Back In September
Chapter 1: The Bet
A life can change in an instant. It can change in ways that you would never expect. Every choice we make, the actions we choose, the words that we say, even the smallest most seemingly insignificant factor can alter the future drastically, for better or for worse. The tiniest thing can easily evolve into the greatest catalyst for the unfolding of events to come. This is a crucial concept that a group of unique teens from Angel Grove High would come to learn in time.
The final dismissal bell rang and the school hallways immediately flooded with chit-chatting students excited to go home. A particular few were itching to head to their usual hangout at Ernie's Juice Bar at the Angel Grove Youth Center.
"I can't wait to get to the Center!" Kimberly beamed opening her locker. "I've hardly had any time to practice my newest floor routine before my meet!" she explained to her friend Trini, who was collecting her textbooks and storing them into her shoulder bag. She chuckled.
"I know what you mean." The Asian beauty sympathized. "All these monster attacks haven't given me a chance to—" she was interrupted as someone creeped up behind them.
"A chance to go out with me?" a snarky voice asked, complimented by the incredibly insufferable smacking of chewing gum. Kimberly rolled her eyes knowing exactly who the voice and the gum smacking noise belonged to.
"In your dreams, Skull!" she snapped, focusing her attention on the inside of her locker. The punk chuckled.
"I'll be sure to go to bed early then." He winked, running his hand through his gelled dark hair.
"Gross." The gymnast sneered back at him. Skull pouted with a whimper, but this rejection didn't deter him from continuing to push their buttons as he always did. This was a daily pastime for him and his best friend, Bulk, who on this day was stuck at home, sick in bed. Normally, Skull would continue to creep and press Kimberly for a date or a kiss until the girls' muscular friend Jason would scare him off, but Jason was nowhere to be seen the hallway. As Skull continued pestering Kimberly, Trini knew she had to get rid of him, the question was how.
"I can't believe I mastered Mozart's Allegro today!" A boy excitedly proclaimed to his friend as they exited the music room from band class.
"I know! That was awesome man!" his friend replied, sharing his friend's joy. Skull scoffed.
"I've heard that kid's piano playing. Any monkey could play the piano!" Skull cackled. Trini suddenly had her way out gift-wrapped and dropped right into her lap. Bulk and Skull were always known for shooting down other student's accomplishments when they themselves couldn't accomplish the same feat if their lives depended on it. Before Skull could turn his attention back to Kimberly, Trini stepped toward him to propose her challenge.
"You think you can play better than him?" she asked defiantly. Skull looked shaken not expecting to be called out.
"Yeah, well," he scoffed, "maybe." He answered trying to play it cool. Trini smiled coyly.
"How about, if you can prove that you can play the piano better than that student, I will go on a date with you." Trini challenged. Kimberly looked bewildered at her friend's boldness.
"Trini?" she started. Skull grinned wickedly at the idea of taking out one of Angel Grove's most brilliant and beautiful students on a date.
"A date…If I can play the piano better than that guy?" he clarified giving a nod in the direction of the boy further down the hallway.
"Yes." She gave a nod. She held up a finger before he could speak, "BUT! If you lose, you have to promise that you and Bulk will leave Kimberly and I alone until after graduation." Trini challenged. Kimberly smiled understanding her best friend's angle. The petite brunette grinned confidently. Skull took a moment to think it over, looking worried while weighing his options.
"W-well, I…" he stammered. Kimberly laughed.
"What's the matter? Can't do it?" she teased with a proud chuckle. Skull smiled determinedly sticking out his hand for Trini to shake.
"Alright. You've got a deal, Ms. Kwan." He said, leaning in close as Trini gave a firm hand shake. Though, Trini noticed that something about his smile felt off. She was sure that this was his way of seeming tough, but this didn't feel like his usual air of false confidence. She pushed down this nagging feeling, and led him off to the music room so they could be alone.
"I'll meet up with you at the Youth Center later, Kimberly! I don't want to keep you from your time to practice." Trini called, "This shouldn't take long!"
"'Kay, Trini! Let me know how it goes! Hopefully your ears don't fall off!" she teased. Skull couldn't help but chuckle mockingly at her silly quip and rolled his eyes as he opened the door to the music room. Skull and Trini entered the empty classroom and shut the door behind them. A simple upright Baldwin piano sat near the front of the classroom facing out into the room. Skull looked at the awaiting instrument, wide eyed. He looked back at Trini fearfully. Trini crossed her arms and gestured for him to take a seat.
"Well, go on. Impress me." She urged. Skull shrugged and went around and took his seat on the wooden bench. He lifted the cover off the range of black and white keys. He looked them up and down, the corner of his mouth giving a twitch. Skull looked up at the impatient teen girl.
"Well?" she said egging him on. Skull lifted his fingers, wiggled them, and shook them out before lightly placing them just over the keys. He took a breath ready to dive in, but abruptly turned back to her.
"Just thought I'd ask before I make this magic happen, I get to choose the restaurant, and the time, yeah?" he asked in a cocky tone. This was when Trini's stomach flipped. Why would he ask such an arrogant question when he hadn't played anything yet? The anticipation was really beginning to gnaw at her.
"If you can play, yes you get to choose the time and place." Trini replied, standing firm as she folded her arms across her chest impatiently. He gave a shrug as if to say, 'Alright, whatever you say.'
Without another moment's hesitation, he childishly clanged a single key after another with his index finger, eliciting a giggle from Trini. Just as she had expected, he couldn't play. She and Kimberly would be free from Bulk and Skull for nearly two years. Skull stopped and glanced up at Trini with a smile before returning his eyes to the keys.
Suddenly, his fingers began flying effortlessly, playing a rich and powerful sonata [Beethoven's Sonata No. 17 "Tempest"]. Trini's mouth fell open in utter shock. Her gut had been right after all. Clearly, he had hustled her. She wanted to be furious, but as he continued to play, her anger slowly subsided into amazement. He swayed in and out getting taken in by the flow of the music, his eyes glued to the keys in immense concentration.
Trini came around to the other side of the piano and watched just over his shoulder. It wasn't a trick. She knew this wasn't a player piano, but then, how and when did Skull learn to play classical music like that? She couldn't help but be mesmerized by the swift and agile movement of his fingers. It was as if his playing had her enraptured in a musical spell. 'Magic' he called it, Trini couldn't deny that this was an incredibly accurate description of what she was experiencing beside him.
When Skull concluded the piece, he carefully closed the key cover and leaned his elbow against it. A smug grin spread across his face.
"So…Tony's Pizza at 6?" he asked triumphantly.
5
