(9) Fermata

As I walked backstage, a voice spoke out to me from the darkness of the rafters.

Did you play well, Asher?

I paused.

"I wouldn't say so. I did stop once, after all."

You know what that would mean in a competition, don't you?

I looked down at my sneakers.

"Immediate disqualification."

Yet you kept going. Even if there's a chance that it would have been futile. Why?

...

Why, you ask...

"Because someone out there was listening."

Is that so?

Is that really what you think?

The voice began to fade like smoke into the air.

Looks like you still have some growing up to do, Winterfield.

"I must say, I completely misread you my boy!"

That large, jovial man who was looking daggers at me before now stood at my side as I exited the backstage door, patting my back with all the jolliness of Santa Claus and laughing heartily all the while.

"Asher Winterfield, huh? I must say it had been a while since I heard your name, you'll forgive me for my lack of initial faith... oh, but I always knew you'd come through, my boy!"

"Haha..."

To be honest, I could hardly register a single word he was saying. My mind was still spinning from what I'd just done, and I felt unsteady on my feet. Still, I plodded through and back to the practice room where I left my case.

"Take a breather, young man! I trust Miss Melody will be along to see you soon."

He shut the door behind me as I stood in that dimly lit room.

Deep breaths.

I set my cello down carefully, loosened the threads on my bow, set that down with the cello, and then my whole body caved in.

Luckily, the sofa I sat down on to tune my instrument before going on stage was there to catch me. I fell uncomfortably and face first into that leather seat, extremely winded.

Did I really just do that?

My heart was still pounding at a feverish pace. The sweat on the back of my shirt had become cold.

...

I just needed a few moments.

To catch my breath.

...

I really did do that, didn't I?

I did that...

The door opened. A shred of light from the hallway stretched across the walls of the practice room.

"...To think I would find you like this."

The sound of a familiar pair of heels walked over to where he laid. When he didn't respond, she peered curiously at his face, which was pressed into the seat of the sofa. Asher Winterfield seemed to have fallen asleep, despite the incredible odds.

"Just a two minute piece, yet you're already in this state..."

The weight of the sofa shifted sightly as Octavia Melody took a set right beside him.

"Really, what am I to do with you...?"

"I'm out of practice..." She recalled him saying.

"I believe it now for sure. But to think it would be to this degree!"

Octavia looked down at him with an indescribable feeling in her chest.

"If you sleep like that, you'll wake up with marks on your face, you know? Honestly..."

She scooted closer to him.

"I'm right here, yet you insist on sleeping in that uncomfortable position. You sure know how to offend a girl, don't you?"

Carefully, so as not to wake him (though she felt that even the roughest handling wouldn't rouse the very tired looking Asher), she shifted the boy's head onto her lap. He made a lackluster noise from the disturbance, but it seemed like he was still dreaming.

...

Octavia parted a section of his hair with her fingers in a delicate motion. His hair was rough, messy, black like her's, but mysteriously not as dark. It was a bit fun to play with.

When she looked at him like this, all sorts of things jumped at her. His face, still a bit red from the excitement, was handsome and well proportioned, and his skin fair like that of a prince's (she didn't know, of course, that it was only because he didn't get very much sun). His form was slender yet broad, perfect for a cello player. The mole underneath his left eye was also very endearing.

And despite everything, he slept on her lap so peacefully, just like a baby.

"You're incredible, you know that?"

She had a bit of his hair twirled between her index finger.

"I never expected you to show me up like that, Asher Winterfield."

Truly, you made me look like a fool after everything I'd said and done to you.

You had the last laugh in the end. I could hear it, you know?

In your playing.

Within the notes of that Prelude, Octavia could still remember seeing it clearly.

The image of a young boy who loved and played classical music with his whole entire heart.

"So stay with me, okay? Because I still have to show you what I can do too."

She smiled and leaned close, whispering into his ear—

"That's a promise, alright? Superhero Asher."

Huh?

When did I fall unconscious?

My memories are hazy... though my consciousness was held together by mere threads, I could recall someone entering the room. Then, a really soft sensation... warmth like I hadn't known for so long...

I sat up in the sofa. The room was now well lit, and everything was as I left it.

Everything except...

There she was. Sitting in the opposite corner, a book in her hand.

Octavia looked up at the sudden noise, and our eyes met.

Just like the day we met, her face betrayed no expression.

"Awake now, are we?"

I rubbed my eyes. "How long was I out for?"

She checked her watch.

"Three hours."

Three hours, huh?

...

"Three hours?!"

I checked the time on my phone in a panic as Octavia regarded me with an unimpressed expression. "You heard me the first time, didn't you?"

I ignored the jab and rubbed my eyes harder, willing away the sleepiness.

Good god. Three hours after a two and a half minute song? There are limits to fatigue...

And after all that mouthing off to Octavia, that's what I had to show for myself? My entire face burned with embarrassment.

So uncool...

I mean, it's not like I was really trying to impress her in the first place, but you know...

My mind suddenly picked up on a memory. Mischievousness welled up within me like helium in a balloon.

"But you know, I didn't know you could get so emotional." I smirked as I looked back at the black-haired beauty, who froze up in response. "Yelling in the middle of a performance, crying right afterwards..."

"Looks like little Miss Melody isn't without her imperfections, hm?"

Bingo. Her face suddenly flushed with a deep pink.

"I did no such thing! It was all your imagination." She huffed indignantly. "More importantly, what was the big idea with stopping in the middle like that? And that atrocious playing right before? You know you'd be disqualified immediately if you auditioned or competed in that state, don't you?"

