Music For Maura

"Maura?" I catch myself drifting off as Susie nudges me back into reality. I glance up at the teacher who is lecturing us on the differences between an acid and a base. I pop my headphones into my ears and push play, I let out a small sigh as the music of Mozart's symphony no.29 floats through my head as my mind wanders. The bell rings, I am up and out of the class within ten seconds with my backpack slung over one shoulder avoiding the congested hallways I go straight to my locker. Grabbing all of my homework for the weekend I glance at my watch before shutting my locker and heading to the bus stop. As I pass by a large group of athletic looking seniors, Jocks. I think as I hear a few wolf whistles from them along with some unsavoury comments that make me cringe inward. I check my watch as I am already going to be late and missing the bus would not make matters any better. I round the corner to see the bus pulling away from the side walk, I sigh and slowly walk the rest of the distance to the bus stop. Taking a seat on the bench I put my backpack down beside me and once again put my headphones in and get lost in the music.

It was about ten minutes later that I felt someone sit down on the bench next to me, I glanced over at a girl with a small bag sitting next to her and a large case on the ground by her feet. She glanced at the time on her watch and I wondered if she had missed the same bus I did, I pulled out my headphones and put them in the pocket of my sweater. As I wracked my brains for anything at all to start a conversation with this stranger, I hear a deep gravelly voice quietly releasing a few colourful expletives. I glance up at the girl beside me she has on a pair of black skinny jeans with a rip in the knee and a grey shirt under a dark green jacket, she bends down and opens up the long case on the ground to reveal a jet black guitar she takes it out. My eyes are now watching her openly with curiosity, as she plays a few chords and adjusts the strings a little, then she starts playing and I cannot help but smile as I watch her fingers move effortlessly across the strings. She is softly singing the words as she plays and as I look up from her hands to her face, I am met with such a strikingly beautiful set of chocolate brown eyes that I didn't even realize she had stopped playing. She glanced down at her watch before placing the guitar back into its case.

I see the bus making its way up the street and stand up,

"You sounded great!" I say with a small smile.

"Thanks, do you play?" She asks.

"No, not guitar but I play piano" I say as the bus pulls up and we both climb on. The bus is fairly full and there are no empty seats, standing beside this perfect stranger we continue our conversation,

"So, you're more of a classical girl then?" she states more than asks.

I nod slowly, "but I like other types of music as well, I do admit that most of the pieces I play are classical though" I answer and look up at her, she is tall, towering over me at 5ft 4" I would say she is about 5ft 11".

I let my eyes run over her body I start at her shoes, a worn pair of all black high tops, then up her legs they seem to go on forever, then I look up at her face a lock of thick black hair has fallen into her eyes and she reaches to tuck it behind her ear. I suddenly feel a strong urge to know this strangers name, I stick out my hand "My name is Maura" I smile rather shyly as she takes my hand to shake it.

"Nice to meet you, Maura. I'm Jane." Jane says as she smiles and her eyes dance with amusement. "Nice to meet you too, Jane" l reply

I look out the window near me and realize we are almost at my stop, I check my watch and I am so late I send a quick text to Annie, my girlfriend. Telling her to save me a seat. Once I get off the bus I walk as fast as I can towards the café on the corner, I'm not even half way there when I hear Jane's deep voice from behind me.

"Hey wait up, Maura where ya going? " I turn to see those beautiful brown eyes,

I slow down to let Jane catch up, "I'm going to meet a friend at the café on the corner." I answer pointing down the street.

"That's where I'm going too!" Jane says a goofy grin spreading across her face, "care for some company?" she asks.

I nod a yes and then ask "are you staying for the open mic tonight,?" she nods slowly and then says " I am actually going to play a song." she smiles shyly, " Really? Wow I have been coming here with my girlfriend for the past few weeks and I keep telling her she should go up but I think she is terribly shy…But an amazing singer!" I exclaim.

"Well I'll see you inside? " Jane states rather than asks, as we arrive at the entrance I nod and smile at Jane I wish her good luck and wave good bye as I disappear into the crowded café in search of Annie.

Annie isn't hard to find with her strawberry blonde hair and bright green eyes, I spot her near the bar in the back and catch her eyes as I cross the room.

"Hey! Sorry I'm late." I say as I hug her, then peck her on the cheek. She smiles at me with her brilliant smile, "It's alright, and do you want to sit down at a table the performers will be starting soon?" Annie asks glancing around for an open table.

I spot a table near the small stage and we go sit down, a waiter comes by asking if we wanted anything Annie orders a gin and tonic while I order an iced tea. Annie is in university and sometimes our schedules clash and it makes it hard to see each other but we always make time to meet up at the café every week to watch the open mic

We chat for a few minutes before the lights inside the café start to dim and the mc walks on to the stage "Welcome everyone to open mic night at the triple M's cafe our first performer plays the cello!" the crowed burst into cheers and applause as the first performer stepped up, a cello in his hand he sat down in a chair and began to play a beautiful piece. I smiled as Annie leaned in close and put her arm around me and whispered in my ear "That was almost as beautiful as you"

We watch a few more people before the mc announces there will be a short intermission, I get up to go to the washroom telling Annie I'll be back in a few minutes. On my way I run into Jane who is sitting at a table with a few other people, "hey Maura, this is Frost, my little brother Frankie, and my best friend Riley." I smile at the group "nice to meet you all, I'm Maura," I excuse myself and continue to the washrooms. I do a quick check of my make up before I go back to join Annie at our table, I get there just in time as the mc is just announcing the next performer, I sit and apologize to Annie for taking so long. I hear the familiar sounds of someone adjusting the microphone and as I glance up to see who will be playing next my eyes are met with an intense pair of deep brown ones as Jane starts to pick a soulful and enrapturing song. Hear the raspy deep voice and I feel as if she and I are the only people in the world as if she is playing to me and no one else.

Hi! so i havent written anything for a while now but this is just a little something i had in my head for awhile, and im not sure where it is going or if i will update anytime soon. but for anyone willing to read here it is!

all mistakes are my own and of course the characters dont belong to me either.

please leave me comments and suggestions or questions and pm me anytime!

thank you!

-JP