Tyler's P.O.V:(1 Week Later)
I slid my key into the mailbox, pulling the small metal door open and slowly pulling the pile of envelopes out, closing the door once again before turning and walking back towards the stairs. I flipped through the mail excitedly, hoping to see something from any of the schools I had applied to. It had only been a week since I mailed off my applications; I'm sure it was too soon to expect anything, whether it be rejection or acceptance, but I was too excited, too nervous. I was getting tired of waiting, wondering how my future was going to play out.
Phone bill, credit card bill, magazine, advertisement, blah blah blah. I made it up the stairs but stopped dead in my tracks outside of my front door. A certain envelope caught my eyes, an envelope with the logo MSM printed in red and black in the upper left-hand corner.
Something had come from the Manhattan School of Music. I started to open it but stopped. I was in too good of a mood to read about my rejection right now. You know what they say: a big envelope means your in, and small envelope only holds disappointment. This envelope was beginning to look smaller and smaller as time passed.
I walked into the apartment, kicking the door closed behind me. "Anything, babe?" Austin questioned from the floor where he was playing Mario Kart on Nintendo 64.
"Uhhhhh no, just bills and junk," I replied, tossing the pile onto the counter, but slipping the MSM letter into my purse for later. I joined Austin on the floor, laying on my stomach and grabbing the other controller. Despite his best efforts I kicked his ass, like always.
"You only won because you cheated," Austin whined, pouting his lips.
"Babe, just because I use certain tactics to slow you down and knock you off course doesn't make it cheating. I'm resourceful," I responded with a smirk. He rolled onto his back and crossed his arms over his chest, continuing to pout. I laughed under my breath and climbed on top of him, straddling his waist. "Awww don't be mad at me just because I'm better than you. It's okay, baby, it doesn't make you any less of a man."
He raised an eyebrow at me but didn't say anything. I leaned forward and planted a light kiss on his jawline, then another one, and another one, moving below the stubble on his face. I grabbed his chin and turned his head to the side, giving me better access to his neck. I smirked against his skin before biting and sucking at it, leaving dark marks where my teeth had been. He uncrossed his arms and moaned as he grabbed onto my butt. I licked up his neck and I felt him harden beneath me. I sat up, staring down into his eyes, and bit down on my bottom lip. "See. Resourceful," I said with a wink.
He moved a hand to the back of my neck, pulling my head down and crashing his lips into mine; his other hand remained on my butt. He squeezed gently as he slipped his tongue into my mouth, and I yanked at his hair causing another moan to escape his mouth into mine. Within minutes clothes has been ripped off and I was on the floor moaning his name loudly as he slammed into me.
He rolled off of me, distracted as he tried to catch his breath. I took the opportunity and slipped down to his now semi-hard member, taking the tip into my mouth. Austin writhed beneath me, moaning loudly at the unexpected contact. I took him fully into my mouth, sucking hard as he returned to attention once again. I pulled my mouth away with a smile and got up off the floor, racing off to my room, Austin's footsteps loud behind me. He grabbed me and tossed me onto the bed gently, crawling over me and attacking my lips with his. The kissing soon turned into round 2, round 2 surprisingly giving way to round 3, leaving both of us utterly exhausted.
It wasn't long before I heard Austin's breathing slow as he drifted to sleep. I, however, was wide awake, my mind wandering back to the letter in my purse. The sex-filled evening had proved a great distraction from my impending future, but now that I was laying awake in the dark, alone with only my thoughts, I was unable to focus on anything else.
I got out of bed with a sigh, Austin not making a single movement as I did so. I grabbed my glasses and walked into the livingroom, grabbing Austin's discarded shirt from the floor and slipping it over my naked body. I grabbed the envelope from my purse and curled up in the corner of the couch. I opened the envelope slowly, bracing myself for disappointment as I began to read.
Dear Ms. Rhodes,
In the thirty years that I have been the Dean of this fine institution my main goal has been simple: to not only find potential students who are talented, but also those who are passionate, those who know what they want from life and they will do anything to get there. The moment I began to view your audition tapes I knew you were one of those rare individuals who possess the one thing I search for. There is something in your voice that I have never heard before, something that drew me in from the very minute you opened your mouth. The tone of your voice is incredibly unique; no one possesses the same quality in their voice as you do. Your vocal abilites aside, that passion that I have been so desperately searching for practically radiated off of you. It was aparent in your voice, in your presence, and in the words that you had written. You have the unique ability to draw people in, to make them feel what you are feeling. I'm sure I'm not the first to express that to you, but if by some chance I am you must know that a quality such as that is rare.
By reading your application and watching your videos I feel I have a real sense of who you are as not only a performer, but as a person. You, Ms. Rhodes, have something special. You spoke to me in ways that no applicant thus far has managed to do. With that being said it would be my honor to offer you acceptance into the Manhattan School of Music for our fall semester. Just last year I developed a new area of study with people like you in mind, individuals who cannot only sing but who also enjoy writing and composing music. I can already begin to imagine the impact that you will have on the program, as well as the impact it could hopefully have on you as an artist.
