Chapter Twenty

My fingers flows, effortlessly across the cool marble keys. The soft melody plays for a short time before coming to an end. I sigh in fraustation. As soon as we got back to LA, I went straight to the first piano I could find and it so happened to be at Hayes' house.

Last night, I had this strange dream of the song I'm trying to play but I only remember some of it.

I keep playing it over and over again, hoping it'll trigger more of the song but it's not. I'm still stuck on the same part.

Hayes arrives into the room. "Since you're playing again, how about a song?"

I look at him. Nice try. Hayes was surprise when I told him I wanted to play again all of a sudden. He thinks it's a step closer to me singing again. I guess he's right in some way.

"Just because I'm playing an instrument, it doesn't mean I'm going to sing again." I tell him, placing my fingers back on the keys.

He sits beside me on the wooden black bench. "You'll figure it out" he tells me. "Take a break. You've been playing ever since we got back." He informs me.

"I will." I promise. "Once I figure out this song."

I start playing but stop when Hayes places his larger hands onto of mine. "Stop." He orders.

I look into his grey eyes. "Why do you have this affect on me?" I ask, dropping my arms in defeat.

He grins. "Because I'm-"

"If you say you're irresistible I swear, I'm ignoring you for the rest of the day" I warn him.

"Good luck with that."

"I don't need luck." I quote him.

Amusement shines in his eyes. "Sure you don't."

He removes his hands and I instantly miss the warmth of them. He leans closer to me and nuzzling my neck. His taunting me. His lips brushing across the outline of my jaw and I arch my neck up higher.

He lands soft kisses along my neck and pulls away. He gets up and smirks.

Don't give anything away. I think myself.

He walks out the room. "You know where to find me." He calls over his shoulder.

Once my heart is beating at a normal pace, I play the song again. But my mind wonders to the thoughts of Hayes.

The way he talked. His beautiful grey eyes, framed by his long seductive eyelashes. His long lean body, packed with muscles and cover by his flawless olive skin. His soft touches. His heart beating kisses....

Focus! I scold myself.

I concentrate on the music I'm playing and I remember a little bit more. The music itself sounds sad. I wonder what the lyrics would be.

I end on the last note I knew which is about thirty-two seconds in. I think about the lyrics. What could it be? A tragic love story? Death? Grief? Pain?

It could be anything. Life, I come to know, throws a lot of painful things at you and it doesn't seem like it would ease up.

I know I'm still not over the fact I lost my family. As the days goes by without them it doesn't seem like a dream anymore. I came to accept it wasn't but it doesn't help that they're gone.

The numbing of the pain stopped a while back. I think it had something to do with not thinking of them as much and Hayes being in my life.

He's been a good distraction. But not even he can keep me distracted for long. I miss them.

I probably should go see Uncle Finn and talk to him. He probably could help me.

I don't know how long I stayed in the quiet room before I get up and walk out. It's silent. Not an eerie silence. Just silent.

I walk down the hallway and press my ear against the door. I hear a soft snore. I, quietly, open the door and push it open. I watch Hayes fast asleep. He's less tense. Like he's letting his guard down. He looks peaceful.

He drove the four hours back to LA on three hours of sleep. It makes sense he would tired. I know I would be. I walk on my tip toes, careful, not to wake him up. I climb onto the bed and press up against, wrapping his warm arm around me and placing my head on his chest. I feel the rise of chest with each breath he takes. I hear his heart beat. Then my eyes close.

***

By the time I wake up, it's night time. I sit up and Hayes is already gone. Go figure. I throw the covers off me and paddled down the polish wooden floor. I find Hayes in the kitchen, cooking.

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty" Hayes greets me.

"How long was I asleep." I ask, sitting down.

He shrugs. "I don't know." He admits." I woke up a few hours ago to you sleeping beside."

I nod my head. "What's for dinner?"

"You should be asking what's for dessert." He tells me, bringing a plate to me.

I pick up a fork. "You're such a flirt." I announce, biting into the Italian lasagna. It melts into my mouth and it taste like Heaven.

"Am I? I haven't noticed"

"How could you with that big ego you have." I tell him, taking another bite. "You're an amazing chef, Cipriano."

"Does this amazing chef get an award?"

"I'll think about it." I say.

"What's there to think about." He asks. "I know you want me."

I arch my eyebrow up. "Do you? Well I guess I don't need to keep you waiting."

He smirks as I lean over the counter that separates us. I move closer to his lips. I can feel his breath and my lips barely brushes against his before I pull away, grinning.

