After Alois reminds him for the fifth time, Ciel quickly makes his way down the stairs and towards the basement music department. Catching his breath, he slows down as he makes his way over to his classroom, stopping just in front of the door. He smoothes down his cardigan and runs his hand through his hair to tidy it, delicately draping his fringe over his black silk eye patch. Rolling his shoulders to relax, he feels ready to go in.
Entering the room, he spots his professor by the large piano in the corner; he is sitting quietly reading and grading papers, fervently marking them with red ink. He looks up from the sheets, tilting his head to the side.
"I was starting to lose hope with you, Phantomhive." He grumbles.
"Yes, I know, I'm sorry I'm late." Ciel smiles as he walks over towards him, and Spears goes back to finishing the last paragraph on the page, sighing as he does.
"No apologies - just get ready."
Ciel nods as he sits his things down on the nearby desk and opens his violin case. Pulling out the bow, he flips open a small compartment at the side and brings out a small rectangular object. Holding this, he sets about running it down the length of the bow to rosin it. Once finished he picks up the violin, plucking the strings to check they are all properly tuned. Satisfied, he lays a piece of white cloth over his left shoulder and places his chin on the black chin rest on the edge of the body. Flexing his fingers and placing them on the neck, he starts to warm up.
The high pitched sounds of the scales fill the air as professor Spears starts to walk around the room, listening to each note played. He taps his hands on every hard surface he comes across and acts as a human metronome.
Fifteen minutes pass and Ciel takes a quick break, bending and flexing his fingers to keep them warm as he leans against one of the desks. He watches his professor with interest as he sits on a nearby chair, looking through sheet music.
If Alois were here, he would probably say something that would mimic Ciel, especially if he was to catch him leering at professor Faustus. Admittedly, Ciel just can't help himself - he likes to look at him and his long lean legs that go up to an elongated torso. Hair parted at the side and slicked back showing off the elegant features of his face. Ciel notices everything about his professor, such as how he likes to wear his tie in a Windsor knot right down to his preference to wearing his glasses perched just on the top bridge of his nose.
Spears looks up at Ciel curiously as he stares. Catching his glance, Ciel looks away awkwardly and fumbles with his bow.
"Today, I want you to play, Bachs' Partita for solo violin in E major." Spears finally smiles as he stands.
"That's quite hard." Ciel admits whilst biting his lip coquettishly.
"In your hands, I think you can manage it."
"Which movement?"
"Let's start at the beginning. Play the first movement, Preludio, please." He sits the sheet music on the nearby music stand, brings it over to Ciel and stands beside him, causing the young man to shiver slightly.
"Okay."
"Be mindful of the pacing of this piece and just have fun with it."
"It's just…" He hesitates, Spears places his hand on Ciels' shoulder, causing him to drop his head to hide his blushes.
"Ciel, trust me, you can play this. There's no one else here, just you and I – you're playing for me." He soothes.
Ciel nods, as he breathes in deeply, preparing himself to lay his bow onto the strings.
The sweet melody sings out on the strings as he plays. Spears watches as thin, nimble fingers flick between the strings as they run up and down the neck of the violin, whilst the other holds the bow that furiously grazes each string it passes. The speed of each note played is precise and beautifully executed.
Ciel closes his eye as he feels the vibration of each feathered stroke. It is gorgeous and to be expected of such an accomplished violinist.
When Ciel is through, he drops his arms down and pants slightly, that movement really took it out of him. He waits for Spears to say something but he doesn't, he just stares ahead at Ciel, who is starting to feel self-conscious.
"That was…" He began but didn't finish his statement. Ciel fidgets anxiously as he waits.
"Okay? Passable? What?"
"Beautiful. Just… beautiful." He smiles and Ciels' cheeks burn red at the compliment.
"Thanks." He mutters.
"You're really going to impress at this showcase recital."
"Are you going to be there?"
"I wasn't planning on it but if you want me to be?"
"Yes please."
"Then I will be there. I'll even stand at the back where you can see me and if you get nervous, just close your eyes, feel the music and just play for me."
"I will." He grins.
"Good."
Spears walks back over to the piano and looks through the sheet music to find another piece of music for Ciel to play.
