“ Hello, I’m Ericka Villongco. You share a room with me.” The girl said abruptly in 

a superior tone.

 

Ann held out her own hand and shook Ericka’s.

 

“ I’m Ann Li.” She introduced.

 

“ Oh, so you’re the girl from America? Going to the ceremony? I wouldn’t miss all 

the attention for the world if I were you.” Ericka sat onto her own bed and 

popped a candy into . 

 

“ I play the viola, you?”

 

“ I play the harp.” Ann explained. She did not feel like engaging conversation 

with anyone right now, especially Ericka. Ericka seemed to read her thoughts, a

nd she hopped off her bed, looking bored.

 

“ Well, I’m leaving.” The girl slammed the door behind her.

 

An hour later Ann stepped up onto the stage and was introduced to the orchestra piece of one hundred and seventy. Ann scanned the big orchestra with interest. It was certainly a good orchestra. Suddenly Ann spotted the platinum hair again. Once 

again Ann felt her heart hammered against her chest. The boy’s hair was slicked 

back and his head was down, studying the keys for the grand piano. Ann dropped 

the microphone with a loud clang and all heads turned to her. Ericka and her huge 

group of friends smirked and giggled. The boy looked up and Ann gasped with shock.

 

The boy was Robert. Exact sapphire blue eyes looked at her, except ten times 

colder, and the same pale skin and beautiful blonde hair.

 

“ Robert !” Ann whispered, her voice hoarse with shock. The boy stepped up to her.

 

“ What do you want, Li?” he asked icily.

 

“ Oh, this is James Reid, our pianist.” Ivan explained, looking rather embarrassed 

at James’ rude attitude.

 

“ He’s rather unhospitable toward strangers.” But Ann didn't hear him. All she saw 

was her handsome brother, standing alive in front of her. Tears filled her eyes and even James seemed surprise as the teardrops slid down Ann’s white face and 

dropped onto her harp.

 

“ You’re not dead.” Ann whispered.

 

“ You are very much mistaken, Li. I never died. And my name is not Robert, it’s 

James, J-A-M-E-S, in case you can’t hear or spell.” The boy his heels 

and went back to the piano.

 

Why is Robert being so mean and cold? Ann thought. He doesn’t love me, he hates 

me. Why does he glare at me like that like he never knew me? Covering her hands 

over , Ann sped out of the auditorium.

 

“ What did you call James, Ann Li?” Ericka demanded, rounding on Ann forcefully, 

where Ann was staring wistfully at the picture of her and Robert. Ericka snatched the picture out of Ann’s hands.

 

“ How did you know James?” she snapped, staring at the picture in disbelief and disgust.

 

“ That’s my brother Robert when he was still alive.” Ann said, reaching out to take 

her picture back.

 

“ Please give it to me.” Ericka smirked and held the picture out of reach.

 

“ You really like him, don’t you?” she asked. Ann looked away but didn’t answer. 

To Ann’s horror, Ericka dropped the picture. The glass frame crashed to the floor 

and it shattered. The picture lay in the puddle of broken glass.

 

“ NO!” Ann cried, bending to pick up the picture. The girl felt her heart shatter 

the moment the glass shattered. Tears streamed down at Ann’s face as she 

held the picture to her chest.

 

“ Why did you have to do that?” Ann cried, glaring up at Ericka with tear-filled eyes.

 

“ Oh, I’m so sorry. It just slipped out of my hand.” Ericka said sarcastically. She 

moved her face closer to Ann’s.

 

“ But I’m warning you, Ann Li, I like James, so stay away. He’s mine.” She stepped 

over the glass and stalked out, leaving Ann and her shattered frame and heart.

Neither Ann or Ericka mentioned anything about the picture incident. Ann performed spectacularly the next few days and their orchestra concert was a great success.

James walked over to his dormitory after the day of exhausting performing. 

His fingers were numb from playing. He reached his dormitory and found his 

dorm-mate, Bret Jackson sitting on the floor, three cups upside down in front of him.

 

“ Want me to foretell your future for you, Reid?” Bret asked, wrinkling his forehead.

 

“ No thanks, Jackson. I’ve outgrown fortune-telling.” James said coldly.

 

“ Come on, Reid. Try it.” Bret nagged, pulling on James’ sleeve. The boy swung free and rolled his eyes, sitting down across from Bret.

 

“ Pick one.” Bret instructed, mixing the three cups up. James gave an impatient sigh 

and picked the middle one. Bret carefully opened the cup and took out a piece of paper.

 

“ Oooww, this is a love spirit. It says the girl of your life is getting closer to you now. You will find on her a card that says the same thing as I said to you.” Bret said, with a look of awe on his face.James rolled his eyes in annoyance. 

 

“ It’s just a bunch of crap, as usual.” He muttered, climbing into bed.

 

Ann walked along back to her dormitories after a day of music class. Suddenly, a shoulder knocked into hers and immense pain shot through her shoulder bones.