T W O    Y E A R S    L A T E R

My hands tugged roughly at the white sheets, pulling them from the overly used bed and shoving them into the large bag containing more sets of the same dirty fabric. I sighed heavily as I wiped some of my short bangs that had fallen out of their pinned position from my forehead and leaned against the housekeeping cart each worker was assigned to every morning.

This was what life was like for me now. I worked my ass off each and every day at the only hotel located just outside of town to pay for the small studio apartment I rented downtown. It was a nice place, Belfast, Maine. It was quaint and not so out of touch from society that you couldn't find anything to do on a Friday night.

"Kenny!" There was a loud knock on the hotel room door as Brighten, a co-worker of mine, waltzed into the room, speaking in a singsong voice.

I envied her at times like these. From her long wavy sandy colored hair to her naturally tanned skin, long legs and bright blue eyes, she was the epitome of what the world considered to be the 'it girl'. And even in the washed out blue sack of a dress we were to wear as our uniform she still looked like a runway model.

My appearance hadn't changed much from when I had left my hometown. I still kept my hair short and choppy and from the way that I liked to dress at times, I had been mistaken as a man on many occasions. But honestly I didn't mind, I liked the way I looked even if it wasn't normal for women in everyday society.

"Hey B," I said quietly and smiled at her as she flopped back onto the uncovered mattress.

"So Chloe and I were thinking we'd go to T and T tonight." She watched me with skeptic eyes, but spoke with a happy tone. "You should come with us!"

"Not sure if I'll be able to make it," I recited the same thing I did every time she asked me to hang out.

I grabbed a new set of clean sheets from the bottom rack of the cart I still lent against and motioned for her to stand. She rolled her eyes and stood, grabbing the other side of the fitted sheet so we could make the bed together.

It wasn't that I didn't want to make friends or that I didn't like going out. I just knew that getting to know people meant them asking questions and the topic of my ex boyfriend was one I didn't want to drag up. I had changed my phone number and asked my parents not to tell anyone where I had gone. I would rather have people think I had just faded away instead of knowing that I was hiding out a few hours away. What questions I had about the incident have long been shoved to the back of my mind, but the thought of what Noah had done would always be there.

"You say that every time," Brighten scoffed as she folded back the top half of the blankets neatly, sliding her hand across it to flatten out the wrinkles. We had both done that action so often it had almost become second nature.

"I'll think about it," I replied with a shrug. And it was true, I would think about it, but I'd most likely end up staying home like I always did.

She fluffed the already stiff pillows before she turned to leave the room, waving back at me as she did. "Whatever you say, Ken."

I smiled sadly down at the ground as I soon followed after her out of the immaculately clean room and into the hallway, pulling my cart along with me. It was only 9am and I could already tell it was going to be a long day.

. . . . .

I dropped my keys into the wooden dish placed on the side table near the front door of my apartment, slipping out of my shoes as I did so. A puff of air escaped my lungs as I checked the clock that hung in the kitchenette off to the left side of the room. I tried not to think about the fact that Brighten and Chloe had probably already gotten to the bar and were now downing free drinks with the local boys as I opened up the refrigerator in search of something to eat.

My eyes surveyed each shelf, but found nothing of worth and as I shut the door. I turned to look at the clock, debating my options. "Oh, fuck it."

I slipped back into my shoes, not bothering to change out of the baggy boyfriend style jeans and paint stained t-shirt I had on and left my apartment just as fast as I had entered.

The Trill and Turn was a local bar where most of the younger adults liked to go and drink. Most weekends this place was packed from wall to wall because of the live music that was being played, but lucky for me it wasn't the weekend quite yet and that it was only a short walk from my apartment building.

It was just as I had thought. I cringed as I walked into the almost empty bar and instantly spotted my friends who sat at the long wooden surfaced bar with about three guys who stood around and chatted them up. I pulled nervously as the ripped hem of my shirt as I reluctantly walked toward them.

"You came!" Brighten cheered, giving me a quick one-armed hug and a kiss on the cheek as a greeting.

I smiled over at Chloe who seemed too preoccupied with the tall dark haired man who had his arm slung over her shoulder. I slid into the empty chair next the Brighten as she turned back to the group on the other side of her. My hand rose up slightly as I motioned to the bartender, ordering the darkest beer they had on tap.

I took a gulp of the bitter liquid, savoring the taste as it slid down my throat. After another large sip my ears perked up at the sound of the electric ukulele that played through the speakers placed around the makeshift stage. I chuckled as a girl began to sing a song about her cheating boyfriend. How original.