Every semester I am given the opportunity to present one student with a special scholarship, a scholarship that I personally award to the potential student who I feel shows promise, drive, talent, flexability, and most of all - a passion for music. That's why we are all here, after all. There is something about you that I find so intriguing. The simplicity of your audition tape did wonders to only further enhance your vocal abilities, leaving nothing to take away from the real reason you are applying to this school: because you love to sing. I would love to offer this scholarship to you, Ms. Rhodes, that would pay your way through all two years of the program.
It oftentimes takes us a while to figure out our dream in life; in your essay you expressed that it took you many years to realize what was right in front of you, and I can say I was in a situation very similar to yours once upon a time. I admire your willingness to follow your dreams, and I hope this opportunity will allow you to do so.
I'm sure you have applied to other institutions, most of which will also be begging you to join them. I understand you have many decisions to make regarding your future. I hope you will consider the offer to come to New York City, where I personally will make sure that your dreams come true. When you have reached a decision, Ms. Rhodes, please contact me at (212) 875-2100. I hope to hear from you soon so we may begin to map out your future.
If you have any further questions don't hesitate to get a hold of me.
Sincerely,
Dr. Elena Morgan, Dean of Students
I read and re-read the letter a hundred times, my hand covering my mouth in surprise as the words sunk in: I got in....and I got a full scholarship.....the Dean of the school contacted me personally......I got in.
I couldn't believe it. Here, I had been thinking this was a long stretch, that there was no way I would make the cut. But I did, and not only that, I had garnered the attention of the Dean of the university, a woman who has been with the school for longer than I have been alive. She saw something in me, something that other's have seen but I have never seen in myself.
I wanted to scream out loud, express my joy to the world.
My dream, though it was still a somewhat new dream, was coming true right before my eyes. I put the letter back in my purse for safe keeping, thinking excitedly about calling Dr. Morgan tomorrow and accepting her offer. I walked down the hallway back to my room, a big smile plastered on my face, a smile that soon disappeared as I watched Austin sleeping soundly in my bed.
Only then did it hit me; why it hadn't sunk in sooner I have no idea, but now it had, and my heart was breaking as I stood in the doorway watching his chest rise and fall as he breathed in and out.
If I accepted this offer, if I did this I would be moving to New York.......and away from Austin. I would be living on the other side of the country from the man I love more than anything in the entire world, making our relationship even more complicated than it already is.
I felt so conflicted inside. I didn't want to leave him; I could hardly bear the thought of being away from him more than I already have to be. But then there was another part of me, a part that was screaming loudly in my head reminding me how much I wanted this, how much I wanted to sing. I was being handed the opportunity on a silver platter. How could I turn that away?
I felt a tear slide down my cheek, half from joy and half from sorrow. I crawled into bed with Austin, climbing in right next to him instead of going around to my own side. He scooted over a little and wrapped his arms around me, pulling my chest tightly against his.
I nuzzled my face into his neck and tried to drift off to sleep, hoping the sensation of my tears on his skin wouldn't wake him from his slumber.
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"You sure you don't wanna come eat with Alan and I, baby?" Austin asked as he walked up behind the couch and began rubbing my shoulders.
"Yeah, you go have fun with your ginger," I responded, keeping my eyes on the magazine article I was skimming, trying to keep my mind occupied.
"You okay?" He asked as he continued to knead my shoulders with his hands. I tiled my head back, smiling up at him as our eyes met.
"Just tired. I couldn't sleep last night. My mind was elsewhere," I muttered, choosing not to elaborate. He leaned his head down and kissed my forehead.
"Everything will work out, baby." He kissed my forehead again. "Just you wait and see, it'll all be fine."
"I hope so," I whispered. I needed to talk to him, he should know the situation I am wrestling with, but I was afraid. Afraid of his reaction, afraid of this tearing us apart. I hoped that wouldn't happen, that he would support me like he says he will.
"Alright I gotta go. Come over later?" He questioned and I smiled in agreement. He leaned further over the couch until our lips pressed together. I reached up and ran my fingers through his hair before he pulled away. "I love you."
"I love you, too." He walked out of the apartment, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again. I didn't know what to do. I needed to clear my head. I walked to my room and got dressed, pulling on a pair of jeans, an Of Mice & Men hoodie, a pair of Toms, and putting a black beanie over my unruly hair. I grabbed some cash and my phone, shoving them in my back pocket, and put my headphones in my ears, putting my iPod on shuffle and turning it up loud enough to block out my thoughts. I grabbed my keys and my sunglasses and walked out of my apartment, down the stairs, and towards the sidewalk.
A walk alone would do me some good.
I walked for about 15 minutes in the direction of the nearest coffee place, nodding my head along to the beat playing through my ears. I walked up to the coffee shop. The man in front of me stopped and opened the door for me. I moved my gaze from the ground to thank him.
My jaw dropped a little as I was met with a pair of blue eyes that I had hoped to never see again.
"Tyler?" He questioned in disbelief as his eyes widened.
"Kody........" I muttered under my breath as we were frozen in time, staring at each other, unable to move.