The music room smelled faintly of old wood and something sweet — maybe lavender.
Rylan had texted me to meet him after class, and now we were here, alone. Just the two of us and a dusty grand piano.
He walked toward it, brushing his fingers across the keys like they were sacred.
"You really brought me here to play?" I teased gently, sitting cross-legged on the floor nearby.
"I didn't lie when I said you used to love this," he said softly, sitting on the bench.
Then, without another word, he began to play.
A soft, slow melody — one I couldn't name, but it pulled at something buried in me.
My eyes fluttered shut.
A flash — laughter. My own voice, giggling.
Fingers brushing mine on piano keys.
The sound of someone humming the harmony.
I gasped.
"Ava?" Rylan turned quickly, alarmed.
"I… I heard this before," I said, voice trembling. "Someone… someone used to play this with me."
He looked at me, pain flickering in his eyes.
"That was me," he said quietly.
I blinked.
He hesitated, then stood and sat beside me on the floor. His eyes were soft, unsure. "I liked you. A lot. Even before everything. But I never said anything because…"
"Because of Damien," I whispered.
He nodded. "But now? He hurt you. And I don't want to waste time again."
He gently reached for my hand — and I didn't pull away.
But just then—
The door creaked.
Damien stood in the hallway, frozen, watching.
His jaw clenched. His eyes were stormy.
My heart dropped. "Damien—"
But he had already turned and walked away.
---
— Damien's POV
I shouldn't have come.
I should've stayed away.
But something in me needed to know where she was.
And then I saw them.
Sitting close. Her eyes soft.
His hand wrapped around hers.
It felt like something cracked inside me. Loud. Unforgiving.
I gripped the edge of the locker as I walked away, trying to breathe.
"She doesn't remember you," I reminded myself.
"She doesn't owe you anything."
But my heart didn't listen.
Because even if her memory was gone…
Mine wasn't.
And I still loved her like hell.
---
Hope you like it. comment what should happen next and I'll add it