Don't Hesitate

Chapter XV

Song of this chapter: Mr. Brightside by the Killers

Also, I know most of you love Jesse, and I do too, with his floppy blond hair and infectious grin. I also very much adore his relationship with Laura (#cousingoals). So I picture him to be the cutie that is Max Barczak :)))

Fifteen 

Still frazzled, I rested my head on the piano stand and looked down at the beautiful, ivory keys. 

Why didn't I just stay at home and keep painting? 

I don't know what Andrew and Dan's dad meant, and I'm not sure I want to know. I don't know if I can face Andrew again because of what I blurted out. I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. 

I sighed. I gingerly touched the piano keys. Naturally, I played a chord. And another one. And another. Until the notes to Hey Jude by the Beatles filled the room. 

I lifted my head up from the piano, put the weight of my right foot on the right pedal, and used my left hand to play the octaves, making the song sound fuller. 

"Hey Jude, don't be afraid. Take a sad song, and make it better. Remember, to let her into your heart, then you can start, to make it better."

I sing softly, and to my surprise the song helped calm me down a bit, the way drawing does after very stressful situations. My hands glided gently over the keys, like it was the most natural thing in the world, and I was about to start the second verse when I felt a sudden presence behind me. 

I take in a quick breath and turned around. All it took were his green eyes looking in awe in mine and my heart rate was off the charts again. 

"Hey," He says. "Mind if I sit with you?" 

My mouth was too dry to say anything, so I just nod. I put my hands back to my lap. Did he hear me sing? I hope to God not. That would've been so embarrassing. Also, why can't he stop looking at me? Please stop. I might explode. Or, I might just crawl into the piano and hide there for the rest of my life. 

"Well," he says as he lets his fingers rest on the piano keys. "You are just full of talents and surprises." 

I look down and let wisps of hair cover my face and shrug. "Not really. I just know a few chords." 

I try to see his face through my hair. It looked like he wanted to say something but he cleared his throat and kept playing the chords to Hey Jude instead. He couldn't reach the lower measures of the piano, since I'm blocking the way, so I decide to do the octaves for him. This time, he was the one who sang. 

Honestly, I could let him sing for me all day long. It felt like I was in heaven. So we sat there, playing the piano together in perfect harmony, while I enjoyed the sound of his voice and every time our arms brushed up against each other-- until another interruption came about. 

"You guys sound great," Michael said as he popped out of nowhere again. He had a box of what seemed to be filled with sheet music in his hands, and he set them gently on the counter. He looked at us with a knowing smile that oddly enough made Andrew clear his throat and blush a little, I think. 

"As much as I would love to keep listening, I think you guys need to get up there again, or else someone's going to break something. And I won't be too happy about it." 

I laugh and Andrew helps me off the piano bench. "I'll go get 'em", Andrew hollers as we both make our way up the stairs. Before he opened the door, Andrew took me by surprise when he suddenly turned to face me, and my face almost collided with his chest.