*

I kneeled before Mia to wipe off the chocolate ice-cream she had somehow got on her face. She grimaced when I touched her and pushed me when I playfully pinched her nose.

Mia had gotten suspended for a full school week, and so that she wouldn't be alone, everyone in the dorm took turns staying home with her. Ava told me all day yesterday she just wanted to stay in her room and sleep.

Since the Sat.u.r.day was so warm and inviting, I made Mia come with me into town just to get her outside. There was a moment when she was balancing on my bike where her sombre expression broke, where for a moment her eyes lit up, and she seemed happy or at the very least content, but the moment I slowed down, her face drooped, and her eyes returned to their blank.

I watched Mia's ice-cream start to drip down its stick. "Better hurry up and eat it," I said standing, "Don't want it to fall off."

Mia shrugged, giving it some quick licks before turning and continuing down the pathway of shops to where I had locked my bike. I sighed, unwrapping my ice-pop and throwing away the wrapper before following her.

Mia had become quiet since the poster incident. Such a strange thing to admit, given that she never spoke overall, but it was weird how much quieter she seemed. Mia didn't tap on things or sprint through the hallways, there were never strange objects in her hands, and she didn't examine anything or read the funny pages in the newspaper. She was just quiet.

I held my treat between my teeth, a painful exercise as it was bitter cold, and put my code in my bike-lock. Hastily, I took the icy from between my teeth and ran my tongue where the pain started to tingle. When I turned back to Mia, she was looking at her phone. She wasn't looking at the messages being sent to her, just watched as one notification after the other popped up at her. "Who's texting?" I tried.

Mia shrugged, pocketing the phone and producing a small notepad and pencil. She scribbled a sentence, "Can we go home?"

I frowned at her request. "No, come on, it's still early," I threw my arms wide as I gestured around us, "The sun is s.h.i.+ning and there are no clouds. It's a perfect day!"

Mia sucked in her cheeks as she examined the quiet street we stood on. I dropped my arms, "How about a walk to Out-Looker's Peak? We can check out Windmill Lake, have a sit down, a bit of exercise."

Her pencil slowly wrote something on the pad. When she held it up, she didn't look at me. "Do I have much choice?" I could almost hear the monotone of the sentence.

I shook my head, "No. Everyone is worried about you, and we all agree you need to get out of the house for a bit."

Mia had finished her ice-cream, the stick hanging from her lips as she crunched on the wood. Without a written word, she walked past my bike in the opposite direction to Out-Looker's Peak. I placed my bike on the ground, almost dropping my popsicle as I jogged after her and blocked her path. "Mia, come on, don't be like that," I said.

Mia audibly sighed, the stick cracking from the pressure of her teeth, splintering as she continued to bite down on it. I took the stick from her teeth and approached a garbage bin, happy when I turned back around that she hadn't run away. I ate the rest of my treat, cringing at the sudden cold pain in my head, and tossed my own rubbish. "Let's get going. I'll let you sit on my bike."

Mia's feet couldn't reach the pedals of my mountain bike while her arms were barely long enough to reach the handlebars, however, she didn't complain as I rolled her towards the overwatch.

Out-Looker's Peak was a cliff edge that looked down at Windmill Lake, the surrounding forest and the hills of the town. A lot of tourists who pa.s.sed through or joggers making their rounds went up to the peak for photos or a view. The trek there was strenuous though, the cobblestone path turned into loose dirt on a slanted hill, and my bike with Mia sitting on it was getting heavy.

But it was worth it when we reached the top.

I recalled coming up here many times as a kid. Once with Peter Bennet, Joseph Mingle and Alex Broach when we were seven years old. We rested our bicycles against the fencing, designed to keep people from falling off the cliff, and sat on the bench as we complained about homework or younger siblings. I remembered all of us egging on Alex when he dared himself to climb over the fence to get a better view of the ground and having heart attacks when he almost slipped off. I hadn't seen them since coming back to the town.

Mia hopped off my bike and walked to the bench, the moment she sat down her phone was back in her hands, her eyes scanning the notifications but still not opening any of them.