He looks at me. "Who's the big flirt now?"

I shrug and go back to eating my pasta. Once I finish, I help Hayes clean up the kitchen.

I glance on the clock on the wall. 10:45.

"Teri's probably worried about me." I tell him. I never stay out this late without her. "I better go."

"Or just stay" he suggests.

"No. I have to go."

I grab Teri's car key and head to the front door. Hayes follows me outside. It's sprinkling when I reach the car and hop inside. I stick the key into the ignition and crank the car and I was expecting the car to roar to life not the sound of wheezing. I tried again but nothing happened. By the time, I step out the car it's pouring. Great.

Hayes is still watching me as I run to the porch and out of the rain.

"The car won't start" I inform him.

He grins. "Are you just saying that for you can have a reason to stay with me?"

I roll my eyes and walk into the warm house. After I change into dry clothes and my hair is semi dry, I sit criss crossed on Hayes' bed. His black T-shirt feels comfortable on my small body.

Hayes arrives to his room, holding a guitar in his hand.

I eye it. "Are you going to sing for me?" I ask.

He shakes his head no. "You are."

I stare at him as he sits on the bed. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious." He tells me.

It's been two months since I last sung and a couple of hours since I played an instrument. How did he even know I knew how to play the guitar in the first place?

"Teri told me you use to play all the time" He answers my question.

"Of course Teri did." Did she know I keep my old one in my closet? I didn't have in me to keep in Texas. My dad gave it to me when I turned six.

That instrument was my best friend until I started playing more instruments.

"Just try" Hayes says, looking at me with his grey eyes.

I swear if he told me to jump off a bridge, I probably would do it. His eyes held powers. It was hard not to say no and not to give in.

I hesitate before wrapping my skinny fingers around the strings. It doesn't feel strange holding an instrument I haven't see or felt in two months. It feels like it completes me and natural. Not a complete stranger.

My fingers strings the soft upbeat music and Hayes' eyes never left me. I didn't think anything would come out my mouth but I surprise both of us with the lyrics did.

Merrily we fall
Out of line, out of line
I'd fall anywhere with you
I'm by your side

Swinging in the rain
Humming melodies
We're not going anywhere
Until we freeze

It's short but I sang for the first time in two months. I don't say anything. I just look at Hayes.

"I never heard that song before" he tells me. "but you have an incredibly beautiful voice."

I give him a small smile. "Thanks. My dad always said it was special and powerful."

Hayes nods his head. "He wasn't lying when he told you that. It can do a lot of things."

"Like what?" I ask.

"You can break hearts and healing them. You can make everyone feel your emotions."

I wasn't really expecting an anwser from him but it was nice he give me one.

"You got all of that by two verses?" I question.

He shrugs. "Your voice is just that powerful."

I move the guitar off me and place it beside me. Hayes watches me with curious eyes.

"Are you not going to sing again?"

I shake my head no. "I don't want to sing. I want to talk."

"Okay. We can do that or something more productive."

I roll my eyes. "Can you be serious for two seconds?"

"Okay. Fine. What do you want to talk about?"

One second I'm staring at Hayes the next, I'm getting pulled into a semi dream.

The little girl is there but she's not alone. She brought another girl who looks exactly like her. The only way I can tell them apart is the necklace. One girl has a crescent moon necklace, the one I met before and the other one has a sun necklace.

"She's here" Moon girl announces. "Hurry before it's too late."

"Before what's too late?" I ask, confused.

"Find me." Sun girl tells me. "Hurry. He's getting closer."

I'm totally confused. How was I'm suppose to find her when she's standing in front of me?

"Who's he?" I ask.

The howling wind picks up around us. Something is wrong. And the two girls knew it too. I look at them.

"What's going on?"

"He's here. Find me." Sun girl repeats. "Together we're unbeatable. Seperated we're in danger."

How does a five year old know all of this? Who were they? Who was I'm suppose to find? Who is he?

"Remember, Millian." Moon girl tells me. "Before it's too late."

Who's Millian? "What am I suppose to remember?"

"Everything. The song has all the anwsers and so does the King and his two guardians." Sun girl informs me.

"December remembers a night when two princesses were born. When the first snow falls, seven will rise. Born the moon and the sun. The siren and the seer. Hurry before he comes." Moon girl says.

What the hell was that suppose to mean? December remembers.

"Help me." I say.

"We are." Sun girl says. "Remembance is the key to everything"