Music at Midnight

[Eric Forest]

Creeping through the halls, being quiet and stealthy, he was careful not to get himself caught. He was out after curfew, and silence is what would keep him from getting caught, not that it would matter for much longer since once he got to the auditorium, silence would be the last thing on his mind. Getting to the auditorium doors, they were locked. "Of course..." He mumbled to himself, eventually prying the doors open. Stepping in and up to the stage, he looked out over the auditorium. It was fair in size, not as big as the grand classical theaters of professionals, but bigger than his hideout one. He carefully shrugged off the case on his back and opened it to reveal a traditional violin, only thing that differentiated was the color. Instead of being the array of wooden browns, it was a dull reddish-purplish-maroon.

He closed his eyes and began to play. Allowing the music to take over. He was tense and slightly stressed from being moved into a school from his home and taken away from his work as well. He had no idea how he was going to finance himself while at the school. He'll need to eat, and have supplies, and like heck he'd have his father get involved.

The tension in his body came through in his music, something that happened often, the tune was stiff, and ever-changing as thoughts flooded his mind, but as the tension faded, the melody became soft and smooth, sweet, like snow falling on a brilliant sunny day, and leaves floating in the air during fall. Eric was completely taken in by his music, forgetting that it was after curfew, forgetting that he broke into the auditorium, forgetting that he was at school altogether. He was on stage, performing in his mind. He was calm, he was relaxed, he was showing a moment of genuine gentleness, something that people would not see very often, if at all. No matter what world he was in, his music would be his one and only.

[Olivia Reese]

Olivia was playing her violin. The music seeped through her, allowing itself to escape after being pent in for so long. It was, by far, one of the best feelings in the world, to play with such abandon.

Only… She wasn’t playing her violin. She blinked open her eyes and let her vision adjust to the lack of light. After a few moments, she realized where she was. She had been dreaming. She had fallen asleep in her bed, but woken up pressed against her dresser, a handle digging uncomfortably into her side.

The teen stretched and let gravity right itself, falling to the floor with a thump. She forced herself up, planning on going back to bed.

She paused suddenly, her eyes on the instrument in the corner. She wasn’t playing, but someone else was. There was sound coming from somewhere. Sound that she recognized.

Without thinking, she grabbed her violin and went to seek out wherever it was coming from. She tiptoed through the halls and came across the auditorium, the source of the music. Her sleep-induced stupor continued as she opened the doors, bracing herself against the angry creak of the heavy sound-proofing.

Olivia stood at the back of the auditorium, looking toward the figure holding an instrument similar to her own, backlit by the sliver of light pouring in from the hallway. Her eyes widened slightly as what exactly she was doing hit her. She was out of bed past hours, and she was infringing on someone else’s private practice time. She wanted to run; to go back to sleep and pretend that nothing had ever happened, but she seemed to be incapable of moving. Instead, she stood still, the hand holding her absurdly expensive violin trembling ever so slightly.

[Eric Forest]

Eric had not heard the sound of the doors opening once more, nor had his eyes seen the slightest light from the hall. He was too far gone in his music to notice anyone or anything. His sweet tune quickly changing again, into an intense concerto of turmoiling emotions as thoughts resurfaced once more. Though eyes closed and music in his ears, he could still feel the stage beneath him as he began to dance as he played. The stage in his mind was alit with colored spotlights as he moved in a similar fashion to a violinist he had seen on YouTube. His music changed once more and for the last time that night. It eased into a more classical piece, intense but sweet, simple yet beautiful. He moved to the center of the stage and pictured gold lights in the grand concert hall. He was standing where all the Greats once stood. He was content at heart. So much so that Eric finished the piece and lowered his violin. The grandeur of lights fading back into the dark of the auditorium. He still hadn't noticed the light from the open door, or the girl who had been watching and listening.