When I got to school early on Monday, I was surprised to see that the school was strangely vacant.

Save for a few littering juniors, no one else was around.

Then I checked the time and saw it was still fifteen minutes to seven.

Considering the fact that morning assembly started at 7:45, I was one hour early.

I groaned internally, settling down on my desk in annoyance.

"Mavis?" A familiar voice called.

I turned around sharply, spotting Caleb in the far corner of the class where he liked to sit.

"Caleb? Why are you here so early?" I asked.

"You're one to talk." He said, chuckling.

"Touché. I set my alarm an hour too early, apparently." I said.

"I like to come early to school because the quiet time gives me space to think, complete assignments, read, and I also get to avoid my arguing parents." He answered flippantly, but I could tell the last part bothered him.

"Wanna talk about it?" I offered, even though I had no idea what to say in return.

"Nah, not really. How's home?" He asked me.

"Uh, empty? I don't get to see my dad much." I replied.

"Did you see him last night?" Caleb asked.

"Yeah."

"Did you ask him about the trip?"

"No, I didn't. Still working up the nerve." I responded nervously.

I was sitting on his desk, facing him, while he sat on the chair, dangerously close. Anyone who walked in could've easily misunderstood.

"Hey have you guys seen Ma-" Someone came in, causing us to break apart in guilt, and I flushed. I met Isaac's face and mortification washed over me in sync with my increased heartbeat.

"Am I interrupting anything?" He asked, backing away.

I quickly denied, rushing off the table. True to my clumsiness, I tripped over Caleb's legs and stumbled forward unattractively.

I spotted an amused smile on Isaac's face briefly before his uncertain expression took over.

"Hey." I breathed.

"Hey, I was just looking for you." He replied.

"It's good to see you." I said, then frowned internally at how dumb that sounded.

"Same here. Do you wanna go somewhere more private to talk?" He said, casting a strange glance at Caleb.

"Of course." I agreed hastily, looking at Caleb apologetically. He only gave me a tight smile and returned to his phone.

I frowned, that was strange.

Isaac and I walked in silence to the music room, it wasn't a comfortable silence. There was this tenseness that existed, probably because of how close Caleb and I looked when he walked in. I felt bad, for some strange reason, for being so close to Caleb. I wondered if there was anything wrong, though. There was nothing going on with me and Caleb.

Right?

When we got to the music room, Isaac paced for a few moments while I sat down behind the piano.

"Is anything going on between you and Caleb?" He asked, going straight to the point.

"What? No!" I denied quickly. Too quickly. It even sounded false to my ears.

"You sound like you're lying." He stated.

"I'm really not. We're just getting closer as friends." I said.

"You seemed like there was something going on in class." He said.

"Isaac there's seriously nothing there. He's just my friend." I responded emphatically.

Isaac nodded, although it was obvious he didn't believe me.

"How was your weekend?" He asked.

"It was alright, yours?" I flushed at the time spent with Caleb yesterday, hoping the warmth in my belly was as a result of my satisfying meal.

"Was alright, I guess. My dad had a function on Saturday night and it was boring. I wish you could've come." He said.

"I missed you, though." I replied honestly.

Apparently I must've said something right because the smile he gave brightened my entire soul. "I missed you too."

"Hey, so during the midterm break, some of us are going over to Faith's parent's place, do you wanna come with?" He asked.

"Yeah, I've been invited. And I'd love to come, I highly doubt my dad would let me, though." I responded, hoping he wouldn't ask who invited me.

"Oh, I totally get it. Just ask him first. If he agrees then good. If he doesn't then we'll try and convince him." Isaac said.

I wondered how Isaac intended to convince my dad to allow me go, but to avoid pushing the topic, I nodded and smiled at him.

"Do you play?" I asked, pointing at the piano.

"No, do you?" He asked.

I nodded, smiling at him and beckoning him to sit next to me. The time read that we still had about thirty minutes, so I decided to play him one of my personal favourites.

It was from my favourite movie, A Walk to Remember.

My hands moved over the keys, unsurely at first, but expertly as I saw the light shining in his eyes while I played.

Unconsciously I sang along to the tune my fingers strummed on the keyboard.

There's a song that's inside of my soul. It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again.

As I played, my heartbeat moved in sync with the tune, the symphony washing over me.

Looking sideways at Isaac, I felt a strange urge to play even louder, my voice increasing and waxing strong.

I'm giving you all of me.

I want your symphony, singing in all that I am.

