A Kiss At Midnight (Delilah and Caelum) novel Chapter 143

A kis At Midnight

LITTLE HOBBIE

I walked slowly around the edge of the field, my eyes wandering through the crowd.

Where had Caelum and Olivia gone?

Scanning the students again, I search between groups of laughing friends and couples standing together. Nothing. My steps suddenly halted.

Why the hell was I looking for them? It didn’t matter where they were, it wasn’t my business. Caelum could go wherever he wanted with whoever he wanted and Olivia could do the same.

I had no right to care

And yet, even thinking about the possibility of them being somewhere together made my heart sink. I hated that and how easily my own thoughts could betray me.

Looking around the field, everyone seemed so happy as music play through the speakers while students laugh, dance, talk, and move between the different activities. Everywhere i looked, there were people enjoying themselves.

People who actually seem to belong here

Sighing, I couldn’t do this anymore. i turn away from the field, I started walking toward the school entrance. Thankfully, the hallway lights were still on,, and the moment I step inside, the noise from the festival faded behind me.

I let out a slow breath, and for the first time all evening, I felt like I could actually breathe. i wander through the empty hallways without any real destination, my feet carries me past classrooms, lockers, and bulletin boards without me paying much attention to where I was going

Eventually, I found myself climbing the stairs. when I reach the second floor, i walked down the hallway. my footsteps echoing softly against the walls. then i notice it, a thin line of light spilling from beneath a door..the music room.

Soft piano music drifts into the hallwall causing me to stop completely. The melody was beautiful but there was something sorrowful about it too, something heavy..that seems to settle right in the middle of my chest.

Stepping closer, but didn’t enter. Instead, i lean my back against the wall beside the doorway and slowly closing my eyes as the piano continues playing. Each note seem to carry its own sadness and somehow, I I felt it.

The loneliness, ache, the quiet kind of sadness that didn’t need words because the music said everything for you.,I stood there silently, letting every note wash over me. when the music finally came to an end, the last note lingers in the air before fading into silence.

I open my eyes, curiosity got the better of me, and I step closer to the small window in the door, peeking through. my brow furrow when I saw Elias sitting in front of the piano, his fingers resting lightly against the keys.

It had been a while since I had seen him, If I remembered correctly, he had made up some excuse not to join us tonight. I had actually thought he hadn’t come to the Festival at all.

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12:26 Mon, Sep 21 M).

A KI A Midnight

Apparently, I’d been wrong

Sowly opening the door and his head shot up at the sound,eyes widened slightly when he saw me.

“Delilah.”

“Elias,” stepping inside, “So this is where you’re hiding.”

He shrugged, “I wasn’t really feeling the whole festival thing. Figured I’d enjoy some peace and quiet instead,” his gaze moves over me, “What about you?”

“Same.”

He raised an eyebrow. “That’s new,” he gestures vaguely toward me, “I thought you’d be hip to hip with Caelum and..” there was hesitation, as his throat bobbed before he added quietly, “Kaia.”

A small jab struck my chest but I ignored it. “They’re around.”

Glancing toward the doorway. “Where?”

I forced myself to sound casual, “Enjoying the night,” then nodded toward the piano, grateful for the change of subject, “I didn’t know you played.”

Part of me was genuinely curious, the other part simply didn’t want to talk about Caelum anymore.

Elias looked down at the piano. “Ah..” he presses one of the keys, letting a single note ring through the room. “It’s just a hobby.”

“For a hobby, you’re really, really good at it.”

A teasing smile appeared on his face. “I excel at everything,” I scoffed.

“Don’t get all cocky.”

He shrugs, that teasing smile still playing on his lips, “Can’t help it.”

I laugh softly, then my gaze driftinf back toward the piano, “I’ve never heard that song before. Who’s the artist?”

“The artist,” he said, dragging the words out, “would be..” pointing at himself, “Me.”

My eyes widened. “You?”

“See? I’m that great,” he grinned, making me roll my eyes.

“I didn’t know you wrote music.”

“Yeah,” glancing down at the piano, “That’s another hobby of mine.” He paused, fingers brushing lightly over the keys, “There are only a few people who know about it. My family..” his eyes lifted toward me, “And now you.”

“Well, it was beautiful,” he smiles at the, “and sad,” this made his brow furrow.

“You thought it was sad?”

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