Sonata for Two Pianos.

[longwinded]

["We're going to have you do a recital with another student on campus, very talented, just as talented as you. He's different but we know you'll work together just fine." Said your private piano teacher. You knew who he was, and what he was all about. You two were practically the most often praised musicians on campus. But you had never spoken with him, or given him the time of day. You were always holed up in your practice room before you went home to perform your songs for Dad, who lived close to campus to make sure you were doing your work. You're sure you're way over your amount of practice hours for the semester- what could one recital hurt?

So you agree. You, John Egbert, are going to perform a recital with another pianist you've never met face to face with until now. A first year student at that, as if you have so much seniority over him.

Your fingers rest easy over the keys, you let your fingers do what they've always done. Glide over the ivories to finish off yet another practice session- Chopin was your composer of choice today. Bach was yesterday, perhaps Beethoven tomorrow if you've been good. Your day isn't done, you have to meet him somewhere. You gather your music and clock your time, your instructor said to wait in the practice hall. Your new duet partner would bring the music for you to play today.

So here you stand.]

Comments

[knightime]

[Dave is glued to his seat, completely numbed at what just happened. The pen just rolls and clatters back to the ground as he looks at the door. Shocked.

He finally tears his eyes away from the door and back at the sheet music.

Maybe...Maybe he was playing it wrong the whole time. He got accepted because he had potential to play, but that meant going by the book. He...he could do that. He just needed time.

Dave finally tucks the sheet music and gets to his feet, pocketing his pen. He felt so unsettled right now. John's words cut through him like a knife.]

[longwinded]

[For the next few days, John didn't speak to Dave. He didn't even steal glances in the hallway. He just tended not to acknowledge him, or walked right past him with zero eye contact.

It wasn't until their fifth day of not speaking did John start to feel some remorse for what he said. A lot of things he said really didn't need to be said. Truth be told, Dave had a truckload of talent and it was intimidating John. He felt the need to be perfect, and how can someone like Dave be so perfect without living inside the box?

He wanted to go find Dave, he would start at the piano labs where a group of students were talking. He overhears them say Dave had to be sent out of class because he was struggling, the teacher assume he was sick and sent him on his way. But where would he be?]

[knightime]

[Dave didn't go home even though the teacher sent him out for the day. He went to one of the practice rooms to play. Honestly, he would be so embarrassed if anyone came in while he was playing.

He was just completely off his game now. He was trying to play the song perfectly. But he just kept screwing up. His mind and fingers were doing different things. His mind wanted to do something else, but he was trying to stick to what he saw.

He slammed his hand against the keys of the piano before banging his forehead against them. He didn't know how to play anymore. Did he give up what he basically had done for so long and try to force himself into what was considered perfection? What if he failed his classes? He'd lose his scholarship.]

[longwinded]

[John wandered back into the practice hall. What he heard inside the room was an awful slur of something and then a slamming of keys. This was unfortunate. He knocked on the door before opening it. This is what he was going to have to do.

As he thought, it was Dave. He looked upset. John walks in and closes the door.]

Look, I know you probably want me to go burn in some raging fire somewhere. But I didn't come here to verbally abuse you again, that was wrong of me. I didn't have the right to peg your disability, I had no place to say you have no talent, and I can't dictate how you play.

Are you feeling alright?

[knightime]

[Dave's knuckles were white. It was obvious that Dave was fairly uncomfortable around the other right now. He didn't get up and leave though and he seemed to at least be listening to what John had to say. It was hard to tell since Dave stared down at the keys instead of at John and his shades obscured his eyes. But his mouth was set in a thin line.

After John's question he just shrugged. Just a bad day. Well...a few bad days.

He was going to get this down. Than John wouldn't think he was a talentless hack.]

[longwinded]

[John stays by the door. He doesn't want to distress Dave anymore than he already had in the first place. He didn't mean to break Dave down like this. He didn't mean to push him over the edge.]

I'm sorry is what I'm trying to say. I want to work with you. We'll work slow if you're really determined to learn the sheets. You can memorize it and not use the sheets if you don't want to.

You have talent. A lot of talent. [John shrugged, taking back everything he said probably wasn't going to be enough.]

[knightime]

[Dave finally looked at him. He tore a piece of paper off and scribbled something on it. He tucked all hist stuff away as he got up and moved to leave the room. He shoved the small slip of paper into John's hand before heading down the hallway and out of sight.

It was simple.]

tomorrow
2 pm

[longwinded]

[He took the paper, looking at it and hanging his head. They both had a free period then he supposed. So that was that. He would meet Dave at two back in the practice rooms. He hopes this time won't be a trainwreck.

The rest of the day is spent in his classes and going back home, the next morning goes as every other morning had and at exactly two in the afternoon he was waiting for Dave. Waiting on maybe another trainwreck.]

[knightime]

[Dave look tired when he arrived. A little disheveled. He spent the entire night practicing, so he was a bit tired. But at least nothing should go wrong this time.

He knew how to play the song. There would be no reason for any mess ups this time. Right?]

