Angel of Music

think of me

think of me fondly when we've said goodbye

You were once my one companion

You were all that mattered

She's singing. He's playing his piano, guiding her through his song. Her voice sounds weak and unsure. But he doesn't push her, because he hears her hitting those high notes. And he knows she's got it in her.

You were once my friend and father

Then my world was shattered

Wishing you were somehow here again

Wishing you were somehow near

Sometimes it seemed, if I just dreamed

Somehow you-

She stops singing, not sure if she can hit the highest note so far. Hesitantly, she looks at him, silently begging for help. He stands up, taking place behind her, and he puts his hand on her stomach. He softly pushes, controlling her breath.

She hears his voice coming from behind her.

"Now sing."

Somehow you would be here..

She turns around, smiling. Their eyes lock and suddenly, she realizes his hand is still where it was before and strangely, she doesn't exactly have a problem with that. He seems to have noticed it too, but other than her, he seems to not like it all that much, because he turns red, quickly pulls his hand away, and walks back to the piano. He starts playing again, motioning to her to continue singing.

Wishing I could hear your voice again

Knowing that I never would

Thinking of you won't help me to do

All that you dreamed I could

Passing bells and sculpted angels

Cold and monumental

Seem for you the wrong companions

You were warm and gentle

Her voice builds in volume, and her high notes sound marvellous. Her confidence grows as she sees Zander smiling at her from behind his piano.

Too many years fighting back tears

Why can't the past just die?

Wishing you were somehow here again

Knowing we must say goodbye

Try to forgive, teach me to live

Give me the strength to try

No more memories, no more silent tears

No more gazing across the wasted years

Help me say goodbye, help me say goodbye

She finishes the song, nailing the high note at the end. In her mind, she hears a huge audience applauding her, but she's ripped out of the fantasy when she hears actual clapping.

Zander steps out from behind the piano, clapping. When he comes closer, she sees a single tear escaping his eye.

"Your voice is like an angel's"

"And you told me you were my angel of music."

"Yeah, and you told me you weren't a soprano." He continues before she can protest: "Look, you were amazing." And then he wipes the tear away.

"Zander? That song... did you write it for someone?"

He looks at her with a sad look in his eyes that almost has her torn apart.

"My mom."

"Your-"

"She died."

"... I'm... so sor-"

"Don't be."

"Zander-"

"Look, it was a long time ago, and I'm over it, alright?!"

She's about to tell him that that tear told her otherwise, but she decides it probably won't do any justice. Instead, she steps up to him and hugs him.

He hesitates, letting it happen. It takes some time before he returns her hug, but finally he brings his arms around her, leaving them in a sweet embrace.

When she lets go, she softly smiles at him. He sighs, sitting down on the ground. She takes place next to him. He looks at her, and then starts talking.

"Up until my sixth, my life was perfectly fine. I had a family: a mom, a dad, and a little sister, Melody. But then, my dad left us. Without a reason, really, he just left. My mom really missed him. We soon got in trouble: my mom was fired so we didn't have any source of income, so we were kicked out of our house because we couldn't pay the rent. The only thing we had left was my mom's car, so we took off to California with it. But one day, there was... an accident. On the highway, a drunk guy in his car crashed into us. I survived, but my mom and Melody were killed. Melody was just a baby, so I don't miss her a lot, but my mom..."

His voice cracks, and she sees another tear rolling over his cheek. She scoots closer to him, putting her arms around him, which comforts him enough to carry on with his story.

"I was taken to an orphanage, but it was terrible. I walked away when I was eight and I became a part of a travelling circus. I've always been a very good musician. I learned playing six instruments. I was called-"

"-the Wonderchild. The kid could play piano, violin, saxophone, flute, guitar and ukelele." She finishes his sentence, looking at him in awe. Nelson's parents used to take her to a circus when they were eight years old. She'd always been fascinated with the Wonderchild. Six instruments at the age of eight!

And there he was, sitting right next to her. The Wonderchild.

Zander looks as if he's about to faint. "How can you-"

"I used to go to your circus. I always thought the Wonderchild was amazing."

"And you never thought I looked similar to him?"

"Well, now I do, obviously."

He smiles. "The world is so small."

"But what happened? Obviously you're not with that circus anymore."

"I was kicked out when I was twelve years old. They said I'd become to old for my talent to be special enough. They left me in this town, where I found this theatre. I started living here because I could get in and out quite easily and I can steal food from the kitchen because of some secret passages."

She smiles at the last part. The masterchef always goes on about how someone is always stealing food from the kitchen. Everybody thinks he's insane, but Stevie now knows he's actually right.

"Zander? I'm really sorry for how you have to live."

"I can cope. I'm just lonely. But you help that a lot."

She shyly smiles. And before they even realize what's going on, they're both leaning in. But a split second before their lips collide, Zander pulls away.

"I figured, maybe you should get back. They'll be missing you."

Hi! I'm currently on a well deserved fall break, and I'm loving it. How are you guys doing? Hope y'all are doing great! New chapter, hooray! Hope you liked it and yay, we know a bit more about Zander!

Songs used in this chapter: Think of Me (lyrics at the beginning) and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.

Thanks to HTRobsessed for reviewing, it was the only review this week D:. Please review! I won't turn into one of those writers who only continue their story if they get ... reviews on their chapters, but that doesn't mean I hate reviews! Reviews are great! I love reviews, and for me they're like tiramisu ice cream :). I think you get the message now: please review!

Well, goodbye! See you next week. Thanks for reading! xx