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Exactly to where I was standing, like he knew I was watching him the whole time.

I yelped as my heart leaped to my throat. Not knowing what to do, I quickly ducked under the ledge, a screaming fire flaming my entire body red.

My hands crawled up and dragged the curtains shut, completely this time.

It took me a few minutes to gather myself and get back to my knitting, but no matter how much I tried to concentrate, my mind drifted right back to the person on the other side of my lacy blue curtains.

About an hour later, Mom called out for me to take cupcakes to our new neighbors and I jumped at the opportunity with too much excitement.

I even rushed back to my room and donned one of my pretty red summer dresses, brushed my hair till it was nice and shiny, and glossed my lips with my favorite rose-colored lip balm.

Instead of going to their main door like a normal person, I slid through the side door, and my feet took me right to where I knew his bedroom window would be.

It was the most brazen thing I’d ever done. But like a fool who climbed a tree too tall for a fruit, I went anyway.

The steady sound of piano notes flowed through the closer I got. So smooth and soft that it felt like a warm caress to my skin.

Curious, I peeked into his window while I hid most of my body behind the wall, and my breath hitched.

His chin was tipped low, locks of his velvety hair falling over his face while his thick lips bowed in a relaxed curve. His fingers flew over the black and white keys like he had memorized them over and over again his entire life.

I didn’t know much about music, but even I could tell that this was mastery of the instrument.

He had his eyes closed and never missed a single note. It was a classical number, the symphony of it so utterly beautiful that I just couldn’t stop staring at it.

Athim.

All of a sudden, he halted abruptly, and his eyes drew right to me for the third time today. This time, I was really caught.

And there was no escape for me.

In a slow, deliberate move, he pushed away from his keyboard and took measured steps toward me. The entire time, his eyes never left mine.

My heart felt like it was fighting to jump out of my rib cage while my palms turned clammy on the tray that I was holding.

No boy had ever spared me any attention in school, let alone looked at me this intently.

“My brother has a band. You should join,” I blurted in panic before I could stop myself. Great, Katy, that wasn’t the first thing you should tell a guy you have a crush on.

He stilled as if that was the last thing he expected I would say. “What?” he muttered, the low timbre of his voice sending an invisible tremor through my body.

“Band,” I repeated louder, my eyes wide. “My brother and his friends recently started a band, and they need one more member. Rock music. I think you should join them. You’re good,” I rambled.

He didn’t even hesitate when he replied, “No, thank you.”

Embarrassment flooded my blood like a fast-moving train. My cheeks stained red, and my heart sank to my stomach.

What was I thinking?

Someone like me wouldn’t even stand a chance with a pretty boy like him. He only had to grace the school hallway with his cool presence and girls like Sabrina would be falling on their knees for him.

And I would just be an invisible speck in his stunningly bright life.

CHAPTER 3

LAN

An angel.