Musicians paint their pictures on silence;;[Eric]

[hbghost]

"Uhm... Would you mind terribly if I made a copy of this? I'd like to add it to my library, but I don't want to take it from you... I could bring it back tomorrow? We could meet here the same time, I guess?"

Eric smiled. Now he was getting somewhere.

"Yes, that would be perfect. And you can keep it if you like. I already know it from memory from revising it so much, so I could always write it down again. It seems I use my memory for the wrong things, since I completely suck in school," he replied, grinning at her. "And are you sure you don't mind... this?" He gestured toward his face, his grin turning into a frown as he asked her about his face.

He didn't want her to leave him or stop talking to him just because of his face, like just about everyone else did. And he didn't want her to lie to him, either. That was just worse, her spurting out simply a jumble of words just to make him feel better. Only Constance could do that, and she did it right. It seemed more natural to have Constance say stuff to make him feel better than to have someone else do it.

[KATHERYN JACOBS]

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"Yes, that would be perfect. And you can keep it if you like. I already know it from memory from revising it so much, so I could always write it down again. It seems I use my memory for the wrong things, since I completely suck in school."

Katheryn really didn't want to just take it from him, "Are you sure? I really can make a copy of it really easily. It's not a big deal. I'll just do that, and I'll bring this back to you tomorrow?" She had started to put it into the manilla folder with her half completed compositions, all of which paled in comparison to the piece of music Eric had written. She would never play any of those pieces for Eric. Ever. So, she was trying to keep them hidden under his song, so that he wouldn't notice her own scribbly looking pieces of music.

"And are you sure you don't mind... this?"

Kat looked a little confused at first, until she looked up at him and realized what he was talking about. She shook her head, "No... I don't mind." What else was she supposed to say? She assumed that she would be able to get used to it in time. She just needed to give it time. That was all. Besides, it really wasn't that bad.

She bit her lip then, hesitating a bit, "So, uhm... Meet here at the same time tomorrow?" She asked for confirmation, not wanting to be 'stood up' or something. And she really wanted to be able to give him his music back. He was the composer. He deserved the original score.

[hbghost]

Are you sure? I really can make a copy of it really easily. It's not a big deal. I'll just do that, and I'll bring this back to you tomorrow?"

"Well, if you insist, you could, if you think that I'll lose memory of it after a while... Well, you could if you really wanted to. I won't mind either way," Eric replied, looking down at his feet again. "Yeah, you can do it if you want to, and you could just... either give it to me as we pass each other in the hall, or probably give it to Zack to give to me, or..."

"So, uhm... Meet here at the same time tomorrow?"

"Or, um, that," Eric added, licking his lips anxiously. "Yeah, that could work, too. Yeah. Yeah, let's do that."

Eric needed to avoid the situation before it got too awkward, and he didn't want to make a bad impression on the girl he had just met, especially when he felt like he was... addicted? Was that the right word? He was addicted to her? It seemed like it, since he couldn't possibly think of abandoning her here, or leaving without her in his arms. He had almost forgotten, in his thoughts, Kat's comment about his face being "okay." He barely acknowledged that, looking over toward Kat with an "are you sure?" expression.

[KATHERYN JACOBS]

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"Or, um, that. Yeah, that could work, too. Yeah. Yeah, let's do that."

Katheryn smiled and nodded, "Alright." But then she didn't really want to leave. She didn't have a piano in her dorm room, obviously, and so whenever she got the chance to play, she would. And right now, she had a chance to play. She bit her lip, then set the folder with the music in it, deciding she wasn't going to work on the piece she was trying to write before. Instead, she turned to the piano and started playing something totally new. It was rough, but it was a start. Besides, maybe Eric would have some tips on how to make it better.

She sighed a little, having to replay some chords that didn't fit, and she would stop every now and again. One of those times, she looked up at Eric, and he had a look as if to ask if she was sure. The answer was no, but she was going to make herself be sure. She would just have to get used to it. And she was positive that she would, if she just had a little time.

