//------------------------------// // Lost and Found... Sort of... // Story: You are the Music in Me // by Mallory S Nocturne //------------------------------// It was only days after the CHS Battle of the Bands, I was sitting on a bench in front of my favorite café, drinking its delicious coffee, when I heard the voices of three girls inside the alleyway. "Don't you understand, Sonata? It's OVER!" I heard someone say. I winced at the tone she used. Then I heard someone crying and another one of them spoke. "I can't believe you RUINED everything! Our plan was working perfectly, and YOU messed it up!" It was then that the voice crying spoke up. "B-but...*sniff* I didn't-" She was then cut off. "But NOTHING! Come on Aria, let's get out of here. I don't think we'll gain anything by talking with her." said the second voice. "I thought you'd never asked." The first voice, whose name was Aria, agreed. I heard shuffling and out of the alleyway came two hooded girls, both faces I didn't see. "G-girls? Girls... Where are you going? Please... Don't leave." It was too late. They were already gone. The girl resumed crying. I slowly stood up, finished my drink, and walked over to the alley. I then saw a girl, estimated age of 16 or 17, curled up beside a covered trash bin and crying. She had icy blue hair with persian blue stripes running across it. Also, she had the same sweater as the two girls Apparently, she didn't notice me and continues talking. "Th-*Sniff* they're such... *sob* big *hiccups* meanies. I didn't *hiccups* do anything wrong. I- I don't want to be...*sob* alone." Eventually, she started to make choked-up calls between her hiccups. Was she... Singing? If she is, she sounded like a platypus choking on jelly (Kudos if you DON'T know the reference.) I had enough of this sad moment and decided to make myself known. I opened the trash bin, thrown my cup, and slammed it hard, making the girl look at me. Immediately, she started to go back. "P-please don't hurt me." She said. Granted, I look intimidating because of my height, but I'm more of a 'gentle giant' as I would call myself. I walked towards her and rubbed her back ever so slightly. "Shh, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm Casper Nocturne but you can call me Cass. What's yours?" I said. "*sniff*...S-Sonata Dusk." She said. I sat beside her and we both didn't talk. The silence wasn't comfortable, nor is it awkward. "So, why were those girls angry with you?" I said, deciding to break the silence. Sonata then looked away, looking hurt. "I'm sorry. I overheard you girls and I-" "No, it's alright." She said. As she wiped her eye with a sleeve. "They were... Old friends. We were going to rule the world, and we messed up and now we can't sing anymore. They thought that it was my fault, but it wasn't and I don't know why, but they left me when we've been together for years and-" She started to cry again. Out of instinct, I placed my arm on her shoulder and tried to soothe her. "Shh, It's okay. Let it all out." I said. Suddenly, she wrapped her arms around my torso and placed her head on my chest. This action surprised me and it left me with one question: What do I do now? I stayed still for a while, until she stopped crying. When she did, we remained in that place for some time. I didn't know what time it was, so I looked at my watch. 10:30 PM I then pushed her slightly. ""It's getting late. How about I walk you home?" I asked she sniffed. "I don't have a home." Wait... WHAT?! "What do you mean you don't have a home?" I asked. "I don't have a home." She repeated. "I just follow those girls everywhere." she said. "But, do you have a family or anything?" I asked. She shook her head. "Well, If you want, I guess you could stay-" I was interrupted by Sonata bear-hugging me. "YES!" She said, squeezing me tight. She then realized what she did and pushed her self away. "I mean, 'yes, please'" I looked at her with a blank stare. "OK, then, let's go." I said and we started to walk towards my home. On the way, the air began to be a bit chilly, so I pocketed both my hands into my pockets. Suddenly, I felt a pair of arms wrapping around my arm and cuddled up next to me. Instinctively, I quickly slithered my arm out of her grasp. "Whoa, what are you doing?" "It's cold. " She replied. I looked at her blankly and then shrugged. "Fine. You can hold my arm. But no cuddling." I said. "YAY!" she said, almost destroying the veins in my arm. I sighed and continued walking. Eventually, the two of us reached my house. It was a simple bungalow, but it was just enough for me. I pulled out the keys in my wallet and unlocked the door. "Well, we're here." I said. The inside wasn't much. Just a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom. We both didn't say anything for a while. She then looked at me and smiled. I also wanted to smile, but a yawn has escaped my mouth." "Alright, you can sleep in the bedroom over there. I'll sleep on the floor" I said. "Wait, it's your house, I should sleep on the floor." Sonata said. I was very tired and I need to sleep, so I said something that I would've regretted. "How about we both sleep in my bed?" I said, another yawn escaping my mouth. "That way, no one would sleep on the floor." "OK" Sonata said. Immediately, I took off my jacket and shirt, changing into a sleeveless shirt and I went to bed, not caring anything anymore, except the sweet comfort of sleep. But sometimes, the things we had in our sleep weren't always the sweetest ones.