Their Violence, Your Silence.

The sound of loud voices filled the house soon after and it wasn't hard to recognize some of them. Damian, Shane, more of Caleb's friends and Cassie's higher pitched voice.

Wow they timed that well... all arriving at the same time.

Arriving the moment Caleb was about to kiss me...

Thinking more about it was impossible though because right then Cassie burst into the kitchen en tackled me into a hug. We landed awkwardly on the kitchen floor in a big heap.

'Oomph... You just saw me like half an hour ago, you can't have missed me that much...' I said laughing at her stupidity as she jumped up and pulled me with her into some sort of goofy dance.

More people filed into the kitchen and laughed along, among them obviously Shane who thankfully came to my rescue by throwing Cas over his shoulder.

'Hey Winter, nice to see you here,' he greeted me, ignoring the squeals and screams Cassie was making.

'What the hell Caleb?' interrupted another voice. 'What is she doing here? Aren't you afraid she'll steal something?'

Damien...

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, part of me thinking not this time, this time I have friends. Another part of me thinking: here it comes, now they'll tell me this was all a joke.
This is where Caleb says: no I was just messing with her.

'Shut up Damien, she's my friend and you better behave or I'll kick you out!' Caleb stepped into the kitchen followed by two more guys. Crowding the kitchen despite its size.

I felt awkward sandwiched in between Cassie and the kitchen counter, with Shane right behind me and Damien right in front of me looking pissed as hell.

But Caleb looking furious and ready to fight was a sight for sore eyes. Especially the part where he called me friend made me feel warm inside. Although of course I tiny part of me was thinking: just friend? It was a selfish thought.

Caleb stepped up to Damien glaring fiercely and ever so slowly Damien stepped back. Until Caleb was stood in front of me, his back turned towards me, effectively shielding me from
Damien.

'Whatever man... Suit yourself really,' muttered Damien before he turned and left the kitchen.

'Anyone else have a problem with Winter being here?' Caleb said, his voice tight and controlled. The remaining guys looked amongst each other awkwardly before shrugging.

One of them ventured to say: 'I don't mind, she seems nice to me...' then he seemed embarrassed by what he said and hurried out of the kitchen as well. A can of beer in his hand I was sure he wasn't allowed to drink yet.

As if it was a sign the rest of the guys hurried after him, 'Game starts in ten minutes.'

The door closed softly behind the last one and only then did Caleb turn around. He didn't look at me though but at a point above my left shoulder where I knew no one was standing.
'Everyone okay?'

'Yeah we're all fine, do you still want to stay Winter?' asked Cassie tentatively.

Surprised by the question I turned to look at her, 'Why wouldn't I?' I wasn't going to let Damien scare me away. I was used to much worse alone and I wasn't alone now.

'Oh never mind then... hey did you know Caleb has a grand piano?' with that Cassie grabbed my hand and dragged me away.



The piano room was beautiful. It was a wide spacious room with a high ceiling, everything was white and it made a stark contrast with the shiny black of the grand piano situated right in the middle of the room.

There were large windows with light white curtains that let in so much light that the room seemed to glow with it. The only other object in the room besides the piano was a vase of bright flowers on one of the windowsills.

The flowers, bright scarlet roses mixed with tiny white flowers I didn’t know.

‘Mister Thornleigh used to play, he was pretty good but he never does anymore now…’ Cassie explained as she pulled me into the room.

‘He won’t mind if you use it while you’re here, it’s been gathering dust anyway! Now show me what you can!’

She pushed me down on the piano stool eagerly and I bit my lip trying to think of a good song to play. I didn’t mind playing for Cassie.

Deciding on one of my favorite songs, the Moonlight Sonata from Beethoven, I played only the first movement though because I like that one best.

Cassie seemed completely enraptured as she sat beside me and I smiled as I let my fingers glide across the keys. My glasses I’d neatly deposited on top of the piano, I didn’t need to see to be able to play.

It was silent a long time after I’d stopped playing but Cassie seemed lost in her own world. I put on my glasses and stood up slowly, intent on finding a bathroom and was shocked to find we had company.

A middle aged man was standing just inside the room. He wore slacks and an burgundy button up shirt and he was build tall and muscular if a little sinewy.

His hair was a dark brown with streaks of grey at the temples but his eyes were a bright green. It was easy to tell this was Caleb’s father, they looked a lot alike.

Mister Thornleigh was an older, more brooding version of his son. And he was downright scary if you asked me.

I couldn’t help but blush as he slowly straightened up from where he’d been leaning against the doorframe and softly clapped his hands.

‘Very well played my dear,’ Mister Thornleigh had a warm pleasant voice with a dark edge to it that I could tell was why people obviously tended to listen to him.

I inclined my head a little in thanks to his complement, afraid that if I’d say something it would come out in a squeak. This man was intimidating just like Caleb could be when he wanted to. Although Mister Thornleigh was more comfortable with it.

‘Would you mind playing me another piece? I would very much enjoy that,’ he requested, those green eyes of his meeting mine. They were an entirely different shade of green then Caleb’s eyes were.

I nodded slowly and turned around quickly to the grand piano. Setting down my glasses again and smiling at Cassie for a moment, she seemed unsure and even a little scared of the intimidating Mister Thornleigh.

I played Clair de lune from Debussy this time and I let the familiar tune lull me into a sense of safety. It was amazing to play a grand piano like this. So much better than the old piano at Katie’s house or the one at school.

When I was done I wasn’t surprised to see more people had come into the room.

I could see Shane and several of the other guys, even Damien was there staring me with a mixture of awe and contempt on his face. The only one missing was Caleb.

Where was he?