After school, I go straight to the music class, wiling to get this over with. I walk in and see the class is empty, so I sit behind the piano. I see the paper that Stephanie had copied my song into. I guess Will didn't take it with him.

I go over the chords again and soon enough I was singing along. I stop when I hear someone clap and my heart starts beating fast. I turn to the door and see Stephanie standing at the door frame with her designer bag in between her fingers.

"How cute." She snickers, "you actually thought he would hear you and praise how beautiful your voice is?"

"Stephanie, I wasn't even..."

"Have you forgotten the warning I gave to you?"

"I just got carried away." I say truthfully.

"You should be happy that he wasn't the one who came in or else, I wouldn't hesitate to call daddy."

"I honestly don't know why you feel threatened by me."

"I already told you and if you don't know, I'm not going to go over it again." She says walking toward me with pride.

Will barges into the class, "I heard someone singing, who was it?" He asks clearly out of breath.

"It was...."

"It was me!" Stephanie says quickly, glaring at me and I roll my eyes. She didn't even know what I wanted to say. "I was the one singing, I told Maria to play the song for me, so I sang along with her."

"Well that was beautiful," he says looking at me and I look away.

"Thanks," she gives him a toothy grin and he smiles with her. They keep on smiling at each other like morons, so I clear my throat.

"So...steph I was wondering if you could write the duet...." Will says and both Stephanie's and my eyes open wide. "...you know for both of us."

Bitch's in trouble.

"I.. I thought you would right your own part?." She stutters.

"Yeah I was, but when I read your lyrics again, I thought yours would be better." He explains and she gives him a fake laugh.

"Sure," she puts on a brave face, "I'll write you something."

"Awesome!" He clasps his hand together and turns to me, "shall we?" He asks and I nod, Stephanie still looks troubled. I start playing and they sing together in harmony, though Stephanie's voice was too pitchy, it made my  ears bleed.

Every time I need to think or clear my head I always turn to the park. I just like the scenario around it, nature, little children laughing and playing, it's just soothing.

So after Will and Stephanie finished singing, I could tell Will was disappointed because she wasn't singing the way she said she was earlier, that is like me. After their performance, I decided to come to the park to clear my head.

I walk around the park for a while and I see a familiar figure sitting on a bench, so I walk up to him. He is holding a book. My lyrics book.

"Are you the owner of this book?" He raises the book when I reach him.

"How did you get it?" I ask still surprised.

"You didn't answer my question." He looks up to look at me and I nod, "was she threatening you with this?" He asks and I shake my head no.

"James, you don't understand."

"You know I saw you this afternoon, in the music class. You were singing." So he was there. "I could feel the emotions running through you, when you sang and then Stephanie walked in and threatened you, then I knew something was wrong. Why would you listen to her?."

"You don't understand." I look away.

"Make me understand." He says, dropping the book beside him on the bench, "I know I have no right to interfere, you and I were never best buddies but I want to make it up to you, when I saw who you truly are and I want to help you. If there is anyone who can win the competition, it is you. And I feel like you're throwing it all away, for someone who doesn't care about anyone but herself."

"Then I'd be like her!" I shout and he looks at me in confusion. "If I should join the competition, then I'll be like her," I whisper softly. I explain my family situation to him and I sigh, "if I should sing to Will, she'll tell her dad to fire my dad and my family would be back to phase one."

"You know the situation of things would have changed since three years ago, right?"

"I know, but..."

"No buts! You know she thinks you're vulnerable that's why you are an easy target. I mean  you said your dad has been working for her dad for three years, don't you think that makes him special? Do you think her dad would want to lose someone that important in his company?"

I never thought of that.

"She knows you're scared, that's why she's doing this. It's up to you, if you want your dreams to come true." He keeps quiet leaving me to ponder on what he said.

He's actually right and who would have thought that James my former arch enemy would be the one to give me such great advice.

"Thanks James you're a very good friend." I say punching his arm.

He winces, rubbing his hand and raise his eyebrow, "so I'm your friend now?" He asks and I nod taking my seat beside him.

"Yeah, I mean you were before. I was just pissed off, when I said you weren't." I say truthfully.

"Yeah, whatever, friend." He snorts and I laugh.

"How did you know the book was mine?" I asks gesturing to the book beside him.

"You left your chemistry note in class...." I did?  "...I also noticed that your handwriting matched the one in the book Stephanie was flaunting about during lunch today."

"So you took it from her?" I ask still confused that he has it.

"Please, I wouldn't stoop so low," he scoffs, "she gave it to Will and I kinda borrowed it to admire it for sometime." He takes the book and flips through the pages, "I must say you have amazing talents, " he sighs.

"I believe this is yours." He hands the book to me and I take it from him.

"Thank you." I shoot him a grateful smile and he smiles back at me.

"I think I have to go now," he says, "my sister has finished playing with her friend." He says pointing to the sister who was playing in the sand with her friend.

"I didn't see her there!" I shout feeling bad. I thought he was in the park to think, I did know he had to babysit.

"I'm babysitting her and her best friend, unfortunately." He complains looking straight ahead. I thought he was looking ahead because he was thinking, I didn't know was keeping an eye on his sister...and friend.

"Don't complain, she's cute." I defend her.

"Cute, but annoying." He states.

"You know there are a lot of people who will kill to have a younger sibling." I tell him.

"I'll tell them not to risk going to jail for that, because it is exhausting especially when they just arrive." I laugh, it must be though waking up in the midnight to the cries of a new born baby.

When I get home, I see my whole family seated in the living room, looking like someone just died. I think their meeting is about me, mum is the first to talk.

"Your dad has been suspended from work." She drops the bomb.

😯 cliffhanger.
Don't worry we are almost done.
Hope you enjoyed.
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Hannah.