The Pack Slut

Chapter 64

"Felicity, Felicity!" I turn my neck and spot Mr. Vanderhoof walking through the other performers towards me. I turn back to Kendrick who is still looking at me and wave goodbye while I turn around. Before I fully glance away I see him turn back to the stage infront of him with a smile on his face. I can't help but think in that moment of how handsome he is tonight. Everyone is dressed to impress in gowns, suits and ties. What can I say? I love a man in a suit and my mate is the handsomest I've ever seen.

"Felicity, the night is almost over. There is just two more performances and then you're up. Are you sure you can do this? After the other day?" I press my hand to his shoulder, "I can do this. I need to. There is no way I'm walking on that stage without performing this piece." Mr. Vanderhoof and I have decided that instead of me playing this piece alone I will be accompanied by the orchestra that, thankfully, already knows the piece well. Together we will be performing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's piece Romance, Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, I've been playing it all day in my head while tapping my fingers. I'm ready for this. 

Finally the other performances are finished and I prepare to walk out on stage, I hear the host for tonight's concert step forward and announce my name and what I will be playing. "Ladies and gentlemen, let's put our hands together to Felicity Snowden." As the clapping starts I step forward and walked towards the piano that was rolled on stage for me and locked in place. As I sit I adjust my dress and the bench below me. I don't look around me at all and let my mind blank to focus on the task before me.

As I take a deep breath I raise my hands to the keys and while exhaling begin to play. The song starts off happy and peaceful, with a joyful tune accompanied by the orchestra. The happy tune continues on for some time but slowly progresses and deep notes of sadness mixed with a little happiness play. Slowly the tempo of my fingers quickens and the sound changes into ones of doom and pain, and before my eyes once again I see imagines. While I was playing the happy notes I thought of the happy portions of my life when everything was good and then as I get to the deeper part of the song I begin to see the horrible things that happened to me, the loss of my mother, the brutal death of my best friend Adrian, the abuse, the last time time father left me, and Kendrick's rejection. I feel wetness fall from my eyes and I hear a sharp splash as a tear hits the keys. I keep playing, I put gusto into my fingers and the song, I show the world the sorrow and pain I've had in my life. The buildup comes and then crashes down, everything is on display of the day I killed my father and lost my memory.

Slowly the song starts to slow and once again happier notes shine through the gloom, except their calmer. I remember and see the moment Kendrick and I got together, how he cared for me, helped me. The moments where we worked together to make me able to accept touch, the way my heart felt when he told me he loved me without shame or embarrassment and any falsity. The times when we first met, when he pursued me, stood up for me against others, and then we walked holding hands. The tears continued to fall down my face except this time I have a smile on my face. I can't see through the tears but I can feel the keys and I get so lost in the music that it feels magical. I don't make a single mistake once. There is not a single sound in the room, it's completely silent, not even a gasp or an inhale of breath.

I show them, I show them what my life has been like, and what it has become. Warren told me before we arrived here tonight that whole pack was going to be here to see me and a few others perform but I'm only playing this for my friend, and for him. The love of my life, the one and only man I will ever love. My soul mate.  Finally I get the last few notes and I play them the hardest I can, I have to end this perfectly. I keep going and then as the last notes come a finish them with everything I am, and then I'm done.

I lift my hands to my eyes and wipe the tears so I can see again. The room is now completely silent. Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I notice someone stand and begin to clap alone. Then everyone moves to stand and clap, the expressions on their faces appear as if they are in a trance. I turn to the audience and my eyes catch his, he has a proud smile on his face and it makes me smile even broader back at him knowing he was the first to applaud. Everyone is on their feet and are clapping for me. My eyes bulge from their sockets and only then realize how many people enjoyed my performance, my sensitive ears hurt from the boom of the applause.

"Felicity. Felicity!" I turn to see Mr. Vanderhoof walking towards me and is directing all the other performers to walk out on stage. We all gather together and stand in a line, holding onto each others hands. Collectively we all take a bow, I can see the smiles of my fellow performers. I'm so happy that with the end of my performance, the concert ended on a good close. After ten minutes the applause finally begins to die down as all the performers set off the stage and towards the audience, greeting those they know. I am the last to get off the stage and head for my friends. Dan is the first to reach me and with consideration wraps his arms around me giving me plenty time to refuse him or open my arms to accept him. Over his shoulder I see Mr. Vanderhoof observing Dan's actions with a curious look, I may need to explain part why I am like this to him. I know now he will not judge me, although there is quite an age gap we've sort of become friends this past semester.

Everyone else finally reaches us through the crowd and I'm hugged by Lana and Warren, and Warren's parents come to congratulate me as well. Passing pack members congratulate me and a few others reach out to me but pull their hands back remembering my aversion to touch, and smile and nod in thanks for their understanding and sensitivity. Again I see Mr. Vanderhoof has noticed as he gets close to congratulate me along with everyone else. Soon enough I hope their touch won't bother me as much and my instinct to pull away will lessen. It may never go away but knowing that they all take precautions with me warms my heart. I can still see Mr. Vanderhoof's eyes on the group around me and I can see him questions in his eyes He has this knowing look in his eyes like he's putting a puzzle together in his head.

I look around me but I don't see him, "where's Kendrick? I saw him earlier but I don't see him anymore." Lana points behind me and I turn around. There before me standing handsomely is my mate with the happiest smile and a huge, and I mean huge bouquet of roses. I gasp in surprise and walk towards him and onto the stage where he's standing, waiting for me. "Ken- Kendrick...what is this?" I see tears pool in his eyes as he looks at me, he slowly reaches a hand towards me and partway to my face I grab it out of the air and press his hand to my cheek. "I love you Felicity, after everything and all the scary moments I had to fight through to get to you. I couldn't possibly be more blessed than to have someone like you as my mate. That piece you just played, I want you to know I understand everything and I heard every word you can't say yet. It was about you wasn't it? What you wanted to show all of us tonight? You are so strong, my love. For enduring all you have and continue to be that special light I need in my life. So I'll say it again. I love you. With all of my heart. Not a day will go by where I will not need you or want you in my life. I'll always be yours." The tears I wiped away after my performance are back but this time I am so happy. I smile through my tears.

"Felicity Snowden, tonight I ask you for the chance to spend the rest of our lives together. The chance for me to be the happiest man I can be with you by my side. I promise to always keep a smile on your face, to hold you through your nightmares, to tell you how beautiful you are every single day and to never let you go. I will never let you go. So I ask, my love. Will you make me the happiest man and marry me so we can start forever?" Kendrick gets down on one knee before me and while balancing the huge bouquet on his one knee, he pulls out a ring from his pocket. It's simple but beautiful and just the perfect size in stone. It's not too flashy and big but not too small. It's perfect for us.

Joy warms my heart but then in my shock I freeze. I don't feel anything, my mind goes blank and I don't know what to say. As I stand their frozen I see the smile wither away off his face. I take a wavering step back and another, and shakily open my mouth to answer.

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Holy crap this is a long chapter! Honestly I was not planning this proposal, it was supposed to be many chapters down the road but as I've said continuously throughout this story, this story writes itself! I hope you like it!!!

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on this chapter!!

-Viorra