The Silence

Chapter Twenty One

Saint:

"Let's go." I said when Julian opened the door.

"What?" He let out a small laugh and looked at me up and down. "Go where? Why aren't you dressed?"

"We still have time. The band is performing tonight, after the game. I thought you wanted to see it." I said and his eyes widened.

"I...uh, yeah, wait..." He shook his head and looked down at himself now. "I'll just go change."

"You don't need to." I said and tugged him out the door onto the porch. "Let's go "

"Saint!" He gasped, but he let me drag him down the stairs after he locked the door. "Hi, Peter." He greeted him when he jumped inside the car and Peter lifted his hat.

"Mr Carter."

"We can head to the school now, Peter." I said and the car started.

"Do we really have time? When will you get dressed?" Julian asked as he rubbed his hands on his pants to get them warm. I wrapped them up in mine and rubbed them gently.

"I brought my suit. I'll change in the car." He pursed his lips at me but kept quiet.

The main part of school was empty and silent, but the closer we got to the field, the louder it got until a wave of noise hit us when we turned a corner. Julian winced and adjusted his hearing aid.

"The game should almost be at half time. Then we can leave after the band plays." I said in his ear and he nodded, staring at the field with wide eyes. I led him up the back stairs to the top of the stands and found some empty seats for us to sit in. It was much colder up here though, and Julian only had a t-shirt on.

"Here." I took off my jacket and held it up so he could put his arms through it easily.

"Aren't you cold too?" He shivered again and I pushed his arms through the sleeves myself.

"I'm fine." I muttered, and hoped he wouldn't notice the goose bumps prickling my arms.

The game stayed uneventful for the most part until half time and when the players ran off the field, the band marched out onto it.

Julian was still next to me as he listened and I watched his face carefully.

"They aren't bad." He said finally and I laughed out loud. He grinned at me cheekily. "It's missing a trombone."

"It doesn't really add much."

"I disagree." He said haughtily. "I want to hear it too." I sucked in a long breath and looked back down the stairs we'd come up from.

"Come on." I dragged him with me again.

"Are we allowed in here?" Julian snickered as we both tried to catch our breath.

"This way." I pushed the door to the music room open and he followed behind me when I turned on the lights. I found my trombone case pretty much in the same place I had left it on the shelf. I snapped the locks and opened the case carefully. When I pulled it out, Julian's mouth fell open.

"Pretty, isn't it?" I said and he blinked at me.

"Figures you'd have a black one." He said and I winked at him, making him punch me in the arm. "It looks beautiful." It sounded beautiful too. I guess I didn't realise how much I'd missed playing it until I put it together and put my lips on it. I played a few notes that echoed in the room and Julian giggled happily, clapping his hands.