She nodded, assuring him, "Yeah, I'm sure. I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't..." She then shrugged and pushed a key down on the piano, then played a random chord with it. It wasn't a perfect combination, but it wasn't horrible either. It was just kind of, 'eh'.

[hbghost]

Katheryn smiled and nodded, "Alright." But then she didn't really want to leave. She didn't have a piano in her dorm room, obviously, and so whenever she got the chance to play, she would. And right now, she had a chance to play. She bit her lip, then set the folder with the music in it, deciding she wasn't going to work on the piece she was trying to write before. Instead, she turned to the piano and started playing something totally new. It was rough, but it was a start. Besides, maybe Eric would have some tips on how to make it better.

Eric listened to Kat practice, and every once in a while, he would pipe up a suggestion.

"You know, those two keys, A major and C minor... really don't work together unless you can make it flow pretty good," he suggested one time. "I think, from the tone of the piece you're playing, that F major and G minor would really work better... it has a better flow, since both of them have the B flat..."

Several minutes later, he asked, "Are you sure those chords are better off broken?"

When he heard a certain chord, Eric cringed and stated, "Are you sure that's still in key? Because it looks like you're trying too hard, and that's nowhere near an inversion."

[KATHERYN JACOBS]

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Kat nodded a little as Eric piped up possible chords for the song she was attempting to write, and failing miserably to at that. She bit her lip a little, embarrassed at her lack of proficiency in writing music. Still, Eric seemed to enjoy giving input, so she continued to attempt to write the song.

"Are you sure those chords are better off broken?"

Kat shook her head, "No, actually.... I'm not sure." She then tried to play it differently, though she still wasn't sure how it sounded, and she was getting frustrated. Perhaps she should just leave the music writing to those who actually possessed the talent to do so.

When he heard a certain chord, Eric cringed and stated, "Are you sure that's still in key? Because it looks like you're trying too hard, and that's nowhere near an inversion."

Kat groaned in frustration and pulled her hands off the keys, "No, It's not in key. And I know that. It just.... Ugh! I don't know...." She then pushed herself away from the piano and walked off to the center of the stage where it was dark, out of range from the spotlight on the piano, where she sank down to the ground and curled up, pulling her knees to her chest, resigning herself to sit quietly for a few moments to clear her head.

[hbghost]

Kat groaned in frustration and pulled her hands off the keys, "No, It's not in key. And I know that. It just.... Ugh! I don't know...." She then pushed herself away from the piano and walked off to the center of the stage where it was dark, out of range from the spotlight on the piano, where she sank down to the ground and curled up, pulling her knees to her chest, resigning herself to sit quietly for a few moments to clear her head.

Oh...

Oh, dear...

Was Kat mad at him? Was he too harsh on her? It didn't matter, because he was already running from his seat in the auditorium to the stage, frowning and biting his lip.

"Oh, Kat... Kat, was it me? Did I do something wrong? Was I too harsh, or too soft, or too hard, or what, what was it?" he asked, plopping himself down next to her. "Kat, if I did anything, I'm SOOO sorry... If... I don't know what to do with myself if I... Oh, Kat, I'm sorry..."

He wrapped his arms around her without thinking it through and leant his head into her shoulder.

"I'll only give positive, constructive criticism from now on, I promise..." he continued to blabber.

[KATHERYN JACOBS]

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"Oh, Kat... Kat, was it me? Did I do something wrong? Was I too harsh, or too soft, or too hard, or what, what was it?" he asked, plopping himself down next to her. "Kat, if I did anything, I'm SOOO sorry... If... I don't know what to do with myself if I... Oh, Kat, I'm sorry..."

He wrapped his arms around her without thinking it through and leant his head into her shoulder.

"I'll only give positive, constructive criticism from now on, I promise..." he continued to blabber.

No, no. It wasn't Eric's fault in the least. Well, in a way, she supposed it could be, but he couldn't help if he was born with the ability to write music and she wasn't. There really wasn't anything that could be done about that, except to accept the fact that Katheryn would not be a song writer. Plain and simple. Clear as day. Kat was not capable of writing decent songs.

