Kelsi put her head in her hands and sighed, letting another satly tear fall onto the ivory keys of the school's piano. She could not think straight, and she tried, as she had many other times, to let the music come to her. But the music wouldn't come, no matter how hard she tried. She stood up, her hope fading, and found a seat in the empty theatre. She rememberd all of the things she had composed in this room, how many people she had taught and advised. Looking up at the empty, half light stage, she paused another moment, only to be suffocated in her own thoughts. This time, she didn't fight it. She let the tears come, this time more easily than they had before. Her slim figure was limp and shaking, and she felt she couldn't control it, so, she just let it happen.

Ryan Evans was walking down the hall, humming a well remembered tune under his breath. It was early for him to be in school, but he was intent on getting a picture of the stage so he could better choreograph the dance numbers for the upcoming musical. He gleefully entered another hallway, only to be interrupted by a muffled cry.

Ryan, being the guy he is, followed the sounds, until he came to the auditorium. He poked his head through the door, and, glancing around first, walked into the room. The door shut almost silently behind him, and he strained to find the lonely voice. The person revealed herself, and he found her in one of the front seats of the theatre, holding back sobs.

He sat next to her and wrapped his arms around her, letting her cry on his shirt. He whispered soothing things into her ears, and she brought herself to look up at him, whiping away the last of her tears.

"What's wrong?" Ryan asked, giving her a tissue.

"Well, I came to school early this morning to help cope with things..." She greatfully accepted the tissue and wiped her damp face, taking her glasses off to reach her eyes. When she was done, she looked down at the floor. "My grandmother died last night."

"Oh, I'm so sorry..." Speachless, Ryan just pulled her closer, into a one armed hug.

"She meant everything to me. She taught me how to play the piano...we used to spend so much time together, my mom always used to joke about how close we were, saying we were like a fat man and his burgers. " She laughed, and so did Ryan, but then she continued. "I came here to play her song, any song, really. But I think I lost touch with the music." Kelsi looked utterly and truely sad, and Ryan just couldn't bear it anymore. He took her hand and lead her back to the piano, telling her to sit next to him. He then started to play a soft melody, letting her lean on his shoulder while he played.

The two stayed there for a while, and the noise outside soon became louder and louder. By the time East High's students had come, Ryan had coaxed Kelsi into playing a short song for him. The bell rang, and Ryan got up to leave. Kelsi took his hand in hers, and he turned to face her.

"Ryan?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for getting me back in touch with the music."