Symphony

Chapter 1

"RING!" The school bell chimes signaling the end of class and the start of the lunch hour. However, this bell meant something different to Nicholas. It meant that he was free to head over to the music room. All day, everyday he waited for this moment. This peaceful, serene moment where he could steal himself away from the rest of the world and indulge in his drug of choice, music. He had been playing music all his life, but no matter what instrument caught his eye, he always found that he was more drawn to the cello. It was his life, his love, and his future. Nicholas loved the lunch hour because it was the only time of the school day that he could play uninterrupted. Most of the school spent the hour stuffing their faces. Food quenched their hunger, but not Nicholas. The only thing that could save him was the rhythmic sawing of his bow on the cello strings. The only word that could possibly describe that feeling was euphoric. The connection between himself and his instrument was unexplainable. Sadly, he was never alone for long. His music always had a way of drawing in onlookers sooner or later. They always looked forward to hearing him play. Over the years he learned to time out how long he would have before the vultures surrounded him. Right before they would arrive he would gently put his cello away and switch to a different instrument. He mainly resorted to either the guitar or the piano. They generally liked those the best.
Most people would love to be idolized and acknowledged. People believe that it is exceptional. People tend to overlook the part where you don't get time to yourself. Nicholas hated that part of his playing. He never got to enjoy his music for very long. It was in the stolen moments that he was able to be himself and play just for himself and his love of the cello.
Today he had gotten lost in his music and almost forgot to listen for the approaching footsteps. Hearing the clatter swiftly moving toward him from outside the door, he quickly put down his bow and began to put his cello away. Once it was in it's rightful spot resting peacefully, he rushed over to the piano and attacked the keys with ferocity. He could hear them talking about the school dance that was coming up as they approached the door. The enthusiasm in their voices frustrated him. Couldn't they go have their discussion elsewhere and leave him to play in peace? Why couldn't they leave him alone with his music? His anger swelled up inside him and out through his fingers. Every note played was loud and filled with so much emotion, that he found he was surprised that the keys weren't breaking under the weight of his fingers. He wanted to drown them out, to envelop their noise with his own. Still they managed to breakthrough. Who cared about the senior ball, or that it was girls choice? What did it matter that most of the girls had already found their dates? Still, his anger and frustration was fading. By the time they walked through the door he was playing soft and sweetly. He listened to their conversations with a small smile. Conversations between the girls about finding the perfect dress and guys discussing the upcoming football game this weekend. It was like they were in their own little worlds. Neither world thinking of the other that lived right beside it. In the back he could hear girls discussing who they should ask. They were running out of time to find the perfect date, not just because the ball was nearing, but because most of the guys were already taken.
Still he found himself unable to grasp why it was so important. He was in his own world, a world of music and emotion. He had always found school dances to be tedious and dull. Though that didn't stop this one from needing to be the most important and flawless one yet. Each dance always needed to be the best, better than the last one. A small chuckle bubbled up inside of him at the thought of the girls begging their dates to dance with them.
"RING!" the bell chimes once again. This time signaling the end of the lunch hour and the start of the second half of the day. Nicholas watches his audience slowing gather up their once discarded possessions. Their faces now fallen because their free hour has ended. Finally playing the last note, he closes the piano and stands up from the bench to head to his next class. As he reached the door he stops to give one last longing look at the cello in the corner before turning out the light and closing the door.
The walk to class had been a short one, but long enough for his mind to wander. He found himself wondering if his life would ever be different. He had always found it ironic that normal ordinary people always wished that they were extraordinary, while extraordinary people always wanted to be normal. Not all the time, but most of the time. At some point or another they would realize that they were perfect just the way that they were, but the irony was still there.
Even as he sat in his seat and listened to his teacher drone on for the millionth time he found that he could not concentrate on anything except his own thoughts. Every class was the same. In history class they had started a new section on ancient Greece which did kind of peak his interest, but not enough to keep him fully focused for too long. Most school days seemed to be never ending, but today it was different. For some reason today felt even longer. School was like being stuck in one of those time loop movies where the same day repeats over and over again until the main character learns something important and somehow breaks the loop. Unfortunately, school was never as interesting as that and it wasn't going to stop if he did some special things. Even without paying attention he managed to ace all of his homework and tests. School was boring. It was a curse that he couldn't escape from. Sure he could drop out or even test out if he wanted to, but what would be the point? His life would probably be even more uneventful than it already was.