I ignored this at first, opting to approach the green fencing, rusted with age but still stable, and lean out to look at the nature and houses below me. From this vantage point, I could see a sea of green trees and gra.s.s, occasionally littered with giant holiday houses, designed to be close to the lake. When I looked directly down, I saw the rocky surface of the cliffside, my skin feeling uncomfortable at the idea of falling.

"Hey Mia, come check this out!" I called to her when a breeze picked up. It wafted up the scent of nature; a mixture of leaves, clean air and mud.

When Mia didn't appear next to me, I turned around, her eyes still glued to her phone. "Very social, Mia," I commented, leaning my back on the fence and crossing my arms, "Be in the moment with me, kid. It's such a nice view!" I gestured out to the blue of the sky, from all the way up here the windmills turning looked adorably small.

I watched Mia hop off the seat and march towards me, a strange gleam in her eye as she climbed somewhat up the fence, lifted the hand holding the phone and threw it as far down the cliffside as her small arms could muster.

In a moment of panic, I tried to grab the phone, but my reflexes were too slow, and I could only watch the blue rectangle disappeared amongst the branches. "Mia?" I went to scold her for being so irrational, but she was close to tears. Her hands held onto the fencing so tightly her knuckles were white, while her lower lip and teeth trembled.

I hadn't considered how much back lash Mia may still be receiving, even while away from school. I was annoyed at myself for not realising something may have been up with the phone.

Mia closed her eyes, s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g her cheeks up and clutching the fence panels so hard her arms started to shake.

I kneeled beside her and put an arm around her, my touch caused her to tense for a second before she relaxed, turned and leaned into me. In my arms she shrunk, sitting on my knee and curling herself against me. Her distressed expression disappeared, replaced by that usual exhausted look as if she was too tired to cry anymore.

As I hugged her, I ran my fingers through her hair in an attempt of comfort. She didn't respond to it, so I didn't know if she wanted me to stop. I hadn't taken her out to upset her, but I realised maybe she still needed to be alone. I finally accepted that Mia wanted to go home.

I walked my bike back, piggybacking Mia. It was unnerving how lifeless Mia seemed sleeping on my back, but I just didn't know what to say to her, how to make any of this better.

After half an hour, the dormitory was in sight. Mia lifted her head at the sight of it, pus.h.i.+ng off my back to sit upright as we approached. When we ventured through the front gate, the front door opened and Ava stepped outside, tilting her head at the sight of us.

"You guys are home early," she commented as I placed Mia on the ground.

"We just needed to come home," I replied as Mia shuffled her way to the steps and attempted to pa.s.s Ava.

"There's a surprise for you in there," Ava said over her shoulder before Mia could disappear, "Bonnie is in the sitting room waiting to show it to you."

Mia looked up at Ava, tilting her head, her eyes lighting up with intrigue. Ava nodded, hearing a silent question I had missed, "Go on. Don't keep Bonnie waiting."

Mia made a shadow of a nod before turning and walking calmly into the house.

When Mia was out of earshot, Ava turned her attention to me. "What happened?" she asked, "She looks more miserable than when she left."

I adjusted my grip on my bike. "I think Mia's getting hara.s.sed online," I stated, rolling my bike around the house to put in the shed. Ava quickly followed me, demanding for details. "I didn't see anything, but the whole time we were out her phone kept going off, but she wouldn't read the messages. I took her to Out-Looker's Peak just to do something, but she literally threw her phone off the cliff."

Ava waited outside the shed for me as I fitted my bike inside. She seemed stunned by the information. "Did you see any of the apps they were coming from?" she asked.

I listed off a few I could think of but wasn't quite sure since I hadn't seen them. Despite this, Ava nodded with each suggestion, biting the inside of her cheek as she considered something. "I hope Mia's smart enough not to respond to it," she murmured, rubbing her eyes and groaning.

"Try not to get worked up about it," I said, "White Winter Prep is full of other stupid rich kids. I'm sure in a few days this'll all blow over for Mia."

"That's easy to say from the outside," Ava replied, walking with me to the back door. With each point she made she poked me in the chest. "But when you're in the midst of it, it seems to be what your whole life revolves around, and it seems to go forever, even when it's over."

The conversation was interrupted by Robyn, who opened the door and started signing quickly at us.

