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Page 4 of Meet Me at the Metro (Gildenhill #1)

4

PIANO KEYS

E L L I E

R ays of sunlight stream their way through the sheer curtains of my bedroom window. Their warmth spreads against my face, waking me and forcing my heavy eyelids open. I groan as I stretch out my tight and sore limbs beneath my covers, the exhaustion from yesterday’s travels still lingering in my system.

My new roommates and I didn’t return to the flat until well after midnight last night. We were too consumed in acquainting ourselves with one another and stuffing our stomachs full of pasta and breadsticks to persuade ourselves to leave .

And, of course, with dinner came entertainment.

The entertainment being Evie .

People like her aren’t the type to be bound up and described in just a few words. They’re complex creatures whose vibrant personalities know no bounds as they constantly keep you on your toes. She kept dinner so engaging last night with her outlandish tales, quirky laughter, and witty remarks.

If there was one thing I was thankful to have gained right off of the bat in this new adventure, it was a friend who would help push me out of the bounds of my comfort zone. After just one night out with her, I can already guarantee that Evie will be a friend who does just that. She’s been majoring in musical performance at Gildenhill for the last two years. While the saxophone is her personal specialty, she knows how to play several other woodwind instruments, too.

Harvey, on the other hand, is majoring in musical theater like me, although he’s a year ahead in his studies. From what I gathered last night, he’s the complete opposite of Evie: gentle, passive, calm, reserved. His kind temperament and intellectual charm make me presume he’d be an amazing companion for deep conversations and meaningful heart-to-hearts.

Their two yin and yang personalities honestly complement each other so well.

As I reflect on how naturally everything felt with them last night and how well the three of us seemed to mesh almost instantaneously, I can’t help but feel as though I hit the jackpot in finding these two. I have them to lean on as I settle into this big, new city, and something in my gut tells me I can trust that security completely.

Once my brain and body accept it’s time to get up, I peel myself from the tangle of sheets and hop out of bed. Loud, upbeat music echoes through the flat beyond my closed bedroom door, and I’m grinning at the early morning commotion. I open the door and make my way toward the kitchen, finding Evie dancing freely in the middle of it. Her bright, silk polka-dot pajamas swirl with her as her feet prance against the tiled floor.

“Good morning!” I greet with a groggy voice.

There’s not a trace of surprise behind her dark, playful eyes as they find mine. “ Morning, miss Ellie,” she sing-songs. “Want some tea, mate? Or Harv made a pot of coffee this morning.”

“ Mmm, coffee, please ,” I hum. I glance around the flat, not noticing my other roommate anywhere in sight. “Is he already up and out for the day?”

“Yeah,” Evie answers, still shaking her hips to the music. “He’s a morning bird. What about you? Any plans today?”

I glance toward the clock on the wall, reading the time— 12:00 p.m.— and gasp. “ Oh my God! I’ve nearly slept half the day away!”

Evie shrugs. “That jet lag is a bitch. Besides, time is nothing but an illusion anyway.” She hands over my steaming cup of coffee and insists, “Drink up, buttercup. You’re gonna need the fuel because if you don’t already have plans made, I’ve got some arrangements for us up my sleeve.”

“Oh, yeah? And what arrangements might those be?”

“Well, first things first, I thought I could show your arse around campus before your first big day. Figured it’d be good to get acquainted with it before we release you to the hounds.”

“You trying to scare me off already?”

“I wouldn’t dare to do such a thing! I think you’ll handle the hounds just fine.”

“Is that so?” I giggle. “Well, since you’re offering, I’d love a tour. Might make getting around classes tomorrow a little easier and maybe make those dogs you keep mentioning a little less intimidating.”

“See, I knew I caught a whiff of resilience in you, Georgia girl. It’s a good thing, too. In a city like this, you’re going to need it.”

It’s not until three o’clock in the afternoon that we finally make our way out of the apartment. After witnessing Evie battle a hair-gel mishap for two hours, I quickly realized that Harvey wasn’t lying when he said this girl took her time .

After scarfing down a late lunch and navigating the train station and crowded London streets, my sights finally set upon Gildenhill University . My heart swells in complete awe of its architectural beauty.

The pictures online just don’t do it any justice.

