Prodigies Are Made

>1<

When I'm nervous, I fidget. Its a habit of mine. My fingers tap against each other erratically. I've performed many times before and I've never messed up. I won't ever mess up. Still, the fear makes me feel like there's a purpose, like this is important.

The crowd applauding was my cue. I let an easy smile on my face as I strutted on stage. My eyes instinctively closed as the familiar smell of wood and cleaning supplies filled my lungs.

The noise and chatter died down as I sat at the piano, my fingers grazing the keys. It was a Baldwin piano. An antique.

Now there were only small murmurs and shifts in the audience. They were waiting so I humor them, playing my first note, a simple D. Then silence. I try my hardest not to break out into a grin before my fingers start in a flurry of practiced moves.

Then, like that, it's over. They give me a standing ovation in all of its glory. I couldn't see faces but some cheers we're familiar to my ears.

After a couple more seconds, I strut off the stage again, still wearing my full confidence. My eyes adjusted to the dimly lit backstage quickly as people greeted me with smiles. I smiled back, as my adrenaline rush was slowing down and my heart began to beat in my ears. Still, the night had only just begun.

~

The ballroom was full of people, yet not one of them were any fun to talk to. Of course I liked parties but not when the main source of entertainment is idle chatter.

There was quiet classical music playing in the background. I recognized it as Kouri's work and immediately scanned the room.

My eyes caught the person I wss looking for as she sat down on a barstool.

"Good choice of music, mother." I said, walking toward her. She was leaning against a wooden counter, subtly tapping her finger along with the melody.

"Thank you, Xavier." She smiled back at me, "You did well onstage."

I laughed. Of course I did. It wasn't a statement of conceit, it was just a fact. It was how it was supposed to be.

We fell into a silence as I surveyed the room around me. The ballroom was sparkling. There was light reflecting off of every surface, courtesy of my father's obsession with perfection and my mother's obsession with shiny things.

"Ah, Andele!" A lady dressed in fur walked up to us, her wife not far behind.

"Racheal and Lindia! It has been too long!" My mother gushed.

"Xavier," Racheal said, giving me a warm smile, "Well done today. I liked the piece. You should play the piano more often."

I returned the smile, "Thank you miss, I think I will." Though I can't possibly think of how to play the piano more often than I already do.

I sit and watch my mother catch up with old friends, only smiling occasionally when they look at me.

That's when I catch a glimpse of Brody's dark head peaking through door. As soon as our eyes met, he waved his hand in a signal for me to come over.

My mother sighed, detecting him as well, "Did you greet everyone?"

"Of course." I told her, anticipating where this conversation was going.

"Then... Fine. You may go."

A grin spread across my face. "Thank you." I said before quietly slipping away.

"Great job out there." Brody said as I met up with him at the door.

"Thank you."

~