As soon as class was over, Nicholas jumped out of his seat. He wanted out of there. He wanted to be free of the factory setting and to escape to his musical sanctuary. First he needed to stop by his locker and grab the rest of his stuff. On his way there he overheard more conversations revolving around the dance and the football game this weekend. It didn't take him long to break through his lock and grab his stuff before slamming the metal door closed once again. Unfortunately, just as he was about to head to the door and start his walk home the intercom shrieked to life.
"Just a friendly reminder. Today is the final day to sign up for the Historical Museum field trip tomorrow, so don't forget to stop by the office before you leave."
Normally he wouldn't give the announcement a second thought, but for some reason he felt his interest peaked. For the first time in a long time he actually felt genuinely excited for something other than playing his cello. So, instead of heading home like normal, he made a u-turn and headed for the office.
The walk was short, but it gave him some much needed time to think over his decision. No matter how much he questioned it or even thought about changing his mind, he still felt drawn to the field trip. It didn't take long to sign his name. He even offered the people working in the office a kind smile before leaving. He knew that the new Greek mythology part of the museum was opening tomorrow and he couldn't wait to see it. They had talked a lot about it in history class earlier in the day, so he had already wanted to go, but this gave him the perfect opportunity to do it. He had always been interested in the culture do to the fact that his ancestors were from there, but this was different. He had never been drawn to something like this before. Maybe it was his inner curiosity. Perhaps he would learn something new. Who knows, maybe the trip will bring something new and exciting into his life.
The walk home wasn't anything new. It was the same old streets filled with the same people who didn't pay any attention to him unless he was playing something. However, this time he didn't spend his walk thinking about music or homework. For the first time in a long time his thoughts were plagued with something new and exciting. He couldn't wait until tomorrow. The history museum was all that he could think about. When he finally made it home he was genuinely happy, which was a nice change from his usual demeanor. Normally he was straight faced and a little grumpy, but now he had something to look forward to.
When he walked into his house, his mom was sitting on the couch waiting. However, she did not expect to see her son with an actual smile on his face. This new change shocked and surprised her. She watched silently as he shuffled past her and into the kitchen. Nicholas went straight for the Oreo's and a glass of white milk. It had been a long day and he needed a snack. His mother continued to stare at him, what she thought was her son. The thought that he could be possessed had already come and gone from her mind. She couldn't believe that her little Nicky was acting like a teenager, a normal everyday bland teenager.
Nicholas stepped into the doorway between the kitchen and the living room and looked at his mom who was still staring blankly at him. "You okay mom?" The question came between slurps of his milk, but the strange look on his mom's face was really starting to worry him.
"Ye-Yeah, sorry. I uh- You seem to be in a good mood today. How was school?" She couldn't help, but be flustered. She had never seen her son act like this. At least not since he first discovered his love of music.
"Yeah. School was boring. Though we did start to learn about ancient Greece in history class today. I don't know why, but I found it kind of interesting... Actually, there's a field trip to the Historical Museum tomorrow to go see the new exhibit. So I figured I would go check it out."
"That's nice. I think-"
"I need to go do my homework. Love you!" Nicholas had slipped off into his own little world again, but for a brief moment, his mother had seen the innocent and sweet boy she had once known. She watched him run up the stairs to his room, a smile spreading across her face.
She loved her son so much and his happiness brought her great joy, but he had disappeared into a world of his own. He had sealed himself off from her. She was proud of him and who he was becoming, music and all. She just wished that he would open up more and let happiness back into his life. She like all the others loved and flocked to his music, but it wasn't the fact that he was so good at it that drew her in. It was the joy that encompassed his face as he played. It was for that reason that she encouraged him to keep going. He was so driven, so focused. Every step that he ever took was a step closer to his goal. Unfortunately, he learned to think of his gift as more of a curse. All she wanted was for him to find his smile again. To be that joyful little boy once more.
It didn't take long for Nicholas to finish his homework. When he was done he put it into his bag so that he wouldn't forget it in the morning. He had done that before and he wasn't going to chance it happening again. Once he was finished, he layed in his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Normally he would be playing something at this point, but his mind was racing with thoughts of tomorrow. Questions swirled in his mind. Why was he so excited about a silly exhibit at the museum? He had never been this excited about anything other than playing the cello. What was so special about Greek history? With all of these thoughts still playing through his head, he slowly drifted off into dreams of music and Ancient Greece.