I examine the campus buildings first, admiring the illusion they give off of stretching for miles along the lush grass and pristine cobblestone pavements. The verdant gardens along the premises are tended with so much care, blossoming with beautiful flowers and neatly trimmed bushes. The sand-colored stones of the century-old complexes are carved with elegant designs, and I study the small intricate details in the columns carefully. I allow myself a moment to consider the weight of history that must lie within this place.

Oval-and-square-shaped window panes spread along the outside of the school walls, giving you a peek at the charming classrooms and lecture halls inside. I can only imagine how this place must glow at night, blanketed in moonlight.

The quiet rumbling of water grabs my attention as we continue strolling down the sidewalks of campus. I grin like a fool when I find the source of the noise.

Mere feet away, situated in the center of the campus courtyard, a three-tiered fountain spews to life. My instincts immediately have my feet moving toward it to admire its charm and beauty closer. I peer into the sparkling waters at its base, spotting the tiny flecks of silver and copper glistening along its bottom.

“This place is unreal, Evie,” I say to her— but mostly to myself— because everything I’m seeing now feels like a dream.

“You’ve got a lot more to see. This way ,” she nods. “I’ll show you where everything is.”

After weaving us through the lecture halls and dimly lit corridors of the countless buildings on campus, Evie decides to show me the music room. When we arrive, she swings open the doors to the large, dome-shaped building and motions me inside.

Xylophones, symbols, timpanis, drums, and chimes take up the backspace of its circular floor plan, while probably a hundred seats and music stands arch along the middle portion of the room. The walls are covered in soundproofing squares of various shapes and sizes. I imagine all the wondrous music made here as I stand and take it all in.

As I do, my eyes snag onto the old, antique piano sitting near the conductor’s stand before me. It draws my attention the most out of everything in the room, hooking me with its classic charm and weathered wood.

I wish I possessed the talent of playing a piano like this. Now that I’m thinking about it, I realize the Gildenhill program requires students to choose a musical instrument to pair with their studies. Until now, I wasn’t entirely sure what I would choose, but I think the sight of this piano alone might give me my answer.

Evie disappears into one of the back storage rooms as I make my way over to the musical antique. My fingers drift along the dark-stained wood of the piano’s fallboard before pulling it open and exposing the ivory and black piano keys underneath. I smooth my hands along their glossy dips and ridges, loving how they feel beneath my fingertips.

Something in me tells me not to give in to the temptation of playing one of the keys, but I can’t fight my curiosity. My thumb presses down, and a warm note rings through the room.

“What are you doing?”

“ Shit!” I curse, completely startled by the masculine voice behind me. I quickly draw my hands from the piano and dart my head back. My stomach twists when I find those gray-blue eyes from last night watching me again. “You scared me.”

“Does that belong to you?”

“No, it doesn’t. I was just—”

“Showing no consideration for people’s shit. Again .”

I roll my shoulders back at the brash response, refusing to give this man even the slightest bit of inclination that he intimidates me.

“That’s not what I was doing.”

“Sure does look like it.” He strides my way and reaches around me to slam the fallboard shut again. “You don’t go around touching things that don’t belong to you, alright? How would you like it if I came into your space and started touching your shit.”

“So the piano’s yours, then?”

“No, it’s not mine. Not exactly.” I swear the space between us grows smaller with every word that tumbles from his mouth. “It’s my— it’s …”

“It’s?”

“Just stop fucking with things that don’t belong to you.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

He scoffs. “What’s wrong with me ?”

“Yeah, you . I’m sorry about last night, but is it really an excuse for being so freaking rude? You don’ t even know me.”

“I know you’re a clumsy-arse American who can’t seem to keep your hands off of people’s things.”

“Says some grumpy-ass Brit who hasn’t said a single nice thing to me.”

Theo stares at me—long and hard. I force myself to swallow back how nervous it makes me, refusing to let him see me budge even an inch.

“My apologies,” he taunts, narrowing his eyes. “You look really fucking devourable in that pink cardigan, Nora. Better?”

My legs go completely numb at his deep and guttural voice, my heart racing with all the possible meanings laced within the backhanded comment. I glare at him, hating how quickly the heat of embarrassment reaches my cheeks.

