Chloe’s P.O.V.
I was sitting on the sky deck studying some of my guitar sheet music. I used to play guitar until I lost it. I can also play the piano and the violin. I brought my guitar and my violin with me but I lost my guitar the day after I came here. I put my violin under my bed. I didn’t know when or where I would ever get to play again so I just haven’t. I miss playing my guitar but I feel like its over now. When I was younger I wanted to be able to get to where I was writing my own music and my own songs. I guess I kind of gave up that dream. I put my sheet music away and started to read my book. Destiny came over to me excitedly. She stood there inconspicuously holding her hands behind her back. I just looked at her weirdly. I’m not surprised it is Destiny.
“So, Chloe, remember when you lost your guitar and you told me that you were just going to give up because of how much that guitar meant to you and you haven’t played the violin, piano, or guitar since then?”
Destiny asked me happily with a smile.
“Yeah,” I answered suspiciously.
“If we ever found your guitar would you start playing again?” Des asked me anxiously curious.
“Yeah, but Des I lost it there’s no getting it back,” I said to her.
“Yeah, that’s because you weren’t looking,” Destiny said to me sternly.
“What's your while point with this?” I asked her.
Destiny just looked at me with a smile for a minute.
“So, I was cleaning the cabin this morning, straightening up the closets and cleaning up the bathroom, and I came across something in my closet,” Destiny said to me happily.
“What?” I asked confused.
“Oh you know just. . .your guitar. . .”
Destiny moved her hands out from behind her back revealing my guitar. I couldn’t believe my eyes as I saw her holding it.
“My guitar!” I said excitedly as I stood up.
My guitar has a dark purple base and the top part is a blackish color. I know it sounds a little weird but I love dark purple. My mom bought me that guitar for my tenth birthday. Its one of the most precious things to me in the world. Dad brought me my violin when I was five. I love both of them so much. I just haven’t played them in forever.
“You said if you found it you would play it again. Will you?” Destiny asked me sweetly.
“You really want me to?” I asked her.
“Yeah,” Destiny responded holding my guitar out to me.
I gently took my guitar from her. I leaned myself back on the table. I was more like sitting on it.
“I can try to strum a few strings,” I said to Destiny.
Destiny just smiled at me. I love seeing her so happy. I strummed a few strings on my guitar. I haven’t felt that in a long time. I was trying to think of a song to play. Since Destiny is the one that asked me to play my guitar its only fair that I play one of her favorite songs. I started to strum the strings to play the song.
“Let's hope I haven’t forgotten,” I said as I began.
I could see the happiness eliminating from her. I smiled as I started to get into the song more. Des looked like she wanted to cry as she watched me play. People started to gather around and watch me in amazment. A lot of people on the sky deck right now know who I am and they would have never expected me to be able to play any instrument. The only thing they have heard me do is sing. Zack and Cody (Walker) walked over and stood next to Destiny. They both smiled as they looked at me. I still love both of their smiles. After my conversation with Cody (Martin) I’m a little more clear on who I’m supposed to be with. At the moment, I just want to keep things the way they are. I have to many things I’m trying to focus on and I still like both of them. So, I’m staying right where I am for awhile. I forgot how good it felt to play the guitar. How amazing it was to feel the strings on my fingers. How it made me feel on the inside while I play. I couldn’t help but to smile even wider as I continued. Now I remember why I loved playing this song so much. Its because of the middle part, its so much fun. I couldn’t believe I haven’t played the guitar in three years. Yet I still play like I never stopped. I wonder what I could do with the piano and the violin again. I’m interested in trying now. After I finished playing, everyone that was watching clapped for me. I smiled as I stood up from the table and held my guitar down at my side. Everyone started to congratulate me and then walking away. Destiny excitedly threw herself at me and hugged me. I smiled and laughed as I hugged her back. Zack and Cody (Walker) walked over to me.
“Chloe I didn’t know you could play the guitar,” Zack said to me in amazement.
I smiled, “There's a lot about me you don’t know,” I said to him happily.
Zack didn’t know what to say as he looked enchanted. I slightly laughed as I looked at him.
“She can also play the violin and the piano,” Destiny said to them happily.
“Yes, but sadly I don’t have a piano to play,” I said to them sort of disappointed but still happy.
Zack stood there thinking for a moment.
“What about the violin? Do you have one?” Cody (Walker) asked me with a smile.
Oh my gosh what that smile does to me. I smiled again as I looked at him.
“I have one, I just don’t know when I’m going to play it again,” I replied to Cody.
“She's going to play it again soon,” Des said sternly.
“Maybe,” I said unknowingly.
“You will, Chloe your great at all three instruments, and if you can’t play one at least play the two that you can,” Destiny said to me in a pleading way.
“I don’t know. . .”
“Ah, come on Chloe, I saw your face when you were playing the guitar, its like you knew you belonged there. Don’t let anything ruin what you love to do. Besides I’d personally like to hear you play,” Cody said to me with a smile.
I slightly smiled back at him, “Maybe someday,” I said considerably.
