Chapter 1                                                           Rose

" We need to try again, it's not perfect enough." 

That's Andy, he is the conductor for the orchestra. He has to have everything perfect. It's so annoying, especially when you have been rehearsing for 2 hours and your hands are throbbing from playing Chopin over and over again.

" Andy, can we take a break? My hands are killing me and everyone looks knackered," I asked, scanning the room.

" No, it's not perfect enough," he says, tapping his baton against the music stand.

" No," I say marching over at him, anger rising inside me," We need a break and not for a couple of seconds, I mean a couple 

of hours!"

" NO!" Andy boomed.

His voice echoed around the hall making my ears ring.

" FOR THE LAST TIME I SAID NO!"

He sounded serious. There was no way I could play the piano with hands like these. 

" Please, for maybe 30 mins or 1 hour," I pleaded.

" You are fired! " he said, his voice firm. I felt tears well in my eyes but I refused them to fall. On the outside, I wanted to look brave. But on the inside, I wanted to jump into a hole. 

" Why? What have I done to you to make you fire me?" I asked, hearing my voice wobble. 

" Well, " Andy started, looking redder than before, " You asked for a long break, then you shouted at me. You know how the rules work! "

Turning towards the door I said, " You are going to regret firing me."

I fled out of the door and out into the corridor. Tears poured down my cheeks, as I dodged my way through the crowd. I needed to find a space, a corner or something, to sit and process the information. 

I scanned the corridor. The toilets, of course! They will have toilet paper so I can wipe the tears of my red, blotchy face and a quiet little space to myself.

I ran round the corner and into the girls toilets. Every single cubicle was taken! 

I ran out of the toilets and out onto the corridor. I had to find a quiet spot. Then I had it! I sprinted out of the school, down the stone stairs and into the court yard. In front of me were green and blue bins. They were in a green transparent shelter and in the right corner was a small space, the correct size for me to sit. 

I crawled into the corner pulling my knees towards my chest. Memories flooded back to me of my mother cradling me in her arms saying, "  It will be OK, because

I've got you". 

She died 2 years ago from Bone Cancer. Ever since then, there's been an empty hole in my heart that seemed to be growing the more I think about her. If I don't fill it soon I think it would swallow me whole! 

" Are you alright ,"

There was a voice, a beautiful one coming from directly above me. I lifted my head from my knees and looked up.

There in front of me was John McFlourish. 

"Um yes, " I said blushing.

Just to get you caught up on what's going on, John is a 

boy in my year of school. He joined last year and ever since I set my eyes on him, I had a strange feeling I've never had before. Everytime I'm around him, I start to feel nervous and my heart starts to thump against my chest, threatening to fracture my rib cage. So anyway...

" Obviously, you're not OK, " he said moving the bins out of the way before sitting next to me. 

I felt myself change to a shade of beetroot red and starting to feel quite hot. 

" Tell me, what's the matter," John said, looking at me in the eyes. There was a look of concern in them.

I started to explain how Andy had fired me from the orchestra and how I felt quite emotional about it. After I had finished, his warm, strong arms wrapped around my waist pulling me towards him. In a split second, I felt my body pressed against his. 

" It will be OK because I've got you," I heard him say.

Did he really just say that? Mum's old words? I started to relax a little putting my arms around his masculine body.

Even to this day those words still soothe me.

Chapter 2                                                       John  

In the Grand Hall, I sat at an ebony Grand piano, playing a merry tune to myself. It's a very special song since my mum sang it to me and her mum sang it to her. Well, at least that's what she told me. 

" Hello! " says Rose standing beside me, snapping me back into the present, making me jump. " I didn't know you played piano? Oh, what is that song!" 

Obviously, she is fascinated by my pathetic piano playing. If I told her about my past and where the song came from I'll look like a baby, a coward to be exact.

"What's it called, " she questioned.

And there it was. The Question that sent me to my doom. I had to answer it. I'll have to scrap the idea of asking her out then. Lucky me. 

She was so beautiful though. The way her eyes glistened in the light. And not to mention the bit of wavy hair sticking out from beneath her ear. Man, it was killing me!

" My mum used to sing it to me," I said, feeling quite embarrassed," It's been in the family generation for years."