Katheryn shook her head a little as he asked if it was him. Not that it mattered. He couldn't see her shaking her head. She was sitting in the dark, after all, curled into a ball. He obviously hadn't seen her, since he continued to ask if he was too hard, soft, or just generally asking what it was.

The funny thing was, he genuinely seemed concerned. And apologetic. Even though he had only met her about an hour ago at most. Kat then felt the need to assure him that it wasn't anything he'd done, since he seemed positively certain that it was his fault that she was upset, putting his arms around her like he was. "No, Eric. It's not your fault. I just.... Obviously do not possess the ability to write a decent song. And it frustrates me. And it's embarrassing that I even tried. Especially with you here." She paused to shake her head and look down at him, "I mean, here, you're this amazing composer who wrote this beautiful piece, and then I completely butcher an attempt to write a song. I'm not even fit to be called a musician if I insist on torturing the notes so by trying to force them to go together."

She then sighed and bit her lip, "And stop saying you're sorry. It wasn't your fault." She shook her head, "And what do you mean from now on? Do you really think I'm going to try writing any more songs after that horrible display? Nuh-uh. No thanks." She continued to shake her head then, closing her eyes a little and taking a deep breath to sigh again.

[hbghost]

The funny thing was, he genuinely seemed concerned. And apologetic. Even though he had only met her about an hour ago at most. Kat then felt the need to assure him that it wasn't anything he'd done, since he seemed positively certain that it was his fault that she was upset, putting his arms around her like he was. "No, Eric. It's not your fault. I just.... Obviously do not possess the ability to write a decent song. And it frustrates me. And it's embarrassing that I even tried. Especially with you here." She paused to shake her head and look down at him, "I mean, here, you're this amazing composer who wrote this beautiful piece, and then I completely butcher an attempt to write a song. I'm not even fit to be called a musician if I insist on torturing the notes so by trying to force them to go together."


Eric had to act fast.

"Nononono, it wasn't torturing, it was... well, it could have worked in several different situations, but just not the one you were trying to... I'll help you. You can get better, I promise. I mean... I was horrible when I was younger, but then I learned from a music teacher and got better. Oh, Kat, please don't worry so much about this... I'll try to teach you. No, not try. I WILL teach you. Just... don't give up this soon, okay?"

Eric was really at a loss for words. To Kat, he was this really great composer with seemingly endless confidence, and here he was stumbling over his words just because... well... why WAS he stumbling over his words anyway?

Because she's MINE, a voice in his head told him. No one else can have her.

That made no sense... No sense at all...

[KATHERYN JACOBS]

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"Nononono, it wasn't torturing, it was... well, it could have worked in several different situations, but just not the one you were trying to... I'll help you. You can get better, I promise. I mean... I was horrible when I was younger, but then I learned from a music teacher and got better. Oh, Kat, please don't worry so much about this... I'll try to teach you. No, not try. I WILL teach you. Just... don't give up this soon, okay?"

Katheryn raised an eyebrow at that. She never was a very good student. Well, she was, but she always felt awkward about it. Like she should know the things she was being taught, but she didn't know them. And was it even possible to teach people to be creative geniuses? She didn't think so. You were either born a talented music writer, or you weren't. Kat just... Wasn't.

"You don't have to make me feel better, Eric. I just need some time to chill... I think. But I probably won't try writing any more music for a while.... Or ever again. I'll just leave it to the people who have that talent." She shrugged a little. "I'll just stick to my singing other people's songs in my dorm room. Besides, I didn't really want to be singing and playing in front of people anyways...."

She sighed then and looked over at the lit piano, shaking her head a little. She stared at the piano in silence, completely unaware of how confused and speechless Eric was.

[hbghost]

"You don't have to make me feel better, Eric. I just need some time to chill... I think. But I probably won't try writing any more music for a while.... Or ever again. I'll just leave it to the people who have that talent." She shrugged a little. "I'll just stick to my singing other people's songs in my dorm room. Besides, I didn't really want to be singing and playing in front of people anyways...."