"You know, it still amazes me how a prodigy like you can still get nervous when you play, it's almost as though you're putting it on."
Ciel hesitates for a moment as, in all reality, he doesn't really get stage fright anymore but he needs to come up with an excuse so his professor will come and watch him play.
"One day Ciel, you'll realize just how amazing you actually are."
"What do you mean?" Ciel asks as Spears finds another piece of music.
"I mean that you're gifted, you were a wunderkind who never realized their full potential." He pauses for a beat. "Can I ask what happened?"
"Nothing happened." Ciel shirks off the comment, not wanting to really answer.
"Was it the accident?" Ciels' head whips around as he stares at his professor, who looks completely embarrassed over his comment, He said it without thinking, and immediately wishes he could take it back. "Oh I am sorry Ciel. I know you told me that in confidence and-"
"It's okay, it's fine. Yes, I stopped playing for a while because of the accident."
There is an awkward silence that falls over the room but it doesn't last long as Spears clears his throat and smiles.
"Well, for what it's worth, I'm glad you've decided to play again."
Ciel hums as he nods to his comment as a faint trace of a smile appears on his lips.
"There is this moment, when I'm playing, when everything feels... right. The world just stops, and it's only me in a place where I can find peace. You know?"
"I understand, I feel like that when I play the piano."
"Then you know." He pauses as he thinks for a moment, "It's a feeling that's hard to stay away from." He concludes.
Spears nods in agreement and hands him another piece of sheet music.
"When it's something you love, it's hard to stay away." He concurs.
…
A few days later, Ciel goes through the motions of acting out his daily routine.
Chai tea latte and violin case in hand, he walks throughout the crowded shop. As he always does, Ciel quickly dodges the other shoppers and heads downstairs. Just like every day, he wastes no time, knowing exactly where to go but unlike every day, as he makes his way down to the chocolate aisle, he takes his time. He walks slowly as his eye scans each aisle, searching for something, searching for someone.
Finally, he heads straight down the aisle, right to where the candy and chocolates are. As this is a part of the routine, Ciel automatically grabs two chocolates of his choosing, but this time he waits a moment.
"Am I early?" He thinks aloud to himself as he leans his back against the shelves and waits. This is the third day he's waited and again, Sebastian is nowhere to be seen. He pulls out his mobile and hits the home key to illuminate it and checks the time. He is right on time or rather; the same time he always is when he comes into the shop. Looking around, he still doesn't see him. "Why do I care?" He groans.
Sighing heavily, he makes his way through the busy aisles over to the self-service checkout line and waits for his turn.
"Seriously, you have a problem." A voice calls out from behind him and Ciel turns to see Alois grinning broadly.
"What are you talking about, what are you even doing here?" He huffs.
"I came to look for you, class is cancelled today and I didn't want you to rush, but it seems that you weren't doing that anyway." He observes.
Ciel turns back around to avoid looking Alois in the eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He lies.
"You were waiting for him." Alois folds his arms as he cocks his hips to the side.
"I wasn't waiting."
"Don't lie to me Ciel Phantomhive, it's unbecoming." He jests. "I watched you."
Ciel sighs loudly; he bows his head as his cheeks flush in embarrassment.
"Okay fine, so I was waiting for Sebastian to show."
"Fuck me; you're so adorable right now."
"Fuck, what am I doing?" He mutters to himself.
"Yeah, what are you doing?"
"I don't know. I just thought… I haven't seen him in a while."
"Oh yeah? That's surprising." Alois thinks aloud as he strokes his chin.
"Tell me about it. I thought you said he was interested in me?"
Alois shrugs. "I thought he was. Anyway, what does it matter to you? You said you weren't into him."
"I'm not." He pouts in protest, which causes the blond to chuckle.
"You do fancy him…!" He pokes Ciel in the ribs.
"I don't it's just… why say you're going to do something when you're really not?"
A checkout machine becomes free and the pair walk over to it. Ciel hands Alois his Chai, of which he takes a sip, and begins scanning through his chocolate bars.
"What did he say he was going to do?" Alois asks as he takes another sip.
"He hasn't rung me." Ciel states as he fumbles to get money out of his pocket.
