Ch. Piano boy Ch 2 Piano boy Ch 2

“No way,” Sarah insisted. “I have him wrapped 

around my little finger. I say jump, he says how high.” 

“I heard he’s got a big piano competition 

coming up. Make him skip it, then we’ll talk,” 

someone challenged. 

“Easy,” Sarah smirked. “Just watch.” 

I froze I know exactly how important that 

I froze. I knew exactly how important that 

competition was. First place meant a full 

scholarship to the Vienna Conservatory. I 

knew, because it was the same competition 

he’d missed in my past life. Back then, 

convinced Sarah was using him, I’d tried to 

warn Ethan. He’d just dismissed me as 

jealous and spiteful. Finally, I’d gone to his 

parents. It had blown up spectacularly. They’d 

been forced to break up, and Ethan, 

distraught, hadn’t placed in the competition. 

He still got to Vienna, but the scholarship was 

gone. And he never forgave me. 

Sarah turned to me, a glint in her eye. “You 

wouldn’t tell, would you, Quinn?” 

I looked down at my textbook. “No,” I said 

quietly. “I won’t.” This time, I would stay 

eir liv26 unfa 

without 

< 

interference. 

I didn’t see Ethan again until he showed up at 

my front door, drunk and bleeding. Shattered 

beer bottles littered the porch. It was the first 

time I’d been face–to–face with him since 

coming back. The bile rose in my throat. 

He scrambled to his feet, eyes red–rimmed. 

“Quinn, you and Sarah are friends, right? Can 

you call her? She…she wants to break up. I 

can’t…I can’t live without her.” 

“She says I’m boring, that I spend too much 

time with my piano. I’ll quit! The piano’s 

nothing compared to her. Please, help me.” 

“I’m desperate. I love her. I’ll do anything.” 

I looked at him, the golden boy stripped bare. 

< 

His long, elegant fingers, the fingers he 

cherished, were dripping blood. He didn’t 

seem to notice. The Ethan I’d had a crush on 

was long gone. Some first loves are better 

left in the past. 

I pulled out my phone and called Sarah. 

“Sarah, Ethan’s here. He’s… upset. Can you 

come over?” 

He stood beside me, listening, hope flickering 

in his eyes. 

Sarah’s voice, laced with amusement, drifted 

from the phone’s speaker. “Ask him if he’d 

really do anything for me.” 

Ethan’s voice cracked. “Anything.” 

“Tell him to skip the competition.” The line 

went dead. 

Ethan stood there, stunned. I watched him, 

wondering what he would choose. His dream, 

or Sarah? 

He hung his head. “Is that…is that the only 

way to prove how much she means to me?” 

He wasn’t asking me, but I knew he already 

had his answer. 

I just watched him walk away, defeated. 

Ethan missed the competition. He’d hurt his 

hand, he said. He and Sarah were back 

together, sickeningly sweet. I saw them 

walking home from school, hand in hand. The 

light was back in Ethan’s eyes, focused solely 

on the girl beside him. She was smoking, 

blowing smoke in his face, and he just 

laughed, pulling her close and kissing her. 

Then, arm in arm, they disappeared into the 

local pool hall, joining a group of rough- 

looking older kids. I sighed and turned away. 

I didn’t see Ethan again until his mother 

showed up at school. Mrs. Miller, a high 

school teacher herself, was usually the 

picture of composure. She’d helped me with 

my math homework when I was younger, 

telling me I was a bright girl. Ethan’s family 

wasn’t rich. His dad worked a factory job. 

They’d sacrificed everything for his music. 

And he’d been so close to making it. 

Now, Mrs. Miller’s face was contorted with 

rage. In front of the entire class, she slapped 

Sarah across the face, leaving a bright red 

handprint. 

L 

Sarah recoiled, shocked. “What the hell, 

lady?!” 

Mrs. Miller’s voice dripped with contempt. 

“You little hussy. You’ve been leading my son 

astray.” 

“You’ve ruined his future. Do you have any 

idea what we’ve invested in him, the years of 

work, the sacrifices? And you’ve thrown it all 

away! You made him miss that competition!” 

Sarah’s face paled. “Made him? He begged 

me to be with him! He wanted to skip the 

competition. It wasn’t me! I didn’t force him!” 

Mrs. Miller lunged, grabbing Sarah’s hair. 

Someone ran to get Ethan. He burst into the 

room and pushed his mother away, shielding 

Sarah with his body. “Mom! Stop it! Hit me, 

< 

not her. I skipped the competition. It was my 

choice.” 

Mrs. Miller stared at him, dumbfounded. Her 

perfect, obedient son, defying her for this… 

girl. She trembled with fury. She slapped 

Ethan, then her eyes scanned the room, 

landing on me. “Of all the girls…why her? 

Why not someone decent, like Quinn? Are you 

trying to kill me, Ethan?” 

My jaw dropped. This hadn’t happened 

before. In my past life, Mrs. Miller had 

handled things quietly, discreetly. No public 

showdowns. 

Every eye in the room was on me. Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “Quinn! You snitched! I 

thought you were my friend!” 

L 

Ethan turned to me, his lips set in a thin, hard 

line. The look in his eyes was terrifying. 

I held up my hands. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t say 

anything. I don’t want to be involved in your 

drama. If you’re going to fight, please take it 

outside. Some of us are trying to study.” | 

turned to Mrs. Miller. “And please tell them it 

wasn’t me.” 

Sarah didn’t believe me. Luckily, Ethan’s 

homeroom teacher arrived and pulled Mrs. 

Miller aside. “If Ms. Davies hadn’t told me…” 

Mrs. Miller was saying. So, it was the 

homeroom teacher who’d told his mom. I was 

off the hook.