"Come on! Mia's going to see her present!" She signed with a bright expression on her face, a refres.h.i.+ng look after the gloomy Mia day.

Ava hipped me before walking in, myself close behind the pair.

*

I could hear the present before I saw it.

In the hallway, I could hear a piano. Slow keys of an unknown song echoed down the halls as we approached the sitting room.

The sitting room was one of the most unused rooms in the whole dormitory. It was a pentagon-shaped room with yellow stain gla.s.s windows on each wall panel. Across from the doorway was a pale brick fireplace and surrounding it were antique armchairs and matching coffee tables. That was it. Aside from wandering in here one time in search of a lost Fritz the previous term, none of us were ever in there.

But when we opened the door, a large, glossy grand piano was set up in the middle of the room, all furniture pushed against the walls, making the instrument the focal point. Everyone was in the room; the twins sitting on the lounge, Alexis standing by the fireplace and Estelle resting an elbow on the piano while Bonnie played some notes to entice a still Mia.

Mia stood a few meters from the doorway, feet planted on the edge of the diamond patterned rug, staring with wide eyes at the elegant piano.

"What?" I whispered to Ava, "You guys just casually bought a grand piano?"

While I spoke, Mia took tiny steps towards the instrument, Bonnie stopped playing while she waited for her sister.

"They're a bunch of rich girls, this isn't as much of a big deal to them as it would be to us," Ava replied in a hushed tone.

Mia ran her hand over the polished surface, peering under the lid to see the strings and mechanisms that made the noise. That curious spark returned for a moment in Mia's eyes as her fingers started deliberately tapping against the piano. Bonnie understood them and nodded, "Yes, I know it's not your birthday, sis," she said, "But a lot's been going on lately. And I know you've wanted to play the piano for a while now, so I figured why not surprise you."

Mia absently licked her lips, her hands flexing as she considered the instrument.

Bonnie almost seemed concerned, "Do you like it?"

Without hesitation, Mia nodded, pulling at her fingers as she looked under the piano. Bonnie smiled, "Wanna try it out?"

Mia's eyes widened as she physically signed something, this time even I was able to understand her small gestures, "I can?"

Bonnie scoffed, "Of course you can. It's for you." Bonnie seemed more excited than Mia as she returned to the piano keys, "Come on, I'll show you the basics."

"I didn't know Mia knew how to play," I stated, finding one of the seats pressed against the wall.

Ava sat on a tabletop by the door, Robyn sitting next to her. "I don't think does," she replied, running her fingers through Robyn's hair.

I was going to ask how Mia was going to play, but the stylised trill of the instrument bounced around the room. Bonnie explained a couple of keys, demonstrating them with a light touch, and explaining when to press down on the pedal under the piano to get a smoother sound. At some point, Alexis had made it across the room, likely having heard me, and sat on my lap. "Landon," she acknowledged.

"Alexis," I countered, resting my arm on her lap as I listened to Bonnie.

"Unfortunately, that's all I remember from piano lessons," she explained, "Which I reckon it pretty good for seven years." Mia didn't smile at her joke; her eyes were glued to the white keys. "How about you play some now?"

Mia lifted her hands off her lap and rested them on the keys, her touch too light to create any noise. Her eyes became unblinking, something s.h.i.+fting in her psyche, as she retracted her hands, shaking her head as she pushed the chair out to leave.

Almost in a panic, Bonnie ran her hands over all the keys, sending a harsh noise across the room that made everyone wince. The sudden noise stunned Mia, who scratched at her ears.

"Play a game with me," Bonnie requested, "Copy my keys on your side of the piano." She stretched her fingers before playing some chords, perhaps only playing four or five different ones, but they were angelic and strangely familiar, yet I couldn't place the song.

When Bonnie finished with a set of them, she dropped her hands and waited for Mia to return them. For a long moment, all was silent in the room, everyone holding their breath as we waited if Mia would try.

When the seconds dragged on, I thought Mia wouldn't do anything, and I couldn't blame her. I've never touched an instrument in my life, let alone a proper piano, and I doubt just by watching alone I would ever be able to-

Mia's fingers pressed on the keys, copying Bonnie's previous notes in a lower tone, flawlessly.

