ELOISE
The quiet of the music hall's basement practice rooms was usually my escape, but tonight, the piano keys felt like lead beneath my fingers. I kept staring at the sheet music, my vision blurring. Every time I closed my eyes, I just saw Mike's radiant, carefree smile on that jet ski, surrounded by the golden campus elite.
He’s happy, I kept telling myself, a heavy, hollow ache settling deep in my chest. You should be happy for him.
"You're playing flat, El."
I gasped, my hands slipping off the keys with a discordant clash. I turned around to find Caleb leaning against the doorframe of the practice room, holding two cups of coffee. He was wearing his usual comfortable flannel, looking at me with a soft, perceptive frown.
"I'm fine," I lied quickly, blinking back the hot tear
