I can’t help but let the tears fall. The poor girl. So, so talented, so very hardworking to get where she has with her music, and now, because of… what? money, she has to stop! I have no doubt about the family’s financial difficulties, it’s a common theme of all the kids in the school, being in a low income district. But seeing the impact on the kids and the decisions they have to make, when they should be encouraged for every aspect of their future is so disheartening. And days like today make me wish I didn’t have to see it.
“ARGHHHH!” I yell again, the scream helping to relieve the tension in my blood. I collapse onto my piano stool and sob, for a moment wishing I had the power to save the world.
“Cadence?”
I whip around, there shouldn’t be anyone left at the school and I’m horrified that someone has heard me.
“Sebastian! What are you doing here?”
“Are you OK?” He takes a hesitant step into the classroom, and I wonder how much of my meltdown he witnessed.
I turn back to the piano and quickly try to wipe away the tears. How many times is he going to see me like this?
“Um, yeah, I’m a, I’m fine. What’s going on?”
I turn back around and he’s right there next to me, kneeling down next to the piano stool, staring me right in the eyes.
“Something’s wrong, tell me. Is your… um, is your cheek hurting?” He reaches up, and with a feather-light touch, runs the back of his cool hand against my bruised cheek.
I close my eyes and enjoy the soothing feel of his cool skin against mine. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since that night, almost a whole week. A whole week to process and obsess over what happened. Only to find that it doesn’t matter what I tell myself, when he’s here, in my presence, touching me, nothing else seems to matter.
“Cadence?” He whispers and my eyes flutter open.
“Um, no it’s, it’s not my cheek. I’m OK.” I pull my face away, a little embarrassed that I succumb to his touch so easily.
“Then tell me.”
“It’s just something with one of my students.” I stand up and walk away, trying to put some distance between us so I can think. “Wha- why are you here, Sebastian?”
“I just wanted to check that you’re OK.” He stands up, turning on his feet to follow me around the room.
“You could’ve checked while I was right there, lying in your bed. Or at the last two rehearsals that you missed.” I say to the empty side of the room, wondering if he can hear the hurt in my voice.
“I know. I’m sorry. I just… I had to take care of something. I had to sort something out.”
“Something… more important?”
His head whips around and he frowns.
“Something more important than you?” And then he mumbles something under his breath, and it sounds like, “If only there was such a thing.”
“There is. The band.” I remind him, “I know the band comes above all.”
He doesn’t answer and I know he knows it’s true. And I’m not surprised, I’m not even hurt. Of course it’s the most important thing to him, definitely ranks higher than me, someone he’s only known for a month.
“Not anymore.”
And then, out of nowhere, he takes three steps to cross the room to stand in front of me. Dragging a long deep breath into his lungs, he slides his hands to up cradle the sides of my face, staring into my eyes for a moment before he leans down and presses his lips against mine.
SEBASTIAN
I’m kissing her. I’m finally fucking kissing her. And I don’t think I can ever stop.
Her mouth, slightly opened in surprise from my unexpected kiss, is warm and soft against my lips. Her breath is sweet and doughy, like freshly baked bread. And that addicting scent of orange blossoms from her hair is awash over my face, and I’m trying to devour her, with kiss after kiss after kiss, my hands cradling the sides of her face.
I don’t know what I expected when I took those steps across the classroom to her. Just that, it was time.
And now, her cheeks, so supple in my hands, and her hands gripping the sides of my head and tangled in my hair, I wonder how I’ve managed to restrain myself for so long. How we both have. I can taste her desire, she’s been wanting this just as much as I have.
“Sebastian,” she moans, as we pull apart for breath.
We stare at each other, panting. And then reach for each other again. As if pushed together by unseen hands that have long planned our fate and are frustrated by our folly in insisting on staying apart.
This time it’s her lips that press, urgent, against mine, pushing them open, her tongue pushing deep into my mouth. A soft moan vibrates from the back of her throat when I slide my hands to run down her back and grip the fleshy cheeks of her ass, pulling her against me. Her body moves against me just as I’ve imagined it all these weeks, fitting in along the angles and curves of my own body.
She was made for me.
“Oh, god, Cadence,” it’s my time to moan. And she sighs in response.
And then suddenly the kiss is over.
She stiffens for a split second and pulls away from me, covering her lipstick-stained mouth in horror.
“Oh my god, no no no no no.” She stares at me, with a look of regret in her eyes.
“Well, um, that’s not quite the response I was hoping for.” I say, blinking, still trying to figure out what’s happening.
“We can’t do this.” She’s still shaking her head. I’m almost afraid it’ll shake her brain loose.