I couldn't hold back my laughter. Octavia's cheeks puffed out like a hamster when she got mad!

"You...!" She looked like she wanted to throw the book in her hands at me when she saw my expression.

I laughed so hard it hurt. It had been so long since something was this funny. So long since my heart trembled like this.

"Well..." I wiped away a few tears, holding back more laughter. "Sorry to have made you stick through that playing, and with me while I was out, Octavia."

"Tavi."

...

"Huh?" I did a double take.

"Call me Tavi." She faced the wall, so I couldn't make out her expression.

Still, the tips of her ears were red.

I smiled at that.

Not a flower on a high mountain, not Beethoven, not some goddess. Just a girl with a big heart. Even if there were many other things I still didn't know about her, I knew for sure that was Octavia Melody.

"Got it, Tavi."

I scratched my cheek awkwardly. "Um— you can call me Ashy if you want, I guess...?"

The book I was expecting her to throw at me earlier came flying towards my face. The binding of a hardcover met with the bridge of my nose at an uncomfortable angle.

"Who would call you that!? Idiot!"

Oof.

The Children's Recital had already long concluded by the time I regained consciousness. I was told by the Headmaster that many parents had to drag their kids away from the Academy when the affair wrapped up, trying effortlessly to convince them that I would still be there by the time they went home and came back. Guess that meant I was expected to come again.

The sun was beginning it's descent, and I needed to get home. I hadn't seen Uncle all day, after all, and there was still the issue of Alexis to take care of. But I was optimistic about it all— my life outside of music seemed to shine more colorfully as a result of what I went through today.

Octavia, keeping true to her word, offered me a ride home. During the half hour of commute, rather than the awkward exchange of words we had while going to the Academy, we instead had an animated discussion on music. What pieces would fit a performance for the children, like what mix of technique and expression would best entertain the audience, along what kinds of things we liked to eat before or after playing a big piece, the styles of music we preferred and which composers made the best pieces for certain instruments.

Almost before I knew it, we'd arrived in front of my home. We both exited the car and stood at the curb, now bathed in the light of the sunset.

"A coffee shop, huh?" Octavia commented, stroking her chin pensively as she looked upon my humble abode.

"We're not in business right now, but there'll be a grand re-opening next week." I looked sideways to her. "Will you come?"

She smiled, pretending to think it over. "I do enjoy a good iced latte. Try and brew me a good one, will you?"

I scratched the back of my head while laughing nervously. No way I could tell her I was still a total novice at the whole thing... I'd have to really press my Uncle to teach me how before that happened.

More importantly, I'd get to see Octavia Melody again. That stood out to me more than anything else.

"Now," she spoke as she motioned for her chauffeur to come forwards, "I believe this belongs to you?"

Of course. My cello. I took the case in my hands and adjusted the strap over my shoulder.

"It's a shame we couldn't enjoy dinner," she spoke wistfully, "I could have taken you to any five star restaurant tonight with ease... but alas, your poor uncle awaits you in fear of the unknown. I'll have to let you go for today."

I smiled at her grandeur. She really liked to show off, didn't she?

Today was truly amazing. I had to show her my gratitude.

I began, "Thank y—"

"But I'm not done with you just yet, Winterfield." Octavia turned to face me and cut me off, now serious. "I really meant it when I said that I believed in you. You can go farther than where you went at the Children's Recital today. You can soar to even greater heights if you truly put in the effort."

She stepped forwards, now very close to me. A mere inch, or perhaps less than that, is all that separated our faces.

Her eyes shone in that moment of twilight. "I know you can."

...

I opened my mouth to speak, "I—"

"But, again, whether you want to or not is up to you," Octavia turned away quickly, "I'm still not forcing you to do anything."

She tucked a bit of hair behind her ear, a rare blush appearing on her face. "S— so in the meantime, while you think about it, I suppose I'll let you have my cellphone number!"

The gesture shocked me at first, but I slowly eased into it.

"Sure, Tavi. If that's what you want."

"I— I mean, how else will we get in contact again? Don't take it the wrong way, fool! They wouldn't let you just waltz back into the Academy without me to guide you, understand?"

As ridiculous as ever, Octavia Melody. Perhaps in addition to having a big heart, I should also refer to her as the girl with an even bigger mouth.

"I'll text you later! Make sure to respond within 30 seconds, or you'll definitely hear from me!"

With that, we parted ways. Her extravagant limousine drove off and turned the corner. The image of her still burned into my retinas. Her seriousness. Her smile. Her laugh. Her anger.

Seriously...

Keeping up with her was even harder than keeping up with sheet music that I could no longer even hear.

I chuckled to myself as I pulled out the keys to the front door— to find that it was unlocked.

I tentatively opened and peeked in to find...

Alexis Capella, my childhood friend, sitting at the front table with my Uncle, who looked less than pleased at this sudden turn of events.

Our store had large, dark, tinted windows that allowed generous sight of the street, but not so much vice versa.

Meaning they had seen everything.

She saw everything.

My Uncle looked at me with worried eyes, making a gesture with his hand to his neck that I couldn't quite understand.

The blue-haired girl before me smiled with a sickening sweetness, like the thorniest rose to have ever been, as she rose from her seat and slowly walked towards me.

"You sure..."

Uh oh.

"...looked veeeeeeery cozy—"

Not good. Your eyes are scary, Alexis!

"—with Octavia Melody just now, didn't you, punk?!"

Not good!—

"GAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

And for the second time that day, my face took a sound beating.

Author's Note

Fermata: a symbol that tells the performer to hold the note as long as s/he would like, but certainly longer than the written note value.