Page 11 of Devious Obsession
“That was fucked up,” I breathe.
He lifts one shoulder. I follow him back downstairs, but it seems like he’s done. With me, with the party.
My brows furrow. He snatches a set of keys from the drawer and goes out the front door. To one of the cars on the lawn.
I stand in the doorway until he’s backed out of his spot and turned the car around, and it disappears down the long drive. I let out a breath as soon as he’s gone.
What the fuck just happened?
SIX MONTHS LATER
1
ASPEN
When I was little, I wanted a white knight to come sweep me away from my terrible life. I wanted the horse, the shining armor, the sword.
The knight would slay my monsters and carry me off into the sunset.
But like most fantasies, that didn’t happen. The monster had more kids. And it was my mother who was the one who carried me off—but it certainly wasn’t into the sunset.
This, however… this feels like the start to something new.
“Are you sure?” Thalia, my best friend, asks me. “I mean, this is on a level of…”
I shrug. We’re standing in front of one of the oldest performing arts buildings in Crown Point, only blocks from campus, and the stadium we’re due to be at in less than an hour.
The thing is, the theater has been shut down for a month as it undergoes repairs, and rehearsals for the new show start next week. And I’m not a betting person, but I’d guess they won’t let random people wander around once that happens.
“I’ll be quick,” I promise her.
I give the side door a test pull, and it opens easily under my hand. I smile at her, as if to say,See?and step inside. The darkness swallows me whole. And a second later, Thalia joins me. She turns her phone flashlight on, illuminating the hallway.
We go forward quickly, our footsteps light, until we find the main stage. There are tarps everywhere, the floor rough, but it’s not thestageI want. It’s what’s below.
There’s a staircase set off to the side, and Thalia lets out a groan when I gesture to it. Down we go, until I locate the piano. The live orchestra plays under the stage. The conductor is visible from the audience, and some of the front chairs, but the piano is tucked into the back.
When I find it, I let out a quiet cheer. I toss my phone to Thalia and carefully slide out the bench. She nods when she’s started recording, and I take a seat. I stare at the keys for a moment, starstruck. Crown Point Theater has seen many,manyorchestra members who have then gone on to do great and wonderful things. This piano is like a piece of history.
“Go,” Thalia urges.
I nod, tossing her another smile over my shoulder, although my nerves are climbing up my throat. It’s not like anyone is watching—it’s just, I’d like to do this for real someday. With a full orchestra backing me up.
The time for hesitating is gone. I dive into a piece I know by heart, my fingers flying across the keys. The sound, though. Thesoundit makes goes straight into my soul. I lean in and play faster. This is the risky part, after all. If anyone is here, they’ll know exactly where to find us.
Breaking and entering isn’t a good look on my college résumé.
I finish and sit back, caught in a trance.
“You’ll get here,” she swears in a soft voice.
A door slams in the distance, and we both flinch. I jump up and rush past Thalia, grabbing her hand and towing her with me.
“Hey! Stop!” someone shouts.
We ignore them, sprinting down a maze of corridors and following the glowing redexitsigns. We burst out onto the sidewalk and keep running another block before we slow down.
I glance at her and burst out into laughter.
