Chapter 5

"Hey mum," I answered the call, walking back out to the corridor to avoid Yuffie's music, and closing the door behind me. "How is everything?"

"Hey sweetie," she spoke. "Everything's fine, how are you settling in?"

"Yeah I'm settling in okay, my first day was pretty straight forward." I replied.

"Have you made any friends yet?" She asked eagerly.

I laughed, "well I did make one friend, Aerith, she's really nice, you'd love her mum."

"Is she your roommate?" she questioned.

"Ah not exactly, she works in the library," I answered. "She's actually in her second year, studying art."

"Ah she sounds wonderful," mum added. "Any boys, hmm?"

"Really mum?!" I chuckled. "You don't miss a thing, do you."

"So there is!" she exclaimed. "Is he nice?"

"Well he's alright, I initially thought he was arrogant, but I'm not so sure anymore," I responded. "Anyway, I'm not here to date boys mum, you know this."

"Oh I know honey; I just hope you don't forget to have fun too!" she reminded me.

"I'm sure will, boyfriend or none," I reassured her. "So, how did dad take the news?

"Well…about that," Mum's voice became nervous.

"You haven't told him?!" I cried. "Why not mum?!"

"Well it's not that I haven't told him…" she trailed off. "I just told him you're at Aunt Elisa's…listen Tifa honey don't be mad, I just tried to make this easier for you."

"By lying to dad?" I said incredulous. "And what did he believe you just like that?"

"Well he's believed this for a few weeks now," she admitted. "He thinks you're there working at her restaurant."

I remained silent, unsure of what to say. I was shocked at my very own mother.

"Tifa, please, I'm sorry," she pleaded. "I hoped you'd understand; this is easiest way."

"But it's not the right way," I retorted.

"Oh Tifa, you're such a pure person," she said surprising me. "You'd never do a wrong thing. But just trust me, this isn't just easier on you but on your father too. You need to do what you want to do, without him holding you back, okay."

I swallowed taking it all in, was I just supposed to go along like this? This was wrong!

"Oh, your father's home, I have to go. I love you so much Tifa. Don't worry, leave it me, okay?" she said quickly.

"Okay, I love you too," I replied before the line went dead.

I sighed and leant back onto the corridor wall, crossing my arms, thinking over our conversation. Why did she only let me in on this now? Was it because she'd know I'd own up to dad? Perhaps she knew once I was here it'd be harder for me to change my mind and come clean to dad, and maybe she was right.

Entering my room, I found Yuffie scrolling through Facebook on her phone, sprawled out on her bed, with her damn music still booming. Falling into my desk chair, my head continued to spin full of both emotion and bewilderment. It was then that she turned her music off.

"You look defeated," she said sitting cross legged on her bed.

"Families suck," I said without thinking, not bothering to look at her.

"Yeah, you're telling me, what trouble in paradise?" she said almost sarcastically.

"Excuse me?" I questioned defensively.

"What daddy said no, did he?" She said, bitterness swirling in her tone.

"You were eavesdropping?" I said heatedly. "Do you mind?"

"No not at all," she said resuming her music with a fake smile.

I just sat and continued to stare at her astonished. Just what I need, I thought. Shoving my keys in my back pocket and storming out the room, I head right down the corridor. I didn't know where I was headed, all I knew was I had to distance myself from that chick. She was stepping on my toes too much now. How dare she listen on my private conversation? Who does she think she is, queen of this god damn academy?! If this is how I was feeling on day one with living with her, god help up us during the next 3 years… World War 3 may already be upon us.

