Hourglass (NateWantsToBattle & Cristina Vee)

Chapter 14: His Broken Melody

HUNTER

The house in front of me was silent. I didn't dare knock on the door. My mother sent me over to Nate's to check on him and bring him food. Whether he eats it or not, is the question.

Cristina texted me not too long ago, saying something was off with him, and that I should figure out if he's okay or not. At first, I thought she was just saying things, but after some thought, I began to think. Maybe she's right.

With a sigh, I walk into the dimly lit house, closing the door behind me.

Nate's bag was by the front closet, so I knew he was home.

As soon as I started my way up the stairs, to the main floor of the house, I heard the faint sound of the Violin ring through the house. Going up the stairs quickly, I walk into the main room, to find Nate by himself.

He seemed quite content though. Lost in his music... Like usual.

"There you are," I say quietly, making him open his eyes. He didn't stop playing as I walked in. "I thought you were sleeping," I add.

I knew he wasn't going to talk. He was just going to play... and the odd thing is -- his playing told me everything I need to know.

"My mom made waffles," I say to him. "I brought some over," I add, setting the plate on his piano.

As I did that, I couldn't help but notice the letter sitting there. The letter I gave him Wednesday night.

"You haven't opened the letter yet?" I ask him, sitting down. "Are you scared too?" I ask.

He still said nothing... Him not speaking, and only playing music sent a new aura around the room.

Cristina is right. There is something off with him.. I can hear it.

"You know, if you don't respond to that letter soon, they might think you're not up for it," I say to him. "Which I know isn't true. You're up for any challenge that comes your way! No matter how difficult."

As I finished my sentence, the music fades away. Looking over, I see him open his eyes briefly, before lowering the Bow. He looked at me for a moment before dropping the Bow to the ground.

"You okay?" I ask him, getting up, prepared for him to fall.

He still said nothing, as he lowered the violin with a shaky arm. He didn't drop it, but his strength did drop.

"Hey!" I say, going to him. "Sit down," I say, taking the stringed instrument from him, sitting him down the on the bench behind him.

"What's the matter?" I ask him, taking a drink of my water.

"Nothing." He finally spoke. "I'm fine."

I look at him, seeing dried blood on his left temple. "Did you fall again?" I ask him, getting a paper towel off the plate I brought.

"On the stairs." He answered me, fixing the sleeves of his dress shirt. "But I didn't fall hard enough for it to knock me out." He sighed.

"Nate, you can't keep pushing yourself like you are!" I say to him. "You're running yourself dry!"

"What choice do I have?!" He suddenly snapped, making me freeze.

"Hey, you're acting really strange," I say to him. "Have you slept?" I ask.

"Not since the Hospital." He answered, getting up.

"Have you eaten?" I ask him.

He refused to answer that, as he took a sip from the glass he has resting on a Cup Holder on the Piano. His gaze fell to the ground, resting on the Bow that was sitting there.

"Can you believe it?" He asked. "You were right." He added before reaching down to grab the bow. He went for the Violin again, picking it up with some difficulty, but managed.

"Huh?" I ask him.

He said nothing after that and went back to playing. The song he was playing wasn't the one from before... This was more advanced. Not in a way that it was higher than his level but more so energy wise... He'll tire himself out.

"Nate, you can't hide your pain," I say to him. "You're showing your pain right now. With your playing."

"What do you know?" He asked me, not meaning for it to sound mean. "Why do you assume I'm suffering?"

"Because you are," I say. "I can sense it."

He said nothing after that and just played.

"What caused this?" I asked him, hoping I'd get an answer.

Nothing.

"What caused you to act like this?" I ask. "You're scaring me... You really scared me."

Still nothing.

Of course. I expect that.

"Are you just going to play that song all night?" I ask him.

"Yes." He answered.

"Why?"

"It takes the pain away." He replied to me.

"What pain?"

"All of it."

With a sigh, I sit there and listen for a while.

If it's taking his pain away, I'll sit through it.

What choice do I have? I promised him I'd stand by him no matter what he did.

Of course, most of his pain as to be from him lying to Cristina and Amanda this morning. Telling the girls it was the first time he had passed out, while in truth that was the third time he's passed out this month. He is indeed anemic, so at least he was honest about that.

But my question is why he didn't come up clean to them? Like he's hiding something from mainly Cristina.. and I may know why.

It has something to do with her parents.