As night slowly revolved into day, the bright kitchen that had caught the sun, let light shimmer around the house as Louise and Christie chatted casually. Anton had hurried off somewhere else within the house whilst Abigail seemed to have already gone out, giving Christie and Louise the opportunity to talk, whereas normally they wouldn’t - not in the kitchen.

"So, have you got another lesson today?" Christie asked as she cleared the side.

"Yeah, pretty soon actually…"

"Are you looking forward to it?" She smiled, facing Louise.

"I… yeah… yeah I suppose I am…" Louise said.

"Well I would be!" Christie giggled slightly. "He’s got really nice arms… did you see him when he took his jacket off?"

Louise laughed. "Yeah…" She agreed before laughing again. "I can’t believe we are talking about his arms…"

"Nice arms, Lou." Christie pointed out. "Nice arms indeed…"

"Christie!" Louise exclaimed, a little surprised at Christie’s comments.

"What?" She grinned, acting innocent. "It’s not as if you don’t think it… or do you prefer his a…"

"Prefer whose what?" Anton smiled as he entered the kitchen, yet again interrupting.

"Oh erm, your… eyes." Louise squeaked. "Christie was just asking me um… what I preferred about your um… face and I said your erm… eyes." Louise stuttered, freedom instantly snatched.

"Well I sincerely think that a question of that kind should not be asked so honestly." Anton told.

"Anton, Christie and I were just making small chat…"

"Yes, maybe Louise, but it is the principal of the matter." Anton clarified.

"I am sorry Sir." She apologised. "I shall be moving on with my work now…"

"Yes, good idea Christie. I believe something needs to be done in the dining room." He ordered almost before she headed in that direction.

"Anton, Christie did not do anyt…"

"I do not want to hear it Louise. Anyway, that teacher will be here soon so maybe you should quickly freshen up." He advised.

Strolling out of the kitchen and up the stairs as the plain walls poured into her mind, the blankness she had faced for so long brought with it boredom. The colour Mark had brought yesterday was becoming weaker and weaker as it was being shielded out by her other world, however, that feeling of wanting to see Mark was slowly becoming stronger as she yearned for normality and to be even more herself. She yearned for that colour and she yearned to be out of this world…

"Louise, darling." She heard being called as she reached her door. "Mr Read is here."

Stopping dead in her tracks, she leant against the door before quickly panicking and running her hands through her hair. Gently brushing her face, more for state of mind then giving an effect, she quickly straightened her top before rushing to stairs and realising what she was doing. Breathing in slowly, composing herself, she calmly took each step yet that beat inside just couldn’t be controlled, no matter how hard she tried.

Smiling as she reached the bottom, Mark stood a little awkwardly, until she came into his view where he suddenly smiled back.

"Ahh, there you are Louise." Anton grinned, taking her hand.

Looking a little anxious, Louise just continued to smile, its strength weakening while Mark looked the same; the awkwardness returning.

"Well I shall leave you to it." Anton said soon after, kissing her cheek. "I do not want to be getting in the way now…" He chuckled. "Teach my fiancée well Mr Read…"

"Yeah…" Mark answered, still a littler nervous, as Anton wandered off towards the study, leaving the two alone.

Taking lead, Louise let the silence hang in the air as she headed off to the music room, her smile that went along with it, telling Mark to follow. Opening the door, he slipped in past her where he waited in the centre, facing her as she closed the door.

"Fiancée?" Mark grimaced, hands behind his back.

"Yeah…"

"You look thrilled about it." Mark chuckled as Louise sat over by the piano.

"Oh, I am…" Louise said drearily.

"Why do I find that hard to believe?" Mark said more to himself then an expected question.

"I don’t really want to talk about it…"

"I wasn’t gonna ask…" Mark smiled as he held his arms up in defence.

Grinning as she looked down at the keys, she began slowly pressing a few, a little tune arising.

"Have you been practising?" Mark asked as he went to sit next to her.

"No…"

"You must have a really good memory then." He smirked.

"Nope… I just remembered everything that you said… I remember everything you say…"

Coy looking, she glanced back down at the piano while a confused yet heated silence floated in the air. Yet again, emotions were emerging, and although Louise was feeling incredibly guilty about it and placing Mark in a situation she thought he was uncomfortable in, she couldn’t help it. This was how she was around him, as if the covering on her real self and real feelings would just suddenly fly off with his presence. An attraction was building up like a small wall, but how long until it would fall over?

"That’s erm… good, yeah good…" Mark trailed off effortlessly as he turned to the music and too started to press a few keys.

Tapping a slow but cheerful tune, Louise smiled as the uneasiness seemed to be wiped away, before attempting to join in, hitting a couple of notes. Both grinning, as something productive looked as if it was being made, Mark brought up his other hand and began tapping more violently as his foot beat consistently to the floor. Bringing her hands into her lap as Mark continued, Louise listened and watched on as the talent he conveyed caught her eye; captured her heart.

"You’re really good!" Louise exclaimed as he finally drew to a close. "What was that you played?"

"Oh, it was just something me and the others wrote together…"

"Others? What others?" Louise questioned.

"Others? Oh the rest of the band: Ben, Chris and Paul. We all write music and stuff…" Mark explained.

"That’s so interesting!" Louise grinned. "So what was that you just played? Does it have lyrics?"

"That was one we call ‘Ready Or Not’ and yes it does have lyrics…" Mark revealed. "Why?" He smirked, knowing what was coming.

"Well… could I hear a bit? Sounds a bit forward I know but that tune seems really good and I’d love to hear you sing." She retorted, hoping the answer would be yes.

Shaking his head, he laughed a little before looking at her. "Its nice that you want to hear me but I’m n…"

"Oh go on!" Louise encouraged. "You’ve seen my awful piano playing and I bet your singing is like a thousand times better then that! Plus you play better then me, way better then me so already you have something up against me."

Not answering, he gazed at the keys before inhaling a little and randomly playing a part of the song that first appeared into his head. Leaning forward he started singing; a voice that was strong, heart felt and an inspiration.

"What is going on here?" A deep voice echoed from the doorway; a voice that was angry, confused, surprised.

"Anton!" Louise cried, shocked as Mark immediately stopped playing.

"What is going on? I believe this is a piano lesson, not a cabaret show."

"Yes, yes I know." Louise tried smiling as she sat upright. "But Mar… Mr Read here was just showing me how to… how to um…"

"How to play fluently." Mark added. "You have to know how to spread your fingers and… and stuff."

"Is she that ahead already?" He asked, the clouds in his mind, parting slightly.

Glancing towards Louise, lost in what direction to take, he went with what he thought, bringing relief inside of her.

"No." Mark said simply.

"No?" Anton questioned.

"Yes… I mean no. No, what I mean is that its um… good to know this part before continuing… so that you can do it along the way as you learn um… other things." He lied.

"Oh right. Well I really do not think that singing should be part of this. Especially with music like that." Anton told. "In future, Mr Read, please keep to what is expected."

"Yes. Yes of course…" Louise smiled. "Sorry Anton."

"Well I shall leave you to it now…" He trailed off as he left the room. "And Louise, remember," he said whilst the door was still slightly ajar. "It is my associates meeting tonight. I expect you to be there." Anton said before closing the door.

"Associates meeting ey?" Mark grinned.

"Shut up!" Louise laughed. "That was close…" She muttered.