by Jarica James
The room is huge, clearly used for band practice. I assume that means this is the music portion of the arts classes. I pull out my notebook as he leads me to one of the tables set up in the middle of the room. It’s two to a table, so I’m extra glad Cole’s in here with me.
‘How does this class work?’ I write and slide it over. He reads it and looks up at me.
“Do you play any instruments?”
I nod and keep my eyes trained on him expectantly..
“Cool, only a few of us do. Today is actually the first day of music, we just finished theater. This class has two parts, one teaches those who don’t play, how to read music and about musical history. The other is pretty much practicing whatever instrument we know. It’s nice knowing how to play, so you don’t have to spend an hour studying sheet music. What do you play?”
I smirk at him, not giving it away that easy.
‘Guess’ I write down and slide it over, quirking an eyebrow as I study him. He reads my note and chuckles again before narrowing his eyes, studying me for a second. I fidget at the attention, refusing to think about how much I like it coming from him. Though, I don’t know what that says about me since I like all of their attention.
“Piano?” he guesses in a confident voice. Impressive. I’m actually a little surprised at how accurate he is.
‘Piano and violin’ I correct. He gives me an appraising look and seems impressed. I’m suddenly thankful that Dad had spent the time teaching me to play. I haven’t played piano since he died, but I learned the violin at my first foster mother’s insistence that I pick up an extracurricular. I took to it quickly and let myself get lost in it, practicing more than was probably healthy. But it gave me a way to fade the pain away for a bit.
The teacher walks in and I turn my focus to him. He picks up the paper I’d left on his desk and reads it over for a second before addressing the room.
“Welcome to our new student, Charlotte. Wave, Charlotte!” his booming voice announces, getting everyone’s attention. I give a small wave and receive a few curious looks from around the room.
“Do you play any instruments, Charlotte? Since this is the music portion of our arts class, we teach those who don’t play how to read music and those who play an instrument, get to practice and learn more,” the teacher says enthusiastically.
I nod and he stares at me, apparently waiting for me to answer. I mime the piano and the violin. His eyes light up at my admission.
“Wonderful. Go ahead and split up! Charlotte, come up here please.”
I shoot Cole a panicked look before making my way up to Mr. Hill’s desk. He’s shuffling through some sheet music for the class to study, then turns to the bookshelf behind his desk. He selects a book of sheet music for pianos and one for violins, before turning back to me.
“Which would you rather play? I have a classroom violin and a piano, so either is fine.” I quickly grab the violin book. Apparently I didn’t hide my nerves because he raises an eyebrow at how quickly I choose. “Which do you have the most experience on?” I hesitantly point to the piano book. He must have picked up my hesitation because he doesn’t push any further. “It’s always good to improve upon a new instrument,” he says simply, giving me a reassuring smile before turning to the class. “All right, instruments to the music room and the rest will be working in here with Mrs. Jones.”
He ushers me to a glass door on the far side of the room. I notice Cole and three other students join us. Cole takes a seat at the piano, the other three are clarinets and a flute. I find a violin and grab it before claiming one of the stools to wait for him to explain more.
“Charlotte, we take turns playing one song for the group, then when everyone has a chance to play, you each can practice on your own. On nice days we go to the courtyard and set up away from each other to practice too, otherwise it gets a bit noisy. It’s a pretty laid-back class, but we will also work on techniques one on one. Okay, let’s start with the clarinets,” he announces, leaning against the door and waiting for them to begin. They’re pretty good, and I assume they’re in the school band since they all seamlessly play their songs.
“All right, Charlotte, are you okay to try now?”
I nod and choose one of my favorite violin solos; at least it’s in the book.
Putting the violin in position, I close my eyes and go into the music trance that always happens when I play. The rest of the world fades away as the notes fill the air, and for the first time today, I get to relax. I finish the song and finally open my eyes, glancing around the room before settling on Cole. He gives me an excited smile, and Mr. Hill claps. He doesn’t linger or say anything, just turning to Cole and motioning for him to play.
