The ABC Dates

Chapter One

I closed my eyes and let out a small sigh. My fingers tapped nervously on my beautiful and -farewell to the rest of my savings- pricey violin, whilst my other hand gripped my bow firmly. The varnished wood was shining brighter than it ever had and it brought out the true, deep, golden brown of its nature.

Come on now Vee, you've done this millions of times before. What makes this any different? Well, apart from the small fact that instead of playing to a couple of drunk people at unknown bars, I was now on a bigger stage at the popular cafe called Sweet & Savoury. God how I miss those dazed drunktards, I'm sorry for ever disliking you...

A ghastly light was also shined on the stage which was foreign to me and I was well aware that it made my face look even more sweaty than it already was.

Yeah, nothing was too different.

My feet tapped nervously on the floorboards of the stage and a person awkwardly coughed in the background. My fist clenched around the bow harder but I put what I hoped was a confident smile, onto my blank face and placed my violin onto my shoulder.

"Get it Vee!" my best friends Jared Myers and Clover Oakley practically screamed in the background. They sat near the middle of the cafe and clapped crazily like seals on drugs. I shot them a smile and Jared let out a girly squeal, "Oh my god she noticed me!".

This was actually the first time I let them see me perform, I was too embarrassed for them to come to my other shows but they kept begging me and I couldn't refuse any longer.

I rolled my eyes playfully at them and pressed my finger onto the E string; my warm finger contrasted with the cold fingerboard. I played a single note to check the pitch and paused before reaching for the microphone in front of me, "So hi everyone -I gave an awkward wave- my name is Violet and uh today I'm going to play a piece I composed by myself". My eyes scanned the audience and apart from Jared and Clover, it didn't seem like there was anyone else I knew. Thank god. The crowd ranged from tired adults to horny teenagers but all were waiting for me to play.

I breathed in, now hold your shit together Vee - before you pee all over the stage like an excited puppy.

"Can you just get on with it already?" a bored girly voice muttered.

A brow raised instantly and I looked in the direction that I hoped she was in, "Don't interrupt talent sweetie".

The girl's friends "oohed" at her and she looked mildly embarrassed which I smirked at before resuming to speak, "Anywho, I hope you enjoy and to those who don't, then you suck. Only joking! We all have our own opinions and whooo to equality! YEAAAH". I lifted my microphone up to point at the crowd and the audience cheered with encouraging claps. Some faces viewed me with a concerned look but with a dimpled smile I composed myself.

My shoulders rolled back, in an effort to release some of the tension and I placed my bow gently back on the strings.

As soon as I played the first note, I lost myself to the rhythm and closed my eyes in a trance.

Music was always a big part of my life, as my parents were both huge musicians. My dad played music in big ochestra's and composed many pieces for big music producers. Similarly my mum played the piano beautifully and teached people how to play; she taught me violin as well as many other instruments.

Unfortunately to my dismay, the triangle was not one of them.

When I reopened my eyes after I played the last note, everyone was clapping and I let out a relieved sigh. I bowed with my violin tucked under my arm and shouted a bunch of 'thank yous' into the crowd.