Amidst my furry I realised I had climbed to the top floor of the main building, noticing this it seemed as if one of the back corridors was left abandoned. Although it looked straight out of a horror movie, curiosity had the better of me and decided exploring it was better than returning to my dorm. I realised that the corridor was once used as studios. I began to think that when this was once upon a time the only academy building, this section being used by the music students. As I passed one of the studios towards the end of the corridor, I noticed that the door had been left slightly ajar. I decided to investigate further, fiddling for the light switch on the wall. Once I'd found it and it illuminated the room, I was pleased to find a slightly dingy room with cream walls and a brown carpeted floor straight from the 70s. But that's not what excited me. Among the other musical instruments including a drum kit, several guitars, consisting of acoustic, electric and bass, I found an old key board shoved in the back of the room. Upon further examination, it had seemed this key board was at least 10 years old and had just about the same amount of years' worth of dust on it. Using the cover that had been thrown into a corner, I cleaned the board of its dust and continued to find a power outlet to plug it into. The key board unfortunately didn't come with a seat, however I made use of an old wooden create that was originally used as a make-shift guitar stand. Warming up my fingers, I began to play moonlight sonata, followed by 'let it be' by the Beatles. I even began murmuring the words too. I had never thought I was much of a singer, too hoarse, I believed it never matched the piano. To sing with something a pure as the piano, you'd need a high voice to make it sound like something worth listening to, like Birdy. She had been one of my favourite artists growing up in high school. But now having this room to myself where I was sure no one would hear me or find me, I dared to begin playing Birdy's rendition of 'Skinny Love'. Letting myself loose, I didn't notice how loud I was singing until I heard footsteps behind me.

I whirled around, suddenly embarrassed. There stood the same guy who was borrowing the books from Aerith this afternoon.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you," he apologised leaning on the door frame.

"How long have you been there?" I asked.

"Um, just as you finished 'Let it Be'," He answered with an impressed smiled. "I must say you have some taste girlie. And what a voice too."

"Don't joke," I said a little too harshly.

His smile dropped, "no I meant it. Hey listen, this actually perfect timing, a friend of mine and I have considered forming a band, however we're in need of a vocalist, would you be interested?"

"You're real funny, aren't you," I said sarcastically. "Sorry but I'm not interested. I only play piano."

"Well that's cool, I'm sure we could fit that in somehow," he tried to reason. "It'd be alternative."

"No thanks," I said switching the power off and heading toward the door. "I can't sing."

"It sure sounded to me that you could," he disagreed. "Kind of an edgy mix between Hayley Williams and Jenna McDougall, I reckon. And when paired with the piano, it's something I'd definitely listen to."

I paused, did he really just say that? I turned to face him, "you really mean that?"

"Of course, I wouldn't have been standing here asking you to join a band, if I didn't mean it would I?" he laughed. "I'm Zack by the way."

"Tifa," I replied matching his smile. "So what kind of band is it?"

"Well we were initially thinking rock, grunge, or maybe even alternative," he said gesturing to me. "I guess it will be whatever it wants to be. All we want to do is just play music, maybe even make it somewhere significant."

"Hmph, so is it just you and your 'buddy'?" I asked.

"Yeah, we're actually not only in need of a vocalist, but also a drummer too," he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I play guitar, and my friend, Vincent, he plays bass."

I laughed, "some band."

"Do you know of anyone who plays the drums?" he asked hopeful.

I shook my head, "sorry, no, but I'll let you know if I come across anyone."

"We'd appreciate it," he said with a toothy grin. "But seriously, will consider joining us? We need a voice like yours."

I sighed, averting my eyes to the wall beside me, "I'll think about it."

"Well that's something at least," he said not allowing his hope to die. "And you know what, I have to thank you too."

I cocked an eyebrow, "why so?"

"I reckon this would make a sick rehearsal room," he explained, looking around at the no longer used instruments. "I mean it doesn't look like this place gets used at all. And it even has all the instruments we need too."

"You're welcome," I bowed playfully. "Anyway I'm going to get going, it was nice meeting you Zack."

"Oh just quickly, why not meet here on Wednesday after 6pm?" he asked. "I'll introduce you to Vincent."

"Alright, but don't forget I only said I'd think about it," I said with a confident smile.

"Okay, okay, I understand," she said defensively. "But at least let me introduce you to Vincent."

With a final nod and a shy smile, I headed back towards my room, and to my luck, Yuffie wasn't there. I decided it'd be wise to start on the first chapter questions from my piano tutoring book. They were fairly easy introduction questions and I found I had competed them in less than an hour. Still, Yuffie didn't turn up, and I fell asleep free of the feeling someone was giving me daggers.