young royals || dnf

chapter 3

CLAY POV

Clay was gathering his things out of his locker when he heard a beautiful and melodic piano tune. He let his ears guide him as he followed the sound. He sees George leaned over the piano in the band room, staring at the music intently. He slipped up and seemed to be stuck on a line.

"Hi." The prince called.

George looked up and smiled. "Hi."

Clay began to walk over. "What're you playing?" He read the title on the paper. "Ah, the school song." George was still struggling a little. "You're playing the soprano line." Clay pointed out. "Shouldn't you be playing the melody? You're a tenor, right?"

George looked a little shocked. "Yeah." He laughed, but he still wasn't getting it. He tried vocalizing the tune and then matching it on the piano.

"George, do you know how to read sheet music?"

He sighed with a smile. "No, but I'm trying to learn."

"But you played so well before."

"I can only play by ear, but.. you can show me. You know how to play."

Clay was impressed, playing by ear was the most difficult way to learn. You could learn by reading the music, being taught how to play, or very rarely, being pitch perfect and playing by ear.

He sat down on the bench next to him. "Sorry." He apologized as there wasn't much room.

"No worries." George smiled.

Clay started playing the melody as George watched. When he finished he looked up for his approval and got a small around of applause.

"Okay, show me. Now you know how it goes." He wanted to test his ability. He laughed when George played the wrong key. "No, start with these. Those three." He points to them. George plays the song perfectly. "Yeah! Great!" He cheers him on. They laugh, but George's face turns sober.

"Hey, um, about what happened on Friday.." He seemed nervous.

GEORGE POV

George figured he might as well get this out of the way to avoid any awkwardness. "I was.."

"Mhm?" Clay waited patiently, but anxiously.

"I just wanted to say that I-"

"I think that maybe we should forget about that." He interrupted.

George's heart dropped. He tightened his jaw. "Mhm." That was all he could get out at the moment, without his voice cracking from emotion.

"Because I said that I, like.. that I'm not like that." His tone was gentle, but he seemed cold.

"Right."

"You know what I'm saying?"

"Yes, I understand." He needed to leave.

"You sure?"

"Hey, times up!" A teacher called into the room.

"I have to go." George got up.

"But, I still want us to be friends." Clay says.

"Yeah," George grabbed his bag, without looking back at him. "My class starts soon so I have to go."

And just like that, his walls slammed shut again.

MINX POV

Minx was getting better at riding Rousseau, but she still couldn't get him to jump. Hannah watched her ride from the sides.