Swing

Chapter Sixteen

Robert’s Point Of View

            I love you too, I thought to myself. She must have misunderstood what I said. I quickly pulled her close for a kiss because I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. When I finally pulled me away I told her that I loved her too. She then proceeded to show me around her entire house.

            “Who plays the piano?” I asked.

            “I do,” she said quietly.

            “Really?” I asked back amazed. “That’s so cool! Do you think you could play me something?” I asked excitedly.

“Uhh, sure I guess,” she said.

“Thank you so much!” I said excitedly.

I then proceeded to sit down on the couch as I watched her sit down, stretch her fingers and play Fur Elise. The piano was in perfect key and the way she played was so majestic it made me tear up.

“You sound so amazing,” I told her. “You make me wish I had my saxophone,” I finished saying.

            “You play the saxophone?” Fiona asked surprised.

“I said that out loud?” I asked.

“Yes you did, now tell me about it!” she pushed excitedly.

“Fine, but you can’t tell anyone!” I said loudly. “This is one of my hobbies that I don’t want getting around.” I finished saying.

“I promise I won’t tell anyone,” she said quickly.

“Okay. When I was in the second grade I played the recorder. Then in third grade I had figured the recorder completely out and realized I had a strange love for music. My parents saw that I was talented and decided to have me sample the saxophone because it had the same fingerings as the recorder. I quickly fell in love with the saxophone and my parents decided to buy it for me. I have been playing the saxophone ever since,” I said after figuring out how to word it.

“Do you still have it?” She asked after a moment.

I laughed before realizing that it was probably harsh.

“What’s funny?” She asked.

“I’m sorry,” I told her. “It’s just that I love music so much that the thought of not having my saxophone just didn’t fit.”

“Oh I understand,” she said. “I’m the same way with my piano. “Can we go to your house now?” she asked smirking.

“For what reason?” I asked stupidly. “I mean didn’t you want to come to your house in the first place?” I asked stalling.

“So I can hear you play the saxophone!” she exclaimed excitedly.

“Oh, that,” I mumbled. “Well you see,” I trailed off.

“What?” she asked.

“I’m kind of afraid of performing in front of people,” I told her.

“Oh,” she said quietly.

“I can’t promise that I will play in front of you, but I know I have some songs recorded. Would that work?” I asked trying to make things better.

“It won’t be the same but at least I will be able to hear something that you have played before,” she responded.

I figured I would try and perform in front of her but I didn’t tell her this. We left for my house and it took us about ten minutes to get to my house. I told her to give me a few minutes to go find the flash drive I had all my music saved on. As I was doing this I quickly dug my saxophone out and opened a new box of reeds. I quickly popped it into my mouth to wet it and assembled the rest of my saxophone. I tested my pads to see if they were sticky. They weren’t. Good, I started to blow and as if she wasn’t there I played Amazing Grace. I was just finishing up the song when I walked out of my room. As I walked out of my room I realized that Fiona was in the room next to mine. I opened my eyes to see tears in hers.

“That was beautiful,” she said.

            I put my saxophone down into its case. As I walked back out she told me that what I just played was one of the most beautiful things she has ever witnessed. I told her the first thing I thought of.

“You haven’t looked into a mirror lately have you?” I asked.

“No, why?” she asked back.

“Because every time I see you, it’s the most beautiful thing I witness.” I said after a moment.