The soft white snow fell down onto the ground outside as Bastian looked out the window. He rubbed his eyes and walked away from the window and into the library. He stopped in the doorway, his eyes set on the girl with white skin and dark hair leaning over the piano. Her dark hair was down out of its braid while she was tuning the piano. She smiled lightly as she played a few scales, finally getting it in tune. Bastian watched as Claudia backed away slowly from the piano to look at it with adoration.
He took a step out of the room so that Claudia wouldn’t see him, but continued to watch. She let her white hands run over the ivory keys, her eyes looking up away from the grand piano as if seeming to be thinking of something. Her eyes seemed to light up and sparkle under the light of the candles as she began to play a soft, slow tune. Her whole body came to life and a deep passion came over her as her fingers glided over the keys and the music filled the air. Bastian stepped closer to the room, completely enthralled by the music.
Claudia closed her eyes and continued to play, the music becoming bitter sweet as she went along. A single tear fell down her cheek as she played, finally making Bastian walk away so as not to invade too much of her privacy.
As light filtered into the rooms the next morning, Claudia was jolted awake by the gentle touch of a hand. She looked up to see Bastian standing over her. She stared at him for a moment before realizing she was in her night clothes and threw the blankets over her. She became a bit angered, glaring hard at him as if to ask him what he wanted.
Bastian cleared his throat. “Forgive me. Father wanted to know if you wanted any breakfast before going to school today. He makes eggs every day.”
Claudia kept her gaze set on him, not moving at all. Bastian sighed after a moment and took a few steps back. “Fine, have it your way.”
Claudia watched him walk out of the room, closing the door behind him. Her body seemed to fall farther into the bed as she lay, her heart feeling heavy. She waited for a moment and then pulled herself out of her bed to get dressed. There was a soft knock on the door as she finished buttoning up her shirt, giving herself a once over in the mirror. It was the first time she ever wore a uniform to go to school she probably wouldn’t stay at long.
She turned as the door opened and saw Beth shyly walk into the room. “I know you didn’t want to eat, but I brought you up a muffin in case you got hungry.”
Beth put the muffin down on the dress and gave a small smile. “No hard feelings, right?”
Claudia stared at her for a minute, ready to turn away, but stopped herself. Claudia shook her head lightly, smiling weakly back at Beth. Beth took a deep breath in and gave a big smile before walking out of the room. Claudia was laughing inside at the look of satisfaction that Beth had given before leaving. Claudia straightened her black skirt and walked out of the room. She bumped into Bastian, taking a step back so as not to fall. Bastian looked at her for a moment, and then put a smile on his face.
“We’d better hurry,” Bastian said lightly and walked down the big staircase. He picked up his books at the bottom of the stairs and headed out the door. Claudia walked back to her room and picked up the books she had been given. She stopped at the dresser for a moment, her eyes on the muffin. She smiled and picked it up, taking a bite out of it and then running down the stairs with it in her hands.
The school was large and very elaborate. Claudia stood for a moment eyeing it. She would have sworn it was a temple instead of a private school, but the laughing kids running into the building proved that it was a school. Beth smiled and ran over to a couple of girls.
Jeff laughed slightly. “That’s Bethie. Thirteen year old girls always need to be so social, don’t they?”
Bastian nodded his head. “I guess. See you later, Dad.”
Bastian ran off, meeting up with some guys as he walked into the building. Jeff turned to look at Claudia who was still just standing next to him, staring at the building. He shifted his weight uncomfortably. “Are you going to be okay today?”
Claudia nodded her head but didn’t move. Jeff kneeled down and looked at her. “Everything will be fine. I know this isn’t going to be easy, but you have me, Beth, and Bastian to go to if need be.”
Claudia turned and looked at him, her face expressionless, as he continued. “Trusting people doesn’t seem to be high on your list of things to do, but we’re all here.”
