24 Lillian Lane

JACK

It's 7:09 pm, and I sit slumped over in the dining room. My dad has ordered in Chinese food for dinner, because my mom was working late and he's a lousy cook.

I poke at my noodly thing with my chopsticks. No matter how carefully I maneuver them, the vegetables and noodles always fall off before they reach my mouth. I grab a spoon and fork instead, rolling up the noodles pasta-style. My dad, who is ravenously eating his food with his chopsticks, looks at me, grunts, and goes back to his newspaper. The sports section. My dad eats, sleeps, and breathes sports. I don't get it. I hate gym class. What happened to his athletic genes?

"Son, I'm going out tonight. My buddy Paul called and invited me to watch the big game at his place. Wanna come?" my dad asks, a bit of hopefulness mixed into his gruff tone. He knows I don't. "They have a boy about your age..." he says, as if we would be best friends.

"I'll pass," I say.

"Your mom won't be home until 10:00 at least. Are you sure?"

"Yes, dad. I'll practice for the concert. That's tomorrow night, you know."

My dad grunts again. "Oh yeah."

He stands up, claps me on the back, and heads for the door. I watch him leave in silence.

After I see the headlights fade away, I throw my mass of Chinese noodles in the trash. They're kind of disgusting, to be honest. I climb the stairs to my room, and set up Vinni.

Then I go to my secret spot. The roof. My window looks out at the top of the garage, so when I was seven, I crawled through it and sat out there. I felt like king, on my rooftop. I used to watch other kids go by down below. It was my favourite thing to do until I fell and broke my arm when I was nine. My mom told me that I wasn't allowed to go there anymore. Ha. I still do, I just only go out when I'm the only one around.

I put on my jacket, and open the window. It's a tighter squeeze than I remember. I crawl out, being careful not to get too close to the edge, and settle myself on the cold shingles. I close my eyes.

And I play. Earlier, I typed up my music on my laptop, but it's all in my head anyway. There's something about playing violin in the winter on a roof that makes me feel better. I think of Michael and Alexandria, having the times of their lives at the school dance. For now, I don't care. I'm here, and I'm happy. I finish the piece, trilling out the vibrato note longer than it should be just for the fun of it. I'm about to play again when I hear a noise behind me.

"What are you doing?"

Eve. I turn around. Eve has her head stuck out the window.

"Nothing," I say. Before I can stop her, she climbs out onto the roof.

"Whoa!" Eve says, losing her balance on the slippery shingles.

I reach my hand out and grab her wrist, trying to ignore the sparks shooting through my body. She looks at me, and as cliché as it is, I swear time stops. I pull her towards me, heart pounding. Her hair, normally tied back, is now loose and wavy, cascading down her back. She eventually lets go of my hand, and sits down beside me. In her other hand, she holds her trumpet. She fingers the valves, avoiding eye contact with me.

"Thanks, Jack," she says. "Uh, why are we out here?"

"We?" I say. "I was practicing for the concert. You just followed me."

Eve looks down. She looks embarrassed, a bit sad.

"I'm sorry," I say. "Can I hear your song?"

Eve smiles. "Sure."

She lifts her trumpet to her lips. I watch intently as she takes a big breath in.

What comes out can only be described in one word.

Perfect.

She starts out slow and quiet, but soon it builds to a grander tune. Everything about the song is flawless, from the accented fanfare to the ending note. I'm astonished. There is no way I can beat out Eve tomorrow.

Eve lowers her trumpet and looks at me. I just gape at her.

"That is beyond words incredible!" I tell her.

She blushes. "Thanks. I think it's missing something though, and I really need to figure it out soon."

"I think it's perfect," I say, before I can stop myself.

Eve looks at me. "Thank you."

I really need to stop this awkward conversation. "Do you want to hear my composition?" I blurt out.

Eve's face goes all suspicious. "I, well I heard it already."

"What?"

"In the music room. I kind of listened through the door? Sorry if that sounds creepy or anything..." Eve nervously swings her trumpet with her free hand.

I'm astonished. I would never peg Eve as the type to snoop through a door. Well, maybe I would have 2 days ago, but views can change! I mentally relive my performance, checking to see if I remember making any mistakes.

"It was really good. Your song, I mean."

"Thanks," I say. Now I'm turning red. The best player in the music department just complimented my composition!

"But I'd love to hear it again!" Eve says, "I want to try something."

I look at her, confused. But I oblige. I close my eyes and start to play.

Soon, I hear something. Trumpet. Eve is playing along.

No, that's not right. She's not in unison with me. She's playing something else. Whatever it is, it sounds like it is meant to be played with my piece. The harmonies are insanely beautiful. When I hold a note, she plays a small solo bit. When she holds a note, I have a run of eighth notes. Our sounds intertwine, and we soar, gracefully creating our masterpiece. That's when it hits me.

Eve isn't making this up. I've heard what she's playing before. This is her entry for the scholarship. How is it possible that two completely different compositions could merge together so nicely? Too soon, the duet ends, perfectly harmonized on a single chord.

I lower my violin, and open my eyes. Eve lowers her trumpet and looks at me.

"Whoa," we both say.

"That's freaky." Eve rubs her head. "How is this even possible? Your piece and my piece, they just... click."

I smile. "I think I've found what I've been looking for."

Eve nods. "Yeah, if only we could play together at the concert tomorrow."

I shake my head. "That's not what I meant, Eve Morley."

"What do you mean, Jack Anderson?" Eve says raising her eyebrows.

Then I do what I've wanted to do so badly ever since yesterday night. Something that I would never have done before.

I kiss Eve.