Cole is an amazing piano player, which is almost comical because he looks like a rocker while playing a classical tune.
When Cole is done, Mr. Hill walks over to the other students and helps adjust their hold, before guiding them through a new piece. I start flipping through the violin book and pick a new piece to try.
I’m not familiar with a few chords, but it doesn’t take me long to get the hang of it. Or at least play a somewhat discernible version of the song.
Mr. Hill is an understanding teacher, and I actually find myself enjoying playing music again. When he finally dismisses us, Cole and I head out together after class before going our separate ways. I grab the books I need out of my locker and make my way to the main entrance to meet Sophia, feeling a lot more optimistic than I did at lunch.
Monday
Afternoon
Charlie
I don’t feel like writing out a ton on the way home, so I just scribble a few basics while I wait for her to pick me up and hand it to her when I get in the car.
“I’m glad school went well!” she says as she reads. I chose not to tell Sophia about the basketball incident. Just saying that I made a few more friends and enjoyed my music class. She hands the paper back to me before driving home. The ride is quick since we live so close, but I actually find myself happy to be home. Startled at the admission, even internally, I quickly push it away.
“Do you have a lot of homework?” Sophia asks as we walk inside our house. I nod and open my planner to point out all I have to catch up on. Turning to an empty sheet, I quickly write, ‘Can I walk to the library?’ I would much rather study there than in my room. There’s just something about the library, in general, that makes studying easier.
“I don’t mind, just try and be back by dinner? Let me know if you want me to pick you up. I’ll just be working around here, so don’t hesitate to text,” she says, before giving me a wave and walking off to her office. It’s so freaking refreshing to have someone not hover but also give a shit.
I gather my most important homework assignments and load them into my backpack. At least I downloaded my new music onto my phone yesterday, so I just make sure my headphones are in the bag already. I don’t even take two steps outside when I hear my phone chime.
Abby: Rough first day, Charlie? I heard about gym...
Trent: Callie is an idiot. Sorry about hulking out. If there is one thing I hate, it’s that bullying bullshit.
Me: It’s ok guys, I’ll survive. It isn’t new to me. Apparently she thought I was trying to flirt with Adam. Supposedly Adam is hers, she warmed me as she shoved me into the door on her way out.
Adam: Why would she care if you were? We broke up two years ago.
Abby: Dude, some girls are like that.
Alice: Did the teachers load you up with homework? I can help if you need it.
Me: Thanks, I think I can handle it so far. I’ll definitely let you know if I can’t. Speaking of which, if I don’t respond, I’ll text you guys after I get done at the library. I’m walking there now.
Abby: Such a good student already, Sweets!
I smiled at her teasing, coming from her I knew it was just her personality.
Alice: Sweets?
Trent: I don’t know, it kind of fits, don’t you thin
k?
Abby: Find your own nickname for her.
I’m a little disappointed that Cole didn’t pipe in too, but their banter cracks me up. It’s nice to have them flirting and taking me in so easily. But I have to shake myself out of it, it doesn’t matter anyway. I can’t exactly date anyway, not until I deal with my broken pieces first. Which isn’t likely to happen soon since the nightmares have been happening almost every night again. Sweet Sophia has come in every time and held me until I fall back to sleep. She never asks, but one day I’ll need to tell her about them.
The walk to the library is slow as I get lost in my thoughts again. Once I finally get there, I go inside and claim one of the tables upstairs. Just when I spread out my book and start figuring out what to work on first, my phone lets off another chime. Since I’m not actually studying yet, I pull it out. My heart does a flip when I see it isn’t the group text, but a private text from Cole.
Cole: Hey Charlie girl, want some company?
Me: sure :)
The fact he didn’t want them to see had that familiar butterfly sensation coming back.