I was gobsmacked, leaning into Ava I said, "I thought you said she didn't play."

"She's never played before in her life apparently," Ava informed.

"She's a smart girl," Alexis said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, "And most songs are only a handful of notes. You remember them you can play any number of songs."

Proving their point, Mia continued playing the different keys effortlessly until she had finished Bonnie's stanza. Bonnie grinned, offering a more complex set of notes for Mia to try.

All the dormmates sat around and listened in silence, each of us happy to watch Mia light up as she played the back and forth with Bonnie. The music was beautiful, at times a bit repet.i.tive, but none of us complained.

"Okay," Bonnie eventually said, she leant on her lap as she hummed in thought, "Try and play this." She whistled a three-note tune.

Mia considered the challenge and scanned the keys, sliding further up the seat to reach for some keys and replay the whistled tune back. Bonnie tried again, this with a five-part tune. Mia quickly replied. Bonnie started going quicker and quicker, prompting Mia to respond faster, until Bonnie's whistle tune momentarily stumped her.

Mia's hands hovered above some keys, furrowing her brows in consideration. It was fascinating watching Mia's brain work, almost hearing the cogs in her mind turn as her fingers twitched, playing notes in the air before playing a single note and retracting, not happy with the first try.

Instead of asking Bonnie to repeat the tune, she hummed it.

Everyone in the room shared a quizzical look as Mia continued, managing to reflect the group of notes. I sat up straighter in my seat, wondering what Bonnie was doing.

Bonnie bit down on her lower lip, the cogs in her own brain turning, as she cooed a few scales, not hums, or whistles, but actual notes that weren't obvious piano keys.

Mia considered them a moment, clicking her tongue as she glided her fingers over keys, eventually crooning the notes verbally, almost without thinking.

The deliberate noise startled everyone, Estelle's eyes widening so quickly she had to turn her head away to hide her surprise. Bonnie showed off a similar expression, pressing a hand to her mouth as she stared at her sister with growingly gla.s.sy eyes.

All at once, I was reminded of Karaoke Chaos, that time when I found Mia in a karaoke booth with a finished song on the screen. Was Bonnie trying to get Mia to sing?

Eventually, Mia found the right keys to replay and waited patiently for Bonnie to continue the game. Bonnie blinked away her surprise, clearing her throat as she tried lyrics. "Home, Home on the Range," she cooed softly, trying to sit up straight so she could sing properly, "Where the deer and the antelope play." Everyone watched Mia in antic.i.p.ation, all of us wondering if it would be that easy to hear Mia say something.

After a moment, Mia proved it wouldn't be as simple as getting her to absently sing. She mouthed the words, whistling the beat, humming the lyrics, virtually doing everything but sounding out the words.

Bonnie looked a bit disappointed but managed to put on a smile when Mia faced her. "Here's something that's fun." She shooed Mia off the seat and lifted the seat's lid, inside were several folders of sheet music.

Bonnie leafed through them, examining the different songs until she found a specific one. "Now, I know how to read this, I don't know if you can," Bonnie reached forwards and set up the sheet music on the display stand, "But here is what you need to play." Bonnie read the notes on the lines, biting lightly on her tongue before trying out the notes to see if she was reading them correctly. I quickly realised she was playing 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.'

Mia tilted her head, clearly knowing the song, and somehow quickly picking it up. In comparison to the back and forth they did before, Mia's single digit key pressing seemed very slow.

Bonnie told her to run through the song a few times while she set herself up behind her sister, reaching her hands around her. "Keep going," Bonnie urged, playing alongside her. Mia looked confused at first, but obeyed, playing the basics of the nursery song. When Bonnie started playing alongside her, the song sounded much more complicated, intricate and elegant as Bonnie added layers to the song, making it look playful and extravagant with what was such a simple pattern of notes.

The room was alive with piano music.

We all waited, listening intently to the music until I overheard Ava next to me say to Robyn, "We should leave them be." Robyn agreed and stood up.

Taking the hint, I tapped Alexis on the leg to get her to stand, signalling to the twins and the princess to follow and leave the sisters to play. Even when we closed the door behind us, the piano's sound was loud enough to penetrate the walls and give the house a new sense of light, like a musical heartbeat.