Declan's pov

I won't lie, I was just as eager to hear her play as everyone else, so I was glad Camilla and the others managed to talk her into it.

Talia stood up and walked over to the piano, which sat in the corner right next to us. We all shifted to that side of the table, sitting as close as we could to support her.

Then, she began to play. (Nuvole Bianche - Ludovico Einaudi)

The usual chatter of the cafeteria died down instantly. People stopped mid-sentence, looking over at Talia with expressions of pure shock. As the melody drifted through the air, more and more students began to trickle in—including the rest of our brothers, our friends, and, of course, Talia's guys.

They all sat down near us, their expressions softening. We all shared a deep love for listening to her play; it was like she was speaking a language only she knew.

"Wow, I never thought I’d see her play here in the cafeteria," Adam whispered, looking both shocked and immensely proud.

"Well, Camilla, Aurora, Austin, and Jake are pretty persuasive when they want to be," Theo said, a permanent smile fixed on his face as he watched his twin.

"She should do this more often during lunch," Nico added, taking a bite of his sandwich. "What better way to enjoy a meal than this?"

She transitioned into another song, one that felt familiar. (See You Again - Piano version)

"Wow, I was just listening to this song while we were working!" Aurora said happily.

"I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that she only needs to hear a song once to play it perfectly," Camilla whispered, her eyes wide with excitement.

"At this point, I think I’ve given up on being surprised by her. She’s just a legend," Jake joked, shaking his head with a smile.

Carter stood up, taking the sandwich Kayden had prepared for Talia. He walked over and sat on the bench beside her. "We can't have you neglecting your lunch, love," he murmured. He said something else to her, and she nodded before starting her next piece: (7 Years - Piano version).

I looked around and realized the cafeteria was more packed than I had ever seen it. There were even a few teachers standing by the doors. Word must have spread through the halls like wildfire.

It was a beautiful sight—Talia effortlessly moving her hands over the keys while Carter carefully fed her small pieces of the sandwich between phrases. It was domestic, sweet, and incredibly impressive all at once.

Next came Stay. This was the one where her hands moved so incredibly fast it was hard to even track her fingers. I looked at Carter, who was sitting right next to her; even he looked stunned by her speed up close.

"She’s incredible," I heard someone whisper from a nearby table.

When the song ended, someone from the crowd shouted, "Can you play Dance Monkey?"

Talia looked up, swallowed a bite of her sandwich, and gave a small nod. When the first notes of Dance Monkey filled the room, the collective jaw of the cafeteria dropped. People started filming on their phones, and a few whispered "Wow" in the silence, but otherwise, the room was captivated.

Just as she was about to stand up, Mr. Johansson, the school’s music teacher, rushed over. He whispered something in her ear. She looked at him for a moment, then back at us, before letting out a quiet breath and sitting back down.

She began to play Passacaglia. She closed her eyes, letting her soul flow into the music. It was so hauntingly beautiful that many of us felt tears pricking our eyes. Mr. Johansson looked at her with such awe and reverence; it was clear he had never encountered a talent like hers before.

When the final note faded, she stood up and gave the teacher a polite bow. Suddenly, the entire cafeteria erupted into thunderous applause. Talia gave them a small, shy smile and a nod before walking back to us.

She sat down on Kayden’s lap, finished the rest of her sandwich with Carter’s help, and handed the crusts to me. We finished the school day in a bit of a daze, and as soon as we got home, Talia and her guys disappeared into their own world until dinner.

In the middle of our meal, a guard entered to announce that a teacher from school was at the door, asking for Talia. We were all confused, but Grandpa told the guard to let him in. It was Mr. Johansson.

"Good evening. I’m terribly sorry to disturb you so late," he said with a warm smile. "But I was hoping to speak with Talia for a moment. I’m happy to wait until you’ve finished your dinner."

Talia looked at Grandpa, who nodded, and she stood up. Her guards followed her out, while Dominic made sure the dogs stayed with us.

A few minutes later, the sound of a piano began to drift in from the living room. It wasn't the light, pop-inspired melodies from earlier; this sounded like something incredibly difficult. (Beethoven’s Hammerklavier)

"Damn, she’s playing the hard stuff now," Dina said, sounding genuinely shocked.

"You recognize it?" I asked.

"She’s playing some of the most difficult pieces ever written for the piano," he replied, listening intently.

We sat there for nearly two hours, listening to the masterful music flowing through the house. We all wondered what Mr. Johansson could possibly want.

Finally, after another thirty minutes, Talia and her guards walked the teacher to the front door. As soon as it closed, we saw Talia lean heavily against Tyler’s chest. He didn't hesitate to pick her up bridal style. By the time they reached the dining room, she was already fast asleep, completely drained from the day.

Kai, Kayden, Carter, Ezra, and Levi stood up in unison. Kayden gently took her from Tyler’s arms, and they all said their goodnights before heading upstairs, leaving the rest of us in awe of our remarkable sister.