"Oh my God, is that what this is all about?" Ciel nods sheepishly, completely embarrassed that he is acting this way because a boy hadn't phoned. He puts a few pound coins into the coin slot and waits for his change.
Watching this reaction, Alois pinches the bridge of his nose and exhales loudly. "Don't panic, didn't you arrange to see him during your recital?"
"I didn't arrange anything, he just invited himself along."
"Then that, to me, sounds like someone who's interested in you." He pauses for a moment as he reads Ciels' expression and then arches an eyebrow. "But, you don't really fancy him so why does it matter?" He teases.
"It doesn't." Ciel scoffs as they make their way out of the self-checkout area.
"If you insist." Alois grins as he follows along.
…
The hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps doesn't really suit Sebastian.
Even though he was born and raised in New York, he never considers himself a New Yorker and yearns for some place that moves at slower pace. Ever since he was little, he could never figure out what it is about this city he never felt a part of. He just never quite fit, like a shoe that is two sizes too small. Life felt tight and uncomfortable living here. This shoe is definitely not made for this city.
The move back to New York was quick and painless; Ronald really did sort everything out to the letter. Although, it's only been a few days, he misses London. It's not that he feels like he belongs there either, there is something about the city that makes it just a smaller, European version of New York but still, he does miss it. He misses the people, the sites and sounds, the history and the atmosphere of the busy city streets. The streets are not as busy as New York's; there are smaller, secret side streets that you can turn down if you want to escape or get away from the rush and they can occasionally take you on fantastic adventures.
He thinks about all he misses as he's at his desk, sitting back in his chair. Taking out his phone, he swirls it around in between his fingers for a moment and then sits it down on the desk, drumming his fingers on top of it.
"Five hours ahead." He mumbles to himself as works out the time difference in his head. Right now, it's 3:54 in the afternoon and if Sebastian counted correctly, it is 8:54 at night in London. Is it too late to call? If he did, what would he say? For the last few days this is all Sebastian can think about, should he call him? He didn't know if he should and so he didn't. "Coward." He scolds himself as he slides the phone away from him. It hits a large cylinder black glass vase, stuffed with white Phalaenopsis orchids, with a loud clank and he leans back.
Rubbing his eyes with the base palms of his hands, Sebastian lets his mind wander to work. He has asked Ronald for the contracts folder for the new television series they were in the process of producing, although that was an hour ago.
"He's probably flirting with some girl." He sighs as his thoughts then turn back to Ciel. "I wonder what he's up to." He says aloud as he runs his hands through his hair. He should keep thinking about work but his mind is full of nothing but Ciel. The way he looks and the way he carries himself, the constant pout on his full pink lips, the deep blue color of his eye and the warm sound of his laughter when he genuinely finds something funny. Sebastians' mind is occupied with nothing but Ciel at this moment in time, so much so, that he doesn't notice his assistant, with the long awaited folder, standing in the doorway in front of him.
"Sebastian?" Ronald calls over to him but Sebastian isn't paying attention, stuck in his own little world. "Sebastian, sir?"
"Hm? Sir?" He snaps out of his trance as Ronald enters the office and adjusts his thick-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"Are you okay? Forgive me for asking but you've been off since we got here."
"Off?"
"Distracted."
"Oh, I guess I have been. I've been thinking about something and it's been weighing on my mind heavily."
Ronald nods his head and folds his arms across his chest, letting a sly smile finds its way onto his lips.
"Is that thing a person?"
"How can you guess?"
"The only time someone gets that faraway look in their eyes is when they're thinking about someone else. Lemme guess, the roses?"
"Did you order them before we left?"
Ronald nods. "Two dozen white roses sent to the University for a Ciel Phantomhive. They will be delivered to him on Saturday."
"That's great, thanks."
"It's all right. Anyway, here are the contracts." He sits the file down on the desk and Sebastian takes it, flipping through it.
"Thanks Ronald."
Ronald nods and leaves the office.
Exhaling loudly, Sebastian throws the file back down on his desk and reaches over and grabs his phone from next to the vase. Searching through the contacts, he lands on his number.
Back in London, Ciel sits idly on his couch. He wants to move but can't think of any reason to, so he just sits, sulking slightly and staring at his mobile, which sits, also silently, on the coffee table. He should move but what should he do? What does he feel like? He feels thirsty and with that thought, he smiles to himself as now he has a reason to get up from the settee and stop staring at his phone.