“You’re a royal asshole, you know that?”

“And you’re a royal pain in my arse,” he shrugs. “Quit messing with shit that doesn’t belong to you.”

I cock my head sideways, challenging him further. “Maybe I’ll consider it when you get that stick out of your ass, Teddy.”

“That’s not my name!”

A large crash from one of the back storage rooms startles us from our argument before it can escalate any further.

“Ask before you touch, Nora.” I’m surprised by how gentle his tone is this time. He steps away from me and heads toward all the commotion. “What the hell did you break this time, Evie?”

I reluctantly follow after him, only for the sake of checking to make sure our mutual friend is alright. As I force my legs to move, my head spins with everything said between us.

What is this dude’s problem?

Does he act this way toward everyone, or does he just not like me?

Things seem to go well, but then Theo shows up, and it feels like my body and brain have quit working entirely. Every interaction with him shakes my confidence enough that my heart’s suddenly back home in Georgia, wishing John were here for me to talk to and somehow make me feel better about all of this.

Shit. I never messaged him when I got back home last night .

Without another thought, I quickly pull out my phone and begin typing my apology.

Hey babe, I am so so sorry I forgot to text you last night. We got caught up in conversation.

Call me when you get a chance.

“You ready to go see the best part of this place?” Evie calls out behind me, commanding my attention.

Not a single hair is out of place on her head, and it’s a relief to see that she’s okay. I keep my eyes on her, not daring to let them fall on the man standing behind her, and force a smile on my face. “You mean the theater?”

“ Mhmm .” She heartedly slaps my newfound enemy on the back and informs us both, “Since my mate, here, has been so kind to bless us with his presence, he can give us a tour!”

“Absolutely not,” Theo objects, but his eyes lock with mine for the shortest moment, and I have trouble believing his easy refusal.

“Oh, why not, you grumpy old bastard? You still have the soundboard and media room keys. Do you not? ”

He sighs. “Unfortunately.”

“That settles it, then! You’re taking us.” Evie smiles sinisterly. She’s either completely oblivious about the argument that just broke out between the two of us or wants to torture us. She skips out of the room before Theo or I can protest. “ Let’s go, friends! ”

Theo walks past me, cutting me an insincere smile, and chastises, “Come on, friend. ”

“You and I will never be friends.”

“You’re probably right,” he shrugs, stalking toward the doors ahead. “We’d cause too much trouble.”

The walk to the theater doesn’t take us long, and as I push through the grand double doors of the auditorium, my eyes can hardly believe the sight in front of me.

Red velvet blankets everything inside, from the arched rows of seats to the nearly 50-foot walls surrounding me. Dim, white lights dazzle against the gold trimming etched along the tall ceilings and dress circle balconies of the auditorium, but the stage in the front seems to conjure most of my attention.

“What are you waiting for? Get your arse up there.” Evie yanks me by my wrist and drags me onto the closed-curtain stage. “ Theo! Cue the lights! ”

I giggle nervously as she positions us center stage. “Can’t we get in trouble for being up here?”

“Who bloody cares! Tell me, what do you think?”

“I think it’s beautiful,” I confess. “It’s seriously everything I’ve ever dreamed of.”

I soak in the warmth of the stage, relishing in both the comfort and confidence it instills in me. I love how its spotlights let me escape my thoughts and current worries and allow me to become anyone I want to be. It’s beautiful and freeing.

“Let’s get this tour moving, shall we? I’ve got plans tonight.” Theo impatiently calls out.

“Eat a dick!” Evie shouts. Though, she quickly turns to me and suggests, “We should probably hurry before that man has a damn aneurysm.”

We start to make our way to the back of the auditorium, where Theo is waiting for us, when my phone buzzes inside my back pocket. I draw it out and read the text, now lighting up the screen.

Don’t worry about it. It was a late night for me, too. I probably won’t find time to call today. Maybe tomorrow?

Just as my fingers start to type back a response, Theo whistles. “I’ve got plans. Let’s go.”

“I heard you,” I grit between my teeth .

I quickly put my phone away because I don’t think I can physically stand to hear this man utter another word.

However, that thought immediately makes me uneasy because I realize I won’t be able to avoid him as easily as I hoped…

Because he goes to this school, too.