug. I'm not sure what else to do. "Hugh will take you to school today." I nod. And I'm totally taken aback when my my father grabs me in a bear hug. I lay stiff in his arms. I'm not used to touch, not used to touch at all. I follow Hugh into the car and give him a nod. "You'll like Windsor Prep, it's the best school in the city," Hugh said. "They have an excellent music program." "How?" I whisper. "How did I know you're a musician? Well...I just assumed, with your father being who your father is." I frown. I hadn't played in a long time. Mother didn't care for the "racket" as she called it. I also wondered if it reminded her of her first husband, the husband she had never talked about. Soon enough we're pulling up to the beautiful building, a huge, huge building. It looks more like an Ivy League campus than a prep school. I thank Hugh and get out of the car. "Do you need anything else, Miss?" I shake my head and head up the staircase into the school, ignoring the stares that I'm getting. I make my way to the office and come face to face with a smiling secretary. "I'm Havenlee Winters...It's my first day, and I'm here for my schedule." "Ohhhh...I have a packet for Havenlee Hemshaw." I make a moue of distaste but nod. "That's my...my father's name." "Where here you go, dear." I take the package and open it. The classes are pretty similar except for music theory and a fourth period open period. I take out the map and begin to make my way to class when I run smack dab into the hardest chest I've ever had the misfortune of meeting. I fly back and my folder falls to the ground. "Jesus, I'm sorry." The deep voice says. And I look up and my breath seems to whoosh out of my body, the guy standing in front of me is gorgeous, blonde hair just a tad bit long, wearing a blazer and slacks he fills it out well, too well, his sparkling blues eyes are beautiful and right now they're trained right on me. "I...no...sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," I say and curse myself and my stupid words. I'm usually much more composed than this. "Let me help you," The boy begins to gather up my papers and I swat his hands away not caring if I'm rude or not. I don't need his help. I don't need anyone's help. "I'm fine, thank you though." "Hey, you're new right?" "What gave it away?" I say slightly snarky. He merely smiles at me. "Listen, let me help you get to where you're going." "I'm fine." "Come one, let me. Let me apologize for running into you." "I don't let strangers walk me to class." "I'm Camden Cross, and you are?" I blink and find myself blurting out, "Havenlee Winters." "There, we're not strangers anymore." I don't know what possesses me but I allow this handsome boy to walk me to class. Halfway to class I regret my decision because more eyes are upon us. Soon we're reached a door and I hesitate. "Hey, it's all right don't be nervous. Dr. Thomson is awesome. And you'll love music theory." OH GOD. Music theory first thing in the morning. I open the door and walk in, Camden Cross follows me in with the smile. "I have this class with you." Once I've entered every single person seems to turn to me, including Dr. Thomson who happens to also be too handsome for his own good. Jeez, is this school just filled with handsome men? "Oh fresh blood." Dr. Thomson brings me to the front of the class and I refuse to blush. "Why don't you introduce yourself, tell us a little about yourself." "I'm Havenlee Winters and I'm from New York City. I just moved here." I wait and when it's obviously that I'm not saying anything else Dr. Thomson nods and says. "There's an open seat next to Camden. Why don't you take it." I'd rather sit by a rattler. But I take the empty seat and ignore the glare I'm getting from the blonde girl sitting on the other side of me. I've dealt with her kind before. She doesn't bother me. "Soooo...in this class we'll be working on music theory and composition." Dr. Thomson smile at me and I prayer that he doesn't call on me, God. I can't be that lucky can I. "Havenlee why don't you show us what you got?" My heart is thudding but I walk steadily to the piano and sit down. I rub my fingers and try to remind myself it's just like riding a bike. Oh God. What to play, what to play. I decide on Chopin's Ballade no. 4 in F minor, op, 52. I'd always loved Chopin. And after a minute my fingers are flying over the keys as I lose myself in the music. When I'm finished there is silence and then thunderous applause...except from the blonde. "That...that was very, very good, Miss. Hemshaw." "It's Winters," I murmur. And at my name more whispers begin throughout the room, which I ignore. "Do you have anything original that you'd like to share with us." Oh God. Why was this happening to me. I take a deep breath and begin a slow and melodic tune, one I'd composed alone in my room when mother and Richard were gone.
