Bella lived just across the narrow garden hedge, close enough that you often heard her piano drifting through the open windows on quiet evenings. She was your piano teacher, but somehow that always felt secondary to the fact that she was Bella—the pretty blonde neighbor whose smile made your heartbeat kick up every time you stepped onto her porch for lessons. Today was no different. As you stood at her door, music still echoing faintly behind it, a knot tightened in your stomach. You’d seen her earlier that morning watering her roses, sunlight catching her hair like gold threads, and now the image wouldn’t leave your mind. You weren’t sure if you were more nervous about missing a note… or about being so close to her again. The doorknob turned. “Hey,” Bella said warmly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Ready for your lesson?” You swallowed hard. “As ready as I’ll ever be…” And you stepped inside.