Not even ten full minutes pass when he joins me. He pulls out the chair right next to me, and I shuffle my books around so he has room. Not wanting any awkward pauses, I put a notebook between us in case I need to answer anything.
“I saw your texts and figured I could join you since I have a test in chemistry tomorrow,” he explains as he pulls out his chem book. I give him a small smile, and his eyes linger on mine for a moment. My mouth goes dry at the attention, and my traitorous cheeks heat again. His smile changes into a softer one before he looks away.
We work in companionable silence for almost an hour before my brain feels like it’s melting. Giving up, I rest my head on my book for a second. Cole taps me on the shoulder, and I look up at him.
“You all right there?” He sounds amused. I reach for my pen and give a whining noise.
‘My brain is melting from information overload’ I write in response. He chuckles at me and flashes me a sympathetic smile.
“Are they forcing you to make up all of the work you’ve missed? Or just the chapters we’re already into?”
I grab my pen and explain that each class wants me up to date from the last test until now.
“That’s not too bad then,” he says with a shrug, and I shake my head no. It’s not but that doesn’t make my brain feel any better right now. Especially after the day I had.
He isn’t wrong though, I’d be in a panic if they expected me to catch up from the start of school. After the brain melting, I decide that I’ve had enough studying and pack up my books. He slides his book back into his bag and turns to me.
“Where do you live?” he asks, and I grab out my notebook to write down my address and he smiles. “We are practically neighbors. I live a few doors down, and Abby and Adam live two blocks away.” I give him a happy smile, because that means I don’t have to walk alone. The idea of walking home at night seemed fine earlier, but now that it was dark I was a bit more nervous.
The walk home is nice. Cole doesn’t talk much, which is good because I can’t really answer him while walking anyway. But he doesn’t make me feel like it’s an inconvenience, more like we’re both just lost in thought. We make it to my house, and he’s still with me. I guess he lives farther down. He stops when I quit walking and I point up at my house so he knows it’s my stop.
“Bye, Charlie girl. See you tomorrow,” he says with his signature half grin and continues down the sidewalk once I make it to the porch. As I walk inside and drop my bag on the stairs, I can’t stop smiling. Between him, Adam, and Abby, I’m feeling like I belong somewhere for once.
The sound of dishes clanking together draws me to the kitchen. Sophia’s cooking, so I walk in to see if I can help.
“I know that kind of smile,” she accuses playfully, grinning. I just shake my head and roll my eyes but my damn cheeks give me away. She giggles but doesn’t pry further as she finishes cooking and I set the table. It’s nice that we already have a system going, each night here it starts to feel more and more like my home.
After she brings the taco stuff to the table, we sit down and she quizzes me about my new friends. The moment feels so normal, and I almost feel guilty for slipping so fully into living here. It has only been days, but Sophia is my favorite foster parent by far. Not that the bar was super high, but this woman is everything I could have hoped for.
Tuesday
Afternoon
Charlie
The next day at school is so much better than my first day. I realize that I have history with Alice, we just didn’t know each other the first time. Thanks to the empty seat next to her, I’m able to avoid sitting next to Callie this time, so there aren’t any issues there. By the time lunch rolls around, I’m actually feeling pretty good about this school.
“Soooo?” Abby asks as I walk up to her outside of the cafeteria. I give her a strange look, wondering what she’s so excited about, her eyebrows wiggling suggestively. I do a quick recap of my day in my head, but I’m still stumped. Not one exciting thing has happened today other than it not being a dumpster fire.
“I hear Cole met you at the library last night,” she squeals. I freeze for a moment, because now she might think I’m into him over her, which isn’t the case. “Come on, you better text me the details. Wait. Don’t tell me you two literally studied the whole time? No flirting?” She has a pained expression on her face as she waits for my answer. I nod my yes to her, and she pretends to cry. “You two are hopeless. Guess I’ll just have to keep up the flirt game.” With that she gives me a sexy smirk and grabs a tray.