"Well... um... okay... I mean, I could just give you some pointers if you don't feel really comfortable with the idea yet..." Eric stuttered in reply, fidgeting with his hands while looking down at the floor, slightly embarrassed. "Or, if you're REALLY convinced that you're unteachable, then we can be just friends..."

JUST friends? What would they be otherwise...?

"I mean friends," he corrected himself, looking up at Kat while biting his lip. "Friends as in... well, friends. I mean, not in a... you know..."

Then, it came out.

"Do you want to go to the Spring Fling with me?"

Why on Earth did he ask her that so soon? Fearing to see her expression, he added, "Well, I mean you can say no if you want to, but I'd really like a chance to... well, we can go and get to know each other better... but if you don't want to, then that'll be fine with me..."

[KATHERYN JACOBS]

"Well... um... okay... I mean, I could just give you some pointers if you don't feel really comfortable with the idea yet..." Eric stuttered in reply, fidgeting with his hands while looking down at the floor, slightly embarrassed. "Or, if you're REALLY convinced that you're unteachable, then we can be just friends..."

Kat bit her lip, nodding, almost positive she was unteachable. In every aspect except dance. She was a good dancer, not that she openly would broadcast that fact. "Friends would be good. I'd like that." she gave a small, reassuring smile, really not sure why he seemed so nervous and was stuttering. 

Then she realized. Did he really just ask her to the Spring Fling? She, who had never gone to a dance in her life? "Oh, no.... Nothing like that. It could be fun.... Sure, I'll go with you." And did she just accept? Was she crazy? Now she would have to get a dress, and all of that good, exciting stuff that went along with getting ready for a dance. 

Kat chewed on her lip then, "Uhm.... I think I should probably get going soon... I have, uhm.... Homework I need to do." Okay, so she didn't need to go, and she didn't exactly want to, but... She didn't want to make things any more awkward than they had already become.

[hbghost]

Kat bit her lip, nodding, almost positive she was unteachable. In every aspect except dance. She was a good dancer, not that she openly would broadcast that fact. "Friends would be good. I'd like that." she gave a small, reassuring smile, really not sure why he seemed so nervous and was stuttering.

"Yeah... me, too," Eric stated, smiling sheepishly. "Yeah, I'd like that very much."

He didn't have that much else to say, for he was afraid that anything he would say would turn out wrong, and would make Kat turn against him. He didn't want that.

He wanted her to be HIS.

HIS.
HIS.
HIS.
HIS...

The fact that he was turning slightly paranoid at the mere sight of Kat creeped him out. Majorly.

Then she realized. Did he really just ask her to the Spring Fling? She, who had never gone to a dance in her life? "Oh, no.... Nothing like that. It could be fun.... Sure, I'll go with you." And did she just accept? Was she crazy? Now she would have to get a dress, and all of that good, exciting stuff that went along with getting ready for a dance.

"Oh, nothing like that?" Eric blurted out, somewhat disappointed. When he realized his mistake, he quickly changed the subject.

"You will? Oh, that would be great, thank you... No, seriously, thank you, it would really make my night if you were... there with me at the... Spring Fling," Eric added, smiling sweetly at Kat.

Kat chewed on her lip then, "Uhm.... I think I should probably get going soon... I have, uhm.... Homework I need to do." Okay, so she didn't need to go, and she didn't exactly want to, but... She didn't want to make things any more awkward than they had already become.

"Yeah, you should probably go... I should probably go, too, because... I need to get some rest. My sister's probably going to be calling me sometime tomorrow morning, and... I need to be awake for her. So, uh... good night, I guess..."

Surprisingly, Eric was the first to leave. He hastily collected all his belongings and scampered out of the auditorium, his face burning red.

Was the scene that had unfolded in the auditorium for real? Did he just get a...? He dared to think of the word, the noun that would describe what he was too embarrassed to consider Kat to be.

Did Eric Lonesinner, master wimp, just ...get his first girlfriend?