Ch. 33
Strings and Beats
The late afternoon sun streamed through the tall windows of the music room, painting the floor in golden lines. Selene stepped in quietly, violin case in hand, her gaze sweeping the place she had come to appreciate for its silence.
Except today, it wasn't exactly silent.
A familiar thud-thud-thud echoed from the far side the steady, rhythmic, and far too loud for her taste.
She sighed, already knowing who it was.
Of course. Him.
Raze sat behind the drum set, spinning his drumsticks with practiced ease. His red hair caught the light, his shirt sleeves rolled up, a faint bruise still visible on his lip from the fight days ago.
He looked annoyingly at ease like he owned the room. When he finally noticed her, his lips quirked into a grin.
"Well, look who finally joined the club."
Selene arched an eyebrow.
"You sound surprised."
"I am," he admitted, leaning back casually on the stool.
"Didn't think someone like you would actually join a bunch of noisy kids."
"I prefer quiet," she replied simply, placing her violin case on the table. "But this is the only place that has a piano and decent acoustics."
"So it's not about passion, it's about convenience." Raze chuckled.
"Not everyone joins to show off." Selene shot him a sideways glance.
That earned her a playful grin.
"Ouch. Are you saying I joined to show off?"
"If the shoe fits."
"You're sharp, Valen. I told you, I was forced." He laughed, the sound rough but genuine.
"Whatever, you talk too much."
She opened her violin case, ignoring him as she adjusted the bow. But she could feel his gaze lingering steady, curious, almost too comfortable for someone she barely knew.
He stood, wiping his lips with the back of his hand. Selene noticed the faint bruise still there from the fight.
"Still hurting?" she asked before she could stop herself.
"A little. Want to kiss it better?" He grinned.
Selene's face went blank.
"I'd rather pour salt on it."
He laughed a deep, boyish laugh that somehow made the corners of her lips twitch. When she began to play, the teasing silence faded. The soft melody filled the air sweet, melancholic, and hauntingly elegant. Her fingers moved with grace, every note deliberate yet brimming with unspoken emotion.
Raze went quiet.
His drumsticks rested loosely in his hands as he listened, expression unreadable. When she finished, the sound lingered in the air before fading completely.
"Wow," he muttered under his breath.
"A bravo to you, princess."
"You say that like you expected otherwise." Selene looked unimpressed.
"No— more like I didn't expect it to sound that... real." He chuckled.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Real?"
"I heard you play before but it's different, like you're not just reading notes," he said, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees.
"Like, you're telling a story. And it's kind of... sad."
That startled her, just a little. She hid it quickly, crossing her arms.
"You analyze too much."
"Comes with being a drummer. I listen to rhythm, not words." He smirked.
"Then listen quietly." She sighed.
Raze laughed softly but didn't argue. Instead, he watched as she switched to the piano. Her touch changed lighter, playful even, as if the instrument itself coaxed her mood. Halfway through the piece, he grabbed one of his sticks and started tapping along to her rhythm soft, perfectly timed.
Selene shot him a look.
He only grinned.
"What? I'm following your lead."
"You're distracting." She rolled her eyes.
"Or making it better."
Selene ignored him, but her fingers didn't stop moving and somewhere between irritation and focus, she found herself matching his beat. It was subtle. Barely noticeable. But it was there harmony in contrast.
When the song ended, Raze leaned back, clearly pleased.
"See? We sound good together."
"You mean, I sound good. You're just a background noise." Selene gave a tight smile.
"You're impossible, you know that?"
"Good. Stay frustrated."
"Nah. I like challenge." Raze grinned wider.
As she packed her violin, Raze's voice broke the quiet again.
"So, you're performing for the intramurals, right?"
"Who told you that?" Her brows furrowed slightly.
"Rumors travel fast." He shrugged, spinning his drumstick.
"Well, it's not confirmed," she said curtly, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"And even if it was, don't spread it."
I'm gonna kill who spread that info!
"Relax, Princess. Your secret's safe with me." He lifted his hands in surrender.
Selene paused at the door, glancing back at him.
"Don't call me that."
"What, Princess?" Raze smirked.
"Yes. That." She glared.
"I'm not a princess."
"Sure," he said easily. "Tell that to your family's mansion, your private driver, and the way the cops bowed when your dad walked in."
Selene rolled her eyes, ignoring him as she took out her violin.
"You talk too much, for a thug!"
He chuckled, tapping his drumstick on the edge of the stool.
"Haha, that's harsh!"
Selene just rolled her eyes and walked out, living Raze still smiling ear to ear.