The date was Monday, February nineteenth. The time was three o'clock in the afternoon. The place was in the piano hall, in the practice room. I was locked in. Pretty much trapped.

"This isn't really necessary," I said, narrowing my eyes at the two boys in front of me.

Paul squared his jaw at me. "It's for your own good, Allie."

"We need to do this," Elliot agreed solemnly.

"But I don't want to," I complained, banging my fist on the piano keys, making it screech.

"The Nationals are in two months. You have to at least choose your song, Allie," Paul responded, taking a seat on the piano bench next to me. "Do you have any idea what you want to play?"

"Row, row, row, your boat?"

Elliot smacked my head.

"Ow! It was a joke!" I grumbled, rubbing the spot.

"You've made it this far Allie, you can win," Paul said encouragingly.

I turned to face him, sliding back a little when I realized how close he was to me. "I don't know..."

"You're staying here until you decide on a piece," Elliot said flatly, dragging one of the spare chairs over to the piano. "Paul and I will take shifts if we have to."

This made me smile. "Aw, you guys really do believe in me!"

Paul nodded, placing a hand on my thigh. "You're one of the best, Allie Cat. It'd be an honor to have you play with me, so you have to win."

My cheeks warmed up and I quickly removed his hand. "Uh, yeah."

I could almost hear Elliot rolling his eyes.

"How about Bach?" Paul asked. "Do you like Bach?"

"Ehh, not feeling Bach."

He almost looked offended.

"Just want a change from the classics," I added on quickly. "So no more Chopin either. I want something fun."

"Brahms then?" Elliot suggested.

I shook my head. "No."

"What kind of fun do you want?" Paul questioned. "Name some pieces."

I thought for a moment. What did I want to play? This was the Nationals. I couldn't choose something lame. I started prodding at the keys, seeing what pieces came to mind. Naturally, when I thought fun, I started playing Hungarian Rhapsody number 2. Only the most simple, basic part, because it was the only part I knew.

Paul grinned and immediately jumped in with me. Easily we found a pattern that fit so we could play it together. And it was fun. For a few moments. Then I realized just how good Paul was— every key he touched sounded like magic. And then it came to a part I didn't know and I had to stop. Paul kept playing, sounding beautiful, and hitting each increasingly difficult note with ease. I felt a sense of panic. The people I'd be going against in Nationals were going to be this good. Way better than me. It was a fluke that I won Winter Wonder.

"Okay show-off," Elliot muttered.

"It's a fun song, that's what you were looking for, right Allie?" Paul asked, smiling widely at me. "I think it's perfect."

"I don't know half of it," I admitted. "I only know that part."

"I bet you can play it! You can play anything, Allie Cat."

"Anyone can play anything," I said, a little frustrated. "You say that all the time and guess what? I'm definitely not the best pianist in the world, Paul. If you can play piano, you can learn to play whatever you want. These people that will be at this contest are going to be way better than me— I know they will be. It doesn't matter what I choose to play. I'm just wasting my time."

"No, you're not," Paul shot back at me sharply.

His brusque tone caught me off guard and I forgot what I was going to say next.

He grabbed my hands and squeezed. "You're amazing, Allie. You may feel self-doubt, but I believe in you. And so do your friends. So stop giving up on yourself before you even try. You're brilliant, and you can do anything."

This time, I blushed. I turned my face away from him, staring at the piano keys. "I'm not..."

Without warning, he grabbed my cheek and pinched it. "You're not what?"

"Ow, that hurts!"

"Repeat after me," he demanded. "I'm Allie and I'm awesome."

I tried to pull his hand away from my face. "No, that's dumb."

"Say it," he warned.

"I'm Allie and I'm awesome," I mumbled.

"Now say it again like you mean it."

"Paul—"

He shook his head. "No, Allie. I think you're awesome. And so should you. Say it."

I hesitated for a moment. Then I took a deep breath. "I'm Allie and I'm awesome."

"And I'm going to kick ass at Nationals," Paul continued.

"Paul! You swore!"

He narrowed his eyes at me.

"A-and I'm going to kick ass at Nationals," I repeated, a little more firmly.

He nodded. "Yes you are. Whatever piece you choose will be the right one."

I chewed on my bottom lip. "You think so?"

"I know so."

"Okay lovebirds, let's not forget I'm here," Elliot spoke up, startling me.

I glanced back at him, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry."

He shrugged. "Whatever. Let's just get a piece chosen. And make sure no one else knows what is it this time."

