Chapter 7

The whole day had been tough and Erik's fingers bled steadily as he sat at the side of the stage with Pete crouching down beside him, trying and failing to make the swelling in his fingers go down. Erik had never played violin like that before, mind you, he had never been in an orchestra before, so it was all very new to him. Pete swore under his breath and Erik shut his eyes in pain as his fingers were prodded and pulled different ways. At last, even though it had seemed like hours, Erik's hands were bandaged with white linen cloth and had been dipped in warm water to keep infection away until they could get the proper ointment to him.

"There." Pete smiled at his handiwork and met Erik's eyes. "That's the best I could do for you." Erik forced himself to return a smile even though his fingers throbbed painfully.

"Thanks Pete."

"No worries Erik, glad to help out a friend. How are they feeling?" Erik wiggled his fingers in front of Pete's face, quite energetically despite the pain.

"One more day like that and you might have to cut them off." Pete let out a loud laugh and clapped Erik strongly on the back, knocking the wind out of him quickly.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to put up with it for everyday that you're here. Maestro pushes us hard. He's very strict about practices, and he doesn't take kindly to those who don't show up."

"Not even if they have a good excuse?" Asked Erik is surprise.

"Like what?"

"Well…if they were sick, or someone in their family died and they had a funeral to go to." Pete scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"The only funeral that Maestro would allow an absence from practice would be their own." Erik's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Are all orchestra Conductors this strict?" Pete shrugged.

"Not so sure about that. I've never been in an orchestra other then this one. You might want to talk to Richard though, he's been in the New York Orchestra and the London Orchestra. He'd be able to help you, got loads of experience. I do think he likes this one the best, because he's been here the longest." Erik glanced over to where Richard now stood along with Steve and 3 other violinists that he didn't know. They were standing about Maestro, and were all leaning in eagerly absorbing what he was saying to them. Everyone else in the orchestra had left the pit and made their way to the front hall in order to start their dinner, everyone that is except the 5 people standing about Maestro and Pete and Erik who were huddled in the corner.

"Hey Pete, Richard is a good violinist right?"

"One of the best we have." Pete beamed, obviously happy that he and Richard were friends. "Even though he's been with those orchestras, he's been here since almost the same time as Jacque Laffrey."

"Must be very old." Muttered Erik with a hint of jealousy in his tone. Richard had been to all these wonderful places and played in all these orchestras during his whole life and Erik had been hidden from the world of music and operas until this moment. At least you have a chance here, many have not been where you are now. Be grateful what you have, it may disappear before you know, leaving you with nothing. The tiny voice in Erik's head piped up. Erik had to agree to an extent, but he wanted an excuse to dislike Richard because clearly Richard did not like him.

"Ah. Now, now experienced, is how we like to say it. Richard is experienced." Said Pete with a twinkle in his eye. Erik turned to Pete and gave him a thoughtful stare.

"If Richard is so experienced. Why did he leave those other orchestras?"

"Damned if I know. That's something you should ask him." Erik returned his gaze back towards the huddle that was surrounding Maestro. He could feel Pete's eyes on him and knew that he was leaning closer towards him. Erik was feeling a little uncomfortable and wished Steve and Richard would hurry up and finish what they were doing with Maestro. It wasn't Pete's fault that he felt uncomfortable, it was just that eyes had been on him the whole time during his life in the orphanage. Erik knew something was wrong and that he had done something against the rules if the nuns looked at him the way Pete was looking at him now. He cleared his throat nervously.

"Aren't you two good friends? Wouldn't he tell you?" He managed to steal a glance at Pete's face and quickly regretted what he said to him. Hurt came into Pete's eyes, but quickly masked it when he saw Erik looking at him. He drew his face away from Erik's and looked out across the orchestra pit, staring to nothing in particular. Erik wasn't sure what to do. He had never hurt someone's feelings before and wasn't sure what he had done wrong, only that he had did it. He placed a hand tentatively on Pete's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Look…I'm sorry what I said…I didn't mean it the way it sounded…" Erik began, stumbling over his words in an attempt to try and comfort Pete but it didn't seem to be doing any good. In an instant, Pete whipped his head around and brought his face just inches away from Erik and he had a coy smile upon his lips.

"Of course my boy, Richard tells me most everything. However, it is my decision to tell you what I want about him when I want. You can't always expect an answer to all your questions." Erik was a little frightened in the quick change of his friend but remained calm.

"Er…right." Said Erik a little uncertainly. Pete removed his face for the second time and clasped his hands together and placed them quietly in his lap looking thoughtful.

"However, I could tell you what I think. It wouldn't be telling you what he actually said, but it might give you some time to figure out your own answer, unless Richard gives you his true one." Pete snorted as if what he said was a joke. Erik grimaced and felt truly sorry for Pete because Richard seemed to be the kind of person who only looked out for number 1.

"That would be nice Pete, thanks." Erik said smiling at Pete who turned his head to face him.

"Well, well!" exclaimed Pete. "Now Erik, this mustn't be passed on, understand? My advice and thoughts should always be taken seriously, and should not be taken lightly." Erik nodded to show Pete that he did indeed understand. He held back the urge to say, then who are you to pass this on? As soon as he thought that, he realised how stupid he was being and gave his full attention to Pete. "Now what I think is well, Richard is a very accomplished violinist and made his way up the ranks in both those orchestras, up towards Second Chair." Erik's mouth hung open wide as he drank in every word that Pete said. New found respect started to form in Erik for Richard, who was clearly very talented to reach Second Chair in two orchestras. Pete grinned as he saw Erik's stunned look and patted him on the cheek so that Erik closed his mouth and blushed a bit.

"Sorry." He murmured.

"No need to be." Pete's eyes shone. "I hope to one day become half the violinist that Richard is. He truly is remarkable." Erik was astounded at the length that Pete considered himself a friend to Richard even if it wasn't really true. Erik had no way of knowing if Richard was indeed who he seemed but Pete's endless admiration for Richard stirred something deep inside Erik.

"Maybe you and him were right, that I'm not meant to replace Jacque." Pete nodded.

"Sorry my boy, you quite clearly have a gift for the violin but that group there is in the running for First Chair. As you can see you're not in it. I wasn't really surprised really, you being a new arrival and all." Erik stared at the group again. He knew why he wasn't there, he wasn't good enough that much was clear. After he had just heard all the amazing things that Richard had done, Erik paled in comparison. He secretly hoped that Steve would get it, but something told him that Richard was going to get it no matter what.

"So about Richard…" Erik began.

"Oh of course my boy. He'll get it for sure."

"No I mean, why did he leave those orchestras. You didn't really finish."

"Well..." Pete hooked his thumbs around his belt loops, "I guess he figured that he would be able to get First Chair here at the Paris Orchestra. There's a lot of prestige attached to the title you know."

"Wouldn't Richard already be quite well known?" Pete shook his head sadly.

"First Chair has always really overshadowed Second Chair. For a musician like Richard who always strives for the best, Second Chair would be just that: second best."

"I see." Pete's eyes looked away from Erik's face as footsteps could be heard close to them and coming closer. Erik saw Pete leap up and smile wildly at Steve and Richard who had both just left the group around Maestro. Erik stood as well and faced the two gentlemen. Richard stood stone still with an unreadable expression on his face while Steve's face held the complete opposite. Steve seemed quite honoured that he had even been chosen to be considered for First Chair.

"Well friends?" said Pete as he grasped both their hands in his. "What's Maestro's decision?" Steve grinned broadly and Erik's hope flared up. Steve had got it! Erik was in mid jump when Steve rested his hand on Richard's arm.

"Our dearest friend Richard has claimed the title of First Chair."