Piano

1.

FARKLE MINKUS

Maya Hart.

The way her heart shaped necklace dangles on her neck, floating in front of her while she bends over, playing the piano.

Her fingers.

How they move with such swift movements as she plays each piece. How her rings move around with each note she plays.

Her mind.

How even though you can never read the mind of Maya Hart, somehow you can. She pours her heart and soul into everything she writes, blinded by the thoughts of others.

I.

And somehow, I am in love with her.

I WALK DOWN the dusty hallway, and that's when I first hear her. Playing the bottom part of Heart and Soul.

It's after hours, so she must just be with a music club or something. I peek my head inside the auditorium, Maya sitting there, playing with such passion that the keys of the grand pianos music bounce off the walls. Her fingers collide with the keys with such grace, moving expeditiously that you can't even see where her fingers will land next.

I venture into the room further, and in my haste;knocking over a few chairs. They hit the hollow wood with a BONK and I look over to see if she notices.

She did.

I look back at her, her ocean blue eyes piercing into my soul.

"Sorry I didn't-" she cuts me off.

"I need a partner for Heart and Soul. Care to join?" She asks me with such elegance.

I stumble to find the words. "Uhh... Y-yeah sure whatever," I finish with. That made me sound like a jerk.

Her, not phased by anything, pats the empty wooden bench seat to the right of her, and I walk over there and get my legs around and under the piano.

"So, all you have to play is this part," she tells me while reaching over to demonstrate. She plays the keys for me.

"I hope you know that I haven't played piano ever before in my life," I laugh.

"It's fine. I know someone who can play music pieces but has never fully learned to play the piano. You'll get used to it," she answers.

She starts to tap the keys with ever such force, and then once she really gets into it, the music gets louder. She closes her eyes shut and it's as if I can see into her soul, her heart. And this is what her heart wants.

She doesn't move a muscle, but her fingers. "Now you play," she answers, not opening her eyes.

I start to tap the piano keys, and not even yet at the second note; I mess up. She opens her eyes, and stops playing. I blush a little in embarrassment. She reaches over and grabs my hands. She starts to play the notes for me.

I stare at the way her golden locks dip down in front of her face as she bends over once again, getting so into the music with only three notes.

She was playing so intensely when her phone buzzed. I looked at the contact.

Her mom.

I tapped her shoulder and she looked up at me. "Yes," she breathed.

"Your mom is calling," I told her, pointing to her phone awkwardly.

She shuffled through her bag hurriedly and answered the call. She mouthed to me, "thanks."

I tried not to eavesdrop on their conversation, but I couldn't help myself. Besides, I could only hear Maya's end anyway.

"But mom, I'm playing the piano at school already! I don't need another lesson today," she complained.

She sighed. "Fine, yes mom. I'll be right over." She hung up the call and ran her fingers through her hair in distress. She picked up her school bag and slung it over her left shoulder.

I stood up, as she started walking out quickly. "Hey! I can walk you home," I told her as jogging up to her.

"Thanks but, I don't even know you," she answered, squinting her eyes a bit at me.

I changed the subject after some awkward silence, only able to hear our feet pounding and the cool spring wind blowing into the school.

"What did your mom want?" I ask, looking at her slightly worn out sneakers as she walks quickly.

"Another piano lesson after the seven I've already taken this week. She wants me to play a piece at Carnegie hall this summer, so it's difficult to be at school for the rest of the month of June till summer break. Only to do more work." She sighs again.

I scribble my number down on a piece of paper from my notebook. I hand it to her. "If you won't let me walk you home, at least call me sometime."

She laughs. "Really, it's fine. Anyone who tried to get bothered in my life would just end up like my mother. Drunk and bitter."

It makes me feel even worse, but I wipe away the sorrow for her quickly, seeing that she's not even shedding a tear. "Let me. I want to give you the best summer ever," I insist.

She hands me back the note. "Really, kid, there's no need-" I cut her off and grab her wrist, placing the note back into her palm and ball her tiny hand into a fist, holding the note tight.

"Please. Do it." And with that, I jog ahead of her, only looking back to see her staring at me, walking at a normal pace now. She tilts her head in confusion as she looks at the number I gave her.

"Names Farkle," I say loudly, before I turn around and exit out of the school into the blinding light of the outside world.

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First chapter of Piano!! Comment and vote, tell me what you think. Feedback is always appreciated greatly. I can't wait for what you all think of this story, idk why but I'm excited for this.