Hourglass (NateWantsToBattle & Cristina Vee)

Chapter 7: A Beautiful Lie

The afternoon was a total drag. 

I managed to prove to him that I can't play for shit... Though he had nothing to say about it.

Then again, he shouldn't.. He barely played himself. He took the violin out, but left it alone.. Almost as if he was scared -- Like myself... Though, why would he be scared? He's far more talented than me.. I haven't heard him in person play, but I know he's all kinds of talented.

It was the evening, and we were silent. We were walking down a pathway.. Walking home.

As we walked, I could hear him faintly humming our set piece. He hummed it with confidence. Though he stopped entirely as a falling leaf drifted in the wind, landing on the top of his head. He only smiled faintly, taking the leaf off his head.

"Would you look at that?" He asked, almost amazed. "Fall is right around the corner." He said.

"It's only the end of September, though." I respond to his Statement. "Do you dislike Summer?" I ask.

"No." He replied. "I just like the colors."

He then paused taking a deep breath. "I suppose Spring is prone to color as well, but that's only green and sometimes pink, but fall.. it's so bright."

I've never met anyone like this boy. When it comes to music -- he's free and strict, with a hint of compassion. With everything else -- he's like a child.. Everything fasinates this boy. Whether it be the leaves or something simple like a ilttle bug. He has the emotion -- I fail to see.

"What?" He asked me, as he turned on his heel.

Crap, he noticed me staring.

"Nothing." I say to him, as we continued to walk.

I couldn't help but stare at him again. I watched him, loosen the green tie of his uniform.

"You know, you're kind of a liar." He said to me, walking past me.

"What?!" I ask, feeling angered. "How can you call me a --"

"You're not THAT rusty." He said to me, stopping on the bridge.

"Huh?" I ask.

"You can totally play!" He said. "You're just buried in your fears and regrets. Once you get past the fear. You're unstoppable." He added.

"How --"

"The piano is only part of you." He said cutting me off, "and in that moment, when I heard you play. "I knew -- it was your entire universe." He said, walking some more.

"You're trying to rip it away." He said quietly, as I follow him. "You're trying to leave it behind. I saw you tear at it, and the pain, is more than you can hope to bare.. It eats at you."

By now, he was no longer looking at me. His back was facing me, yet I knew the expression he had. "You hide it, but your face is an open book."

"You think you can just forget?" He asked me, continuing. "No way. Not a chance.. Because that first moment, you step on stage is what you and I live for."

I decided to stay silent as he did this.

"You and I," He continued. "We have music in our bones."

He then stopped. "All that matters is that it reaches the person you care for most.

This boy -- he stares right through me.. He reads my soul with no trouble. He knows me more than I know myself, it seemed.

"Which is why I decided." He said said cheerfully, turning around.