music in you | lutteo

two

Walking through the Jam & Roller as a personal tour guide was something Matteo didn't expect to come with this job, but he supposed it was better than anxiously waiting around while he waited for the kids to show up.

Luna's childlike excitement seemed to radiate through the empty halls, and Matteo found himself laughing along with her much of the time, although he'd never admit it to Simón.

"I saved the best for last," he said as the exited the locker room.

"The rink?" Luna asked as they turned the corner.

Matteo led her down the hall, the music playing through the speakers getting louder and louder as they neared the rink. "The rink," he said, holding his hands out in front of him as if he was presenting it on a silver platter.

As if it was possible even possible, Luna's eyes widened even further. She looked around the rink in awe, leaning her body up against the railing. Matteo waved Simón down from across the rink and he shoved his hands back into his pockets, rocking on his heels yet again. "Hey," he said with a smile when Simón rolled over.

Simón nodded in response. "The kids here yet?"

Matteo shook his head, "No, but she just had to see the rink."

"Hi, I'm Luna," she said, sticking her hand out to Simón, then to Ámbar. "It's nice to meet you."

Even Simón seemed to be taken aback by her cheerful demeanor. "Simón," he replied, skating off the rink and over to the bleachers. "You're working at the music program, right?" As he leaned down to untie his skates, Luna nodded excessively, while simultaneously pushing her hair back behind her ears. "I see you met Matteo."

Luna laughed, "I got the grand tour. He's really good at that- know's the place well." Matteo gave Simón a look, one that read please don't make her keep talking.

Simón chuckled. "Well, I'm glad you got the chance to see the place."

Luna smiled wide, still occasionally looking around and fixating on something. "I can't believe I've never been here. It's beautiful."

The other three looked at each other. They were at the Roller so often at this point, it was like a second home.

"Yeah, I suppose. We've grown up here, so...," Ámbar shrugged.

She was right. The three of them had been inseparable since they were in middle school. They met in the 11th grade mandatory music class, and discovered the Jam & Roller not long after. Wherever one of them were, the other two weren't far behind. Fast forward 3 years, the trio was still intact, with the added bonus- as Simón liked to put it- of Simón and Ámbar dating. It shouldn't have surprised Matteo as much as it did when the two of them got together- there was always something between the two of them. Especially when Ámbar went through her post-graduation trying-to-find-herself goth phase, and Simón seemed to be the one thing to pull her out. The one particular light, as Ámbar put it.

"I gotta run- see you boys later." Ámbar left in a hurry after giving Simón a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Well, we should get back to the stage," Simón said, standing up and grabbing his skates by the laces. "The kids'll probably be here soon."

"Don't remind me," Matteo groaned, throwing his head back.

"If you don't want to be here," Luna started, turning around to face Matteo, "then why'd you sign up?"

Matteo meets her gaze. "Peer pressure."

Simon snorted, looking down at his shoes. "C'mon, Matteo. Give it a chance."

Luna smiled sincerely at the two. "Listen, I know I don't know you two that well, but I have a feeling this is the start of something great."

Matteo was growing frustrated at how optimistic Luna was. Matteo let out a scoff and Simón kicked his foot. "Sorry," Matteo sighed. "Just not excited."

"Give it a try." Luna put her hands in her pockets as the three started heading towards the café. "You never know where this'll take you."

"You're like an inspirational calendar," Simón laughed, grabbing his guitar from the stage.

"Consider me an optimist," Luna shrugged, letting out a giggle. "And my parents get me one of those calendars every year for my birthday."

"So," Matteo breathes, growing inpatient. "When do the kids get here?" He wipes the sweat off his palms by rubbing his hands on his jeans. When did it get so hot in here?

"Should be in 5 minutes or so," Simon says, checking his watch. He pats his friend on the back. "Get ready."

"I'd rather not," Matteo mumbles, hanging his head.

Luna looks at him inquisitively. There was something interesting about him, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Before she could think much longer, Julianna walks in with a group of kids trailing behind her.

"Kids, here we are," she says, fanning her arms as if making a grand gesture. The kids, eyes full of wonder, waited patiently for the three to say something.

Matteo could feel sweat drip down his neck. Seriously, could someone open a window?

Luna, sensing the tension, crouched down to their level to give an enthusiastic and warm welcome. "Why, hello there, little musicians! Who's ready for a fun 3 weeks?" She stands back up to sit on the edge of the stage. "I'm Luna," she introduces herself, "and this is Simón and Matteo."

Simón gives a wave, nudging Matteo in the shoulder when he realizes he's having an out of body experience.

"Oh, right," Matteo blinks, shaking his head. "I'm, uh..I'm Matteo." Why was Julianna trusting him, of all people, to teach a bunch of 8 year olds how to sing? More importantly, why did he ever agree? The way the kids look at him makes him uneasy. Their eyes are all on him, and he doesn't know what to do with this newfound attention. He rubs his hand along the back of his neck, "Welcome?"

Julianna gives a nervous laugh. "These three are going to be your best friends for the next few weeks." After hearing a nervous chuckle come from Matteo, she gives him a warning glare. "And prepping you for our showcase in a few weeks."

Matteo, hearing mention of the showcase, feels his face pale. He either blocked that part out, or Julianna purposefully didn't tell him about it. This was a lot of pressure.

"It's going to be great, guys!" Simón pipes up, clapping his hands together. Seeing Matteo's state only become more anxious by the second, he says, "C'mon, Luna and I will show you around."

As the two lead the kids on a tour of the Roller, Matteo pulls Julianna aside. "Julianna," he starts, "can I ask you a question?"

Knowinf where this is going, Julianna sighs. "Balsano, you're going to be fine. They're eight. I promise you that you're not going to break them."

Matteo runs his hands through his hair. "I just don't think I'm cut out for this whole kid thing. They're small and sticky and chatty-"

Julianna grabs his shoulders. "Calm down. Please." She leads him to the closest table and they sit, Matteo's body feeling unsteady on the talk barstool. "All you have to do is make it to the showcase. Three weeks, that's all."

Matteo looks around, catching sight of the gang on the stage, where Luna and Simón we're showing the kids all of the different instruments. Matteo cringed at the thought of one of their hands on his guitar. "I don't know," he breathes as one of them uses Pedro's drum stick as a flute.

"Three weeks, Matteo." Julianna says from behind him. "That's all."

Three weeks.

The longest three weeks of his life.