51. Disaster pageant pt.3

Lucy held Lydia's hand in hers, together giggling like two little schoolgirls as they ran down one of the Athenaeum's many corridors. They had yet to change into their leotards for their upcoming piece, Lydia having just finished adjusting her make-up and hair when Lucy had barged in and practically dragged her out of their changing quarters.

They almost knocked one member of the Athenaeum's staff off of their feet in their crazed marathon, not even pausing to apologize as they hastily fled away. Like two little children who had just done something bad.

"Why are we even running?" Lydia turned to ask her friend, albeit secretly enjoying this moment. It made her feel like a twelve-year old all over again. Like a twelve-year old who still had her best friend by her side, holding her hand like she was. It was nice.

"Come on, I want to have a sneak peek at the first recital. See what those assholes are doing before our piece," Lucy answered with a smile and a wink, making Lydia giggle again, lightly shaking her head.

They reached the amphitheatre doors and sneakily slipped inside, noticing that there were already so many people seated. And the lights had dimmed down as well, signalling that the first piece was about to start. They quickly tiptoed their way down the aisle whilst peeking between the rows for some places left, careful not to draw too much attention. They were supposed to be preparing for their own piece after all.

They gradually passed row after row until reaching the very front, so very surprised to notice that the only available seats left were right between Lydia's mother and none other than det. Hale himself.

Her stomach plummeted. She couldn't believe it. He was here. Julian's father was present here, at the pageant. And he happened to sit so close to her mother.

Damnit.

She thickly swallowed. Her courage faltered, uneasiness gripping at her as she was very much aware that if Julian's father greeted her, it would be all over. She had no credible way of explaining to her mother exactly how she had come to know the man or why.

So she let Lucy go first, praying to the stars that he wouldn't notice her sitting there right next to her friend.

They made their way there together, Lydia purposely keeping her head down, seating herself at the same time as Lucy did, in hopes that she could at least remain as concealed as possible.

She then turned to the right to offer her mother a greeting smile, receiving but a fleeting glance in return.

Her brows mildly furrowed, wondering what had gotten into her. She'd seemed so very excited to attend this pageant and see her perform earlier when they got here. What could've possibly changed that in such short amount of time?

Shit. She mentally slapped herself the very second that her gaze fleetingly darted to her left, taking another subtle glance at det. Hale.

Of course. She'd already seen him. Her mother must've definitely seen Julian lurking around here. Hence her evident displeasure. She blew out a tired sigh and sunk deeper in her seat. It already looked like this was going to be such a long day.

**

Lucy sat right next to det. Hale whilst Lydia took the place situated next to her mother's. She leaned back, purposely ignoring him. Acting like she didn't give a flying fuck even though on the inside, she was already feeling so jittery. Butterflies were swarming inside of her belly, so painfully aware of how close he was sitting next to her. Their thighs were almost touching, a tiny sliver of space separating his pant-clad leg from her bare one. And she could feel the way that his muscled arm gingerly brushed up against hers with every tiny little movement, making her tingle all over.

"What, no restraining orders for me for today?" His gruff and masculine voice caressed her left ear as he slightly turned to speak to her in a rather taunting way, making her heart beat faster.

"How kind of you, kid," he mockingly whispered and she swallowed, jaw clenching.

"I should've just spilled my coffee on you earlier today," she brazenly muttered between gritted teeth, refusing to turn and face him. Purposely keeping her gaze trained ahead.

But his manly chuckle made heat pool in her lower belly, her insides melting at the sound of it.

"I would've liked to see you try,"

She bristled at the thinly-veiled challenge. Choosing to ignore him however. For the moment.

Light flicked on on the wooden stage and she watched her mom stand right before them, a radiant smile tugging at her lips. Shining brighter than those sequins on her dress. It made her roll her eyes with annoyance.

"And now, before we start ladies and gentlemen, I have a surprise for you!" Her mother cheerfully screeched into that microphone she was holding in her hand, making everybody wince. Lucy continued to regard her with blatant disinterest.

"Can I have a round of applauses for one of Monet's most brilliant alumni!" The woman urged the crowd, receiving exactly what she had requested.

People clapped all around her. But Lucy remained unmoving, her mood leaning towards boredom. She even let out a hearty yawn.