"You're right, I have to pick something." I picked up one of the piano books and began flipping through it. There had to be something. Something I could make my own again. Maybe I did have a chance of winning this. If I won, I could play with Paul. As a career. I had to give it my best shot.

"Hungarian Rhapsody is a choice," Paul told me. "We can work together. We can shorten it a bit and you can remake it. It doesn't get played at a lot of piano recitals, but I think you could make it work."

I tinkered around with the keys a little bit. "You think?"

"I also think it's a good one," Elliot said. "It's got a lot of different components to it."

"I only have two months to learn it..."

Paul's eyes lit up and he grinned. "That's more than enough time."

"You think I can do it?" I asked, feeling a thrill shoot through me. It was hard— I knew it was hard. But maybe it was worth a short.

"Go for it, Allie."

I looked at Elliot. He raised an eyebrow at me. "What, you want me to say something encouraging?"

I nodded expectantly.

"Well, the judges probably aren't expecting Mozart from a bunch of high school seniors."

"Oh, that's actually a good point," I responded with a grin. "Yeah, okay. Let's do it."

Paul nodded. "Okay, I'll find the sheet music. Let's start by you learning the whole thing and then we'll worry about cutting it down. Then after that you can do your magic thing."

"It's not really magic."

"I think it is," he replied, winking at me.

I returned my attention to the piano, laying my fingers over the keys. Sure, I didn't choose one of the hardest songs out there, but it also wasn't the easiest. If I could just make it mine a little, maybe it would be okay. Maybe I had a shot.

"It might be a little hard to juggle your classwork with all this, but I think you'll be okay," Paul continued. "We can practice at home and Elliot's smart so he can help you out with your homework and all that—"

"Don't volunteer me for stuff," Elliot interjected.

Paul gave him a patronizing look. "I guess I can just help her with all of it then. I don't mind spending a lot of time together."

Elliot narrowed his eyes. "I'll do it."

"Great! Then it's settled."

"Wait a second, how much do you think we are going to be practicing?" I asked Paul. I still had a part-time job too...

"At least two hours a day," he responded thoughtfully. "Maybe more on weekends..."

I dropped my head onto the keys. "Ugh."

Paul rubbed my back. "You can do it Allie Cat."

For the two hours, I watched Paul play through the piece a couple of times and then I practiced a little bit of the beginning. Learning a little at a time was a lot easier than trying to learn it all at once. And a lot of parts were incredibly tricky. I could move my fingers fast— but moving them that fast and hitting the correct key would take some practice. I needed the muscle memory. Elliot ditched out after the first hour, needing to head to work. I sort of wished I needed to work so I could leave too.

"That's enough for today," Paul finally said, putting a hand over his stomach. "I'm starving."

"Me too," I said, pulling the wooden cover over the keys.

Paul frowned at me. "You're not going to wipe down the keys?"

Making an exaggerated groan, I uncovered the keys again and went to grab the cleaner and rag. "Aren't I the only one who uses this? Why do I have to clean it every day?"

"To keep it in tip-top condition. Those pianos aren't cheap, you know."

I almost rolled my eyes. Of course they weren't cheap. Nothing at this school was cheap.

"This might be a little overwhelming right now, but your hard work will pay off," Paul promised me as I wiped down the keys. "You have natural talent like I've never seen before."

I half-smiled, raising an eyebrow at him. "Do you want something from me? All this flattery..."

"Nothing but for you to believe in yourself."

"You do it enough for both of us."

Paul grinned. "How does spaghetti sound found dinner?"

I didn't like spaghetti, but I knew Paul did, so I nodded. "Sounds great."

"We'll swing by the grocery store then."

"In uniform?" I replied, pulling at the skirt in question. I closed the piano lid again, picking up my backpack from off the ground.

Paul led us out of the piano room and back to the classroom so he could collect his stuff. "We can stop at home real quick."

"Sure."

Since I had just done my laundry, most of my clothing was sitting in the living room. I grabbed a maroon sweater and pulled my blazer off and then started yanking my blouse over my head. Almost immediately it was pulled back down and I turned to see Paul's blushing face.

"Hey," I protested.

"Not in front of me!"

I raised an eyebrow. "It's just my back. It's like wearing a bikini top."

"It's not," he mumbled. "Bras are different..."

I resisted the urge to aww. "It's fine," I told him, attempting to pull it over my head again.

"No!" He tugged it back down.

"Just turn your back then!"

"You're under-aged!" he accused.

