I don't know where I got this idea from, but just went along with it, anyway! :P
I probably will be mentioning a lot of songs in this Fic, so, it'd probably be best if you gave them a listen to while reading.
The singing will be in bold letters.
The songs in this chapter are:
'Superstar' by 'the Carpenters'
And
'Please Mr. Postman' also by 'the Carpenters'
Feedback would be lovely! :'):')
Beautifully Lined
Chapter 1 – Almost Shining
"Don't you remember; you told me you loved me, baby?
"Tai, get your backside down these stairs!"
"Okay!"
"Said you'd be coming back this way, again, baby"
"I mean it, young man"
"Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh, baby; I love you. I really do"
Click off; silence, just bustling from beyond the glass and frame.
A tumble down the last few claps of new school shoes upon floorboard, and a carelessly untamed mess of caramel stopped in front of its waiting mother. Her face curved toward the bottom, much like her son's; for now, at least; and her eyes wore the same drips of melted milk chocolate coating.
"Just don't complain to me when you're late, Justin" She turned, hiding her smirk and trembling in trying to suppress a giggle.
"Oh, no you didn't"
Mouth agape in mock shock, Tai Kamiya just stuck there, as if the wind had glued his face to that exact formation for all of time and space. When the woman didn't turn, he jogged quickly to her side, continuing in a fast walk, his barely shorter legs struggling to maintain her wide strides.
"Justin Beiber would never sing 'The Carpenters'; he's not good enough, I guess" Another smirk, but this time his – knowing full well his rival's opinion on all matters concerning the singer.
"You take that back!" She joked squeezing his shoulder playfully hard.
"Aren't you the one supposed to like all the old music, anyway?" The emphasis on 'old' didn't let distracted mums lye.
A continuation of these back and fourths ensued all the way to the car, and didn't falter until the new school gates lay before them.
"Don't be nervous. Just be yourself" She spoke seriously.
"What an appalling piece of advice!" Tai caused the two of them laughter, adding the finishing touches to his overly rammed backpack.
"I love you" A squeeze of tanned hand.
"Mum, I'll be fine!" He whined, though secretly loving his mother's overprotective nature.
Long faded pinks matched the brickwork next to them, greens grew up for the most parts; ivory leeches, sprouting yellow oranges, and violet jesses. Sun jetted down upon it all; students nowhere seen; a penny tinkled from ground level; a squat, fingers traced the seams; tickled hard velvet.
Up again, maybe adjoining cloudland.
Glimpse of ashen behind a tree. Birds evacuated heavenly, swooping low as if 'Swan Lake' – full of grace and perfect timing; a full flock, yet not a squawk; just taps and high-pitched beams of a piano being dusted by a mouse.
Smell of banana mousse radiated from a nearby structure; clangs of cutlery, pings of washing and steams were heard and not seen. Bored quickly just on that spot, Tai strolled quite merrily along; not really a trouble in his mind, except, of course, the act that must be acted, today.
He swallowed, as if swallowing a beaver whole, and looked to the sunless sky for reassurance. Just enough was founded, somehow, and he strolled once more, to probably getting lost on the way.
"Excuse me" A mature voice came from behind, and rushed beyond.
"Wait!" The figure stopped and walked confidentially toward Tai, and looked in expectance.
"Erm… Sir" The brunette starred opposite skyline.
"That's better"
"I was just w-"A try to speak, nervously.
"Look at me when you're talking" The man instructed.
Rush of big, melting eyes to small, aging ones.
"I was just wondering, sir, if you knew where the music block was, sir" More unsure than before, Tai struggled but talked clarity.
"Well, you asked the right person; I'm the music teacher, Mr. Umi"
"Oh, that's good news" Raised white eyebrow.
"Sir; could you show me, please, sir?"
"Yes, of course" He smiled, and the younger mirrored the action.
The journey passed in silence, until the doors were reached.
"Is there a reason you wanted to come here?"
"I want to sing" Mr. Umi chuckled, looking at the boy.
"Mum believes I can do it" Tai spoke in protest.
"I'm sure she's right" He answered, ignoring the teen's forgetfulness of authority, and just smiled again, instead.
The pair entered a great hall; pew-like seats decorated in surrounding, large speakers placed themselves in each corner strategically. Music was soothing out from the noise boxes, before a press of the teacher's remote halted all of it.
