When I get home there is no one there. Aunt Marie and Uncle John must still be working. I go upstairs and drop my bag at my desk. I decide to explore the ground floor, since the most I've done is go in the dining room for meals.
I open the first door on the left in a long corridor and peek in. It is a library. I close the door. I'd never been one to read so I figure I won't visit that room too often.
About halfway down the hallway is another smaller hallway. There is only one door, so I go over and open it. What I see almost stops my heart. I walk to the center of the room and spin around, breathless. On one wall is a raised platform with a drum set and a microphone and three stools. In front of the platform there is three circular tables with three chairs each. On another wall there are tons of brass instruments and a grand piano. I feel the tears as I come to look at the string instruments.
When I was five I started violin lessons. I was amazing. I could play anything I looked at or by ear by the time I was eight. I spent every spare second playing all the instruments I could get my hands on. My favorites were the violin, the piano, and guitar. I composed my own music. But then my parents died and I stopped playing. I don't know why. I loved the violin. It was my life.
I carefully pick up a cherry red violin and the bow. I put the violin underneath my chin and begin to play a sad symphony. I am pleasantly surprised when I realize I still know how to play. It comes naturally. I continue to play, getting lost in the music.
"I though I heard something." I jump so violently that the bow goes flying across the room and lands at Uncle John's feet.
"So you finally found our music room, eh? You know this room is completely soundproof. That is, when the door is closed." He nods to the open door.
"So all of this is yours?" I ask.
"Yes. I thought you might like this room. Especially the violins." I nod. I wish I could show Bill this room. He would…Bill! Oh my God! Tokio Hotel could practice here.
"Uncle John! Could I maybe have a few friends come over so they can have practice. They aren't allowed to use the band room at school anymore and they don't have the right equipment. Please?"
"What friends?"
"Bill, Tom, Gustav, and Georg. Please. They need my help. I promised them that we would figure something out. And you wouldn't even know they are here if the room is soundproof." I breathe deeply as I watch Uncle John think. After what feels like ages he answers.
"I don't see why not. Go ahead."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I hug him and run to my room. I pick up the phone and call Bill. The phone rings three times before someone answers.
"Hello Bill?"
"No this is Tom. Is this Leanah?"
"Yeah."
"Hold on. I'll go get him."
"No. That's okay. I can tell you. Ready? I found you guys a place to practice that has everything you need."
"You did. No way. That was fast. Where?" Tom asks excitedly.
"Here at my house. You guys can come over whenever."
"That is so awesome. Great! See you soon!" I start to say 'bye' but I hear the click that means Tom already hung up the phone. I sit on my bed and am unsurprised when the doorbell rings only twenty minutes after my phone call to Tom.
I run down the stairs and almost crash into Uncle John.
"In a hurry, are we?" he asks laughing. I smile and realize that I actually like him. I get to the door and open it.
"Hi. Come on in." I step out of the doorway and let the boys enter. Bill immediately grabs my hand. He grins and I smile back. "Come on. The room is this way." I lead the way with Bill, his fingers still entwined with mine.
I open the door and hear a collective intake of breath.
"Here it is. Drums are on the platform, Gustav, along with a mic for you," I say, poking Bill in the ribs, " and the guitars are over on that wall." I watch as everyone gets what they need and sit on the stools on the platform. I linger by the violins as Tokio Hotel starts playing "Totgeliebt."
I pick up the violin I used earlier and hold it. Then I take the bow and inspect it.
"Do you play Leanah?" Georg asks.
"Sort of." I blush.
"Can we hear something?" Gustav asks. Bill nods in agreement to Gustav's question.
"Okay." I set myself up and look at the platform. They are all watching me intently. I take a deep breath and am suddenly relaxed. This is just like all those recitals I used to play in. I breathe deeply and begin to play the melody of Flyleaf's song "All Around Me." Suddenly there is no one else in the room. I let the music carry me away. Each note sparks inside me and I fall in love with the violin again. When the song is over I realize that I have tears in my eyes. I hastily wipe them away.
Bill stands up and claps. Tom, Gustav, and Georg follow suit. I see something from the corner of my eye and turn my head as the door slowly swings shut. But not before I see Aunt Marie's flowing blonde hair.
"That was amazing," Gustav says happily.
"Yeah. That was way awesome," Georg echoes.
"You're really good!" the twins say at the same time, which makes everyone giggle.
"Hey Leanah. Can you play the guitar?" Tom points to the one he was using. I pick it up and begin to play the chords to a country song called "Picture to Burn." The song ends and Bill tells me to go to the piano.
"Play one of our songs," he commands.
"Yeah. Play…hmm…1000 Meere," Tom says. So I do. I am surprised that I can play it, because I have only heard it a couple of times. The music flows through me. The guys are gaping at me when it is over.
"How'd you do that?" Tom questions.
"I don't know. I guess I can play by ear really well."
"Can you, like, pick up any instrument and play it like that?"
"Yeah. But most times I play a random tune in my head. I don't normally get requests." I laugh.
"That's still really cool," Tom says.
"Yay! My girlfriend is amazing!" Bill shouts enthusiastically. Gustav and Georg look at him questioningly. "Oh. We are going out now." Bill grins.
"All thanks to me. I played matchmaker." Tom grins at me. Bill punches him in the arm.
"I was doing just fine without your help," Bill says with fake anger. We laugh and I take Bill's hand.
"So guys. I have a surprise for you."
"Yeah?" they all say.
"Hold on. I'll go get it."
"I'll come with you." Bill opens the door for me and we walk up the stairs and into my bedroom.
"It's in my backpack. Give me a second to find it." Bill plops down onto my bed. I search through my papers and grab the flyer.
"What's that?" Bill asks.
"Oh you'll find out soon enough." Bill fakes disappointment and we walk downstairs.
"Okay," I say when we are back in the music room. "Check this out." I show them the flyer.
"No way!" they all say.
"Wait the talent show is in two days. What song should we play?" Tom asks. I read the flyer one more time as they decide on a song.
"I already entered you guys. You are going to be the last people to perform." Small print catches my eye.
"Oh my God!"
"What?" Bill asks.
"There are going to be talent scouts there." Bill's brown, kohl-lined eyes widen.
"This could be our chance. Our dream could come true."