A/N: This chapter is dedicated to all of you who are constantly reviewing and making me feel like I should keep writing 24/7! Thanks so much for all your kind comments. Here you go!

Kintra wiped her hands on her jeans one more time. For the past half an hour, that was the only thing she'd been doing. The city rolled by her window, and she didn't even notice. The car ceased to bother her and the music that played constantly in her head was drowned out by the pounding in her ears. Her heart thudded in her chest and Kintra was sure that the organ would hurt itself if it continued pounding as hard as it was at the moment. She wished that Emma had been there, but Emma was at school. She glanced over at her mom, knowing that her mother was probably thinking about the abilities of the substitute teacher she had charged her class with today, and wished for the millionth time that she had not suggested going to get ice cream that day. If she hadn't, none of this would have happened, and she would have been at school today, listening to her mother lecture on Aristotle and Socrates.

"Are you nervous?" The question startled Kintra, for she had been buried in her thoughts. She turned to her mother and nodded sheepishly. Her mom nodded. "That's understandable, but just remember, Mrs. Grey knows that you don't know anything. Her job is to teach you how to speak again. Don't worry. She'll teach you everything you need to know."

Both were silent as Mrs. Philips signaled and merged onto the off ramp of the freeway. A few twists and turns from there and they turned onto the Grey's street. Kintra felt helpless as she watched her mother try and find the address by herself. Usually, she would call out the numbers and help her mom find the place, but now, she could do nothing. She saw the correct number on a blue house with white trim and tugged on her mom's sleeve. Her mom saw the number and smiled. "Thanks," she said. She parked the car under a tree in the Grey's parkway and she grabbed Kintra's hand. "This is a learning experience for both of us," she said. "Let's have fun." Kintra nodded, trying to be brave for her mom.

She stepped out of the car and waited for her mom to retrieve her purse, then hand in hand they walked up the walkway. Before they even reached the top step, the front door flew open and a pretty, motherly woman stepped out. Her black curly hair framed her beaming face delicately and her brown eyes sparkled when she saw Kintra. "You're here!" she cried. "I've been waiting so patiently, but I really didn't think this day would get here!" She stepped forward, and then hesitated. "May I hug you both?" she asked.

Kintra smiled and nodded while her mother said, "Of course!" Then came individual hugs and one group hug. Mrs. Grey pushed Kintra back at arm's length so that she could get a good look at the girl. Her stare was not a hard one, but Kintra was glad that she had her new scarf wrapped around her neck, disguising her scar. "How old are you?" she asked curiously.

"Sixteen," her mom responded for her.

"You're one of my sons' ages then," Mrs. Grey said lightly. "Shall we go inside and get something to drink before we start?" Kintra nodded, smiling, and Mrs. Grey led them inside.

The house was rather large, and Kintra briefly wondered how many kids Mrs. Grey had. The living room was wide and spacious, and Kintra could imagine having a family game night in it. Up against the wall stood a beautiful grand piano. Stairs led up to the second floor and the wall was lined with pictures. The dining room came next, and Kintra smiled when she saw a vase of flowers in the middle of the long table. Next came the kitchen and it was only then that Kintra noticed that the two mothers were busily chatting away. When Mrs. Grey turned her back to pull something out of the cabinet, Kintra tugged on her mom's sleeve and made a motion like she was playing the piano. "Ask her," Mrs. Philips said.

"Ask me what?" Mrs. Grey asked, turning around and noticing Kintra's blushing face.

"I think Kintra would like to know if she could play your piano," Mrs. Philips told her new friend.

"Of course she can!" Mrs. Grey said with a laugh. "Have you played long?" Kintra shook her head and was grateful that she didn't have the voice to admit that she'd never played before. She couldn't understand the feeling, but something drew her to the piano. "Go ahead," Mrs. Grey continued. "Play for a bit while your mom and I visit."

Kintra slipped quietly out of the room and made her way over to the piano. She ran her hand over the shiny black cover as though to memorize the feel of the wood. She pulled the bench out and sat down, lifting the lid quietly. As soon as the ivory keys were revealed to her, Kintra thought that the music inside her head actually got louder. Not knowing where to begin, she pressed down on the furthest key to her right. It made a high, almost unrecognizable sound, but Kintra knew exactly what it was supposed to sound like. When she pressed the next key to its left, the sound was what she expected to hear. She worked her way down the piano, listening to each key as it rang out its note. Once she reached the lowest key, Kintra smiled and placed her hands over the proper keys, beginning to play.

Nick heard his mother's excited voice echo throughout the house when she opened the door. He rolled his eyes and turned his back to his bedroom door. The mute girl was here. Silently, he berated himself. What had gotten into him lately? Grudgingly, he agreed with his mom. He had changed, and he didn't know why. Perhaps it was because he no longer trusted girls to show interest in him as a person? Or was it the fact that everyone seemed to want to change his personality to a bubblier one? He rolled over once again and tried to focus on the script in his hand, but his mother's excited voice kept him from being able to concentrate. Then, he heard the piano being played, one painful note at a time. Gritting his teeth, Nick swung his legs off the bed and stood, throwing his script down on the bed beside him. Just because this girl was coming into his house did not mean that she had the right to play his piano. She was probably going to play chopsticks!

He had just reached the landing of the stairs, intent on going down and giving this girl a piece of his mind, when he heard playing, and it was nowhere near chopsticks. The music swirled around the room and seemed to tease his senses, for Nick found himself walking calmly down the stairs to stand against the banister and listen to the graceful music. The girl playing the piano was not what he had been expecting. She was tall and slim with silky auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her yellow and blue shirts set off her skin color and Nick noticed the yellow scarf draped loosely around her slim neck and smiled.

He heard footsteps and turned to see his mom and another woman, Mrs. Philips, come out of the kitchen. When Mrs. Grey saw that it was not her son who was playing, her gaze shifted to where Kintra sat, oblivious to her crowd. Mrs. Philips' eyes widened until they looked like miniature saucers and she leaned over to whisper to Nick's mother. "She's never taken piano lessons," she told her.

Nick's head snapped back to look at this girl who sat playing a piece right out of her head with absolutely no training. Something about the music stirred his heart, but only for a moment, and then the flame sputtered out once more. The girl seemed to let her body play on its own accord, for only her fingers moved, striking the keys effortlessly. Slowly, the song began to slow down, and she ended with a sweet little trill. Once she had finished, her shoulders slumped and her posture left its rigid stance. She turned and jumped when she noticed three people watching her. Her face changed from embarrassment to confusion when she noticed that both Mrs. Grey and her mother were standing there with their mouths open, and Nick Grey, member of Connect 3, was scowling at her. She put her hands up as if asking, "What?"

Kintra was still waiting for someone to tell her why they were staring at her.