Careless Whispers

I

Melody echoed through the walls of the theatre room, it was void except for the sound of strings attached to every corner of the ancient building, it danced in the air, so soft like a gentle breeze, a sweet bliss to the soul.

Daniel immediately recognised Yanni's Prelude, he heard it countless of times, yet he felt like it was the first time his ears perked with every note, his thoughts scattered in space like pieces of broken glass.

Daniel and Nick both halted to a stop. Nick succeeded on his plan to drag Daniel back home and calling it a day before his friend could collapse on the floor, knowing Daniel won't listen to his screaming muscles. The two males froze on the spot as the sound of a crying violin shook their bodies, making them shiver as goosebumps travelled down their bodies.

The violinist was painting with their bow a story, only the wandering hearts would understand, their bow was a pen writing down their deepest secrets and shattering them in the air as they turned to glass and broke into tinny pieces.

Daniel was the first to head to the theatre room, the sound luring him forward, his senses were at ease and perking everywhere at the same time welcoming the sound as it echoed and returned from everywhere and nowhere. The very sound of the strings emerged as dancers in front of the duo, twirling around them with their flexible bodies made of every note the violinist summoned from the darkness of their heads.

Once they uncovered the violinist, it was the newbie, eyes closed as her body shook with every note, her facial expressions translated pain and pleasure, it was like she and the violin were one, sharing one body, the violin playing the role of the tongue as it spoke volumes louder than words could ever say.

Daniel could swear he saw a shinny line on her cheek, a tear, but her pale complexion gave away so little, her brows relaxed in their place as she hit the final note, as it was so painfully slow and steady.

As her gaze welcomed the sight of the two dancers, the girl jumped with wide eyes, "oh God! I'm sorry, did I disturb your practice? I-" the girl raised both brows as Nick chuckled at her flustered self, pink hugged her cheeks.

"You're amazing, lady," the remainder of his joy was a genuine grin, "you were making love to the violin!"

"I- uh, thank you," she shyly giggled at him, she didn't see him as rude, but honest and blunt about his feelings and thoughts, he was never ashamed when it came to voicing what was in his mind and heart, and fortunately she knew well how to read people, "I thought I was alone, I'm sorry if I caused any disturbance?" She apologized.

"Well, you only disturbed my heart with your strings," Nick put a hand on his chest where his heart pumped, dramatically as if he's injured, earning a chuckle from the girl, "myself and Dany boy were already heading out though."

During the whole exchange, Daniel hasn't uttered a word, he wasn't much of a socialist as Nick. Daniel focused on her voice and how it resembles the sound of a piano, so soft and low yet loud at the same time, like when the notes change. And when Nick addressed him, the girl locked eyes with Daniel, she seemed so fragile but her gaze was strong, mirroring a strong soul behind those black as night irises.

"I'm Niklaus Armstrong though, but please call me Nick, and this is Daniel Knight," Nick circled his arm around his friend's shoulders, "we'll see each other more often from now on, we're the main-"

"I know."

The girl smiled, bending down, she put the violin in its respected black suitcase, "I've seen you guys perform more than once, and I'm really glad that I'll be working with your orchestra," she pushed her hair away from her face straightening back up facing the dumbfounded Nick and a blank Daniel, "and I'm Melody Carson."

With every word she uttered, her eyes never left Daniel's while grinning kindly at him as if she knew something he didn't.

"That was unexpected, I mean you knowing us," Nick chuckled rubbing the back of his neck, "then we can be friends!" He slapped Daniel's back-friendly with enthusiasm, but the later didn't turn and shoot back a more forceful slap to his friend but stayed locked as a prisoner in Melody's strong gaze that captivated his eyesight.

"I'm sure, since we'll see each other often as you mentioned, Miss. Juniper has assigned me and another pianist to your practice," picking up her suitcase, "it's late and I'm sure you guys are super exhausted so let's call it a day? And you can head out first."

"Okay! Then see you tomorrow, Melody," Nick was the first to head to the existing, as Daniel was still staring at the girl.

Melody tilted her head to the side with a wave of her hand she almost sang, "good night, Mr Knight."

And he only nodded at her and headed outside. It was already night time and the weather was nice so the duo decided to walk home to stretch their stiff muscles a little. It was Nick's idea saying that he wanted to spend some time with his 'always busy with practice' friend.

"She's sure a sight to behold," Nick immediately started talking about the violinist, and Daniel oddly hadn't objected on the topic of their conversation rather he repeated the day when he first met her in the metro station in his head again, and again unconsciously, he did not tell Nick about this, and he did not want to, rather he wanted to keep this to himself. Daniel was zooming out as his friend continued talking but he caught Daniel's attention by his next question.

"You still aren't on talking terms with Janet?"

Daniel suddenly could feel the cold breeze on his face, he noticed how the pavement was coloured in a dark colour due to the rain, and how Nick's question made him bleed silently.

"No," he simply answered, there's no space for other words regarding Janet.

Nick moved his gaze to his friend, he did not mean to open another wound in Daniel, but he wished he could talk to him, share his burdens with himself. Nick knew Janet was trying to work things out again with Daniel, and Nick shamefully confessed to himself that he was trying to fix things between them by inviting Daniel to her birthday party, and he regretted it as Daniel looked a little betrayed at his suggestion that day and that is when Nick knew how he misjudged the situation and that Janet did not deserve his friend.

The two lived a block away from one another, as they wished each other a good night, but before Nick could turn the other way his friend called him making him turn around, "it's not your fault, I'm okay, Nick." Daniel knew that Nick was beating himself up for what happened with Janet, but truly it was not his fault and Daniel was sure having a hard time dealing with her in practice, but he knew how to cope with the situation, he won't give up on his career because of her.

Nick could breathe again hearing these words he could sleep that night, he had a brother, and he'll keep supporting and looking after him even if Daniel was stubborn, he knew him better.

"Goodnight."