Xander's POV:

"So, now that it's after the ball," I began, crashing down next to Doe on the couch. "When are you gonna let me buy you that guitar?"

She paused mid-pluck on the violin that she finally decided to pick up again.

Which itself was a somewhat decent sign, given how long it's been.

She lowered the old instrument down towards her lap, that same, uneasy look that she had the first time I offered flashing across her features for a brief moment.

The one that I believed I figured out the reasoning behind.

And then immediately went to prove all of her worries right the very next day...

My largest and final mistake.

I just wanted to bring up the offer again just in case. Let her know that it was still on the table.

Especially since she brought up her interest in music last night.

Even so, I couldn't blame her hesitation right now, not with the timing of it all.

I probably should've waited a few days, but I couldn't help myself after walking in and hearing her play again.

I hadn't forgotten what I'd stupidly said to Layla about letting her have Doe after the ball, and I'm positive she hadn't either.

And well, today was the day.

I wasn't completely certain when exactly she planned on trying to collect that but today marked the beginning of that uncertainty.

I can only imagine that she'll have a few choice words for me as well for leaving her at the ball mid-way through.

Not that any part of that was a main concern of mine.

No. All I was truly worried about right now was the girl beside me, knowing that there was no doubt that similar worries were going through her.

Especially after last night.

It didn't take a genius to guess what haunted her frequent nightmares.

I tried not to let my mind slip and recall the moments after her nightmare but failed miserably, the entirety of my chest radiating that phantom warmth she gave me.

No...

I didn't want to allow myself to enjoy moments like that too much. Not when I still had so much to make up for.

Like this.

I was well aware that words concerning this subject held little value given my most recent fuck up, so I tried other ways to ease her.

Like getting her to talk about something else and get her mind off of it.

She finally looked at me after she'd shaken that look from her face, her fingers pressing the strings down hard onto the fingerboard.

"Maybe soon," There was a perfect 50/50 split between caution and desire of it in her words.

Which, at least, was better than the full-on denial I got from her the first time.

Baby steps, Xan, baby steps.

"Do you still think that you can help teach me?"

Her somewhat timid question caused me to perk.

Not only at the question, but at the fact that she was thinking about the future in a positive light.

"Most likely," I started, "All string instruments have similar basics, so I could at least get you started."

I held out my hand for the violin, and she gave it right over to me.

Although I haven't picked it up in a few years, I still should have some skill locked away in my muscle memory.

Bow or not.

The wood felt weak and brittle compared to how I remembered it the last time I played.

This thing was older than her by a few decades, so it wasn't too surprising.

I carefully situated it how she did, holding it like a mini guitar.

Firstly, I tweaked the D-string that in all the time I've had this instrument, never liked to stay at the tune it was supposed to.

I could see her wide, curious eyes as I did so.

Leaning back and crossing one leg over the other, I kept her in the side of my vision.

The pads of my fingers skimmed over the strings, an immediate sense of familiarity coursing through me as if I had never stopped playing.

Although, the calluses I had on my fingers because of it had disappeared.

Quietly, I plucked my way through a double C scale, working across all four strings to remind myself of the notes positioning.

Then again with a double D scale, nearly missing the sharp that one contained.

I repeated this action five more times, going up a natural note every time.

My speed picked up right around the G scale, busting out the last two like they were no issue at all.

I guess I've still got it. Or... some of it at least. Enough to bring the good memories I've had with these sounds.

Smiling in the odd nostalgia of it, I turned my head.

Only to find that Doe was much closer than she was a few minutes ago, the curious wonder causing her eyes to nearly bulge from her head

"What did you just do?" She questioned, raising her gaze from the violin to me, "It sounded... correct."

A fair way to put it I guess.

Up till now, she's had to pair up notes based on sound alone.

"Just running through some scales to gauge my memory," I explained.

"Scales?"

"It's a sequence of different notes paired together in an octave that differs depending on which key signature you're trying to play in. Every note, including the shapes and flats, have a different one, but I just went through the natural seven."

She just blinked at me as if I had just spoken an entirely new language.

Which was... completely understandable now that a think about it.

I breathed out a laugh at that realization, pushing myself up to straighten out my posture.

"It's music theory. Which I can definitely teach you to make up for not entirely knowing how to play guitar. From there it'll be easier for you to determine what kind of style you wanna take with it since it is a very diverse instrument in how it's played."

I swear I could nearly see stars in her eyes, the look itself stirring something in me.

"There's so much more to this than I thought," She muttered, still sounding somewhat excited nonetheless.

"True, but it becomes so much easier once you get the hang of it. Plus you're going to have an extraordinary teacher," I remarked with a wink.

Her eyes narrowed at my witty but true reply, probably debating whether or not she was going to try to dispute it.

"Well, if he's so extraordinary, then he should have no issue starting to teach me today."

My smile grew with how she decided to play that off.

"There's no use in me explaining it to you on an instrument with four strings when you're gonna master one with six. Especially since the finger and note placement is different. If anything it'll help you learn faster if you wait till then." I divulged.

Even though the notes themselves never changed, I didn't want to risk her getting confused between instruments.

Luckily she understood my reasoning, shoulders dropping with a sigh.

"Alright, but I'm expecting some expert-level teaching from you when the time comes."

I inclined my head.

"I wouldn't dare to give you anything less," I spoke as a promise to her.

Content with my answer, she eased back to how she was sitting before, eyes trailing over me for a short second.

"You work well with that thing. You should start playing again." She suggested.

I looked down at the instrument, lifting it up with my left hand.

I set the bottom of the bout on the same shoulder, placing my chin upon the chin rest.

My back straightened on an instinct, the entirety of me preparing as if I was going to begin to play.

If only the bow wasn't long gone...

If she thought the scales were impressive, then part of me wanted to show her what I could do when playing the instrument how it was intended to be played.

I wanted to see those stars in her eyes again. That excitement.

But that was all for her to set into motion when she was ready.

And I'll happily stand by until then, keeping my promise never to let her fall into the hands of danger again.

To never let Layla lay a single finger on her ever again.

I will keep her safe, and I will work as hard as I must to make up for everything prior.

"Maybe I will."