The Hidden Storyteller (KickthePJ, Discontinued)

03: Black and White Keys, Fine-Tuned Strings

October 14

*Dan's POV*

I just woke up at 7:03 a.m. exactly.

I am never awake at this ungodly hour of the morning.

A little frazzled, I sit up slowly in bed. I'm surprised to find that I'm awake and actually calm. Usually I turn into a hangry old man this early in the morning. But I'm oddly calm... It's like I can hear piano music, and that's calming. And then I realize- I'm not imagining this. I'm actually hearing classical music. And it's familiar. 

I quickly get dressed and crack my door open, stepping out into the hallway. The piano music gets louder, and I hear strains of that familiar song again. I follow my ears, stopping when I reach the living room door. The piano is much louder now, and I realize why it's so familiar now that my brain is working properly. It's my piano. Peering into the lounge, my guess is confirmed. Thalia is seated at my piano bench, playing the song I always used to play. Somehow, the song being played by her makes it all the more beautiful. 

I push the door open further, forgetting to be inconspicuous. Leaning against the door frame, I close my eyes and appreciate the music. The current song Thalia's playing slips into another song, and I recognize Mozart. A relatively difficult song, but she's playing it flawlessly and effortlessly. I let the music wash over me. It drew me further into the room, and without thinking I seated myself on the bench next to Thalia. Her eyes were closed, so she did not notice me there. I settled my fingers onto the ivory colored keys and began to play the alto version of the piece. Not having practiced for awhile, I play softly, but using her fingers as a guide, I become more confident and play a little louder. Her eyes opened then, and she softly smiled at me, making my heart race. Her blue eyes locked onto my own brown ones, and she continued playing while looking at me. Staring into her eyes, I played along, not caring whether this was strange. I felt... At home, finding a pianist to play with. Especially this particular pianist. 

Thalia, without breaking my gaze, transitioned into another song, and this one I recognized as my favorite song of hers- this was a song called "The Wind Calls" that she composed last year. It's simple and slow, but beautiful. Not knowing how to play it, my fingers went still on the keys. Thalia nudged me, and then looked down at her hands, inviting me to do the same. I stare at her fingers as she closes her eyes again. For a second, I pause, wanting to be able to stare into her eyes again, but I focus on her delicate fingers, dancing across the keys. The effortless ability she has to create music- It's no wonder she's world famous for composing. I realized she's paused, opened her eyes, and is looking at me as if to say, 'Well, what are you waiting for? Play with me.' I looked back at her, unsure if I could remember what she had just played. Sensing my hesitation, she played part of the song, then paused. She slipped her hands under mine, and proceeded to play the same part of the song, making her fingers a guide for my own. 

I was only half-paying attention to the song, as my brain was preoccupied with burning the feeling of her hands on mine into my memory. Thalia had long since finished playing that one part of the song, and was playing the rest of it now. Once she finished the song, she removed her hands from mine and started over, playing like she had been before. She gazed at me for a moment before a smile flitted across her face, and I suppose I looked confused, because she motioned to my hands. I looked down, and realized that I was still playing, not even paying attention. We continued to play the song, over and over, glossing over the fact that I couldn't play it perfectly. After a couple more repeats, she stopped. She stood up, telling me with her eyes to stay seated. I did, and I watched as she crossed the living room to grab her violin from her case. She came back over to me, poised to play her violin. We started playing again at the same time- she played the higher portion of the song on her violin and me playing the lower part on the piano. The song sounded beautiful, with the notes from the keys flowing together with the violin as Thalia pulled the bow across the strings. We finished the song once over, and just as we were about to start again, Phil walked sleepily into the lounge. As we both stopped plauying, I looked over at Thalia, and she smiled at me from behind her violin. It's amazing how we can communicate without having to speak. Music is an immensely powerful language.

*Thalia's POV*

"Wtchadn?" Phil mumbled sleepily. Having grown up with his sleep speech, I translated that jumble of words as "What are you doing?"

"Nothing much, Phil. I was just practicing the piano and Dan joined me." I said, smiling at the strange look on my brother's face.

"Why- why are you practicing at this hour of the morning? I haven't even woken up... Yet." Phil yawned that last part, and it occurred to me that not many people wake up as early as I do every day. 

"Sorry Phil." I apologized. "I didn't mean to wake you up. I always get up this early to practice, so I didn't even think about it." Phil walked over, closer to me and Dan, seemingly interested in our playing. He sat down on the couch and said,

"Play that song."

"The song we were just playing?" I asked. Phil nodded, settling farther into the couch. I lifted my bow to the string once more, and Dan poised his fingers over the keys of his piano. And we began to play.

*******

"So Thalia, how'd your last tour go?" Phil asked. We were all seated at the table, enjoying pancakes, courtesy of Dan

"It went great! Somehow, seats sold out on my last night. It was great to meet people, and so many people told me my music touched and inspired them. It was amazing." I replied. I smiled a smile full of nostalgia, remembering when I was first learning how to play the violin- a little four year old, there was barely a violin small enough for me at the time. But every time I played, it was like magic.

"You were touring around America, correct?" Dan asked.

"Yeah, I was doing a coast-to-coast thing." I replied. "I  played a concert hall in every state. It was really cool."

"When are you coming to tour on this side of the world again? You haven't been around here in forever." Dan asked. I shrugged. But a small smile made its way onto my face, and I painstakingly took a bite of pancake and mumbled,

"Maybe I'll be here sooner that you think." Both boys smiled, and I couldn't help but smile as well. Touring around my home country again would be a dream.

"So, what do you want to do today?" Phil asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Could we, maybe, see some of London? I want to walk around while it's still bright outside." I requested.

"Of course!" Dan and Phil said at the same time. They both looked at each other, and then laughed. 

"Let's finish up breakfast, and then the Lester-Howell trio can hit the town!" Phil pumped a fist in the air, and Dan and I exchanged a look.

"Phil," I giggled as he put his arm down, "Never say that again."