Shattered (Watty Awards 2011!)

Shattered - Chapter 1

"Peter, play the other one. The one with the loud part in the middle!"

Peter positioned his hands on the glossy keys and launched into a complicated concerto, much to his girlfriend's delight. His hands danced up and down the keys; the music whirling around the room like a storm at sea. As she leaned in closer, she nudged her friend.

"Shut up, Madge. Peter's playing my favorite song!!" she hissed.

Madge reluctantly stopped her incessant chatting and stopped for Susan's sake, picking at her nails. Madge never cared for music.

One minute and fifty-five seconds later, Peter triumphantly raised his hands from the keys and stood, closing the instrument with a satisfactory smile. He knew it was good.

"As nice as usual, Susan?"

"Oh Peter, you're so clever. I wish I had an eighth of your talent." She sighed, and giggled slightly, her eyes bright with brimming excitement.

Peter smiled in return. He knew he was good. He wouldn't say anything about it though. One thing he never wanted to be was a prig. But he did take a large amount of pride in his playing.

Peter had been playing the piano for as long as he could remember. He would climb up onto his mother's lap and copy everything she played until he could do it just as well. This pleased his over-achieving parents to a large extent, which in turn pleased Peter as he got older.

And now, at twenty-two years of age, he didn't even think of the sky as a limit. He heard a song once - he could play an improvised version. Twice? He could play it near perfect.

Of course, his biggest fan, save his parents, was his girlfriend, Susan. She had supported him as he went through college, encouraged him at every practice, and applauded loudly at every performance. She was perfect in every way, the two fitting together like a puzzle. Peter couldn't think of ever being without her. Sure, they had some issues, but who doesn't?

So he had decided; he would propose to her tonight. The place was set and ready. And he had even arranged something very, very special for the evening - transportation provided by the wonderful invention that was the Model T. Peter knew, just like everyone else in New York, that the Model T was the height of getting-around-technology. And Susan should have the very height of everything he had to give her, even something as expensive as that.

He had convinced his wealthy parents to buy an automobile - not for this occasion solely, of course, but rather, to keep it "under wraps" until he could reveal it to Susan. His parents, being the type of people who enjoy the safer and more conservative patterns of lifestyle, were hard to persuade, but finally gave in. Now it rested in in their six-vehicle carriage house at their city mansion.

And so, taking her hand in his Peter promptly asked her a question. "Ready to leave now, Susan?"

~

"Ohhh Peter!!"

Peter laughed loudly at her reaction. He was enjoying it almost as much as the ride. Every time they went a little faster, she squealed a little louder. Of course, Peter wasn't driving. Instead, a trained driver was doing the job. It was "far too dangerous" to be "gallavanting about in some new contraption," as Peter's father so deftly put it.

Even so, Peter greatly enjoyed it. It was a little uncomfortable, all three in one small vehicle, and he couldn't help but wish he could try to control it himself. He decided to ask after dinner. And since Susan enjoyed it so much, he decided he would ask the Other Question in the automobile after, as well.

After a lavish meal at a wonderful hotel restaurant, he asked the hired driver if he could have a turn. "Just a quick one, and I promise to be careful. Please mister! I'll pay you!" he pleaded.

The driver gave in after a wad of bills was passed. (Peter found that anyone gave in after bills were passed.) As Peter climbed in, Susan began to as well, until he stopped her.

"Suse, baby. I have no idea what I'm doing, and I don't want you to get hurt. You know, if something.. goes wrong, or- or something. Please?" His eyes were anxiously wide, yet shining with anticipation.

Susan was not the kind of girl that would allow silly things like that get in the way of a good ride, and after a good deal of playful arguments, she got in the vehicle too. Peter familiarized himself with the automobiles components, and soon pulled out into a back street, leading to a country road, leaving the driver counting his bills and checking his watch every so often.

Five minutes later, Susan was laughing and squealing, urging Peter to go a little faster. Finally he complied, speeding up on a straight stretch of road.

"Susie," he said, after a moment of silence. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure thing." She turned her doey eyes towards him, eyes that just started to crinkle in the corners when she smiled or laughed.

"Will you marry me?"

Susan screamed at the top of her lungs as suddenly, the car made impact with the solid trunk of a tree. Her voice was sickeningly cut off all of a sudden, and the last thing Peter remembered was the pain that surged through his arms.

Then there was nothing.