THEM

Chapter 10

It was Tuesday and Aithne hadn't forgotten the fact that the music room was open. It had been such a long time since she had been able to play the fiddle that she was trembling with impatience. She couldn't get through her morning session with Kathy fast enough and at lunch, she scarfed down her food in such a hurry that Isadora and Raphael gave her worried glances. She didn't know the precise hour afternoon meant, but she guessed that by three o'clock, it would be open for sure. She got lost in the maze of the corridors once again, trying to find the room C-05. She took so long to find it, she started wondering whether V had made up a room number just to spite her, but, as she turned the next corner, she started seeing the numbers approaching C-05 at the same time as she heard a beautiful melody played on the piano drifting through the hallway towards her, as if it were leading her to the room. The door of the room was left slightly ajar, as if someone had carelessly let it fall behind them and she peaked through the gap, letting out a soft gasp at what she saw. The room was empty except for V, who was sitting in front of the piano, with his back to her, his hands dancing across the keys with such speed that she couldn't make out the outline of his fingers. She stood at the doorway for the duration of the song, letting herself be pulled into the trance of the music and only when a false note was so strikingly hit it couldn't have been a mistake, and an abrupt stop ensued, did she break out of her reverie. As if sensing her presence, V half turned his body towards her with a mixture of displeasure and, even something that looked like embarrassment, painted across his features. Aithne suddenly felt a little creepy just standing there and walked in casually, as if she hadn't just been staring at him for the past few minutes.

"You play magnificently. How did you learn?" She asked.

V ignored her and started randomly pressing on a few keys. She felt the frustrating build up inside of her at the blatant disrespect. Was it too much to ask to be treated like a human being and acknowledged when talking?

"So you're just going to invite me here and then not talk to me?" She bit out.

His head shot up. "I didn't invite you here."

His indignation faltered as he saw the victorious smile on Aithne's face, pleased by the reaction she had gotten out of him. Realizing he had fallen naively into her trap, his lips twitched slightly upwards, which was the most positive expression Aithne had ever seen on his face.

As if granting her a favor for her effort, he said, "I taught myself."

Aithne took this as an invitation to take a small, hesitant step closer to the piano.

"Had to be your own teacher, because you wouldn't listen to anyone else?" She teased.

To her astonishment, he didn't scowl. He didn't laugh either, but, for her, the absence of a negative reaction from him was in itself a positive one.

With courage she didn't know she had, she took the last few steps towards the piano and sat down next to him on the bench. He visibly tensed, but, to her relief, didn't move away. She placed her hand on the keys, her porcelain skin almost the same color as the milky white keys, blending into them. She pressed down on the keys, playing a simple melody. The sound was pleasing, but the notes were not nearly as perfectly hit as when V had played.

"You play?" V asked.

Aithne started. Sure, he had talked with the minimum number of words possible, as if each one was costing him, but it was the first time he had asked her a question.

Once she recovered from her shock, she said, "A bit, but I mostly play the violin." She jerked her head towards the corner of the room, where a violin, viola and cello stood against the wall haphazardly, as if someone had finished playing and hurriedly put them aside before not touching them again for a long time.