Louis Valois and Tess Whittaker
November 27, 2015 2:50 PM
A brief encounter (nano #4) by Louis Valois and Tess Whittaker
It was Day Two at Sonora, and Tess had already found the swimming pool. Well, ‘swimming pool’ was probably a bit of an understated term for the ridiculously large room full of water she’d found! It’d been ages (well, at least three days) since she’d had a good swim, and a good hour in the water was definitely worth the earlier start.She’d changed out of her swimming costume, and was walking past the other rooms, drying her hair with a towel, as she suddenly heard music. Surprised to hear that somebody else was here, especially before breakfast, she headed towards the sound, which was coming out of room number five. Poking her head round the door, she could see a room filled with lots of different instruments. And, sitting directly in her line of sight, was a grand piano, with a boy sitting at it, facing away from her. He was in the middle of playing a piece, the likes of which she’d never heard before.
Tess had undergone a few piano lessons when younger, but had never got on particularly well with the instrument. This boy, however, seemed to be at one with the piano and the music, seemingly pouring all his emotions out into the music and the room. Tess must have been standing there for a few minutes, enraptured, when the playing finished. Head bowed, the boy sat there in silence, a silence which Tess was loath to break. However, she couldn't restrain her natural curiosity.
“What was that piece you were playing?”
Louis jerked round, having been unaware that he had been discovered. “Um, it’s called Le Onde,” he replied, somewhat bewildered and therefore responding pleasantly and simply, despite the interruption. “Ludovico Einaudi.”
He’d started learning to play the piano at the age of three (being able to play an instrument was expected of purebloods, apparently), and what had started off as a chore had soon become a means of escape for Louis. Back home, he would spent hours in the company of his piano, and since starting Sonora he’d got into the habit of sneaking off to play. For some reason, the piano was his secret, something he didn't want anyone else to know about.
Tess nodded at his response. “You play really well,” she informed him. She stood there awkwardly for a few moments, not sure what to do. “I…I guess I’ll see you around?” she said finally, and left.
With a frown, Louis turned back to his piano playing. What next? Perhaps some Chopin? Hopefully there would be no more interruptions.
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Louis Valois and Tess Whittaker
A brief encounter (nano #4)
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Louis Valois and Tess Whittaker
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