Arthur & Mary

- Arthur -

For the following many days I tried to make Mary tune to the right pitch when singing, but I slowly started to believe she really wasn't cut out for singing. I knew she needed a push. She could make the angry voice, I'm sure. And that would make it her A Thousand Years. But how?

"Stop, stop, this isn't working" I once said, stopping playing the piano in the music room.

She took a seat, looking completely defeated.

"You're right. Let's call it a day. My feelings hurt."

"Shouldn't your throat hurt?"

"Not really. I've been through rougher. I used to be part of the choir, but I quit."

"Why?"

"Why not? There were many reasons and I never really wanted to talk about it."

"Alright." I walked over to her and made her stand up, but she sighed. I stole a kiss from her lips and she immediately smiled, hugging me in response, and we started dancing slowly.

" I don't want to chicken out, but I don't want to be a disgrace for the school and do a bad show. It's either a good show or nothing."

"True. That means you have to rest for now and find more...motivation? Like, a reason to give it your all. Have you rehearsed with Olivia yet?"

"No, we'll do it at the anniversary. She has the first part and the first refrain, I have the seconds, then we'll sing together till the end. This is what we both agreed on."

"Interesting and plain. I guess there's no other way to do it."

"I don't think there is another way good enough. Have you rehearsed with her?"

"Yes, I did."

She raised her head to look into my eyes, and hers were painfully tired. She stole a kiss from me and then left me alone in the room. I sighed, looking at the door, and she came back, confused.

"Aren't you coming?" she asked.

"Sure."

I grabbed my bag and followed her through the empty parking lot. She was always parking in the same spot, and her car was always looking new; she must have taken good care of it.

As she turned on the engine she looked back at me with a tiny smile.

Her lips moved, making the words "I love you", without a sound and I could feel blood rushing into my cheeks and my stomach tighten.

- Mary -

He smiled like an idiot and I took the car out of the parking lot, onto the road. I loved the empty, neat road that was bordered on left and right by tall, autumn trees. It gave me a weird, satisfactory feeling, also deja vu. It reminds me of movies.

Every time I stole glances from him, he was still smiling like an idiot and I had to snort, and his smile widened.