Chloe had played the cello since she was in the fifth grade. She wasn’t amazing at it, but her playing couldn’t be described as horrible either. She sat fourth chair in her school’s best orchestra. And though she wasn’t amazing, Chloe loved playing the cello. She practiced often and was a solid player. She would frequently hum the tunes she learned on her cello around the house and while doing homework.
Joe knew all those facts about Chloe; just like anything else, he had committed them to memory the very first time he ever heard mention of them. But he had never, prior to this night, seen Chloe’s cello playing in action, live, in concert. So he was content, a few days after the dance at Chloe’s school, to be sitting in the school auditorium, hearing Chloe’s orchestra for the first time. The orchestra was a splendid one. They were one of the best in the greater area.
But Joe couldn’t care less about the rest of the orchestra. For the hour they were on stage, the only person he could pay attention to was Chloe. The way her hair gleamed with the bright lights shining on it, the way her small hands pressed against the strings of the instrument. How she would look up every once in a while to catch instructions from the conductor. When she smiled at her stand partner while the audience clapped for them. Joe resolved to have her play some background sounds for a record one day. It would sound fantastic.
When the concert was finished, Chloe stood with her classmates, all dressed in simple black, and beamed out at the audience. Joe clapped loudly, so much so that those around him gave him a few weird glances and her parents beamed just like their daughter.
Joe stood around with Chloe’s parents after the concert and waited for Chloe to meet them in the lobby. She arrived a short while later, and smiled as her parents told her that she played very nicely and looked great. They played the role of the proud parents quite easily. They moved aside as she turned to Joe. She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed for a brief moment before stepping back and saying, “Thanks for coming.”
“Of course,” Joe responded. He smiled at her, and received a smile in return. She was pleased that he had come; normally she didn’t have anyone besides her parents at her concerts. So it meant a lot that he was there.
It especially meant a lot because Joe had come home specifically for this concert. He hadn’t seen her since the dance, he had been away again, and he was leaving again soon for a brand new tour, their biggest gig yet. Things had been all right between the two of them. They still had to figure out what footing they were on, where exactly they were. For all intents and purposes, Joe would say that things were going just fine.
Joe had only a few hours left at home before leaving. He chose to spend those last hours with Chloe.
“Want to go out to dessert or something?” he asked her now, hoping to God that she’d say yes.
Chloe's mom overheard and, turning back towards them, said, “Oh yes, honey, go on and do that. That sounds like fun!”
Chloe smiled shyly at Joe. “Okay.” They left Chloe’s instrument with her parents and left the lobby of the auditorium. It was dark out, and the streets were near empty as they drove out of the parking lot.
They drove in a contented silence to the closest place that offered desserts: McDonald’s. Chloe ordered her favorite, a vanilla milkshake. She got some fries too, saying how she didn’t eat much before the concert. Joe got a fruit parfait. He loved those things. They settled down at a booth near the back of the restaurant. There was no one around.
“So you liked the concert?” Chloe asked Joe, dipping a fry in her milkshake and then eating it. She laughed at the weird look Joe gave her when she did that.