Standing and stretching out, he ambles into the kitchen, grabbing the kettle from its charge and taking it to the sink. Filling it with water, he sits it back down and flicks the handle to turn it on. Resting his back against the edge of the sink, he drums his fingers against his thighs as he waits for the kettle to boil. Once it does, he waits for the click and then turns, reaching into the cabinet for a mug and a teabag. Ciel stops for a moment, tilting his head to the side slightly as he thinks he's heard something. Did my phone just ring? Probably not. He thinks. Shrugging it off, he sets about making his tea.
Finishing, he gingerly carries the hot mug back into the sitting room and sits down. Placing the mug down next to his phone, it illuminates, there's a text message. His heart races as he quickly picks the phone up and checks the message, it's an unfamiliar number and Ciel smiles to himself as he looks at it.
'How are you? S.' It reads.
Ciel bites his lower lip to keep himself from grinning broadly. Taking his phone, he leans back into the softness of the couch.
"What do I type back?" He says aloud to himself.
As Sebastian waits for a reply, he paces around his office and curses himself for such a clichéd message; maybe he should have tried to be more suave? He didn't know the answer to that, but he did know that he isn't getting a response. He stops for a moment to admire the Manhattan skyline outside of his office window and suddenly, his text alarm goes off.
'I thought you would have forgotten about me.'
"How could I?" He breathes as he reads his message again. 'Me, forget you? Impossible.' He responds.
Ciel blushes as he reads the message.
'Well, I haven't seen you for a while.' He texts back.
'Aw. Did you miss me?' Sebastian cheekily replies.
'No. I was just thinking about how good it's been getting to class on time these last few days.'
'Is that all?'
'That's all you're going to get out of me.' As he retorts, Ciel smiles to himself. He lifts his legs up and sits cross-legged, sinking his back into the settee as he waits for the next text.
Sebastian grins as he reads Ciels' message. 'Sweetness and light as usual I see.' He ripostes.
'Well, you haven't gotten to my warm gooey center just yet.'
'I have a feeling that you won't give it up so easily.'
'And I have a feeling that you don't give up so easily.'
'Not when it's something that I want.'
Ciels' cheeks rouge and his ears burn as he reads and re-reads that message. He wonders what to say back but before he can, his phone sounds off again.
'So, what's the weather like? I bet it's raining.' Ciel stares at his screen blankly.
'What do you mean? Where are you?' He asks.
Sebastians' eyes instantly widen as realizes his mistake. "Oh damn it." He curses as he tries to think of something to say back, after a moment; Sebastian decides that he should tell the truth.
'I'm in New York.'
"New York?" Ciel blurts out. "What's he doing in New York?"
'Have you gone to visit family?'
'No, I'm here for work.'
'Oh.' Is the only reply he can think of.
Ciel thinks for a moment and his mind lands on something else. 'Does this mean that you won't make it back in time for my recital?' He sends over without thinking.
'Probably not.' Sebastian replies.
Ciel doesn't know what to say next. He drops his hands down onto his lap as his heart sinks with them. He didn't know why he is taking it so personally but here he is, sitting completely dejected. Why did this bother him so much? He wonders. The fact of the matter is that Sebastian is still nothing more than a stranger to him, not to mention that he has feelings for his professor. They may be unrequited feelings but Ciel could swear, there is something between them. With that in mind, he raises his hands back up and starts to type.
'Maybe it's for the best.' He replies back and waits a moment for Sebastians' response.
'Ciel, I am so sorry.'
Ciel snorts lightly, 'It's fine Sebastian, don't be sorry. It's getting late now; I'm going to go to bed. Have a nice day.' He texts back, and then tosses his mobile to the side, staring vacantly at the wall ahead.
Sebastian groans, as he knows he's just blown it. Dropping his cell on top of the desk, he puts his head into his hands as he thinks.
"Fuck." He sighs. "There's nothing I can do."
There is a soft knock on the doorframe and Ronald walks into the office.
"Is everything all right?" He wonders as he eyes his boss whose head pops up immediately.
"Ronald, I'm going to need you to rearrange some things for me."