Hourglass (NateWantsToBattle & Cristina Vee)

Chapter 4: Café Music

And there we were. Like he said. The small Café by the park where we met.

I was unsure being alone with this boy... I've only met him once.

Though he was pretty chill about the whole ordeal. Hunter wasn't here, yet he had no problem being here with.

"You're not big on talking, are you?" He asked, waving his fork around.

"Huh?"

"You're quiet!" He said. "And you haven't touched your food, are you not hungry?" He asked.

"Oh, no! I am!" I say. "I just don't know where to start. It looks really good, I don't know where to start."

"Hunter said this place has really good waffles." He said to me.

"Yeah, I bet." I say, as he tapped his fork on his plate.

The sound of a piano caught both of us off guard. I saw him look over, to see a small piano off to the side.

"Look," He said. "It actually works." He said to me, seeing the small girl playing.

He seemed mesmerized by the piano, though I couldn't tell why. I heard the girl stop playing, letting out a frustrated sigh.

That's when he got up slowly, walking to the girl. I decided I'd follow.

"That's Kreisler's Love Sorrow!" He told the girl.

"I learned it at my Piano Lesson." She told him. "Though I still mess up a little."

"That's okay." He stated. "Everyone makes Mistakes. We all are human after all. Just give it some time, new songs can be tough."

Patient with little kids, I see.

"Can you play the piano?" The little girl asked him

"Mm, I used to.." He replied to her. "Not so much anymore."

He then looked to me. "She's a pianist."

"What?" I ask.

"A good one at that!" He said. "Maybe she can play you something."

"Can you?!" The little girl asked.

"Uh, no. Sorry. I don't play anymore."

"Oh.." The girl seemed disappointed.

"Then can you play something, Mister?" She turned to Nate.

"I mean --"

"Yeah, play something, you almighty musician." I say to him.

"Me?" He asked, suddenly showing fear.

"Please, Mister?" The little girl begged.

He looked at her, and I saw the fear in his eyes, but he looked to the piano, before moving his hair away from his eyes. He then started playing something simple, getting some attention from people in the café.

He seemed to amaze the young girl, sitting beside him.. He had everyone's attention now.

But as he played, something happened.

He stopped so suddenly, making everyone look over.

The pain in his eyes once he stopped was real..

"Why'd you stop Mister?" The little girl asked him. "It was so pretty."

He looked at her then to his hand. "I'm sorry." He whispered.. I can't."

Then it hits me.. I realized who he was.. Why he's so familiar to me...