Page 11 of Unfamiliar


  Chapter Ten

 

  Chase

 

  The cool morning breeze hit my face as I strode across the campus grounds and toward the Music room. I didn’t have a class until later in the day so I figured I could use the time to get some extra piano practice in.

  Don’t get me wrong, I loved playing guitar, but there was something about gliding my fingers over the ivory keys that made the piano my instrument of choice. Even calling it an instrument seemed to degrade it somehow. It was so much more than that. Once my fingers found the right notes, it created magic.

  I wished my parents could understand that part of me. My ex hadn’t understood my passion for music either. All I’d wanted was to share my love of music with someone who just got me and what I was trying to do.

  That’s why I was unhappy most days, even though I hated to admit it, and I didn’t think I’d ever truly be happy until I really got somewhere with the band.

  As I headed down the hall toward the Music room, I heard the soft notes from an acoustic guitar drift down the hall toward me.

  Great. Someone had beat me to it.

  The song being played was unfamiliar to me, but it sounded damn good.

  Pausing outside the slightly ajar door, I peered through the gap and found a girl with short brown hair sitting on a chair and facing the back wall as she played. She didn’t look familiar at all. She was wearing tight fitted black jeans and a top that dipped low to show off her

  back. Nope. I definitely hadn’t seen her around before. She was probably from a different class.

  I listened to her play and was already captivated by the seemingly effortless way her fingers found every chord flawlessly, when all of a sudden she began to sing. I had definitely never heard the song before—it was probably an original piece—and I stood rooted to the spot as her beautiful voice caused goosebumps to pop up on my arms.

  Holy shit, could this girl sing.

  Now I had to see her face. I had to know who she was. Her voice had captured a piece of my soul and latched on. She was someone who had a passion for music.

  When she finished singing and the music faded, I pushed open the door and stepped into the room, ready to introduce myself and get to know more about this mysterious girl.

  That’s when she stood up and my eyes dropped down to the curve of her ass in those tight jeans because, well, we all know I’m an ass man. And, holy shit, no way! I’d recognize that ass anywhere. I’d spent a good few hours staring at that ass.

  “Hailey?” I asked, wondering if I was mistaken and that maybe, just maybe, someone else in this school had an ass as fine as hers.

  I mean, Hailey didn’t have short hair. Hailey didn’t wear jeans that tight, that fit her like a second skin and made my eyes skate all over that butt. Hell no.

  Yet, as she slowly turned to face me—and those familiar green eyes and rosebud mouth that I suddenly wanted to kiss it because I somehow knew it would be soft and sweet came into view—I knew it was Hailey. The girl who’d had me transfixed for the last few minutes was my Librarian Girl.

  Yeah, I wasn’t ready for a relationship, but that didn’t mean that I couldn’t find Hailey attractive.

  And, right now I did. Right now I couldn’t form words or take my eyes off her. I stood frozen like a fucking moron because Hailey was amazing. And she probably hated me to the moon and back.

  Hailey stared at me in confusion, tilting her head to the side. “Chase? What are you doing here?” Her tone was a little defensive and I couldn’t blame her. I hadn’t been the nicest person to her. If she didn’t like me, it was totally called for.

  Oh, shit. I wasn’t saying anything. I had to say something or else she’d think I had mental problems. Hell, maybe I did have mental problems. I was openly admitting that I was attracted to Librarian Girl. Except, she wasn’t really Librarian Girl anymore. She was, she was-I didn’t even know.

  “I didn’t know you could play like that.” Okay, so I’d managed to speak. Go me!

  A pale flush crept onto Hailey’s face and she looked down at the floor. “Oh, um, you heard that? Yeah, I’m not that great, but I enjoy it so much, you know?” She raised her head and her eyes became bright as she spoke. I’d never been attracted to a woman as much I was attracted to Hailey at this very second. God, she was beautiful. Everything about her in this moment was perfect.

  “You were amazing,” I said, drinking in every inch of her. “And you look amazing. That hairstyle really suits you.”

  Her eyes widened at my words and she gave me a shy smile. “Oh, um, thank you,” she said nervously. “Tessa wanted to give me a makeover and I felt like it was time for a change, so I took the plunge.”

  I was starting to like Tessa more and more now. Jonathan had picked well.

  I also wanted to tell her how amazing her ass looked in those tight jeans, but I restrained myself at the risk of sounding like a complete sleaze. This was good. We had something going here. We weren’t trying to kill each other and I didn’t want to ruin that. And as stupid as it sounded, I really wanted Hailey to like me.

  I mean, because her music was so awesome, that’s why. There was no other reason I

  wanted Hailey to like me. I was just always looking to make more friends who were really into their music, that’s all. That had to be it.

  “Well, I think you look great,” I said, raking my eyes over her for the hundredth time in a minute.

  Then I kind of stood there awkwardly and stared at her. I didn’t really know what else to say or do. I probably shouldn’t stare, but whatever, I was doing it anyway.

  I was pretty sure she noticed the weird way I was gawking at her because all of a sudden she cleared her throat. “Um, I was about to leave so you can have the room if you want.” “No!” I really didn’t want her to leave.

  “No?” She raised a brow at me, looking even more confused.

  I couldn’t really blame her for being confused. I was acting like a fucking weirdo.

  “I mean, no, I don’t need the room.” What was I saying? Of course I needed the damn room! Wasn’t that the reason I’d gotten up at 7 am and driven to campus? I was not a morning person, so it was a big deal for me to get up that early, yet here I was now telling Hailey that I didn’t need the room? What the hell was wrong with me?

  “Oh, I assumed you did.” Hailey’s tone was still shy as she leaned over and carefully placed her guitar back in its case. “That’s not why you’re here?”

  At this point, I felt pretty idiotic to say the least, but after hearing Hailey sing, I kinda didn’t want to play the piano anymore—I wanted to spend some more time with the girl who had just shattered every judgement I’d made about her. “Uh, do you want to grab some breakfast?”

  I cringed. Yeah, those words had just come out of my mouth. I wasn’t even sure what I

  was doing anymore.

  Hailey glanced around the room nervously, like she was looking for an out. Oh, great, she was going to reject me. Just what I needed to lower my ego even more after being dumped.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t. I uh, have class.” Hailey picked up her guitar case and began heading towards the door. “See you later, Chase.”

  In that moment I really wanted to say something, but then I told myself that I was stupid. Stupid for even trying to let someone in. Especially someone like Hailey. I was an idiot for thinking that different clothes and a new haircut could change who she really was.

  She would always be stuck up and prissy.

  Besides, I had more important things to focus on, like our upcoming show. I couldn’t let a girl distract me.

 

 

 

 
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