“Chloe, would you meet me in the aqua lounge in half an hour?” Zack asked me after being so quiet for so long.
I gave him a curious look.
“Sure,” I responded curiously.
“Awesome,” Zack said excitedly.
He quickly ran off the sky deck.
“I wonder what that’s about,” I said curiously while looking at Zack.
“I have no idea,” Destiny said looking in the same direction.
I shrugged my shoulders and looked back at Cody (Walker). I smiled at him as we started to talk again. I love being around him. I don’t know why I feel this way toward him but I feel this spark that lights within me whenever I’m around him. I want to be around him all the time. I know I am in love with him and thanks to Cody (Martin) my choice is a little more clear now.
. . .
I walked into the aqua lounge to find Zack standing by the most beautiful grand piano I have ever seen. There before my eyes was a Steinway white grand piano, one of the prettiest piano's ever invented. I couldn’t believe I was standing before one.
“Zack what is this?” I asked completely shocked.
“It’s a piano, –“
“I know that, I mean why did you show me this?” I asked as I smiled and lightly touched the piano.
“I knew how much you missed playing the piano, – you looked so upset when you thought that you weren’t going to be able to play again, and since there was just recently a piano put into the aqua lounge, I thought it was the perfect opportunity,” Zack said happily.
I didn’t say anything as I looked at him.
“I did it for you,” he said to me sweetly with a smile.
I was still speechless as I hugged him. I excitedly kissed his cheek.
“Thank you,” I said to him excitedly.
“Will you play something?” Zack asked me sweetly with a smile.
“Of course –“
I a smile of amazement came across my face as I sat down on the piano bench in front of the piano. I have missed being able to sit down and play my instruments. I’ve missed the way it feels to play them. The keys beneath your fingers as you play the piano. The strings on your fingers as you strum the guitar. The way the bow moves softly when you play the violin. There’s something within me that just makes me feel like its one of the places that I belong. I pressed middle C on the keyboard. I smiled as I remembered how great it felt. I didn’t know what I was going to play. I just started to press down on the keys of the piano. It took me a minute to realize I had been playing The Music of the Night. I didn’t care what song I was playing. Not even if Zack thought that I was playing it because of him. All I cared about was being able to play again. Maybe I should play my violin again. I’d love to feel the softness of the strings as I hold the bow, and the strings beneath my fingers on the neck. I was so happy that I was able to remember how to play, and that I could play without missing any beats or notes.
Zack's P.O.V.
I smiled as I watched her play. She plays as though she is the only one in the room, like there’s nothing else around her but the piano. I bet she’ll think of me over Cody (Walker) now. I went to go sit down beside her. I lightly touched her back as I sat down. You would think that would mess someone up, but she just kept playing as though I wasn’t even here. This is the girl I want. She’s committed to everything she does. She loves music, and she has the most amazing singing voice I have ever heard. She never gives up, when she has to do something she sets her mind to it and gets it done. Chloe Reid Jones is the girl I want to marry. I will stop at nothing to make her see that I am in love with her.
. . .
Chloe's P.O.V.
I didn’t want to stop playing but every song has to end some time, even the ones on the piano. I smiled again as I moved my hands off the piano’s keyboard.
“How can you play that without anything to go by?” Zack asked me.
“I don’t know, I guess I played it so much before that its permanently stuck in head,” I answered him happily.
“You play beautifully,” Zack said to me.
I looked at him with a small smile.
“Thank you,” I said to him.
“I guess it makes since though, –“
Zack scooted a little closer to me. He lightly touched my hand which was resting on my leg.
“Beautiful music played by a beautiful girl, on a beautiful instrument. Its like you were mean to be here,” Zack said to me.
He was getting a little closer.
“Maybe I am,” I said to him softly.
Zack didn’t say anything for a minute.
“I like your gift Zack,” I said to him lightly.
Zack lightly smiled at me and said, “I love you.”
I didn’t know what to say back to him. He leaned over and started to very lightly kiss me as he took a hold of my hand gently. A part of me wanted to stop him cause I felt that it was wrong, but the other part didn’t want it to end. I know I have feelings for Zack, not exactly sure what they are, but I know I have them. I have feelings for Cody (Walker) to and I know what they are. I’m still stuck between two guys and the truth is I still don’t know who to choose. I know Cody (Martin) helped me out a little bit, but there is one important thing Zack did help me to figure out. I am in love with both him and Cody (Walker) and I don’t know who I want. I thought I did, but this just made it worse. I leaned away from Zack before any more feelings were revealed, which I am now afraid of.
“I should probably get going,. . . I’ve uh – got a few things to study for,” I said to him as I stood up.
I started to walk toward the door.
“Will you play for me again sometime?” Zack asked curiously.
I smiled at him again as I turned around.
“Maybe,. . .”
That's all I needed to say. I walked out of the aqua lounge even more confused and not really knowing where I was going. I just need some fresh air. It seems to help out quite a bit.
. . .
