Writing Challenges

Challenge #6

The faint sound of a piano playing a haunting melody was the reason Elena missed the school bus. She didn't really mind, though. Music was her first love. She had been playing the guitar ever since she was big enough to hold it.
Slowly, she walked up to the door that was the only thing between her and the beautiful song being created in the music room. With her ear covertly pressed to the door, she realized that the person at the piano was very experienced; there was not a moment's hesitation between chords. She violently jumped backwards when a strong male voice suddenly began to hum a rich tune, pausing every now and then to make a few changes.
Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. With a deep breath, she turned the handle and softly padded into the room. The boy at the piano didn't turn to look at her, in fact, he didn't seem to notice her at all. Elena shrugged and picked up an acoustic guitar from its stand and began strumming chords that she thought would fit with the song being played. She craned her neck trying to catch a glimpse of the boy's face, but the angle wasn't in her favor, so she sighed and mumbled, "A minor, E, B flat, C," accompanying the name of each chord with a downward strum. 
The boy, seeming satisfied with his piece, suddenly stopped playing, and though Elena's reflexes were fast, they weren't quick enough to stop her hands from making one last downward motion, and the sound of the guitar rung out doubly loud in the silence. The boy, startled, scrambled away from the piano, his eyes wide with shock as he recognized his accompanist. Elena, her eyes just as wide, could not believe what she was seeing.
"Eli?" she gasped. "You-you play the-you write music?"
The question hung in the air like an unpleasant smell, and after what seemed like a year, Eli slowly nodded, pushing his black hair out of his eyes. He shrugged as she raised an eyebrow questioningly, and said, "I may be deaf in one ear, but I'm not tone deaf. Music is how I pretend I'm normal." His tone grew defensive and just the slightest bit accusatory. "What are you doing here, anyway? The buses left, like, fifteen minutes ago."
Elena could only gape. His explanation was the first thing she had ever heard Eli say, and it already told her so much about him. 
Giving herself a small shake, she quietly said, "I heard you playing and hung back. Music," she smiled at him, "is my life."
His expression softened slightly, and his eyes became more like storm clouds than daggers, and he said, "Well, now that you know my secret, do you want to hear what I've been working on?" 
He grinned, and all of a sudden, his eyes changed from storm clouds to summer rain, and that made Elena very happy, for some odd reason. She nodded excitedly, and pulled her stool forward so that it was next to the piano bench. He smiled gently at her, and began to play. She sat next to him, swaying to the rhythm that only the two of them shared, completely lost in the moment. He glanced at her shyly, then began to sing. 

I ruled the world.
With these hands I shook the heavens to the ground.
I laid the gods to rest.
I held the key to the kingdom.
Lions guarding castle walls.
Hail the king of death.

Then I lost it all
Dead and broken.
My back's against the wall.
Cut me open.
I'm just trying to breathe,
Just trying to figure it out
Because I built these walls to watch them crumbling down.
I said, "Then I lost it all."
And who can save me now?

I stood above
Another war,
Another jewel upon the crown.
I was the fear of men.
But I was blind.
I couldn't see the world there right in front of me.
But now I can...

'Cause I lost it all
Dead and broken.
My back's against the wall.
Cut me open.
I'm just trying to breathe,
Just trying to figure it out
Because I built these walls to watch them crumbling down.
I said, "Then I lost it all."
Who can save me now?

I believe that we all fall down sometimes
Can't you see that we all fall down sometimes? 

I believe that we all fall down sometimes 
 Can't you see that we all fall down sometimes? 

I believe that we all fall down sometimes.

Elena couldn't believe her ears. She sat, shell-shocked, stock-still, staring at Eli in amazement. He nervously rubbed the back of his neck, and said, "I know it's still a work in progress, but--"
He stopped talking, staring at her. She had picked up his sheet music and was thumbing through it. 
"Okay, before you say anything else," Elena said, "You have to hear this. It's a song I wrote a little while ago, and..Well, you'll see."
He nodded dumbly, his confusion making him rapt. 
Elena grinned at him, plucked a few strings on the old acoustic Taylor she was cradling, and began to sing.

I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word

Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing,
"Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh, who would ever wanna be king?

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Elena grinned as Eli stared at her, watching as he processed how similar their songs were. 
"Isn't that insane?" she asked, and he said, "That's crazy," at the same time. 
They both laughed, a hint of a blush on each of their faces.
Eli looked at Elena, seeing more than just a pretty girl with blonde hair and green eyes for the first time, and said, "This might seem out of the blue, but um..Would you like to write a song with me?"
Elena smiled happily and nodded. "When?"
"Tomorrow? Here, after school?" Eli suggested.
She laughed playfully and said, "Sure! It's a date."

They walked out of the music room hand in hand, with smiles that radiated happiness.

 Outside, a sapling sprouted, the product of love and labour, celebrating the meeting of soulmates.