Part 2

“ Yuri, have you packed all your things?” Susan Kowan called from downstairs. “ Your plane to England leaves at six!”1

Yuri stuffed the rest of her clothes into her suitcase and snapped the suitcase shut.2

“ Almost done, Mother!” the sixteen year old called back. She hesitated as she looked at a picture of her and Simon. Her brother, who would’ve been nineteen if he hadn’t died, had his arm around Yuri in the picture, and they were both smiling happily.3

It had been almost a year since the death of her brother. Yuri never really got over the tragic incident, but much to her surprise, life soon became normal again for all others, but never for Yuri. A part of her had died, and she knew it was her heart. The Young girl decided to attend a music orchestra school in England. After Simon’s death, they never shut down the small beach house Yuri’s brother owned, but nobody ever went there again. However, everything inside was still active. 4

Yuri buried her thoughts and quickly placed the picture into her suitcase. She grabbed the suitcase and heaved it downstairs, where her mother was waiting for her. 5

“ Come on, hurry up, dear.” Mrs. Kowan beckoned, climbing into the driver’s seat of their Fiat.6

Mother and daughter bidded each other goodbye at the airport. Susan Kowan kissed Yuri on the cheek and told her to go and be careful.7

Hours and hours later the American Airlines landed at the London airport. Yuri climbed off the airplane along with the other passengers. Security gaurds stood still as statues at every entrance, an the airport here wasn’t as crowded.8

The girl’s eyes darted around for some sign of what she was looking for, a person or people who represented the Carson Music School.9

Just then Yuri heard her name.10

“ Miss Yuri Kowan!”11

She spun around. A boy dressed in a blue uniform gestured toward her. He ran over and took her suitcase, escorting her to a small group of people who were dressed as he was. The boy was red-haired and freckled. His British accent was strong and he seemed very polite.12

“ Miss Yuri, this is our president, Mr. Aaron Spiel. And I’m Randy.” The red head introduce.13

Yuri nodded and shook hands with Mr. Spiel.14

“ Welcome, Miss Kowan. We are honored to have you attend our music school.” Mr. Spiel said warmly.” Thank you for coming all this way.”15

They escorted Yuri to a van and rode to the school. England was beautiful in an eerie way. Everything in London was so formal and exquistive. The construction was unique and brilliant, in Yuri’s thoughts. 16

They arrived at a white marble building and went inside. Pictures and portraits of the orchestra and extraordinary players were hung all over the wall. 17

Suddenly out of the corner of her eye, Yuri saw a lock of slick blonde hair disappear at a corner of the hallway the girl’s breath caught in her chest as Simon’s silvery blonde hair flashed across her mind. She dropped her suitcase and ran to the hall where she had seen the boy. But just then the doors opened and a crowd of students holding violins came out. Yuri searched frantically for the boy, but he was gone. 18

“ Yuri, is anything wrong?” the voice of Randy brought her back to her senses. 19

“ Oh, nothing.” Yuri hesitated, then asked.” Is there a boy named Simon Kowan in the orchestra?”20

Randy looked at her, puzzled.” No, Yuri. Do you know someone of the name?” he asked. Yuri’s eyes locked with Randy’s , then she shook her head.21

Later Yuri was brought to a dormitory, where there was two beds. Randy addressed Yuri to hers, which was on the far right.22

“ Yuri, I understand if you’re tired, but in an hour there will be a welcome ceremony for you. You can come if you wish.” Randy set down her suitcase and walked out. The girl peered around the dormitory and hung her clothes up in a closet that she shared with the other girl. She’d just set down her picture of Simon and her when the door opened and a girl entered. The girl glanced at Yuri, then walked up to her and held out her hand, her blonde curls dangling from an expensive butterfly hairpin.23

“ Hello, I’m Emily Radley. You share a room with me.” The girl said abruptly in a superior tone. 24

Yuri held out her own hand and shook Emily’s.25

“ I’m Yuri Kowan.” She introduced.26

“ Oh, so you’re the girl from America? Going to the ceremony? I wouldn’t miss all the attention for the world if I were you.” Emily sat onto her own bed and popped a candy into her mouth. “ I play the viola, you?”27

“ I play the harp.” Yuri explained. She did not feel like engaging conversation with anyone right now, especially Emily. Emily seemed to read her thoughts, and she hopped off her bed, looking bored.28

“ Well, I’m leaving.”29

The girl slammed the door behind her.30