Charlie's shock morphed into a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts as she processed the scene before her.

‘Wtf… I didn’t expect this at all… Cato… He met her… Did he fall in love with Serena?!’ Her mind raced with questions and uncertainties.

"Miss Vanderbilt… why are you here?!" Stephanie's voice cut through Charlie's inner turmoil, demanding an explanation.

“Serena asked me to come, Teacher!" Charlie replied, her tone defensive.

“Whisper, you did??" Stephanie's surprise was evident.

“Yes, aunt. I need Charlie’s help on something…” Serena interjected, attempting to diffuse the tension.

"Why is he here?" Charlie's voice wavered with apprehension as she addressed Stephanie.

“He?” Stephanie queried, catching Charlie's slip.

“I mean Cato Alderbrandt, teacher…” Charlie clarified, her discomfort palpable.

Cato's smile only intensified as he greeted Charlie with a charm that made her uneasy.

“Nice to see you again, Charlie!” Cato's words dripped with a slickness that set Charlie on edge.

‘This brat seems to be close to Cato…’ Stephanie thought as she observed their interaction.

“Hehe… Why the hell are you here??” Charlie's frustration bubbled to the surface.

“You made me curious about Hastings after all…” Cato teased, his words only adding to Charlie's unease.

‘You sneaky boy!!’ Charlie's mind bristled with irritation at Cato's audacity.

Charlie: >.<

‘Why are they so close? I don’t like it.’ Serena's unease intensified as she watched the exchange unfold before her eyes.

"Teacher, can I join Serena in showing Hastings to the visitors?" Charlie asked Aunt Stephanie.

Stephanie’s brow furrowed.

“What?”

“I mean, teacher, Serena obviously needs help… you wouldn’t like her getting tired on her own, right?”

“Fine, but behave yourself!”

“Yes, teacher!”

As Serena, Charlie, and Aunt Stephanie guided the Warton students through Hastings' state-of-the-art facilities, they eventually arrived at the small auditorium where mini-concerts were often held. Aunt Stephanie, with her characteristic enthusiasm, drew their attention to the centerpiece of the stage – a magnificent grand piano.

"Looks like the piano recitals just recently concluded, the piano is still here..." Aunt Stephanie said.

“Oh, Cato here is good at piano… I heard Miss Sutherland is a wonderful pianist as well... why don’t Cato and Miss Serena play a duet together?” suggested the teacher from Warton.

“That’s a good idea!” Aunt Stephanie agreed.

However, Charlie was quick to interject.

“TEACHER! Cato is a visiting student! We don’t want him to feel pressured or anything! Why don’t Serena and I play a duet for them instead?!” Charlie suggested, determined not to let Cato and Serena get close to each other.

Aunt Stephanie pondered the suggestion.

“This brat has a point…. Also, it’s too early for this Cato guy to play a duet with our Whisper… she’s still a baby…” Aunt Stephanie thought.

Serena grabbed Charlie’s hands.

“Charlie, when did you learn to play piano?” Serena whispered to Charlie, her curiosity evident.

Charlie’s eyes widened, realizing that the original Charlie doesn’t know how to play piano.

‘Think, Charlie, think.’

“I was self-taught! I learned from the internet…” Charlie blurted out, feeling embarrassed by the lie.

“O-oh…” Serena, although not entirely convinced, let it go.

Back in the real world, Charlie's parents cannot afford to give her piano lessons, luckily she managed to secure a free piano lesson from her music teacher, who held a fondness for her.

“What do you want to play?” Charlie asked Serena as they searched for a score.

“Anything you want…” Serena replied with a smile.

“What about Fur Elise?” Charlie suggested.

“Okay… I like that…” Serena smiled back.

Serena took the musical score of Fur Elise and place it infront of them.

The two sat side by side, ready to play the piano.

As they started, everyone in the room was stunned by how beautifully they played together, their harmony like a seamless blend of melodies.
 

Serena and Charlie looked as if they were in their own world, exchanging glances as they played. Charlie even made a small mistake of forgetting to play one key, but Serena covered for her seamlessly, adding to the beauty of their performance.

After their flawless performance of "Fur Elise," Cato wasted no time in approaching Charlie, his demeanor casual and seemingly innocuous.

“Nice choice… Für Elise… Do you know that after Beethoven wrote this piece, there was no other woman in his life named Elise?” Cato remarked, his tone laced with a hint of flirtation.

Charlie's irritation prickled, though she tried to maintain her composure.

“Well, that’s true that there is no other woman named Elise in his life after that, but there are many other women in his life with different names!!” Charlie retorted sharply, her words laced with a touch of sarcasm.

Cato's laughter filled the air, his amusement evident as he absorbed Charlie's spirited response.

‘Why did I even think you would answer me the usual way… you really are different.’

“What are you laughing at?!” Charlie asked, her tone sharp.

“Nothing, but… anyway, Hastings isn’t as boring as you told me it was… I find it really interesting now,” Cato whispered, loud enough for Serena to hear.

‘Did he just look at Serena?!’ Charlie thought, feeling a pang of jealousy.

‘This guy… he’s really getting on my nerves now,’ Serena thought, her irritation growing.

Serena stood up and ready to leave...

“Charlie, aren’t you coming with me?” Serena asked, her tone cold.

“Coming!” Charlie said, leaving Cato behind and following Serena.

‘What an interesting girl!’ Cato thought, his gaze lingering on Charlie as she walked away.

Cato: ^.^

Charlie: >.<

Serena: -.-

Every school that participated in the ISVP had gathered at Hastings' infamous grand staircase for a photo op. Charlie stood alone, while Serena was engrossed in conversation with Aunt Stephanie.

“Can I stand beside you?” Cato asked Charlie, smiling.

Charlie grinned inwardly.

‘Of course you can. If you’re beside me, then Serena will be far away from you!’