Andante con Brio

LXVI

Now, he was quite aware he was about to have a whole bunch of firsts and he was looking forward to them more than anyone could ever understand. But seriously, right now all these lasts were weighing heavily on him. He walked along the street, where he had walked so many times, violin case on his back and his sheet music under his arm. 
Just like always. 
Except, today was the last time and then he wouldn't be walking here anymore. 
His mum had smiled at him as he left and had wished him good luck in Mandarin. He had smiled back and made very sure not to show this melancholy he felt. She was already iffy enough about it all. And she had been so quiet, ever since he had told her about the house a couple of days ago. He didn't want to make anything any worse than it already was for her. 

"Hi." he croaked as he pushed open the door and smiled at his teacher. 
"Hi, Eddy." his teacher said kindly. He had not always been kind, but he had been good. He had been fair. And Eddy was pretty sure he was going to be kind today. 
"So, I think this is our last lesson together, yes?"
Eddy nodded and swallowed. What was it with these tears that seemed to be lurking just underneath the surface the whole time? 
Before he could say anything sappy he put his case down on the ground and opened the clasps. 
"Let's start with the D minor scale and then go to the Bach" his teacher said, and gave him the A from his own violin. 

Once he put his bow to his violin the melancholy faded away and he worked, really worked, one last time. Before he knew it time was up and his teacher smiled. 
"So, it seems that I'm handing you off, Eddy. I have to say, it's always bittersweet when a students goes to the conservatory. But I am glad you're following your dreams and I think you'll do just fine in the music world."
"Thank you so much, sir." he said quietly. "Thank you for everything."
The door opened behind him; the next student, a young girl he had seen a few times, walked in silently and sat down on the chair. He looked around him quickly, at the studio he knew so well. At the old, faded diploma there, in the corner, and the pictures of student concerts above the baby grand, their shapes faded into the yellowed wallpaper.
God, all these lasts. 
Then he looked into his teacher's eyes. Into his dark, dark eyes, framed by a face that suddenly looked older than it had seemed to him before. 
"Of course, Eddy." his teacher smiled again. "If you ever have any questions, my door is open."
Eddy put his violin in its case hastily and carefully slung it on his back. 
"Thank you, sir." he said in his politest tone and all but ran out the door. 

He walked briskly away from the house before he wrestled his telephone out of his back jeans pocket and turned it off plane mode to check his messages as he walked. There were a couple of unread ones from Lily, but then he saw the one from Todd and his heart jumped. 

     'Guys. I'm sorry. The house fell through." 

Shit. Shit. No, not this again. No, not after seeing it, liking it. Not after growing a pair and telling his mum about it. Not this. The conflicting emotions came crashing into him like the waves of that rip, a few weeks ago at their beach, and before he could even consciously decide to do so he was already typing the message. He didn't even follow their usual M.O. of starting off with a completely neutral one to check if the coast was clear. No, he needed him, and he needed him now. He typed like lightning. 

     'Bretty, can you please meet me in the park?'

He pressed send before he could change his mind and quickly walked off in the direction of their secret spot.