After walking around the boat for awhile I headed back to my cabin. I didn’t even know how to pray this time. I keep thinking about what Cody (Martin) told me about a week ago, while we were walking the streets of Greece. That I have to stop letting how Zack is changing block me of my decision. What if that’s not what is happening? What if I am actually falling in love with him and its supposed to happen? I walked into my cabin. I stopped in the middle of the room as I saw my violin case sitting on the corner of my bed. On it sat a note from Destiny:
Chloe,
I know I said I wanted to hear you play the violin again but I knew you would need to be alone. Cody Martin, Bailey, Woody and I are in the aqua lounge having dinner tonight. I don’t know what Cody Walker is up to. I just knew you were going to be confused and slightly depressed when you left Zack earlier. I know you to well. Remember when you used to be depressed you would sit down at the piano or sit down with your guitar or pick up your violin and start to play because it made you feel better. Well I put your violin on your bed in hopes that you would do the same thing once again. I know you haven’t played the violin in three years but I at least want you to try. I will ask you to it again for me later, but please boo do this for me. Whenever you play you sort through your thoughts. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to think about Zack and Cody (Walker). I don’t know what happened between you and Zack earlier. I know I will find out later. I know how much you loved playing the violin and I figured if your alone you might be more into playing it. Then it won’t be so bad to play it in front of other people later. You did great with the guitar and I’m sure you did great with the piano. You always have, but please boo do this for me. You need this more than anything.
Love your sister\best friend,
Destiny Jones
I looked over the note several times before I put it down. I do happen to think quite a bit when I play my instruments. It has something to do with the music. It calms me and relaxes me and I just get into a deep thinking mode. The only reason I didn’t jump on saying yes to Cody (Walker) when he said something about hearing me play the violin was because I haven’t played in three years. I know I picked up the guitar and the piano really well again but those are easy instruments. The violin is one of the hardest instruments to learn how to play. I know I started when I was five but that doesn’t mean I’ll be as good as used to be. I sighed as I set the note down on my clothes chest. I stood there staring at my violin case not knowing what to do. I lightly touched the case as I moved closer to my bed. I took a deep breath as I opened the violin case. I stood there and stared at my violin.
I couldn’t help but to smile as I lightly touched it. Maybe Destiny is right, maybe it will help me out. I gently picked it up and as soon as I felt the weight of it in my hands I felt as good as I did when I first held my guitar again. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all. I rested the violin on my shoulder and lightly put my chin on the chinrest. I didn’t know what I was going to play. I was just hoping I could still play. As I had my hand on the neck while I grasped the bow, I could feel me getting nervous as I tried to start playing. I closed my eyes and let myself relax for a minute. I opened them and began to play something I used to always love playing on the violin. I’m doing pretty good so far. I lightly smiled as the sounds from my violin rang through the room. It feels so good to do something that I loved doing. I’m surprised I remember this much, but unexpected things happen every day.
Cody Walker's P.O.V.
I was asked by Cody if I wanted to join them for dinner tonight but I didn’t know if I wanted to go. To be honest I just want to be with Chloe right now. I was walking toward her cabin and I heard the most beautiful music coming from her room. I walked over to her door to find it still open. I stood there in the doorway and just watched and listened to her play. I knew exactly what song she was playing and it made me ache for her even more. I lightly smiled as I saw how happy it made her just to play. That’s what she was missing all this time. I walked into her cabin slowly. Whatever she does makes me fall in love with her even more.
. . .
Chloe’s P.O.V.
I was so happy as I finished with the song on my violin. I couldn’t believe that I actually remembered how to play that song. The songs from all three instruments that I played have been stuck in my head for so long I guess I remembered without even thinking. I turned around as I lowered my violin to see Cody (Walker) standing there. I slightly jumped as I saw him.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” Cody said to me.
I smiled at him. I was so happy to see him, especially after the song I just played.
“No, its okay, I just didn’t expect to see you here,” I said to him.
I put my violin back into its case lightly.
“You sounded beautiful,” Cody said to me as he walked over to me.
“Thank you,” I said to him.
Cody moved closer to me. I didn’t know what to do at this moment. Am I letting Zack ruin what I thought was right? I guess there’s only one way to find out.
“I missed you today,” Cody said to me softly.
“Yeah, I missed you too, but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to play the piano again,” I said to him.
“I'd like to hear you play sometime,” Cody said to me.
“I think I work that out someday,” I said to him.
Cody (Walker) was really close to me. Is he what I’ve been missing today? He put his hands on my waist. I can see in his face that he missed me. Does he love being around me that much?
“I love you,” he said to me softly.
I could tell in his voice how much he meant it. How could I not choose him? He has so much love to give and he wants to give it all to me. I love him probably just as much as he loves me. Why am I still having problems choosing who to be with? Cody put his hand on the side of my neck and rested his other hand on my waist. He leaned down and started to lightly open mouth kiss me. I felt that this was what I needed tonight. Along with playing the violin. Yet, there’s still a part of me that feels that I am doing something wrong. Why should I feel that there is something wrong? I am in love with Cody. I just don’t seem to understand what is happening in my life or what is happening with me. I want things to be normal, but I don’t know if I know what normal is anymore.