I know what Sarah would do. She wouldn’t hesitate for a second. Maybe Mia is right. I don’t think my father can get any more controlling than he already is. In some strange way, I almost feel like going to a party is a way to feel closer to Sarah again.
“Fine,” I relent, despite my better judgments. “I’m in, but only this once.”
“Yay!” she squeals. “This is going to be amazing. You won’t regret it.”
Mia continues to talk about outfit possibilities as we pull into the Stonybridge Academy parking lot. I nod and make noises in the right places to pretend I’m listening, but a pit of dread has taken root in my stomach as I wonder whether I’m about to make a massive mistake.
CHAPTER
TWO
ERIN
Mr. Meyer lookslike he wants to beat me over the head with a violin after listening to his top student butcher Bach’s Invention No. 1 in C Major repeatedly.
“You will be ready for the concert on Monday,ja?” he asks in his German accent. “College scouts will be there.”
Mr. Meyer hopes I’ll consider pursuing music at a professional level and constantly shows me brochures for amazing courses. There’s no point in raising my hopes. I’ll go to whichever college my father deems suitable. He wants me to become a doctor or a lawyer. Piano is simply an extra tick on my application to help me stand out.
“I’ll be ready,” I promise. “I’ll practice this weekend.”
He sighs in exasperation. “You best do. I can’t have my star pupil letting us down.”
“You have my word,” I say.
I can play the pieces in my sleep, they come as easy as breathing. My fingers naturally know where to go and skip over the keys effortlessly, but I’m distracted because of the party and the lies I have to tell to get there.
Mia’s waiting outside the rehearsal room and links her arm through mine when I’m done. “Ready?”
I quickly adjust my clothes to ensure my buttons are done and tie is in perfect position, then nod wearily. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
My father’s car is already waiting in the lot when we approach, and Mia squeezes my arm in a silent show of solidarity.
“I wasn’t expecting two of you.” He frowns, checking his watch when I open the passenger side door. “You’re late.”
Four minutes late.
“Sorry, Doctor Acacia. That’s totally my fault. I was listening to Erin play and didn’t want her to stop,” Mia gushes. “After hearing her, I asked my mom to let Erin play for her.”
I say the words I’ve rehearsed like a mantra all day. “Ms. Moldova offered to give me extra tuition ahead of the concert next week.”
“Extra tuition?” he snaps. “Why do you need that? I’m already paying Mr. Meyer for extra.”
“She doesn’t need any extra help,” Mia interjects, “but my mom loves to support local artists, especially when they’re my friends. She insists!”
“And, Erin?” Dad’s eyes bore into mine, daring me to confront him. “What do you think of this offer?”
“Mr. Meyer’s great, but he’s no Ms. Moldova,” I reply, accepting his silent challenge. “I could learn so much from her. She’s a genius, and I haven’t seen her for months.”
“Tonight’s not a good night,” he says. “Now get in the car, Erin.”
Usually, I’d drop the matter, but Mia clings onto my arm. She’s the reason I don’t give up instantly.
“I really think this will help, D-Dad,” I stammer. “Who else gets the chance to learn from a world-class musician? It’d look great on a college application, and she might give me a reference.”
“A reference?”
“Yes,” Mia says. “She definitely will. One hundred percent.”
