A love so loud

The world felt different now. Lighter and warmer. Nicole found herself smiling at the simplest things- like the way Andrew always pulled her closer when they walked side by side, or how he absentmindedly played with her fingers whenever they sat together. The weight she once carried seemed to fade in his presence and for once, everything felt right.

They were that couple now- the one people whispered about in the hallway; the one other people watched with envy. Peter and Violet were ecstatic.

"I knew it! I knew this was going to happen!" Violet practically squealed, shaking Nicole's shoulders as they sat in the cafeteria. "Look at you, all glowing and in love!"

Nicole rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the smile on her lips. "it's not that deep, Vi."

"Oh please," Peter interjected, smirking.

Andrew's been acting like he won the lottery. I caught him grinning to himself in class yesterday. Dude was just staring at the ceiling like he was in a movie montage."

Nicole's face warmed. She could picture it so clearly- Andrew, with that rare, unguarded expression of his, looking up as if lost in thought.

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed. A message from Andrew.

"Meet me at the parking lot. I got something to show you babe."

Violet wiggled her eyebrows. "Oooooooh, wonder what the lover boy is up to now."

Nicole shook her head, laughing. "You guys are impossible."

Andrew leaned against his car, arms crossed, waiting. The moment Nicole arrived; his face lit up in that effortless way that made her heart stutter.

"Come with me," he said, extending a hand.

"Where?" Nicole asked.

Andrew answered, "You'll see."

She hesitated for a second before taking his hand. He intertwined their fingers, giving her a small squeeze before leading her towards the other side of the school, where it was quieter.

Andrew pulled out a small key from his pocket and unlocked the door to the music room. "I want to show you something."

Nicole stepped inside, eyes widening as she took in the dimly lit space. A single spotlight illuminated a grand piano in the center of the room.

"You play?" she asked, astonished.

Andrew smirked. "Not really. But I can manage a few notes."

He sat on the bench, patting the spot beside him. Hesitantly, Nicole joined him. Andrew cracked a few knuckles before pressing a few keys. The melody soft and slow. The song was rough, imperfect, but there was something intimate about the way his fingers moved.

"Andrew… this is beautiful."

"You think so?" He turned to her, watching her expression carefully. "I wanted to do something special. For you."

Nicole swallowed, her chest tightening with something unspoken. She placed her hand over his on the piano. "You didn't have to."

"I wanted to."

The silence between them was thick, charged with emotions Nicole didn't know how to name. She wanted to stay in this moment forever, where everything was simple and Andrew looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered.

But the world outside wasn't as kind.

As bright as their love shone, shadows lurked in the distance.

From across the schoolyard, a pair of cold, watchful eyes followed them.

Andrew's ex, Natasha, stood with her arms crossed. She had seen the way Andrew looked at Nicole- the way he smiled at her and the way he touched her.

"That should've been me." She muttered under her breath, her heart twisting in bitter jealousy. "She has no idea who he really is… but she'll find out soon enough."

Her lips curled into a knowing smirk. If Nicole thought she had won, she was mistaken.

Later that day, Nicole sat with grandmother in the hospital room, their hands intertwined.

"He makes you happy?" her grandmother asked, voice soft but wise.

Nicole nodded. "Yes grandma. He does."

Her grandmother sighed, brushing a hand over Nicole's hair. "Love is beautiful, sweetheart. But don't let it blind you. A man's heart is shown not in his best moments, but in the worst ones."

Nicole frowned. "What do you mean?"

Her grandmother gave her a small smile, but there was something else in her eyes- something knowing. "You'll understand when the time comes."

Nicole wanted to ask more but before she could, a nurse came in and their conversation was lost to the beeping monitors and quiet hospital murmurs.

At the same time, Andrew's father sat in his ex-wife's house, shifting on his feet.

"He still won't talk to me," He admitted, voice laced with frustration.

Andrew's mother folded her arms. "You can't expect years of damage to be fixed overnight."

"I just want to try."

She sighed. "Then keep trying. But don't push him too hard."

Michael clenched his jaw. "What if he never forgives me?"

His mother hesitated before answering. "Then you'll have to live with that."

Meanwhile Nicole and Andrew couldn't get enough with each other.

Later that evening, the night air was cool when Andrew met Nicole. He called her to a quiet park, fairy lights twinkling above them. The moment she arrived, he pulled her into a hug, burying his face in her hair.

"I missed you today." He murmured.

Nicole laughed softly. "But you saw me all day."

"That's not enough."

They sat on the grass, shoulders touching. Andrew exhaled. "I don't do this. Relationships. Love. None of it."

Nicole tilted her head, waiting.

Andrew turned to her; his expression raw. "But I want to do this with you. Only you."

Nicole's heart skipped.

"So," Andrew whispered, brushing his fingers over hers. "Let's do this together, okay?"

She didn't hesitate this time.

"Yes, Andy." She answered, while smiling.

After sometime, Andrew walked Nicole home, his arm slung around her shoulder as they strolled through the quiet streets.

"I could get used to this." Nicole murmured, leaning into him.

Andrew pressed a kiss to her temple. "Me too."

Just as they turned the corner, Nicole stopped abruptly, her breath catching in her throat.

Standing a few feet ahead of them, waiting under the dim streetlight, was someone neither of them expected to see.

Their eyes widened in shock.

The night once filled with warmth, suddenly felt cold.