Chapter 1
The sun was just beginning to set outside as Riley made her way through the building. The musical theater majors, herself included, had just finished rehearsal for “Oliver!” the Musical and it was now almost dark as she wandered through the halls of the American Music and Dramatic Arts Academy.
Riley had applied to AMDAA on a whim, after studying theater through high school, never imagining that she would actually be accepted. But there she was rehearsing for the biggest performance of her life. She may have been playing a tree in the infamous “park scene”, but she couldn’t be more excited. She was intent on being the leafiest tree that anyone had ever seen.
As she rounded a corner, a beautiful piano melody surrounded her. The notes seemed to balance each other out perfectly, with a skillful mix of flats and sharps that added vibrancy to the piece. Riley seemed to get lost in the music, and found herself floating towards the source. She walked a couple of doors down before stopping outside of one of the performance rooms.
She peered inside to catch a glance at the musician, but whoever was playing was shielded by the open lid of a grand piano. Just as Riley turned to walk away from the room, the musician began to sing.
“Big lights, people
Rushing to grow up before you know
Stop signs, denied
Everyone tells me I gotta go slow
And it's gonna hurt sometimes, no matter what you do
But nothing can change my mind”
The voice floated through the room, seeming to fill every crack and crevice. Riley stopped dead in her tracks. It was a girl’s voice. Her voice seemed to say more than the words did, just by the honesty that she let through.
“If I'm too young,
To fall in love,
Why do you keep running through my brain?”
Riley edged her way around the room slowly, doing her best to stay quiet so that she did not disrupt the girl.
“If I'm too young,
To know anything,
Why do I know that I'm just not the same?
Don't tell me I won't, don't tell me I can't feel,
What I'm feeling is real.
'Cause I'm not too young.”
As Riley made her way around the room, she caught sight of the girl for the first time. The piano stopped suddenly as the girl leaned forward to scribble something onto a piece of paper. Riley was captivated by her.
Her hair fell around her face in golden curls that ended just past her shoulders. Her features were scrunched up in concentration and her tongue was caught slightly between her lips, eyebrows creased together. As she leaned back, her fingers found the ivory keys once more and floated across them, picking up the same melody from before.
Riley stepped to the side in an effort to get a better view, but instead bumped into a set of music stands, sending them crashing to the ground. So much for inconspicuous. The blonde’s head shot up in surprise as Riley stood there sheepishly.
“Oh hey,” the blonde started, “sorry, I didn’t realise this room was booked. I’ll just get out of your hair.” she said as she moved to grab the papers she had been scrawling on.
“Oh, no I haven’t - I mean, I didn’t” Riley stuttered, mortified. “I didn’t book the room, you’re good.”
The blonde eyed her quizzically. “So.. what are you doing in here then honey?” She asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Honey?” Riley asked, eyebrow raised.
“You didn’t answer my question.” The stranger retorted, a smile playing on her lips.
Riley’s eyes shifted slightly, avoiding the other girl’s gaze.
“Well, I heard you singing and i just… did you write that?”
This time it was the blonde’s turn to be bashful, as she turned back to the piano and shuffled the papers around where they sat on the stand.
“Uh, yeah. Well, I mean I’m a composition major so…”
“It was beautiful,” Riley praised. “I’m Riley by the way.” She stated, extending her hand which the blonde willingly took.
“Maya, nice to meet you Riley.” Maya said, before dropping the other girl’s hand. Riley tried not to notice the way Maya held onto her hand just a little bit too long.
“So, can you show me something else you’ve written? I mean, like you don’t have to it’s just your song was so good and I just..” Riley stuttered.
“Sure thing, Hon, come sit.” Maya interrupted, patting the spot next to her on the piano stool where Riley happily perched herself.
Riley watched as Maya shuffled the papers around before her fingers found the keys in preparation and began to play a melody that rang throughout the room.
“Everybody loves to tell me I was born an old soul
Better keep my eyes wide open
There's so much that I don't know
Just another hotel room
Never felt so all alone”
Riley got up, Maya still unwavering, and picked up the guitar that was perched beside the piano. Glancing up at the sheet music on the piano Riley began to play along, earning a smile from Maya.
“I think about my granddad's eyes,
And they always send me home
I can almost hear him now
Gotta make him proud”
As the song reached the chorus, Riley’s voice joined Maya’s as they sang, their voices blending together harmoniously.
“I keep my eyes wide open
Bless this ground, unbroken
I'm about to make my way
Heaven help me keep my faith
And my eyes wide open”
By the time they finished the song, Riley was beaming. She was in awe of this beautiful stranger and the way she seemed to fill her songs with every inch of herself and create a melody so beautiful and captivating that could stop people in their tracks.
“That was amazing Maya!” Riley gushed.
“Thanks. It’s honestly not even done yet it’s just a rough draft, but i appreciate the sentiment.” The blonde replied, turning to collect her papers from the piano.
“If that was a rough draft, then Mozart better watch his back.”
Maya just smiled back at her, not really sure of what to say. She had never really been the best at receiving compliments, especially about her music which was as much a part of herself as her lungs were.
They were both quiet for a moment, observing each other, before Maya broke the silence.
“Hey, did you maybe want to go grab a coffee some time?” She asked, shooting the taller girl a small smile.
“Wait, you want to go grab a coffee? Like, with me? Like a date?”
Maya looked almost hurt for a second.
“I get it, you’re not into girls that way. It’s no big deal, I just misread the situation.” She picked up her things and started to walk towards the door but Riley grabbed her by the hand before she could.
“Trust me, I like girls. Like a lot. And you’re gorgeous and talented, and honestly like way out of my league. I mean, I’m playing a tree in our production of Oliver…” Riley confessed, feeling dejected.
“Well then,” Maya said, linking their fingers together, “I’m sure you’re going to be the leafiest tree in the history of leafy trees.”
That earned a small laugh from Riley. Maya dropped Riley’s hand and started digging around in her backpack, emerging with a sharpie in hand.
She pulled Riley’s hand towards her and started scribbling on her arm, tongue poked out in concentration. Once she was done, she returned the other girl’s arm for her to find Maya’s phone number scrawled in messy handwriting.
“There,” Maya stated proudly, “now you have no excuse not to call me.” She said winking. “Listen, I’ve got to go to work but you better call me Peaches. And don’t you dare not call me because you think I’m ‘out of your league’.
And with that, Maya walked out of the practice room leaving Riley alone. She looked down at the scribbled numbers on her arm and smiled.
Maya was smiling to herself as she walked across campus when her phone started ringing in her pocket. Looking at it, she saw a number she didn’t recognise as she hesitantly answered the call.
“Hello, Maya Hart speaking.”
“So about that date…”