I turned to give him a flat look. "Yeah, but I'm not self-conscious. It's not like no one has seen me topless before. I have had other boyfriends."

He seemed surprised. "But you're so young!"

"Paul, you're like two years older than me."

"I know, but..."

"Hasn't someone seen you naked?" I asked, crossing my arms. "It's not a big deal."

Again, his cheeks tinted. "Well..."

I waited a moment.

"It's none of your business."

My jaw almost dropped. "Are you a virgin?"

"You don't just ask someone that!"

"You are, aren't you?"

"Does it matter?" he shot back.

I laughed. "Not at all! I just didn't expect it."

"It just hasn't come up," he said unconcernedly. "I haven't had a real relationship in awhile and I'm not the one night stand kind of guy."

"That's understandable. Turn your back then so you won't have to see me change. I'm going to take off my pants too."

"I see more of your dad in you every day," Paul sighed, but still turned around.

I pursed my lips. "I'm not like him at all."

"So you say."

Deciding not to respond, I quickly slipped into my clothes. It was kind of surprise that Paul was a virgin, but at the same time it made sense. Piano was basically his life. He probably didn't have any time for that kind of stuff. Getting this job must've given him a lot of free time since all he had to do was work the school hours instead of travelling around all the time. That was most likely why he'd given a relationship with me a go.

"So I take it you're not a virgin?" Paul asked, still with his back turned to me.

"Should you be asking that to a minor?"

He stayed silent.

I smiled. "Just kidding. Safe to say that I'm not."

"Oh."

"Don't worry, I can show you the ropes." The words were out of my mouth before I realized what I was saying. And when I finally did realize what I'd said, I blushed. Hard.

Paul choked on air and I almost slapped myself in the face. "A-aren't you going to go change too?" I said, trying to keep my voice neutral, trying to play off what I just said.

"O-oh, yeah," he replied and then quickly scurried out the room.

I let out a long sigh and shook my head. What was I doing? We hadn't even kissed yet and here I was, joking about sex. Way to go, Allie, way to go. I just hoped it didn't scare Paul away. Not that I thought it would, but I'd have to watch my mouth. For now, I'd pretend like I didn't say anything.

Paul returned five minutes later, dressed in a nice pair of dark wash jeans and a black jacket. I smiled at him and he jingled his keys at me, so we headed out the door.

"Is there a monetary prize for the Nationals?" I asked, not wanting it to be silent in the car.

Paul nodded. "Yup, ten grand and a scholarship."

My mouth fell open. "What!"

Paul chuckled. "What, you didn't know?"

"No I didn't know!" I hadn't looked anything up about the Nationals, because I didn't expect to go.

"Did that give you more motivation to win?"

I nodded my head vigorously.

"Well if money is all it takes, I'll gladly throw five more dollars into that pool prize to inspire you."

"Very funny," I retorted, sticking out my tongue.

The grocery store was pretty much dead when we arrived. Paul made a beeline for the pasta aisle because he didn't want to dilly-dally and buy too much candy. He immediately grabbed my hand, which surprised me, but I let him. Holding hands was one of my favorite things and since there weren't a lot of people around, it would be okay.

"Should we get garden veggie sauce or just plain sauce? I'll probably put some sausage into it..." he pondered, standing in front of the condiments.

"I don't like sauce, so it's all up to you buddy."

He shook his head at me. "You never like the best parts."

I could've told him I didn't like pasta too much either, but decided not to. "Too many calories," I made up.

"Too many calories?" he echoed, turning to me. In a quick motion, he picked me up off the ground. "I think you need the calories."

Surprised, I tried squirming out of his grasp. "Hey! Put me down!"

He laughed, holding me tighter. "Don't like heights?"

"Paul!"

"Allie?"

Both Paul and I froze, because neither of us had said that. I immediately slid out of Paul's grasp and landed on the floor, my eyes wide as the familiar voice finally clicked in my mind. Turning around, I put on my best sheepish look. "Uh, hey, dad..."

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Sorry it's kinda short, was only eight pages in word ): But I wanted to get something out! Hope you guys had a good Christmas! If you got an itunes gift card remember you can buy A Proscrpitive Relationship and Gold Rush on iTunes right now! You can pre-order Believe Me, I'm Lying too! It comes out on January 1st :) Hope you enjoyed!!!!

Minumum wage is going up and I'm so excited because I work so much and I'm so poor!! So now I'll be slightly less poor!! Wooooo!

P.S you guys should vote! Let's try to get this baby to #1 in teen fiction! :D Gotta get my groooove back.

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