A/N: Thanks for all the reviews everyone.
Claire's hands trembled.
"I" she put her hands back in her lap and stared at her fingers. "I don't remember how to play anything by heart."
Erik remained silent, he himself unsure of what to say. Thinking that he was either angry or disappointed Claire put her hands back up to the keys and studied the piece of music in front of her. The right hand didn't seem too difficult. Taking one final breath Claire played the first line of music and then stopped.
"Why did you stop?" he asked sharply but looking pleased nonetheless.
Claire shrugged embarrassed and quickly turned back to the music.
"I'm glad to see that you are able to read notes" he said in an attempt to calm her jittery nerves.
For the first time in almost a month Erik saw her smile and it touched his icy heart to know that she had smiled because of him. Claire resumed playing the piece until she reached a difficult part, stopping again with a frown on her face.
"It's alright, that's a difficult piece."
Erik got up and after shuffling through a pile of papers pulled out a sheet of music.
"Here, try playing this" he said sitting back down and placing it in front of her.
Claire looked at the piece curiously, there was no title and the ink still looked wet. Slowly she worked her way through the piece, every so often Erik stopping her to correct something. When she was finished he made her play it twice more. Erik smiled to himself as he saw Claire finally begin to relax, begin to look happy.
"It's beautiful, what's it called?" she asked looking up at him.
Erik hated to have his music questioned.
"It doesn't have a name" he snapped, his voice coming out harsher than he had intended.
"Oh"
Erik cursed at himself as he watched Claire shrink back a little and stare at the keys.
"Who's it by?" she asked timidly.
"I wrote it" he replied flatly.
Claire's head snapped up. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were kind.
"Did you just write it tonight? For me to practise on?" she exclaimed, her eyes shinning.
"No" he growled, he blue eyes becoming cold. "I didn't write it just for you."
The light in her eyes vanished and the color drained from Claire's face. There was an awkward pause, punctuated only by the ticking of the clock.
"I'm sorry" she said in a voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you very much for the lesson. I think I should go to bed now."
Gathering up her blanket Claire quickly walked towards the door. With her hand on the handle she turned back to him. He was still sitting on the piano bench staring after her.
"I'm sorry" she repeated hanging her head. "That was very vain of me."
Erik's face remained devoid of emotion. Nervously she left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
As soon as her heard the click of the door Erik let out a sigh and closed his eyes.
"You weren't being vain" he whispered to the air. "I did write it for you."
A/N: coming next...Erik and Claire's thoughts on their little lesson and a strange discovery is made.
