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Chapter Three

Two days later, Elizabeth walked back towards the music building to attend her vocal class. Her stomach felt like she had a steel vice squeezing it tightly.

i>Oh my god. I'm first. How can I be first? What if he tells me I have no talent? What if I can't carry a tune? What if I don't know the right emotions to put into the music that he picks? What if when I open my mouth nothing comes out but a gargle?

The what if's were staggering. Slowly she headed inside the classroom. Almost everyone else was already there.

This is no time to get nervous Elizabeth Montgomery. Taking a deep breath, she took her seat and waiting for Howie to raise his head to acknowledge the start of class.

He knew that he couldn't avoid his class forever. Even without looking up he could sense that she was in the room. His stomach felt as tight as a steel vice. Finally he slowly raised his eyes to meet that of his class. Clearing his throat and refusing to look directly at her he began to speak.

"Welcome back. I'm glad to see I didn't scare too many people away." he said with a weak attempt to make a joke. Some of the squealing girls from the previous class laughed loudly in response.

"As I said before I will be starting with the M's today and working towards the end of the alphabet. Next class I will do A through L. Anyone with a last name in the A through L category is free to go. I won't need you today."

Dammit Dorough. Stop your voice from shaking. What kind of authority figure are you?

"Let's see...first on the list is Elizabeth Montgomery."

The moment he said her name her heart stopped. It seemed to her that everyone's eyes were directed to her. With what felt like lead weights attached to her ankles she slowly rose and made her way towards the front of the room.

"Each student will get a private testing. There will be time enough for solos in front of the group." Howie said, seemingly direct to her rather than to the other waiting students.

Elizabeth followed Howie through a door into a room that was built to have the same great acoustics as their larger classroom. A small piano with sheet music was already positioned in the corner.

"Today..." he said slowly walking towards the piano and shifting through sheet music. "I'd like you to sing this."

Beth took the sheets from his hands. Her fingertips barely brushed against his bare hand but they both simultaneously jumped. Refusing to look at each other, Howie quickly sat down at the piano as Elizabeth glazed furtively through the music that she was presented with.

"I'd like you to go through the whole thing. Don't worry about mistakes." Howie finally said, getting up the courage to look at her.

He couldn't help but think about how beautiful she was. Even though her eyes were still downcast he could sense her nervousness by the way that she held herself. Her silence only made her that much more appealing to him.

She's your student Dorough. Get on with the music test.

Elizabeth heard him start the intro. It was now or never. If she was ever going to make it into music she would have to put her fear behind her. It was all up to her now.

When it was time for her to sing all her inhibitions melted away. The music seemed to carry her. Even though she was not into country music, this song had always appealed to her.

From this moment my life has begun
From this moment you are the one
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on

From this moment I have been blessed
I live only for your happiness
And for your love I'd give my last breath
From this moment on

Howie was shocked. Even though his fingers were still playing he couldn't think of anything else but her voice. Her voice compelled beauty. Every bit of emotion seemed to be poured into the song from her small body. He couldn't help but be transfixed on every facial expression, every turn of her lips as her voice rose and fell with the notes and melody of the song. Before he knew it he was singing along. There voices blended and entwined together like beautiful love making.

From this moment as long as I live
I will love you I'll promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment on

You're the reason I believe in love
You're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just to love
My dreams came true because of you

By the time Beth hit the last note she was completely exhausted. Leaning against the piano she looked over at Howie. The minute her eyes met his she felt the electricity. The moment he had joined in with her she had gotten the feeling that she was being lifted up by their emotional melodic harmony. As she thought about it a blush crept up her neck. It had felt like such an intimate moment.

Or maybe it was just the fact that she wanted it to have been an intimate moment. For both of them.