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The following morning, in my prettiest red sundress and glowy makeup, I stepped out of my house, and just like he said, he was waiting in the same spot I left him last night.

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my lips.

A smile that matched his.

And that was how Landon and I became best friends.

CHAPTER 6

LAN

Age 15

My fingers danced over the keys, the sound steady like a smooth falling crescendo, lacing perfectly with Serena’s full-bodied strings. We were practicing Tchaikovsky’s “Eleny in G major” for her recital next month. It was a hard piece, but we were nailing it.

The brooding, mournful yet bright music was one of our favorite pieces, and it came easily to us.

Just as we entered the last section, Vivaldi’s “Spring from Four Seasons” filled the air. I knew exactly who it was. It was a ringtone I specially added for my angel. Because it was bright and beautiful and golden, and she was bright and beautiful and golden.

My hands lifted off my keyboard and went straight for my phone. I could never miss her call.

“Hey, Lan,” Katy’s sweet voice echoed from the other end. “Are you here yet?”

I eyed my phantom black Richard Mille and bit back a curse. “Sorry, K. I’ll be with you in a few. Stay right there, okay?”

“Okay, don’t worry. Take your time.”

I nodded, cutting the call and jumped to my feet.

“It’s her, isn’t? You’re going to her again,” Serena sneered, her voice like a sharp bite as it slithered through the air.

“Yes, sorry, Ser. I’ll make it up to you. I told Katy I was meeting her, and time just flew by.” I dragged my leather jacket around my arms.

Katy roped herself into the design committee for our end-of-year freshman dance, so she was busy with it after school, and I promised to pick her up.

I was glaring at my watch, wishing time would run faster when Ser came in wanting to practice. I told her I couldn’t, but she insisted and now I was late.

“You didn’t answer my question.” She cocked a brow, her purple-painted nails curling over her violin.

"I told you, Ser. I can’t today,” I mumbled, darting out of the room.

“She’s going to ruin you,” Ser called out, her voice laced with disdain, and I stilled halfway in the hallway. “One day, you’re going to regret dropping all of your dreams for her. Go on, chase her now, but she’s going to destroy you one day and you’re going to come crawling back to me.”

I looked over my shoulder and pinned her with a glare. I had been patient with her jabs because I really did consider Ser as my sister and thought she was displaying some harmless jealousy. But enough was enough.

It wasn’t like I chose her over Katy. There was no choosing when it came to Katy. She was my priority, and Ser didn’t get to decide who I get to be friends with. And Katy was my best friend. It wasn’t like I completely ignored and avoided Ser. I always invited her to come hang out with us and the boys. She was the one who always refused, so she had no right to hold it against me.

“That will be the last time you speak of Katy to me that way Ser.” My voice thundered with warning. “Mydreams are minealone to decide what I do with them. I don’t want to hear that tone again, or you won’t like what I do.”

Her eyes widened in shock as she took a step back and then another before running off to her room.

I sighed. I knew I was being rude, and I’d never spoken to her that way, but Ser was testing my patience lately.

I shook my head. I’d deal with it later.

Right now, I had to get to my angel.

“Katy,” I shouted, out of breath as I rushed to her. I made it to school in five minutes, running like I had a marathon.