The Prelude (A Musical Interlude Novel) - By Kasonndra Leigh Page 0,40
sister. “You know I’m not going to tell you no, right?” At once, I’m attacked by arms and handbags and the aroma of peach body spray. I peel Adriana’s arms away from me. “But, just so you know, I do expect the real explanation, at some point.”
“You got it,” she answers in an excited voice. “I’ll be as quiet as a church mouse. Well, except when I need to practice. I hope you don’t mind classical music.”
If only she knew. “I grew up in a house full of musicians,” I answer. “We listened to everything from Bach to Shirley Caesar to Guns-N-Roses, okay? So don’t worry. I’m good.”
“That’s so cool. I was worried. Some people think classical music is only for old people, you know,” she explains.
“Yeah, I do. Well, your room’s going to be the second one on the right. Just move all of my sketches and things I have in there to the side.” She grabs her bags and heads down the hallway, just before my cell phone rings.
Selene waits on the other end. Or maybe I should say, she’s hyperventilating when I hit the green answer-call button.
“E! You’ll never believe what just happened!” she screams. I move the phone back and wonder what it is about me today that’s attracting all of this excitement from people.
“Right. So count to fifty and calm down. I won’t have any eardrums left by the time we all finish screaming today,” I say, but still feeling happy to hear my friend’s voice.
“I’m sending you a pic, right now. Check your cellie,” she gasps.
“I’m talking on my phone. I can’t check the screen. Just tell me what’s going on. Everybody’s so secretive and strange these days,” I say, thinking of the way Alek embraced me just before he whisked me off to a secluded area inside of a park. I’m still recovering from the shock of him trying to kiss me.
“I’m not going to say a thing. I’ll wait for you to check out my pic,” she says, giggling.
I release a sigh and say, “What did Christopher the Great do this time? Buy you another pair of handcuffs and chocolate flavored panties? Do me a favor and spare me the details of all that this time, please.”
A long moment of silence passes. I feel like a complete jerk. “Wow, Erin. I hate that my love life bores you to death. I’ll make sure to fix that in the future.”
“Selene, I’m sorry. This isn’t really an excuse, but I have so much going on. Plus, it’s almost time for the visit to see my mom,” I explain.
“It’s forgotten, okay? And I do remember the mysterious visits you never talk about.”
I haven’t forgotten though. I’ll never forget the reason my mom is hospitalized. Caught up in the hazy memory of a car sitting inside of a garage, I give Selene a brief explanation.
“Mom usually thinks it’s Jada visiting when I go see her. My Aunt Sophia is ruthless, though. She won’t let anyone near Mom except on the days she has scheduled for us all to visit. Me included.” I don’t know what makes me want to tell Selene about Mom’s dilemma for the first time in the five years I’ve known her.
Could it be the effects that a certain handsomely Maestro is having on you? No way.
“I’m so sorry, E. I had no idea,” Selene says. “When I met you back at school in New York, I just thought you were one of the quiet ones. Somebody who doesn’t like to talk about her family all of the time. I respected that.”
I snap out of the trance and focus on my friend. “You know what? Just because I’m half-ass depressed and hiding it behind the personality of Miss Uncongeniality doesn’t mean you have to be the same way. That’s kinda why I wanted you to hear what I just said about my mom.”
“I'll be there in Milan soon enough. And we’ll do what we do best. Gossip and spend the day window shopping,” she suggests.
“Sounds great, Selene.” After I click the end button, I take a peek at the picture she sent me.
It’s just as I thought. The diamond ring on her finger almost jumps out of the screen. The thing looks that brilliant. A small touch of envy tingles inside me. I’m happy for Selene and Christopher. Besides Romeo and Juliet, my two classmates are probably the most sexually frustrated couple to ever live. They fought family, friends, and distance to get