"I think that's lovely," 

Did those words really escape her lips. 

I honestly thought that she would mock me.

" You know the words you said to me while we were hugging by the bins the other day. My mum actually said them to me when I was little. I use them for a source of comfort."

"Oh," I said looking amazed. 

I suddenly had the urge to pull her into my arms and never let her go but sadly I don't think that would be a good idea.

She sat down next to me.

" Can you play it again, please," 

Could I? I looked at her face. She looked at mine. She 

never seemed to lose her beauty but only increased it by the minute.

I started to play the tune. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her body swaying to the rhythm I was playing. 

Once I finished, I turned my head only to find her forehead pressed against mine. 

" That was beautiful, " She whispered.

Her soft breath brushed against my cheek.

" Thank you," I said, in a dreamy sort of way.

She wrapped her delicate arms around my waist. Somehow I always found comfort in her touch.

Wham! Ruby barges into the room, looking extremely concerned.

" Ruby, what's wrong!" exclaimed Rose, breaking away from what I call a love stare.

"Fire in the main hall. HELP!"

Ruby spun around and bolted out of the room.

I dashed from the piano, grabbed Rose's hand and 

headed for the main hall. 

Chapter 3                                           Rose

As we entered the main hall, fire was dotted around everywhere. Smoke filled my lungs making me cough and splutter. I needed something to calm this furious tiger.

I searched the room, looking under broken chandeliers and floor boards. Then it caught my eyes. A fire extinguisher!

I stumbled over broken equipment losing my balance and collapsing to the floor. Suddenly, 

my vision went blurry then everything went dark.

"HELP!" I shouted before letting my head fall.

Then, Darkness...

Silence...

Chapter 4.                                                         John 

Right, John, you need to focus. To put out this small inferno you need a......Fire extinguisher!

I scanned the room and found one in the left hand corner of the burning room. I stumbled over, chandeliers, broken floor boards and Rose?

There she was laying motionless on the floor! Oh no! 

She must have passed out from all of the smoke! She looked like Sleeping Beauty when she slept. If she ever saw me sleep, I'd probably look like Shrek. 

Creek! A ceiling tile broke from the ceiling and was falling towards Rose! I dived on top of her and rolled her aside in the nick of time, just before the tile smashed onto the floor.

I needed to get out of here. I also needed to get Rose to the sick bay. 

I stood up and pulled her into my arms. She was lighter 

than expected. I ran for the door, taking a glance back and headed for the sick bay. 

Chapter 5                                                               Rose 

Beep beep beep! I opened my eyes and looked around the room. On the wall beside me was a small shelf with gloves and masks in a small, clear container. Behind the head rest was a dark blue arm chair and John was sitting in it reading 'The Daily News' newspaper.

"John!? " I coughed, as the smoke escaped my lungs.

" Rose!?" he said, lifting his head from his newspaper,   "Oh My Gosh! You're OK!" 

He lifted me into his arms and swung me around like a ,

doll.

" You saved me," I said, looking into his big brown eyes, our faces inches apart.

" Yes! "

" Thank you! " I said, planting a kiss on his cheek.

" Your welcome."

 Just as I was about to leave the room, John spun me around by the hand and my lips met his. For a split second, I was a statue, frozen to the spot. Then I relaxed and kissed him back. I felt his hand, creeping around the back of my head pulling me closer to him. My hands 

moved from my side to his hips. For a moment, I couldn't figure out where he began and I ended. There was something about this that was so sweet, so good. It was like nothing in the world mattered and everything disappeared. It felt like time had slowed, seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours.

Thump! We broke apart. The container fell off the shelf behind us. I turned around and picked it up, immediately.

 "Wow," I said, speechless.

" Wow," he agreed, nodding his head.

I suddenly, pulled all of my confidence together and kissed him again.

Chapter 6                                                             John

"I did it, I did it!" I floated around the corridor. " I kissed her, I kissed her!" 

" Someone looks happy, " said Mr Pointer as I skipped into my piano lesson.

" I am indeed," I replied enthusiastically, as I sat onto the piano stool.

" So, why are you so happy then?" he said with a sly look on his face.

" You know how me and Rose were dating. I kissed her."

I said, having a flashback to when her delicate lips where