"Okay. Your turn"
"My turn?" Brown, gone; brown, gone.
"You want to sing, don't you?"
"Yes, bu-"
"Get up there, then" A hand showing off the stage.
"Erm… Yes, sir"
Tai answered, moving hesitantly up to the front, stroking wood railings; glisteningly clean floor tiles were trodden upon, before he'd wanted to be, he was stood within the centre.
"This is Izzy. He controls all the technical side of things" Mr. Umi shouted to be heard.
The brunette looked around, but saw no-one.
"Hello, sir" A strange voice from behind a curtain to the side.
Tai was unsure of his age and appearance for a moment, having been titled with 'sir'. Careful steps closer, pulling the red quilt with creases fully across, and spied hair almost equal in breadth and tone.
"Hi, Izzy?" A short, pale boy the greeting was blew toward.
"Tell me what songs you need"
The brunette spoke quickly, but it was analyzed, and he, again, entered the stage.
The rows before him lay mostly unfilled, but still seemed largely full. Slim fingers grasped the neck, criss-crossed, circular head to his lips; just brushing, like an electric fence.
"When you're ready" The old man encouraged, but appeared impatient.
A nod; Slow, deep breaths dropped shallow. Hand to his left in some straight wavelength; too soon, the melody exploded throughout the hall.
Heart strumming madly, music popping ears, Tai shuffled on his feet, watered all over with sweat and anticipation; sluggish tapping of lips began movement, parted as if before glued.
"Long ago, and oh, so far away; I fell in love with you, before the second show"
Their faces lay uncharacterised.
"Your guitar, it sounds so sweet and clear; but you're not really here"
He didn't look happy.
"It's just the radio" Tai took something from within himself, ready for the chorus;
But no chorus came.
Stillness echoed around; they saw straight through Tai – long, one-way mirror.
"Do you have a… Jollier song" That same beard with lips spoke.
"Jollier? It'll by the same artist, would that be okay?" The brunette spoke nervously; unsure, really, what was happening.
"Just sing it"
Thankful for expected as such, Tai waved his other hand for an already arranged song. This one began quicker, straight away, it-
"Stop; Woah, yes, wait a minute, Mr. Postman. (Wait) Wait, Mr. Postman"
"(Please, Mr. Postman look and see) Oh, yeah. (If there's a letter in your bag for me) Please, please, Mr. Postman (Why's it takin' such a long time,) Oh, yeah. (For me to hear from my girl of mine?)" He decided to change the gender.
"There must be some word today from my girlfriend so far away; please, Mr. Postman, look and see if there's a letter, a letter for me" Once, again.
"I've been standing here, waiting, Mr. Postman, so patiently; for just a card, or just a letter saying he's returning home to me" Forgotten, but no-one really noticed, or maybe just didn't care of such things.
The music abruptly ceased.
Three or four claps sounding out from the emptiness – he liked it.
"We have a meeting here every lunch time; you come along, and I'll see what we can do with you" The man seemed friendly, already.
"That's great news!" Tai exhaled loudly, exclaiming his massive disbelief somewhere in that statement and puff of warm air meeting the warming, clearer space.
Afterward, Mr. Umi and Izzy left Tai alone.
The brunette danced stupidly in celebration, hopping down between the rows of kites and wings. He danced along, sunlight flaming out his heels; an extinguishing and steam overflew all else, light hand grabs his ankle and he bounded floor ward.
"Hey!" Tai shouted in surprise, though still a high-pitch of happiness, too, remained.
A slim boy, about the same age, sat casually. Cigarette stuck between lips, smoke decaying the area. Blonde bangs hung low over his eyes and ears; just a strong jaw line and pearly face were shown.
"If you actually believed that was good, you're clearly deluded" Cold, honest voice.
"But, he sa-" Tai attempted, taking the other's words as untruth.
"He just didn't want to upset you; honestly, even I feel a little sorry for you" Just silence now.
"That was pretty pathetic" He added, finally; cloud of cancer spraying into caramel.
"Screw you!" Tai spoke angrily; face ruffled up like a cat scratched wrongly; stood up and left.
Then, he would be found only in the boy's toilets; tissue supplies running lower and lower.