Jeff pushed a strand of Claudia’s hair behind her ear, and then got back up. The bell ran for the school and Jeff waved, going off to work. Claudia kept her eyes on his carriage until it was gone. She put her head down and put her hand up to her face. She had never had someone push her hair away like that. She had seen parents do that to children while walking down the street and knew it as a sign of affection.
A tear fell down her pale cheek and she turned to walk into the school for her first day.
***
Beth walked along side a friend while trying to find a table at lunch time. A couple of boys sat down next to Claudia as she watched her foster sister sit down with some kids. Claudia finally turned to face one of the boys that were looking at her.
The guy gave a coy smile. “Hey there. Wow, you really are like a beautiful white angel.”
Claudia rolled her dark eyes and turned away from him, trying to find a focus point so as not to pay attention. The guy put his hand on her arm and she jerked away, slapping him across the face. He jolted back, shocked from the blow. His face filled with anger and he grabbed her by the arms and went to shake her. Claudia closed her eyes and was ready to be thrown down when the guy’s hands let down and he cried out.
Claudia opened her eyes to see Bastian stepping in front of her. “You know, it’s just like you guys to try to start something with the new girl. But if you’re smart, you’ll leave her alone.”
The guy got up, glaring at Bastian. “Or what?”
“Or you won’t be so pretty anymore,” Bastian began to roll up his sleeve.
Claudia grabbed Bastian’s hand, shaking her head rapidly. Bastian looked at her, seeing the pleading look in her eyes. “I guess the lady doesn’t want me to hurt you guys, so get out of here before I go against her.”
The guys sighed and walked away, giving Bastian a few dirty looks before fully giving up. Bastian turned to Claudia, frowning. “Why did you stop me? Why give them a chance?”
Claudia shook her head and sat down. She turned her head away from him.
Bastian sat down and sighed. “Okay. I suppose I understand. Just, don’t let them get to you. They’re just scared because you’re smarter than them.”
Claudia turned her head slightly and stared at him. Bastian turned his head away, his eyes stopping on the boys that had been harassing Claudia. She followed his gaze and saw Beth trying to get away from them. Before Bastian could even get up, Claudia was racing over to the boys, pushing them back away from Beth.
Bastian followed quickly, his eyes widening. He stopped beside Claudia, glancing at her. “What happened to your no violence attitude?”
Claudia sent him a glare and then looked at the boys. The guy who had grabbed her before came closer. “So, the dumb girl going to do something?”
“She’s not dumb!” Bastian yelled. He stopped as Claudia continued to stare, something going into his mind. “She... she says that if you don’t back off, you’re going to be in a lot of pain.”
Claudia turned her head a little, surprised that he had said that. She turned her head back at the boys. The first guy got closer. “Oh really?”
“Really,” Bastian said coldly as Claudia punched the guy.
Claudia turned quickly and walked back to her seat. Beth let out a laugh, surprised that she had really done that. Bastian waited for a moment and then followed Claudia over to the table. As soon as he got up to her, she turned her eyes to him with a questioning look.
“You’re wondering how I knew that,” Bastian said slowly.
Claudia nodded and he continued. “I’m so sorry. I, um, well, I’m a bit of a snoop and I heard you playing the piano last night. I doubt that has anything to do with it, but since then, I’ve felt like you’ve actually been speaking. Dumb, isn’t it?”
Claudia stared at him for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. She took his hand and pulled him down onto the bench to eat with her.
The sunlight filtered into Claudia’s room the next morning. She opened her eyes to see Bastian standing over her. She went to slap him for seeing her in her night clothes again, but noticed that he had been kind enough to put the blanket up over her.
“I was wondering if you’d like some eggs,” Bastian smiled at her.
She stared at him for a moment and he turned around to leave. Claudia got up on her shoulders and Bastian looked back. They both smiled at each other.
“Two it is,” Bastian said and walked downstairs to tell his dad.
***Tune in next week to Distant Melodies, every Wednesday!
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