The Wind Dancer, Chapter one:

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The wind blows across the plains of Africa, rustling the tall grasses and stirring the animals grazing nearby. They lift their heads in confusion to watch as the breeze flattens their spikey, soft tips, only to move on across the other plants. Austria's people lift their heads from their work to see their laundry out on the line swish suddenly with the up-coming winds. They exchange glances, shrugging to each other and continuing their toils. A boy stands on the highest cliff of Dublin, Ireland, bright red eyes gazing at the red setting sun, blonde hair moving about his pale face. His slender hands rise above his head slowly and poise over the waves. With a sweep to his right, the water all follows his fingers as they dance in mid-air. His black VANS press on the dirt ground to keep him in place and he bends his elbows slightly to move his arms to his left, sending the waves swerving around to obey his commands. Face relaxed, the boy closes his eyes as his black turtle-neck flaps at his slim waist and drops both arms to his sides. The waves crash to the surface of the Atlantic ocean before becoming calm once more, stars beggining to sparkle in the darkening sky. The boy slid his hands into his black jeaned pockets, standing erect to face the red sky as the sun disappeared over the horizon. He turned without a sound and jumped weightlessly down the side of the hill with ease, dirty bangs falling over his eyes. With the wind at his back, the boy glided twords the buildings built and lit at the bottom of a dipping valley.

The dark night enveloped the city of Dublin, breeze rustling the black curtains hung on an open window not far from the theater. A teenager stands at his dresser mirror adjusting his white tie as his black shoes scuff the white carpet, blue eyes following his fingers winding around the material. He frowns, pulling away to a clump of ribbon and drops his arms to his sides. "Oh..." A girl with long black hair stands in his doorway smiling at the teen. "Need help?" The teen turns to her with a pitiful expression, level-cut black hair rustling. "Oh, Alexandria, I'm sorry..." Alexandria laughed and appeared at his side, untieing the knot with swift movements as her hazel eyes sparkled. "Brother Adare, you know you can't do this yourself." She ties a flawless bow as he shakes his head. "I'm usually not this nervous..." Adare smiled at her as she stepped back to admire her handiework, tugging at it gently to test it. "Ah, stop worrying yourself sick. You just preform for the Nobles and do your best." Adare shouldered his Cello case. "It's not the playing I'm worried about," he lowered his gaze to the neatly made bed. "It's..." Alexandria's smile faded. "That boy?" Adare scowled and looked away. "Don't call him that, he..."

*Three years ago*

Sixth grade Adare and another boy sit on a bench at the end of the playground, watching the other children play together, ignoreing them. As the sun struggles to shine from behind dark grery clouds and the small trees lining the road swish in the wind, the pair hide their faces in their bangs. The boy sighs. "See how they play together without even a sideways glance? Without a care about how distant we keep them?" he sneers. "They're all selfish little imps." Adare looks up sharply. "They... they just don't know how we feel, thats all. They don't know we want to play with them..." The boy blinks at him. "How could you say that when we're both sitting here alone while they have the times of their lives?" Adare smiles gently. "Because they are only children. They don't understand loneliness." The boy smiles wearily. "Right. You're not half bad, you know that?"

*Now*

Adare grips his elbow with his free hand. "He's just different, ok?" Alexandria pated his arm gently. "I know, I know. Hey, come on, we'll be late." As she danced out the door and down the steps, Adare glanced out the window. He walked over to it with a furrowed brow, pushing the glass down heavily and noticing a dark figure with blonde hair walking twords the theater. [i]Huh. Must be him.[/i] "Adare! Come!" Adare smiled to himself. "See you at the concert." With pale fingers, he pulled the curtains shut and disappeared down the hallway.

"And so, with our greatest honor, we present St. Clanet's best third-year student playing a solo for this wonderful audience. Draighean Scarlet!" The huge crowd filled the theater to the brim, having people standing on the delicate red carpet as others enjoyed their black cushioned seats lined in a half-moon circle around the stage. As the people from the upper class clapped from the front row, the entire school of St. Clanets sat to the right in the lower class seats, cheering for their former classmate. The boy steps out onto stage and holds his violin in his right hand with a blank face. His red eyes burn with determination as he strides to the center of the empty stage, all hands silent. The suit he is wearing outlines his skinny figure and black tie tucked neatly into place shimmers in the floresent lighting, black shoes cleaned to shine. He lifts the instrument to his chin calmly, hair swept back away from his face beggiging to fall around his eyes as his bow comes in contact with the top string. His fingers guide the bow up, down, around, like an angel playing a harp, music pouring out over the astonished people. They all watched in awe as this boy played a song he composed himself like he'd been practicing for years and years, since the day of his birth and still many more. He captured all eyes onto him with his neatly manicured nails tapping the bow and eyes following every movement with an extremely relaxed air. All about the strings vibrated happily with the chords of music piquing the ears of all, the full moon high and glowing overhead as if awestruck itself. Adare stared up at him, eyes alight. His hand griped the top of his Cello case tighter as the song ended.