Almost instantly, I tuned out her high-pitched voice and I looked away from the small stage near the back of the bar. Instead I turned and stared out the large windows that looked out onto the main street. A group of three boys around my age stood out on the sidewalk, each looked like they were some new-age punk wannabes. I watched for another second as the boy with bleach blonde hair laughed and pushed his friend's shoulder in a joking manner.

The sound of an acoustic guitar took my attention away from the group outside and I was yet again looking back at the small stage. My eyebrows furrowed and my chest constricted as I watched the stranger play the exact guitar I had stuffed deep in the back of my closet in my apartment a few blocks away.

My entire mood changed, a frown graced my lips as I glanced up toward the front door that opened to see that the three boys from outside had walked in. It wasn't so easy to block out the music this time as the sound was just too familiar to me. Noah had given me his guitar the day before the incident and at the time it hadn't made any sense why, but now I understood at least that much. He had entrusted me with it, knowing that by the end of the next day he would be gone. How long had he been planning it?

Brighten's loud, charismatic laugh ripped me from my thoughts as she leaned back and bumped into my shoulder. I quickly downed my drink before I raised the empty glass toward the bartender so he knew to fill it once he had a free moment. If I was going to be out, I might as well do it right.

Five beers in and I was ready to leave. My friends had moved to a table closer to the stage while I stayed firmly planted on the same stool by the bar. They must have felt my solemn vibe and didn't want me to bring their happy moods down so I sat alone, but didn't mind it in the slightest.

"Want another?" I had learned after ordering my third beer that the bartender's name was Jeff and that his uncle owned the bar.

"N-no thanks," My words sloshed around in my mouth as I spoke.

He nodded with a chuckle. "Probably a good idea."

I shot him a poor attempt at a glare before I stood from my stool for the first time that night. "I'm outta here."

"See you another time, Miss Kennedy." Jeff gave me a wave before he moved onto another costumer.

I breathed deeply as I stumbled down the steps outside the bar, cursing myself as I did. The cool summer air blew my bangs away from my flushed face as I continued down the nearly empty sidewalk towards my apartment. I should really learn not to drink so much.

My body leaned into the heavy door as I pushed it open, stepping into my building. The Trill and Turn was thankfully only three blocks from my apartment and walking through the fresh air made it easier to sober up. I trudged up the stairs, breath heavy, as my keys jingled in the palm of my hand. I glanced up as I made it to my floor, my eyes squinted as I was still a bit hazy from the alcohol that circulated through my body.

"Kennedy Laine?" I stopped dead in my tracks as I stared at the all too familiar face of Noah's brother. He stood at the end of hall just outside my door. "You have no idea how hard it was track you down."

Ethan looked different from the last time I saw him, which had happened to be at his brother's funeral. He was no longer clean shaven and he had allowed his hair to grow out into an unruly mess. Just like things had changed for me, so had it for him and for everyone who knew Noah.

"That was the point," I mumbled as I made my way toward him, glancing at the cardboard box on the ground by his feet.

"Your hair used to be longer," Ethan noted as he bent down to pick up the box.

I pushed my key into the lock and turned it, feeling anxious as the older version of Noah stood next to me. My stomach started to churn the longer he kept his gaze on me and I wished he would leave.

"What are you doing here?" I asked once I had opened my door. There was no way in hell I was letting him inside.

My heart leapt into my throat as he held the medium sized box out to me. I felt sick as I read the label that had been sloppily written across the top. Noah's music.

I glared down at the words, feeling a bout of rage start to surface.

"I don't want that." I spit with anger.

My eyes shut for a split second as I teetered back and forth. This wasn't happening. Two years. Ethan shows up after two years. Why?

"You have to take it," His voice was deadly serious. "Music was always something you two appreciated."

"Not anymore," My voice rose as tears pooled in my eyes. "He ruined it!"

"Please," He begged. "Just take it. After two years my parents finally got to a point where they could clear out his room and this is what they saved for you."

My lips clamped shut as I stared down at the box in his shaky hands. What I had said was true, I didn't want it. But I couldn't be so cruel to his parents and not take it.

The box was heavier than I expected and I struggled slightly as I hugged it to my chest to keep it from falling. Ethan looked down at me gratefully before he took a step away. I just stood there and stared blankly down at the box as Ethan's footsteps faded down the hallway.

"What do I do with all of it?" I choked out helplessly just as he got to the staircase.

I looked after him with pleading eyes before he finally turned back to look at me. And with a simple shrug he said the most obvious thing.

"Listen to it."