That Melody

Chapter 2

        The day was dark from the heavy clouds blocking the sun. As Chloe walked across the campus she felt the saturated air fill her lungs. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of it in. The weather seemed appropriate for the piece she would be playing today. Her nerves seemed to relax at the cool subtle breeze at her back. Today was the day. Somehow it felt different than the last two weeks. It was as if she was doing it for herself. She wouldn’t be satisfied just sneaking on campus, listening to the music. Now, Chloe wanted to be a part of it. She wanted to share her world with anyone who would listen. The self-awareness of that knowledge seemed to both humble her and excite her. She was ready for this day.

            With this new found resilience, Chloe entered the auditorium and signed in. People gave her weird looks but she didn’t seem to pay them any mind until she was backstage. Everyone around her looked so elegant and poised. It was as if classical music had an image and that image was long flowing hair and silk dresses. Chloe ran her hand through her chin length black hair. Her fingers seemed to point out what everyone was looking at. Years ago, right after her father died, Chloe bleached her tips and strands of hair as if the rebellion would bring him back. She died the messy bleached hair random colors. The color depended on how she felt at the time, changing it at the drop of a hat since that time. The now electric blue pieces did stick out, if nothing else. Her manner of dress didn’t help her blending in either. She couldn’t compete with these modern day princesses. There was no way she could afford to.

            She tucked her hair behind her ear and stood up straight. This wasn’t a beauty pageant, this was a talent competition. From what she was listening to, these people all played the same tempo to about the same three songs. As great as the classics were, they were performed in a most boring manner. It made her wonder if this was just how this school was. Did they only want people who played exactly to score? Was her mother right all along? No. Chloe shook her head. If that was the case then whoever played that piano wouldn’t be playing here. She had to believe that the judges, the instructors, the school, wanted passion to be played through in the music that they listened to.

            When her turn to play came, she heard whispers behind her. With all of her might she tried to tune them out, but she couldn’t. “What a freak show.” One giggled.

            “Looks like they’ll let just anyone enter: They must be lowering their standards.” Another girl huffed, arrogantly.

            Chloe didn’t get it. How could there be girls as sweet as Amber but some as rotten as these ones? She bit her lip to calm down. Chloe wouldn’t let people she didn’t even know belittle her. All she could do was show them up with her own talent instead of family stature. Chloe stood proudly in the middle of the stage, the warm light shining brightly upon her. The judges were looking down for a moment, and then gave her their undivided attention.

“Is your pianist late?” One of the judges asked, a little aggravated by the lack of responsibility.

“No sir. I don’t have one. I will be performing on my own, if you don’t mind.” She may be from a middle class family, but she still had manners.

“You know that will be deducted from your overall score.” He pointed out.

“Yet sir.” Chloe replied calmly, nodding her head.

“Alright then, carry on.” The man cleared his throat. The other four judges looked stunned that someone would knowingly take points off of their score. It was especially unheard of with someone doing that on her first performance. She must have great confidence in her ability.

When Chloe started it was as fluid as water. First it was a steady stream, calm and relaxing, then power and passion pushed through like a waterfall. It was a song they’ve heard before, but never like this. This song may have been written by someone else, but right now, it was hers. Suddenly they all knew why she didn’t have an accompanist. There probably wasn’t someone with enough talent to keep up with her. As beautiful as her piece was, it wasn’t the same as one that had the piano with it. Rules were rules, and even besides that, her music was wild and untamed. It was hard to teach those types of students a lot of the times. They had a freshman pianist with a horrible temperament to prove it.