The Fray of Werebirds [Discontinued]

Chapter 1 - The Pianist

It was my first time attending a music competition. The auditorium was large and smelled of wood and dust. Before the bright lit stage were many fancy red cushioned chairs, mostly occupied. I slumped down on an empty seat with hand in my jeans pocket.

There were whispered conversations here and there throughout the crowd, but everyone fell silent the moment the competition began.

Bo-ring.

I yawned and scratched my head, then got busy examining my nails as the musicians played the same piece of crap over and over again.

At some point, I'm not sure when, my ears pricked up. I was hearing something different. It wasn't the same repetitive melody all the other pianists played. It was a lot livelier, cheerful, and full of life. I slowly glanced up and my whole world turned upside down.

Right in front of my eyes was the most glorious female I had ever encountered.

She was sitting ever so elegantly right in the middle of the stage under several illuminating lights. She was tapping gracefully on the piano, sending out notes that kissed my ears gently. Her slim fingers danced around the keys, teasing them, and her body swayed with the rhythm of her music.

She was smiling, genuinely enjoying her time. The happiness emanating from her was so strong I wouldn't have been surprised if she started floating in the air.

Her golden eyes sparkled whenever her long eye lashes swept open, like a waterfall flowing with the power of determination and beauty. Her forehead glowed and despite the shiny beads of sweat she played full of energy and emotion.

My heart pounded furiously and my breath caught in my throat. She wasn't like any of the other snot-nosed girls in my class. She was mature, but at the same time not like the cynical grownups. She was free! More free than any other being! As if everything turned colorful and sweet merely at the touch of her hands.

The music melted into me, swirled around me until there was no one left but me and her. Just the two of us, all alone, and together we waltzed off into space. We were dancing in a pool of melodies. I could almost feel her fingers tracing my cheeks. Then she began to fade.

I didn't want it to end, but her music slipped away just as quickly as it had begun. I desperately clung onto the echoes of the last note until it was too far away to reach.

Silence.

Suddenly, the crowd burst out with the loudest cheers I've heard since the competition began. She stood up, and waved with her slim but strong arm, still smiling. My stomach felt warm the way it did after gulping down a nice drink of hot chocolate, and although I knew she couldn't see me I smiled back, then sighed dreamily.

BOOM!

The noise was so overwhelming I thought it might have destroyed my sense of hearing completely. Just before the lights went off I glimpsed the ceiling break down and fall right on top of my first love, crushing all my dreams and hopes along with it.

Chaos took over the place like a boss.