The final note of the Nocturne hung in the air, a shimmering veil of sound that slowly dissolved into the hushed silence of the auditorium. My fingers, still hovering over the keys, felt a familiar tingle. It wasn't the thrill of applause, which was always muted for me, but the quiet satisfaction of a piece perfectly rendered. I glanced up, a small, almost imperceptible nod to my music teacher, Mr. Abernathy, whose eyes, wide and misty, were fixed on me. Beside him, however, sat Beatrice, her usually perfectly coiffed blonde hair a little dishevelled, a mischievous glint in her sapphire eyes. She was a whirlwind, Beatrice was, all chaotic energy and impulsive genius, the kind of person who could ace a calculus exam while simultaneously planning a flash mob.
"Wow, Alex, that was… like, super-duper amazing," she whispered, her voice a stage whisper that carried through the quiet hall.
"You always play like you're pulling the notes straight from, I don't know, the very fabric of the universe."
''you know what Alex, I'm gonna call Caleb and Justin because they can't miss this awesome song that you composed in four days and this is pure gold'', she said excitedly while texting them excitedly.
I felt a blush creep up my neck, a familiar warmth that always betrayed my shyness. I just nodded, a small, almost imperceptible movement. It was easier than trying to form words, especially when Beatrice was looking at me with that intense, curious gaze.
"Seriously, though," she continued, oblivious to my discomfort, "you're like, the best kept secret in this entire school. No one even knows you exist outside of the music room. It's a travesty!"
"I… I don't mind," I mumbled, my voice barely audible.
"Nonsense!" she declared, slapping her knee with a soft *thwack*. "You need to be seen, heard, celebrated! You play like a god, Alex. A moody, broody god, but a god nonetheless." She leaned in conspiratorially.
"Speaking of gods, guess what I found in the ancient languages section of the library?"
My brow furrowed. Beatrice's "finds" usually led to something… unconventional.
"A really, really old book. Like, *really* old. Dust bunnies the size of small rodents old. And it had these weird symbols, and a chant. It looked like a recipe for something big. Like, 'summon a cosmic entity to grant wishes' big." Her eyes gleamed.
"Beatrice, please tell me you didn't try to 'summon a cosmic entity'," I said, a tremor of unease running through me.
"Well, not a cosmic entity, as you think," she giggled, a light, tinkling sound that always reminded me of wind chimes. "More like… a portal."
My eyes widened. "A portal? To where?"
Suddenly Caleb and Justin rushed almost running into Beatrice. Both the boys was still in their jersey and still had strong stench of sweat and mud was still smeared on their jersey as if their rolled into mud.
'' Sorry about that Beatrice'', yelled Caleb as Beatrice stumbled as far away as she could while trying not to die from the strong stench of sweat.
''You guys stink and in a smelly way possible'', I whispered while holding my nose and trying to distance my self as far away as possible from them.
'' You guys almost made me forgot with your awful stench, guys'', she said dramatically as Caleb and Justin sat on the chair not giving a single damn and continued to listen to her ramble about her little trip to the abandoned library.
'' I fail to understand how you managed to open the portal to some unknown dimension which could unleased a deadly entity'', I yelled while Justin nodded alongside Caleb looked concerned.
"The book said 'the realm of shadows and whispers'," she recited dramatically, her voice dropping to a theatrical whisper.
"It sounded exciting, doesn't it? I mean, who wants to go to boring old Paris when you can visit the realm of shadows and whispers?", she said
"Beatrice, that sounds incredibly dangerous," I said, my voice rising slightly.
"Oh, relax, Mr. Worry-Pants," she waved a dismissive hand. "It was just a bit of fun! A harmless prank, really. I thought maybe, you know, a puff of smoke, a little spooky sound effect.
Something to liven up the school play rehearsal tomorrow. Imagine, mid-Hamlet monologue, *poof*, a demon gate! Hilarious, right?" She erupted into a peal of laughter, a bright, uninhibited sound.
"*Hee-hee-hee!* Oh, the look on Mrs. Periwinkle's face! Would be Priceless!" said Caleb excitedly.
"Are you all crazy, please tell me you are joking and not gonna actually do this please", Alexander asked while Beatrice ignored and continued to talk about her book.
" Just let her have her moment...", said Justin while smering his mud on the piano but suddenly Alexander gave him a sting eye.
Justin gave a childish smile and rubs the mud off with his shirt which was already muddy making the piano more dirty.
" You know what..... all three of you please get out", Said Alexander while kicking them out.
Beatrice takes her book in the process of being kicked out while pouting like a child.
" But I didn't get to see you play....please pretty please with a cherry on top", Caleb begged.
I don't like cherry so don't bother.
" What about strawberry or a pineapple has a nice taste", asked Caleb.
We all get it....you have a freaky obsession of pineapple but please do mo and I actually mean it do this tomorrow.
Beatrice smirked and Said if you promise to perform in the auditorium tomorrow.
My eyes widened in disbelief as she knows I won't do it even if it kills me due to my extreme stage fright which isn't true but it's not like she knows that. My parent is busy tomorrow with their own concert anyway.
I still don't get why your parents can't come said Justin in disbelief.
Like I said they are busy in their concert to even bother showing up.... but I'm not gonna perform anyway so why bother thinking about it OK.
Suddenly Beatrice and followed by the two boys who gave me the biggest sweatest hug ever but I guess it's nice to be loved for onces even if it's by my silly friends.