Authors note: Thank you soooo much for the reviews. I'll be sure to work on some of the writing errors this weekend. I want to thank all of you even those who gave negative reviews because it really helps me. Never hold back any advice you could give to help. As for the whole girl playing cello thing, I'm going to ad a bit about that later. It's a little too late to change that part but I'll work on it a bit. I have a few things in mind.

I returned laughing almost the entire way home. Jolie had nearly tripped over that long thing. I closed the door behind me, still laughing and nearly jumped when I saw Erik standing there. He never ceases to scare the daylights out of me.

"Madam Addilina," he said gesturing toward my cello set up next to my desk chair.

I sighed and sat on the chair. He had a new piece on the stand. This one I had avoided practicing because it was so slow pace and dull. There wasn't much of a challenge in it.

"I don't need to bother with this piece," I said rolling my eyes.

He swayed a finger at me now grinning. "If it is such an easy task play it for me," he said. You could tell by his tone he expected me to fail

I laughed "This is a cinch." I said.

I started playing the piece and I didn't complete two measures before he grabbed my bowing hand roughly and made me stop. There was a loud bonk when the bow was lifted into the air and fell back onto the string. His movement startled me and I felt fury singe in my throat.

"It lacked emotion," he said in a low angry voice.

I just stood at him my eyes narrowing in rage I gripped on the neck of the cello so firmly my knuckles turned white.

"Do you know what is happening during this song?" He asked

I didn't answer

"The singers are declaring their love for one another; you have to show that feeling. You have to reveal the emotion that is unwinding." He said all these things. When the word love came out of his mouth He said it louder then anything else. My heart skipped a beat. How quickly with his powerful words could he change my emotions.

He pointed to the dynamics and bowings I had missed. I just stared at his gloved finger even when he drew it back.

When I played the piece this time I thought of him. My cello added to my mixed emotions. This was the only way I could tell of this odd feeling I felt in his presence. Some how I had to get over this torment he put me through whenever he was near. He was too old. Something like this would never work out. What was I thinking? That I'd have a future with him? I shook my head and tried to convince myself the truth. I tried to imagine someone loving him, having a relationship with someone who no one knew existed. No it's not possible.

"Feel the music," He now whispered in my ear. I cringed when I felt his breath on my ear, but it was not a move of disgust. I felt the music all right. It was now gripping my shoulders. Those gloves hands oh they were so large. He Held my shoulders not allowing me to use my upper arm for the bow.

"Your not sawing logs Missure, your performing an art," he confirmed.

Then he started singing with the song. I had heard the man who was to star with Christine but he was nothing compared to Erik. Erik brought the music to life. He painted color and emotion into every note. His voice and my cello now combined into one. We had entirely different notes but it all connected. He now stood in front of me and I could barely look at my notes. His lip was quivering as he sustained a note. I blinked and stopped for a moment before starting again.

A week later Jolie came in my room with the finished dress and she showed me her dress. "

It was no longer a dress for family of four," I had teased.

We spent a day talking of how we were going to wear our hair and who was to attend.