Chapter One

    Music was never an option for me.

I mean, yeah I love it and all but being forced to do it since I was a child… is a major turn off.

That afternoon, I had to perform again and like I always do I pleased my father. That was the only way to get his affection, I had to perform to perfection.

Once the background music stopped, I lowered my white violin and breathed out.

“Ladies and gentlemen… please give it up for my daughter Celesta,” my father gestured to me.

The audience clapped when I stood up with my violin and bowed gracefully.

Yup…

I was the daughter of a famous theater, my mother was a singer and my father was a strict conductor. Aside from running the theater, they also held classes here as well. Music students would come here from all over Rome to study under my parents, I never attended the classes therefore I never had friends.

It sucks.

As the curtain closed, I took off my heels and made my way back stage. I put my white violin back in its case and walked past the crew, after saying goodbye to everyone I went upstairs to where our house was.

“How’d you do?” my mother called from the big living room.

I rolled my eyes, “How do I always do?”

“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you dear,” she stood up.

I ignored that, “Do you guys have class tonight?”

“Yes. I still think you should join sometime,” she sighed.

I grabbed an ice cream bar from the fridge, “You know dad will never let me.”

“I’ll try to convince him,” she lied.

I grinned, “Sure mom.”

“Dinner is in the oven,” she picked up her lesson books, “Sadly we won’t be done for dinner so please eat without us.”

I shook my head, “Ok.”

She blew a kiss and left, I slouched my shoulders and headed to my room. Even though she said she’d talk to him again… I knew she wasn’t going to, she never does. I closed my door and placed my violin in the closet along with my other three instruments, which included a flute, a cello, and a small piano. I changed into my black satin pajamas then snatched up my diary from my desk and plopped on my bed, opening my ice cream bar I began to write:

Dear diary,

I performed flawlessly again today… daddy praised me as always.

But I think there’s something wrong with me.

I couldn’t hear the music I was playing, this happens all the time when he give me a piece to play.

I don’t know what it is…

I put it away and finished my ice cream. Not bothering with dinner right now, I rolling over on my side and held my pillow close. Closing my eyes, I tried not to think about music and my parents. Even though sleep didn’t grace me, I just laid there looking out my window.

“No point in starving myself,” I grumbled.

I forced myself out of bed, wrapped up in my warm shawl and headed downstairs to see what mom had made for dinner. Peeking in the oven, I pulled out the chicken strips and French fries.

“Not much of a dinner mom…” I sighed.

Getting the salad from the refrigerator, I chopped up the chicken and fries to put in my salad. After setting everything up in the living room, I sat in front of the TV only to see that dad left his class’s homework on the table.

“Seriously dad?” I huffed.

I picked it up and dragged myself back down the hallway steps, stopping at music room 4 I knocked twice before walking in. It looked as if I made it just in time, the students were packing up and my father was explaining their assignment.

“Celesta…” he paused when he suddenly noticed me, “What are you doing here?”

Everyone stopped and turned to face me, a few boys whistled while a few girls giggled at the sight of me.

The ghost daughter…

I ignored the whispers and walked over to him and placed the folder on the desk, I didn’t pay attention to the disappointment stare he was giving me.

“You forgot these.” I turned my back to him.

He mumbled what I thought was a thank you but I wouldn’t put it past him not to.                                                                                   

As I went to leave a boy in the back of the room caught my eye, he was leaning against the far wall reading a book on how to write lyrics. He had black shadow hair that was tied in a lose pony tail and hung over his shoulder, I couldn’t tell what color his eyes were since he was looking down. He did wear an expensive looking outfit though, causing me to stop and stare at him.

Wow… I thought.

He suddenly glanced up at me, my breath hitched when I saw his sea green eyes. I felt my cheeks heat up when he pressed a slim finger to his lips and winked before going back to his book.

“Celesta, was there anything else you needed?” my father asked impatiently.

I shook my head and left.

Once I was back in my room, I grabbed my music book and continued to stressfully finish writing my own song. The composing part was easy, but I couldn’t find the right lyrics to go with it.

“This is impossible,” I flopped back on my pillow.

I always dreamed that I’d write my own music one day… but I could never bring myself to show my parents, they always want me to play pieces they give me. That’s why I never understood why they held music classes, what’s the point in playing music when you can’t play what you want. As I closed my eyes, I couldn’t get that guy out of my head… who was he?

