Arthur surveyed the crowd with a growing mixture of awe and pride. Strumming his guitar lightly as the mass of people cheered him on. Anticipation was thick in the air, and Arthur remembered the first time he even held a guitar in his hands.
How his best friend, Alfred, shoved the instrument into his hands and positioned his fingers, adamantly showing him his first cord; an off tune 'C'. Of course Alfred had to show him how to play first, throwing his arm into the air and bringing it down quickly, hitting the strings with a loud jumble of notes blending together. At the time, this was the only note that Alfred knew, thus the only note that Arthur could learn.
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"Iggy! Iggy! Artie! Arrrrrtie!" A voice bellowed through the empty garage, startling Arthur, who dropped his wrench onto his toe.
"Ow! Bloody… Alfred! Just pick a nickname and stick with it!" Arthur sighed getting up from repairing his bike tire that Alfred had popped the day before. "What do you want?"
Alfred skidded into the pavement, thrusting something large into Arthur's hands. Looking down, Arthur found a beat up leather case.
"We… are starting a band! " Alfred hopped from foot to foot in excitement and pointed a finger at Arthur "YOU are going to be the guitarist!"
Arthur just looked at his friend in confusion and then down to the case in his hands. Pulling a box over to Arthur, Alfred grabbed the case and placed it on the box as though it was the most precious thing in the world. Carefully opening the clips he raised the lid of the case and his smile widened. Arthur pushed his shoulder against his friends, wanting to get a look at the guitar in the case, and almost fell in the process as Alfred moved to the side completely.
"Dude! Look!" A hand flew through the air to land on the neck of the guitar "I will show you how to play a note first and then you can try!"
Lifting the guitar out of the case Alfred pulled the guitar strap over his head to rest on his shoulder. Placing his fingers on the worn down strings Alfred lifted his arm above his head. "This… is how you play a 'C'!" He then brought his hand down wildly across the strings making a low off tune cord ring out into the garage.
Smiling widely, Alfred took off the shoulder strap and thrust the guitar once more into Arthurs hands. Stumbling with the force of the guitar hitting his chest Arthur grabbed the strap and slid it around his shoulder. Grabbing Arthurs fingers, Alfred positioned them on the strings and slapped him on the back.
"Alright man! Just… play!" With that said, Alfred stepped back and watched Arthur.
Slightly lifting his hand Arthur let his fingers slowly slide across the strings. The note echoing in the air, as though it would never stop, that is would continue forever as Arthur just stood there as excitement ran through his veins. But of course Alfred was there, so he just took the strap off and put it back in the case. When he looked up at his friends face, it was to one of knowing. No matter what front Arthur put up, Alfred would always know what he was feeling.
Alfred knew that Arthur would continue to play into the early morning hours, learning more than that single note Alfred knew how to play. With one last glance at the guitar case, the two friends walked out of the garage.