Shattered Lines

Prologue

"Some people bring out the worst in you, others bring out the best, and then there are those remarkably rare, addictive ones who just bring out the most. Of everything. They make you feel so alive that you'd follow them straight into hell, just to keep getting your fix."

I rub my toe into the white carpet, wishing I could dig a hole to China and disappear through it. 

"Do you two understand?" His mother asks. 

I nod my head, not looking up. Not wanting to see the look on the boy's, Victor's face. 

"Yes ma'm," he replies in his deep baritone voice. 

I'm surprised that after all this time watching him play the piano from behind the screen of my laptop or TV, I've not once heard his voice until five minutes ago when we were introduced. It was deeper than I imagined. Actually, it was nothing like I imagined. He was nothing like I imagined. 

I shift a little lower in my seat, wishing that I had some semblance of control over my life. Over my passion, that has forcefully become my career. 

I feel guilty when I complain about my life, when my talent for violin has given me more financial security than I ever could've dreamed of. When I get paid to do what I love. 

But I have no freedom. 

Especially not now, when I'm being thrown into a fake relationship with a boy I've never met but have admired from afar since I first learned what music even was. 

Victor Morgan was magic with a piano. His pieces have gotten me through exams, punishments, sleepless nights, panic attacks, you name it and Victor Morgan, unbeknownst to him, had gotten me through it all. 

And now I'm going to be dating him. 

I look up at my mother, pleading with my eyes to stop this from happening. To stop me from having to be deceitful to the world, and especially to the fans who support me, whose loyalty and admiration I don't deserve and don't think I ever will. 

I never will if my mother agrees to this. 

When all I get is a blank stare in response, I shift the tiniest bit lower. 

At this small, minuscule movement, her eyes narrow to slits and I sit up to correct my posture so fast I knock my elbow on the armchair. 

Always trying to look as perfect as my mother wants me to be. Forces me to be. 

"Sang?" I look up when Victor speaks. The way he says my name so melodically, I've never liked it more in my life.

I look into his active eyes that are blazing with worry, and scrunch my brows in confusion.

"Yes?"

"You haven't said anything. Are you sure you're okay? With this-this situation, I mean." His eyes glance at my own mother before looking at me again, giving me his full attention. 

"I..." I trail off, not wanting to lie to this boy but knowing I have to. I think for both our sakes. "Yes. I'm okay with it." 

Lies. Lies. Lies.

I look again at my mother, whose attention I've lost now that I've given her the answer she wanted. 

I shift back in my seat, lowering and relaxing my tense muscles. I look at Victor from the corner of my eye. For some reason, with those damn fire eyes on me, I can't help but feel like sharing. 

"I'm used to lying."

And this is just the beginning.