“I guess he was cute,” I muttered.

I didn’t move when I heard the front door open and dad talking to my mom about what I did, I groaned when he called me downstairs.

I forced myself up and to the top of the steps, “Yes?”

“We need to talk about that stunt you pulled,” he took off his coat.

I crossed my arms, “What are you talking about? All I did was give you your papers that you forgot.”

“Don’t cop an attitude with me,” he hissed.

I leaned against the banister, “What was I supposed to do? Leave them there?”

“Yes,” he turned to face me, “You know the rules.”

Oh yea…how can I forget them.

Rule 1: never fall in love.

Rule 2: never attend classes.

Rule 3: take pride in your instruments.

I grumbled, “The rules are trash.”

“They may be trash but they’ve made you succeed all this time,” he took off his glasses.

I frowned, “Can I go now?”

“Not yet,” he walked up the steps and handed me three folders, “I want you to memorize these pieces before your next show in two weeks.”

My mouth hung open, “There’s no way I can do that in such a short time.”

“Then I suggest you get started,” he dismissed me.

I glanced at my mom who just sat there sipping her wine not saying anything, of course she’s not going to stop him.

I ran back to my room and slammed the door, I tossed the folders on my desk and screamed into my pillow. I can’t believe he was doing this to me again!

Did he forget what happened last time he overworked me?

I got sick…

For three weeks.

I groaned and stared out my open window, the breeze from the nearby wooded park felt nice. Walking out on my balcony, I watched everyone walk the streets to get home. Looking up at the sky, I closed my eyes and listened to every sound. It was fun and easy for me to hear every individual note… out of nowhere I heard a cello playing, I opened my eyes and leaned out to hear better.

Who’s playing? I wondered.

I put my jacket on and walked down the steps of my balcony which led to the back of the theater, I wasn’t allowed outside past nine but I didn’t care. I took off down the street in order to follow the sound. The sidewalk took me around to the wooded park, I slowed my pace and tried to make out whose piece this belongs to but my mind went blank.

“I knew my melody would lure you here,” his soft voice made me turn.

Up against a tree was the boy from before, his hair was out this time and he held a black cello in his arms. I walked a little closer and watched as he continued playing, I smiled and let the music wrap itself around me.

“Who are you?” I asked.

He looked at me, “Apollo is my name, its lovely to meet you Celesta.”

“How did you…” I stopped myself, “Never mind.”

He chuckled.

I moved a little closer and continued listening to his melody, it was unlike anything I ever heard before… warm and inviting.

“Beautiful…” I breathed.

He moved the bow lightly across the strings, “Yes... you are.”

“Whose piece is that and what’s it called?” my heart jumped.

His fingers guided up and down gracefully, “It’s called ‘Love Harvest’ and I wrote it.”

“You wrote that?” I gasped.

He nodded.

“Wow…” I murmured.

As he continued playing, I noticed that something behind his C2 string was a little off. I think he knew I knew because he smirked a little, I sat on my knees and pretended that I was on my piano.

“This piece is meant for a cello piano duet,” I said gently as I followed the notes with my fingers.

His smile widened, “You’re correct. I expect nothing less from a conductor’s daughter.”

“It’s not all that great,” I shrugged.

When he finished his piece, he set his cello to the side and sat in front of me, “Not happy?”

“No. He’s super strict and doesn’t allow me to write my own music,” I hissed.

He tilted his head, “You wish to write your own music?”

“Yea,” I sighed.

Apollo took out his hair band and tied his hair up, “May I ask you something then?”

“Go ahead,” I smiled.

He moved closer, “What do you love about music?”

“That’s a very broad question,” I grinned.

He nodded, “I know.”

“Well… I love the instruments, and how a melody can bring people together,”

He rested on his hands, “Anything else?”

“What else can there be?” I frowned.

He sighed, “What about how it makes you feel?”

“I don’t understand what you mean,” I crossed my arms.

He nodded thoughtfully and stood up, “We should meet again sometime.”

“Wait… you didn’t tell me what you mean by that,” I jumped up.

He packed up his cello and slung it over his shoulder, “When you figure it out… I’ll be waiting.”

“At least give me a hint,” I followed after him.

He stopped at the end of the street and glanced back at me, “I can’t. This is something you have to learn for yourself, see you later gorgeous.”

“Seriously?” I grumbled and watched him walk away.