The ability to play the piano to some is difficult but, for Rosaline it's easy. Having Ms.Kroll as a music teacher however, isn't. No matter how hard she tries she never meets Ms.Kroll's standards.

Out of all the days to be at music class today has to be the day, she thought.

Not only did she have to deal with living with a Mr.Garonna but, she has to deal with Ms.Kroll who yells at her every time she relaxes or even breathes the wrong way if that's even possible.

Rosaline can feel every second that passes by until the seconds turn into minutes and minutes turn into an hour.

When an hour passes her body sags in relief. Luckily every time she has to play the piano with witch like teacher, it's only for an hour.

She rushes through the rest of the song and gathers her music sheets together, ready to go.

"Why have you stopped playing?"

Rosaline looks up at an angry looking Ms.Kroll who's currently sneering down at her.

"I'm s-sorry bu-."

Something smacks her across the face, and she scream her blood curdling scream as she falls from her piano bench to the floor. She raises her hand to cradle her cheek, eyes looking at the metal ruler in Mrs.Kroll's hand.

"You don't stop playing until I say so."

It's fear that takes away Rosaline's ability to speak, fear that causes her to curl up in a ball when she sees Mrs.Kroll raise the ruler again ready to strike her, fear that has her closing her eyes, waiting for them impact, the burning pain.

It doesn't happen, the pain. Instead there's the sound of metal clashing against the stone floor, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent room.

Rosaline doesn't want to admit to the relief that flows through her when she looks up and sees Mr.Garonna holding Mrs.Kroll's wrist in a rather tight grip.

"Are you okay Rose," he asks, his voice so soft, she almost doesn't hear him.

The question sends warmth that spreads through her body that she also doesn't care to admit. Slowly, she gets out the protective position and gives Mr.Garonna a nod.

"Bryce, please escort Rosaline to the car."

She catches a movement from the corner of her eye and jumps when Bryce comes into view. How did she not know he was there?

"Yes, sir."

He nods his head and walks over to Rosaline helping her up from her the ground, his touch gentle. When she's steady on her feet, Bryce escorts her out the building and for some reason Rosaline feels bad. Not for Jared but, for Ms.Kroll. She might have hit her yes, but Rosaline feels as if what's about to happen to Mrs.Kroll she doesn't deserve.

The look on Mr.Garonna's face gave Rosaline a feeling that only one of them would come out alive, and it won't be Mrs.Kroll.

↔️ ⚜️ ↔️

"Um..."

There are no words that Rosaline feels she can use right now.

She sat alone in the backseat of the car with Bryce who kept a close eye on her using the rearview mirror, for 15 minutes, until the door to the backseat opened and Mr.Garonna slid smoothly into the backseat, not sparing her a glance.

From then on, the car ride was spent in silence. Rosaline wanted to break the silence and spent the next five minutes coming up with ways to break the silence. She came up with a full sentence, yet when she finally had the courage the only thing that came out was, "Um...."

Mr.Garonna, turns his head in her direction and their eyes connect. Rosaline swiftly breaks the connection by looking down at her lap, twisting her fingers. A nervous habit, that has spent several years trying to break.

"How long?"

Her head snaps up and the intense look on his face has her breath coming out in an audible whoosh. It takes a moment for her to process his question.

"What?"

"How long has she been hitting you?"

Even though he witnessed her music teacher hit her with a metal ruler, she didn't think that he'd ask about. Didn't think he'd care.

No, she mentally sighs. He doesn't care, he's just curious.

"Since as long as I can remember."

And it's the truth. Ever since she was little her mother, well her ex-mother thought that she needed to be able to play the piano and wanting her daughter to be the best of the best she gave her away to the teacher with a reputation of being the best of the best. Ms.Kroll.

"Why?"

That question too, catches her off guard.

No, she shakes her head. That's not what catches her off guard. It's the fact that he's talking to her at all. It leads her to have a question of her own. Why did he adopt her?

Mr.Garonna clears his throat reminding her that she didn't answer his question.

Rosaline shrugs and says nonchalant, "never thought of it."

A lie. She just told a lie though she doesn't feel an ounce of guilt. Rosaline knows that if she tells the truth it would lead to more questions, questions she wasn't ready to give the answers to.

"I would never hit you."

For a reason unknown to her his statement doesn't surprise Rosaline and the fact that it doesn't surprise her, surprises her. All this surprise makes her laugh.

"I know," she whispers.

She watches as Mr.Garonna nods before, whipping out his phone and doing God knows what. Watching Mr.Garonna focus on whatever he was going on his phone, Rosaline makes a decision. She won't trust him but, she'll behave. She'll be good and see's where everything goes. For now.