!!!A Friend's Loneliness!!!

The afternoon sun just was just slipping over the horizon, slashing pink and red shades all around the blackening sky as Adare sat curled up on the sand next to his backpack. His eyes were half-closed and his arms were wrapped around the knees that were holding up his chin, leaning on his pack sideways for support. The second-place medal his class had received huge heavy around his neck, gleaming in the dim light. Adare was exausted and felt the tug of sleep drag him deeper into blackness as the sun disappeared over the calm waves of the rolling sea. He finally closed his eyes to let sleep take him, mind slipping, and was out.

Draighean wandered onto the beach beside his cliff under the early morning sun, eyes darting across the white sand and blonde hair swishing around his face in the gentle breeze. He walked under the grey sky like a ghost and caught sight of a small black lump far out near the waves. Cocking his head, he was at the boy's side and crouching in front of him in seconds. He noticed th medalion hanging around the boy's neck blinked in suprise. Adare. Draighean hadn't seen Adare in weeks because he had skipped out on school, only glancing his childhood friend on the streets occasionally or in the parks. But now, he was here! Draighean's smile faded. I wonder if he remembers me... He raised his hand cautiously and his fingers caressed Adare's smooth, warm cheek gently, making him smile.
Adare's eyelids fluttered open, squinting over at him. Draighean let his arm fall quickly, "'Morning, sleeping sandy."
Adare blinked several times, yawning, "W-Where am I? What happene-" His expression turned to complete suprise when he reconized his oldest friend, then he blushed a bright red.
Draighean laughed, "You fell asleep out here last night, I'm guessing. You get a good rest?"
His voice sounded light and smooth as silk to Adare. He swallowed quickly, "U-Uh, yeah. What time is it, D-Draighean?"
Draighean smiled, not even glancing down at the watch his mother made him wear, "Nine thirty four. Want me to walk you home?"
Adare rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with light tan fists and nodded, "Yeah, my sis's going to kill me."
Draighean helped him stand up, watching as he shouldered his backpack and began walking up the beach, "...Hey, do you remember... When we were kids?" He hid his hands in his pockets.
Adare stumbled slightly at the question, studying his back in confusion, "Of course. Up until a few years in middle school, we were the best of friends."
Draighean remembered Adare's bright blue eyes like they were seven yesterday, smarter then the rest of the class, but never brave enough to make real friends. He hopped over the boulder marking the exit to the beach to the road, "I miss those days."
Adare brushed his back hair out of his eyes and walked passed the big rock, "How've you been, then? Without me?"
Draighean paused on the soulder of the empty road, "...I never made another friend, if that's what you're asking. I just sort of rode out the year with good grades."
Adare was confused again. The coolest, smartest person he knew didn't have friends? He walked up to his side, frowning, "Not one?"
Draighean turned his head away and kept walking, "Didn't need any. I was fine."
Adare followed, "Was?"
Draighean waited for him to catch up, "Yeah. Until my dad died last year."
Adare was taken aback. Draighean's father had been the only pagen left in town, not to mention he had been in a wheelchair, and now he was gone. Adare reached out abesntmindedly and grasped Draighean's wrist, "You should've come to me. I would've been there."
Draighean stopped in the road, turning to him in suprise. He glanced down at Adare's hand, flickering back to his pleading eyes, "I... didn't think you rembered me anymore."
Adare took a step forward, "I could never forget my best friend." He held his friend's wrist with both hands now.
Draighean smiled wearily, "I'm glad you haven't forgotten, but it's getting late. Won't your parents be worried?"
Adare jumped three inches off the ground, "Crap, you're right! We gotta go!"
Draighean laughed and followed him swiftly as Adare began running as fast as he could down the streets as rain drops fell slowly through the thick air.