Until her mother disappeared from her sight whilst another light flicked on further back on the stage.

Her eyes widened. Mouth agape.

*Holy shit.*

**

Lydia could only blink with utter astonishment as she watched Julian sitting there behind the piano, looking so calm and focused. She almost fell off of her chair at the sight of him there.

What...what was he doing there? What was happening? And why was he all alone up there?

She thickly swallowed, her cheeks flushing as she quickly remembered that her mother was sitting there, right next to her. Anxiety gripping at her insides as she sat in her seat completely frozen. Hesitating to turn and have a quick peek at her mom's face. Witness her reaction.

However, the very moment that Julian struck that first key and started to sing out of nowhere her brows suddenly shot up, reeling from the staggering shock.

"*I've been trying to change*

*Trying to find somebody to love me*

*Oh, no, but I end up in the same damn place again*

*Hoping I could be different, but I'd be playin' pretend*

*I wish that I was perfect, just like you,*

*But I'm an alien...*"

Holy heavens. H-he knew how to sing?

Oh my god! She almost screamed out loud.

She was stunned. Speechless. She couldn't believe was she was seeing. And hearing. He sounded incredible!

"*What if I said I'm tryin' to save your love from dyin'?*

*Baby, I'm so far gone*

*Don't wanna see you cryin', but I just know who I am*

*And, baby, that's the hardest part, oh*

*But maybe you can fix me*

*'Cause I was born with a broken heart...*"

She continued to closely listen as she watched him play and sing with such passion, too enraptured by the sound of his beautiful and sexy voice to even notice that scowling look on her mother's face.

She couldn't believe that he could sing like that!

And how... How come he'd never sung in class like that before? Why didn't their teacher announce them beforehand that this was going to happen? She could've missed this moment entirely! And it would've been such a shame! A crime in itself! He sounded amazing!

"Oh my fucking god. Can he become even more fucking hotter than this?"

Her cheeks flared up again at the sound of Lucy whispering those words to her, blinking out of that stupor induced by Julian's dreamy performance. Her gaze stealthily darting to her mother right away, evidently worrying that she'd heard that.

But her mother's disdainful glower remained trained on Julian's completely oblivious form for another few seconds as he continued to sing so beautifully, head lightly shaking with disapproval.

"I can't believe that you didn't tell me about this,"

Her body abruptly froze at the sound of those words coming out of her mother's mouth.

"That he's been coming to your classes, harassing you with his filthy presence, his leering gazes,"

She blinked, forcing herself not to react or even say anything. She knew that it would've only made it worse.

"I could've convinced Cornelia to fire him, honey," She could feel her mother's hand resting over hers, her gaze holding a rather scolding and questioning look as she turned to face her.

"It's...okay. He hasn't done anything to bother me, mommy. He's been very nice and well-mannered, I-I swear, you can ask Connie. She actually knows him very well," she hastily stuttered out with a meek and guilty tone before she could even try and stop herself, her heart beating faster and faster as she fearfully gazed at her mother.

Shit. Why did she even say that?

"I know. She already told me,"

"But that doesn't mean that I'm too thrilled about the fact that he's been around you for these two whole weeks," her mother turned to have another judging look at the young male.

"And that you haven't told me anything about it,"

She swallowed that boulder that had already formed into her throat. She wanted to cry so badly.

"I'm sorry, please. I-I didn't want you to worry about me," she quietly begged, her voice softly trembling.

"It doesn't matter now. He will stop coming to your rehearsals after today anyway. And it will be all back to normal," her mother turned to offer her a rather cruel smile and a slight pat on the hand.

She blinked away those tiny tears prickling at the corners of her eyes.

"In fact, I think you should know that I'm already hatching a plan to have him out of that house by the end of the month. I had a little chat with Connie earlier and she gave me a wonderful idea," her mother smiled again. She shivered.

What?!?

"Isn't it great, honey? We will finally be able to get rid of our pesky little neighbour,"

She could only stare in utter horror at her mother's smirking face, watching as she turned to look at Julian just as he was finishing singing that beautiful song.

*"But maybe you can fix me*

*'Cause I was born with a broken heart..."*

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Artist and song title: Damiano Davide- Born with a broken heart