[longwinded]

[He gave Dave a little pat on the shoulder. Siting at the piano to the left again. Laying his sheets out in front of him, yeah this was going to be a little better right? His teacher worked with him and he's sure Dave was up practicing. He lays his fingers on the ivory and waits on Dave to be situated.]

You ready?

[knightime]

[Dave gave a curt nod at John. He was ready.

Dave started this time. But it was a lot different from the first time they played. Dave was concentrating on staying with his music sheets...

...But something seemed so amiss. He played well, but there was no feeling behind his playing. Not like the first time.]

[longwinded]

[Everything was going just fine, better than the other day. It sounded perfect. Until John realized that Dave was playing like an emotionless doll. That just wasn't the way he was used to hearing Dave. No. John had to stop around the C section. Shaking his head frantically.]

It's perfect Dave, but too perfect. What happened to playing with all of your heart? It's not wrong, but this isn't you.

[knightime]

[Dave shoves his shades up to the top of his head to look at the music sheets before looking at John. That is a fairly unimpressed look on Dave's face.

Man. What the fuck do you want him to do, John? He's seriously bending backwards for you to the point where he might as well not have a spine any longer.]

[longwinded]

[That look on Dave's face, he looks seriously pissed off, and wow those eyes. John just pushes his glasses to the top of his head. but by the way his eyes are wandering around, it's obvious John really can't see without them.

He sighs again.]

It was really good, your technique is perfect. [But the deadness he saw in Dave's eyes. He was overthinking while he was playing, he was forcing himself to do this.]

Dave. [He puts his glasses back on, makign eye contact.] Stop overthinking, it's okay.

[knightime]

[He is so exasperated with you right now!!!! He just bangs his forehead against the keys. Oh my god. Did you seriously just tell him not to think too much on this?

Wasn't the problem because he was being too whimsical?

He can't please you. That's just it. You're giving him some impossible goal to try and meet.]

[longwinded]

[John didn't know what to do at this point. He needed some advice on how to work with Dave. They had been in here just staring at each other for at least ten minutes.

He gets up and puts his hand on Dave's shoulder again.]

I'm sorry, I'm asking way too much of you right now Dave. I'm gonna call this practice early. I really wouldn't want to snap on you again. [Or Rose was going to kick his ass. Because there are so many things WRONG about playing robotic. He gives a wave and takes his music with him- he's more frustrated than ever now.]

[knightime]

[Dave just watched John go. He was even more confused. Just...what was he supposed to do?

Rose. However. Was not going to be too happy when John comes back to her from practice so early.]

[longwinded]

[Not that John knew what Dave was supposed to do either. He just didn't know what to do, or what to say. He just didn't know. He knows he's short on his practice and he just goes straight for Rose's office- he would just accept his punishment now.

And the difficult lesson that would be to come for him busting into her office like this.]

I can't do it Rose. I can't.

[seeringlight]

[Rose politely dismisses whoever she was speaking too before folding her arms over her chest as John enters.

That was a smile that meant John was in a lot of trouble right now.]

Your practice shouldn't be over so soon, John. What is the problem this time? [Watch yourself before you wreck yourself.]

[longwinded]

I can't work with him, it's so hard. Communicating is hard, trying to help him is hard. Today, the song was completely perfect. Completely absolutely damn perfect! But it bothered me because he sounded so robotic.

[It just wasn't okay. John didn't realize that it was the way he was playing as well, in the box. Never coming out of the box. Fingers always perfect.]

I don't know what to do.

[seeringlight]

[Rose let out a bit of a sigh.] You seemed to have completely miss the entire point as to why I chose him over anyone else in this school.

[She pulled out her phone and started texting someone. She waited for a reply before finally getting to her feet.] John. Come with me. Hopefully you'll understand what I was trying to get at if you see this first hand as part of the audience.

Come on.

[longwinded]

[John was expecting more of a verbal beating than this. He expected Rose to make him sit down and play all of Chopin's great preludes, or beat his knuckles with a ruler because he was so rude again. Not that she actually did that, but he was horrified of the the thought.

He reluctantly follows. He's beginning to be wary of the things his teacher makes him do.]

Why are we going to the auditorium?

[seeringlight]

Don't ask questions. [She lead him to one of the private boxes instead of the main audience. Hidden from view, or at least not obviously intruding. There were only two other people and they were both on stage. One was a woman with a ton of black hair and large, round glasses. The other was Dave.]

Don't talk.

[barktier]

[Once the two are settled and can look down at the piano on the stage. There will be sitting Dave, he looks just as confused as he did in the practice rooms. He's trying to play by the sheets and this shit is not fucking flying with her.

She puts her hand on Dave's shoulder gently, squeezing.]

Dave, stop. What are you trying to do right now? Turn to me and tell me exactly what is going on. [This was his chance to rat on John. She takes a red pen from her hair and slides a piece of paper in front on him.]

Go on, tell me.

[knightime]

[Dave just looks at the piece of paper. He doesn't know.]

i dont know
playing exactly by the sheet
i guess thats what im doing
yea

[Which was obviously working wonders for his creative process. Except not.]