Austin''s fingers danced across the ne keys on stage. The crowd of admits gared up at him with looks of appreciation and adoration


    Cameron watched too, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.


    Meanwhile, Elijah''s frown deepened as his thoughts drifted a million miles away. By the time he snapped back to reality, Austin had already finished ying three songs


    The audience enpted in thunderous apuse. Elijah raised his hands and pped politely.


    On stage, Austin stood up with a beaming smile, his eyes bright with excitement. He walked to the edge of the stage and took a graceful bow "Cameron he called out, "would you join me in ying a piece together?"


    Austin''s eyes fixed on Cameron as he waited for an answer, his smile never altering


    "Cameron ys piano? No way) He''s already amazing at basketball, and now he can y no too? Talk about multi talented. I never would''ve pessed," one muttered,


    "Oh my gosh. Getting to y four hands with Austin is like, a huge honor. I''m recording this."


    "Does Cameron actually know how to y? Why isn''t he moving?"


    Austin''s invitation had everyone buzzing with excitement.


    Cameron sat in her seat


    seat, feeling trapped. She''d onlye to listen, not perform.


    Elijah turned to her, surprised. "You know how to y?"


    Cameron nodded. "A little bit."


    "Maybe you shouldn''t-“Eljah started to say, but before he could finish, Cameron slowly rose to her feet.


    Instead of taking the stairs, Cameron ced her hands on the stage-which came up to her chest-and effortlessly hoisted herself up with one smooth motion. The move was seriously cool.


    "Whoa!" As soon as Cameron hit the stage, the students started hooting and hollering. They were clearly pumped for the performance.


    "What do you want to y, Austin?" Cameron asked.


    Austin shrugged. "I''m good with anything."


    Cameron nodded and sat at the piano, her right hand gliding across the keys. Beautiful notes immediately filled the music room.


    Austin sat down beside her. "Cam, what song do you want to y?"


    "I''m fine with whatever," Cameron replied.


    "Saint-Sa?ns" "The Swain''!" someone shouted from the audience.


    "The Swan" was a piano ssic that everyone knew. Nobody at Langford Academycked piano skills. It came with the territory when all the students Twer were loaded. Whether they yed well or not was another story entirely


    Cameron nodded. "Alright, ''The Swan'' it is."


    Since Cameron was in Austin didn''t have a single objection.


    Their hands danced across the ck and white keys, filling the music room with beautiful melodies. Everyone listened intently. Some students were so


    caught up in the performance they closed their eyes to fully absorb it-like Lajah


    No one noticed Milena standing in the doorway. Her fists were clenched tight. With her parents taken away, she couldn''t just it wou That was why she''de looking for Cameron.


    but here was Cameron, stealing the spotlight again. Sure, Cameron had taken piano lessons before, but Milena couldn''t understand how she


    This well.


    The evidence was right in front of her, though, impossible to deny


    "Gosh, Thate this," Milena thought. "Why? How did everything flip upside down in just a couple months?


    Cameron-the same gil Milena used to walk all over-was now thriving at Langford Academy.


    Milena''s face darkened. After watching for a few seconds from the doorway, she stepped back, hiding herself in the shadows. She''d wait for Cameron to


    Taking a deep breath, Milena tried to steady herself.


    When Cameron and Austin finished their piece, thunderous apuse erupted around them.


    "Cam, you''re incredible," Austin said, genuinely impressed. ''Is there anything in this world he can''t do?'' he thought. He''s seriously amazing!


    ?