Maka Albarn sat in her seat, drumming her fingers on her lap nervously. On stage, the serenade ended and the audience applauded the male singer as he bowed graciously to all. The announcer ran on stage then, in a pompous voice, "Please put your hands together for our next participant, Soul Eater Evans!"
There was a rather polite smattering of applause, quiet in comparison to the wild ruckus that had erupted for earlier performances. The mood worsened when Soul himself came on. With his unusual shock of white hair, glowering red eyes and brooding look, it was easy to feel suspicion of him, and the audience silently grew unsettled. Soul slowly shuffled to the piano and sat down on his seat. Hands lifted and poised to play, Soul looked ready for action. But the music never came.
Soul couldn't move. His fingers were frozen in place above the keys. But they wouldn't move. His fingers felt cut off from his brain, which howled maniacally in frustration. Fear replaced panic, a cold feeling which gnawed relentlessly at his gut. Around him, he could feel the animosity of the audience grow into a silent hatred. One which he couldn't destroy. Murmurs rippled down and up the seats behind him.
Who's that?
A student from DMWA.
Ugh. That school for freaks? Makes sense. He's a freak himself.
How could they allow such a dangerous person to participate in such an event?
Suddenly, the world around him turned to dust. The shadowy faces of the audience loomed above him, eyes glowing scarlet. They too disintegrated, leaving the face of Wes his brother, who grinned smugly at him. His freakish smile vanished, replaced with his parents who's eyes were stern and disappointed. They wailed inside his head in despair. Finally, Maka's face joined the group. Her emerald eyes were downcast and her upbeat smile was no more. Suddenly, all of her features were erased except for her mouth, which was drawn down in a heavy wailing line that echoed the depths of despair. All around him, blackness spun around and around.
A clap. Down the far side of the seats. There it was again. And again. Soul's head turned of its own accord and he clapped eyes on Maka, who was out of her seat and clapping. Not in a particular rhythm, nor beat. She just clapped. Opposite her, another began to clap. Then another. And another. The encouraging applause ran like a contagious yawn, and soon the entirety of the audience were clapping in support for him. Soul Eater Evans. His fingers moved across the keys and the audience erupted in cheers. Soul smiled to himself.
'Thanks, Maka.'
He then began to play. Into the keys, he wove a gorgeous piece much different from the ones that he normally played. It was hopeful, sweet, with a melody unlike no other. It came from the heart.
Soul didn't win. Not like he minded. However, his mind kept flitting over to Maka and her reaction to his failure. But, all fears took flight out of his mind when Maka ran over and hugged him tightly backstage.
"Soul! Well done! You were great out there!"
"Thanks," he mumbled gruffly, aware of his reddening cheeks. "Were my parents there?"
Her face told him all he needed to know. A slight lump of disappointment tried to settle in his stomach, but he ignored it. Smiling genuinely, he shrugged his shoulders.
"Doesn't matter. If they wanted a great show, they just missed one."
Fin. Finally done. Messed up the ending there, but oh well. I'll get better. My Avatar the last Airbender fanfic is on hiatus because of my lack of creativity. I'll try to complete it if I can. Please read and review! Thank you!