I sang loud, not caring if anyone heard me, I could hear the smile in my voice, and I could feel Isaac's warm approval settling over me.

After what seemed like eternity, the last keys flew through my fingers and voice.

You're my only hope.

"Wow."

"Did you like it?" I asked unsuredly.

"Like it? I loved it. You're so incredibly talented, Mavis. You have such a beautiful voice." He commented, the honesty radiating off me, and I smiled bashfully at his praise.

"Thank you." I said, still smiling.

"Thanks for singing for me, and playing the piano." He replied, looking shy all of a sudden.

"It's nothing." I responded.

"You should sign up for the performing arts club, you know." Isaac said.

"You think so?" I responded, quite stupidly.

"I really do. Oh look, some violinists are coming to practice before assembly, we'll talk later?" He said, gesturing to the now entering junior students who greeted us respectfully before entering.

"Yeah, let's." I replied, feeling disappointed at the fact that our time was cut short. It was probably for the best, though, considering the school was practical full.

When he extended his hand for me to hold to walk me out, though, it made up for whatever disappointment I was feeling.

---

After the assembly, I went to sign up for the performing arts club. Granted we were in our second term, but I'd enrolled with the culinary arts club before, and I wanted to join where Isaac had suggested.

During break, a junior student came to inform me that the president and vice president of the club wanted to see me.

As luck would have it, Luke was the president and Stacey was the vice president.

"Hey!" I greeted cheerfully.

"Mavis? I'm so stoked you signed up. I didn't know it was you." Stacey said.

"Same here. Do you have actual talent, though?" Luke asked skeptically.

"Well I can play the guitar and piano, and I'm a trained salsa dancer as well." I said.

"That's seriously cool. You sing?" Stacey said.

"Yeah I can sing a little, but it depends on the song. I can't do really deep notes or some really high notes. But on normal notes I have good control of my voice." I replied.

"You're in, then." Luke said.

"Seconded!" Stacey replied.

"Wait I'm not actually gonna audition?" I asked, frowning.

"Of course not, silly. We're friends. You think Dami auditioned?" Stacey asked, rolling her eyes.

"Dami's in this club?" I asked, feeling dread wash over me.

"Yep, Isaac too. It's basically like a friend thing. Its like the it club. Not many people get to be a part of it." Luke answered.

"Oh." I said dumbly, partly happy I would be seeing Isaac, partly sad I'll be seeing Dami.

"Yeah. Each year we perform for the school's prom and graduation ceremony. So at the meeting on Wednesday we're going to give out scripts and parts after auditions take place. How bout you sign up for some parts?" Stacey offered.

"Um, can I see what's available?" I said.

"Sure." She responded, handing some papers over to me.

I looked through them and saw a drama, a duet, a dance and a solo song.

The roles for the drama seemed complicated, and I was a bad actor, so I decided to sign up for the duet, dance performance and solo song. Seeing as it would be practically impossible for me to get all three, I secretly hoped I got at least one of them.

"Okay M, see ya later. Break's almost over and I need to eat." Stacey said, dragging Luke with her who waved at me.

I was still shocked that they went to my school and wondered why I hadn't seen them around, and also hoped they didn't remember anything from that night.

I left the empty classroom we had used, strolling aimlessly before I spotted Isaac not far from me.

I hurried towards him, my skirt flapping around my thighs. I'd gotten the waist fitted and the length shortened, and I'd fitted my blazer and shirt too over the weekend.

"Hey." I murmured, startling him. I noticed how his expression brightened instantly.

"Hey, beautiful."

I rolled my eyes, yet I still smiled. "Why didn't you tell me you and Dami were in the performing arts club?" I asked, pouting.

"I had a feeling you'd have refused if I did." He replied, to which I couldn't deny.

"I guess. I don't know if I wanna be in the same club as her." I said.

"You'll be fine. I'll be with you, so." He reassured me.

I believed him, leaning my head comfortably on his shoulder.

I felt perfect, and the whole moment would've been perfect, if I had not locked eyes with Caleb's disappointed gaze across the corridors, frowning at me.

--

A/N

I finally got around to publishing a new chapter after so long. Yay. Sorry for the delay. The video attached is the song Mavis plays for Isaac, Only Hope by Mandy Moore.

Meanwhile, what's up with Caleb? Is he trying to sink our ship?

Are you team #Mavac or team #Calvis?

And the trip, will Mavis dad let her go? What's going to go down in the performing arts club?

I smell drama everywhere😋

As always, tell me what you think.

-Rhys.