We make it through the lunch line and back to the table, and I purposely lead the way to stop her from bringing it back up. I highly doubt Cole wanted to flirt. He was just being friendly and probably curious more than anything. Not to mention it’s all happening so fast.
“Hey, Charlie!” Adam greets, his serious face melting away to a smile as he sees me joining them. Alice and Trent both look up and wave. Cole lifts his head at the same time and gives his half grin.
“Hey, Charlie girl. Today better than yesterday?” He seems concerned. I give him a dramatic head nod, emphasizing how much better it was. They all appear relieved, which makes my chest tighten. It’s weird having so many people who care about something as simple as my day or being bullied. Their acceptance means more to me than I can put into words. I keep telling myself that I’m temporary and that I need to part ways before I get left behind again. People leave eventually, so why make connections? But, despite my internal warnings, I can’t bring myself to let them go just yet.
“I guess you’re yesterday’s news now,” Abby says with a shrug, taking her chair and digging into her food.
“At least we get to keep you to ourselves now,” Adam jokes as he leans back in his chair, his eyes studying me for a moment before Abby starts talking.
“So, my parents are talking summer vacation already, and guess what this year’s destination is,” she says with a weary sigh.
“Let me guess, something educational and not at all relaxing or exciting?” Trent jokes and she laughs.
“You know them so well. And yes, they're taking us to this small town in Colorado that has a mining museum. There’s not even WIFI, so be prepared to have Abby withdraws,” she grumbles and takes an aggressive bite of her pizza.
“Well, after fifth grade we know summer camp won’t work,” Alice muses, a thoughtful expression on her face. “We could try the summer school route?”
“Then I’d have to do bad in something and I’m too meticulous for that,” Abby mumbles as she takes a bite.
“Start subtly giving hints of cooler places,” Adam says with a shrug. “At least it’s only a week.”
“Oh okay, I’ll tell them Adam insists on going because mining is his favorite history topic. Study up, they’ll quiz you later,” she says sarcastically.
The conversation continues on around m
e for a while, and I’m content to listen and nod, just enjoying my food and company.
“It’s funny, Charlie, that I can pretty much tell what you are saying with your facial expressions. I guess the not being able to talk thing made you more expressive or we take for granted how much you can understand just from expressions alone,” Alice observes while she studies my face like I’m her very own science experiment. I just shake my head and grin.
“That look said, ‘wow Alice, you’re creeping me out,’” Abby teases.
“Alice, rein in the nerdiness, it’s leaking out,” Trent jokes as he dramatically scoots his seat away like she’s contagious. She rolls her eyes and blushes before she goes back to the book she was reading. But I love how blunt she is; it’s refreshing.
When it’s time to head to class, Adam doesn’t hesitate to grab my hand and escort me through the hallway. I try not to acknowledge how fantastic my hand feels in his, especially because of the feelings I’m developing for Cole and Abby. Part of me is afraid that I’m just looking for love and acceptance in the wrong places, so I refuse to let myself sink too far. But then again, Alice jokes and talks with me and I feel nothing, so it may just be that there’s something between me and the others. But either way, I’m not jumping in just yet.
Plus, Adam seems like the protective sort, and it isn’t often you see jocks caring enough to do something like that. Especially without you being their girlfriend. Adam hasn’t openly flirted with me once, at least I don’t think so. I mean… honestly why would he? I’m the weird foster kid who doesn’t talk. Though, it’s nice just having a genuine guy friend if nothing else.
Let’s be honest, it’s nice having friends again in general.
I loved Lizzy, but there’s a difference in having a real friendship and having a friend that you had to constantly take care of or reassure. Lizzy couldn’t handle my mess of a life even though I know she still cares about me. Something tells me when this group finds out, they won’t just give up on me. Alice’s observations about communicating with me were impressive. Everyone else just wants actual words or gets annoyed with my lack of interest, case in point… Callie.
