The figure holds a black mold of his body, "You know you shouldn't be out here, this late at night." I reach into my bag pulling out my pepper spray, pulling the cap and preparing for eternal torture to the man who approached me.

The lights on the streets hid his facial structure, but I knew I was in clear sight of him. "Stay back or I'll spray you!" I directed the pepper spray can towards the shadow, closing my eyes.

"Wow," His husky voice, descends into the night, "That's not how I taught you to use that."

I knew that voice, I grew up knowing this voice and envious of this voice, "Charlie," I sigh with relief, removing myself from the swing set and nestled my body towards him, embracing Charlie in a warm hug.

"Whoa," Charlie says calmly before pushing me away from him, "I still have a reputation around here." Charlie utters his blue eyes sparkling from the dim street light, his brown hair tousled.

I rolled my eyes, Charlie left the town as soon as he graduated three year ago and hasn't looked back. He used to be my babysitter, and soon as I got older he became more of a big brother to me. But he left along with his girlfriend, which what I know from is now pregnant which has made the small town jump with excitement from the news.

Which led me to the important question that has been lingering in the air, since I hugged him, "Charlie, why are you here?" I asked him, remotely starring at the ground.

Charlie chuckles lightly, grasping my arm, "To see my little sister of course."

I lifted my head up, rolling my eyes in response, "Charlie, why are you really here?" I ask him, in a stern tone.

Now it was his turn to look down to the ground, his face went pale drowning out his warmth, "I'm here because your mom wanted me to be here." His voice mumbling as he allowed the words to leave his lips.

My whole world goes dark, I knew Mom and Charlie kept in contact but I never thought that she would request Charlie to come down after her death. I understood him coming down for the funeral, but he wasn't there I would've known if he did attended, Anna would have mentioned it.

"Well you weren't here for the funeral, so I'm pretty sure she wanted you to come for that since she can't really say anything else." I speak morbidly, like my mother's passing wasn't this afternoon and I saw that it pained Charlie to hear me speak of her death that way.

Charlie walks over to the swing set, settling down on the seat, "Rayna, I couldn't go just like you couldn't alright." He places his arms around the chain, slumping his body weight against it. "I came here to tell you that you need to go to Julliard."

I thought he would be more understanding of my situation that he would understand it was more my mom's dream then it was mine, and it crushed me knowing that Charlie of all people didn't understand that. "I'm not-"

"Going?" Charlie finishes my sentence for me, "Rayna, seriously? You, sound like the most spoiled rich girl in the world, you get to go Julliard. A school that I've dreamed about going to, that your mom dreamt for you to attend and you're the most sought out pianist in America."

I dig my foot into the sand, frustrated that Charlie was right but I couldn't play anymore every emotion I felt during my mother's battle with cancer and her finally moments with me poured out and it made playing harder. I couldn't hear anything anymore, I couldn't hear the keys, I couldn't hear the audience, all I could hear was the sound of silence and it terrified me.

Tears once again begin to fill my tear duct, "Look Rayna," Charlie speaks softly, walking toward me, and "I know it's hard, but do this for you." He lightly places his hands upon my shoulders, dragging me into a hug.

"Don't think that your mom has anything to do with it, you aren't living her dream anymore Rayna." He pauses, "You're living yours now."

I sigh, why couldn't he understand? Why doesn't anyone understand that it hurts me playing something that my mom loved and I loathed?

"Charlie, I don't know." Is all I can manage to say, what I didn't know was if me going would give me the closure I needed or if it was going to be the complete opposite and never touch the piano again.

"Rayna, I already talked to Julliard and so has your father." I pulled away from him, astonished that he had the nerve to call who kicked him out for misconduct would even listen to him.

"You did what?" I raise a curious eyebrow, "Why would you do that?" I asked him.

"They're of course aren't going to let the most profound pianist in America not go to their school, so they are allowing you to attended and leave class whenever it's necessary since of your mothers passing."

I was stunned that they would allow this, Julliard is a tough school and normally they don't allow such things like this since they have one of the lowest acceptance rates of America with a six percent and not having someone else in made room for the other student.

"But how?" I question Charlie, as we make are way towards the swings sand already clogging up my feet from the counter parts of an open heel.

"That's what happens when you have a talent like yours Rayna," Charlie kicks the sand beneath the swing, "Now let's get you home kiddo."

I cringe at the sound kiddo, he hasn't called me that since middle school days, Charlie continues with a light chuckle.

He signals me by getting up and continuing to walk down the narrow road, "How did you find me anyways?" I asked Charlie, tagging along with his every move.

"This was the only place you could run too, that your mom would allow you to go too," He laughs, before wrapping his arm around my head, "You always did what your mom told you.to do."

That was the problem I could never truly be me, I was my mom's shadow and I didn't know what it felt like to be someone else besides my mother.

WoAh, second chapter and I feel on fire. I feel like this book will be more in tuned with Rayna more then anyone else, her character development is something I'm intrigued in. Please vote, comment your thought, and share please. Tell friends!