Fermata - a sign indicating a prolonged note or rest. The symbol tells a performer they can hold the note as long as they'd like, given that it's not held longer than the note value.

"Ava! Hi!" Gary was just coming out of his apartment when he saw Ava coming out of the elevator. "Perfect timing! I was about to go out for a test flight," He holds up the drone in his hands, "I'm sure I got it this time! Uh, well mostly sure," His enthusiasm deflated in the end and he gave a nervous laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck. "But I know I fixed-"

"No, Gary," Ava bit out as she walked past.

Gary flinched at the tone of her voice, "Oh… well maybe next time," He put on a cheery tone, waving goodbye. Ava didn't even look back as she opened her door, slamming it closed behind her. She let out a frustrated groan and tossed her keys at the couch.

"I'm such an idiot! Of course, she didn't want to be friends,"

"Wow, what did the couch do to you?"

Ava jumped, pressing back against the door.

"Sorry kiddo," Ann gave a small smile, "Didn't mean to starlet you,"

"I just, didn't expect you to be home," Ava said slowly, cautiously taking a step forward.

"Yeah, I finished on time, for once. We haven't seen each other in almost a week. Do you want to go out for some dinner?" They said a hopeful smile on their face.

Ava shook her head, "I'm not really in the mood. Sorry, Ann,"

"Hey, no, no," They shook their head, "No sorries needed. We can order in. What do you feel like?"

Ava shrugged, "Just get whatever you want. I'll be in my room,"

"Hey, hold up a moment," They placed a hand on Ava's shoulder, "Something happen at practice?"

Ava shook her head.

"You sure?" They gently brush back some of Ava's damp hair, "Because it looks like something happen,"

"Oh, right," She grumbles a little, "There was a sprinkler incident. But nothing bad happened. Just some water to clean up,"

"Wow, did someone pull the fire alarm or something?"

"Or something," Ava muttered, moving past again. She headed to her room, flopping down on her bed and let a scream out into her pillow. After she got it out of her system she rolled over, staring at the ceiling. In her mind, Sara's voice was ringing on repeat, burning embarrassment into her chest. She curled up on herself.

'How could you think she really wanted to be friends?' A voice that sounded suspiciously familiar and yet not her own sounded in the back of her mind, 'She has friends. It's not like you need people like her in your life anyway. You don't want her in your life,'

Ava sat up abruptly, grabbing her grabbing her iPod and turning the volume all the way to drown out the voice that was too familiar for comfort. The music didn't cut off her mind. It made it harder to think, but she could see feel the humiliation scorching inside her. She felt like a fool.

With her headphones still on she tried to get some work done. It helped shut out her thoughts. She didn't notice Ann in her room until they'd fully stepped inside, hand still on the door. Their expression was one of tepid trepidation. She pulled the headphones off.

"I knocked, but you didn't answer,"

"I had the music up,"

Ann nodded, "Food's here,"

"Right," Ava got to her feet. Ann backed up into the hall as Ava came out.

"I got some Hakka food from the place down on Elson's. You like the spicy noodles from there, don't you?"

Ava just nodded, managing a smile, "Yeah. Thanks,"

They headed to the dining room together, sitting on opposite sides of the table. Ava served herself some of the noodles and garlic chicken. The table was quiet for a while, both of them just eat.

"So," Ann was the one to finally broach the silence, "If you want to talk about it… whoever doesn't want to be friends,"

"Oh," Ava's shoulders tensed, "You heard that,"

"You did yell it out into the flat,"

"It's nothing important, Ann,"

"Aves, you know I'm here for you,"

"Expect when you aren't," Ava said under her breath.

Ann flinched, "Alright, I deserved that,"

"I didn't…"

"Didn't mean it? Or didn't think I would hear?"

Ava didn't respond.

"Look, I know we're still adjusting to each other, but I want to be a person you can talk to Ava,"

"It's… this girl,"

"Oh?" They sat up, looking alert, "A girl like…"

"No. No, god no," Ava shook her head quickly, "Just a girl. I thought she was being nice because... I thought she wanted to be friends. But the head of the centre asked to find out why I didn't want to play in their showcase thing,"

"Oh," They said slowly, "And you know this is the only she was being cordial to you?"

Ava shrugged, pushing her food around the plate, "Not like she would have another reason to be,"

"Aves, you're a cool kid. I think lots of people would want to hang out with you,"

Ava snorted, "Yeah sure I am, the posh violin girl. So cool,"

"I'm serious,"

"You're my aunt. I think your judgement is skewed,"

"At least you have an instrument to add to your title. All the best tutors in the city and I never become the piano player to make your grandmother proud. So I guess that just makes me… posh,"

Ava smiled a little, "I think you can add accountant after the posh,"

"Nah, that's just what I do," Ann waved their fork dismissively, "But, wait, back up for a moment. The center's having a showcase?"

Ava nodded.

"You're not performing?"

She shook her head.

"How come?"

She shrugged, pushing her food again, "I don't feel like it,"

"Alright," Ann didn't push it anymore, "But, admitted, a selfish little part of me wishes you were. It's been forever since I've seen you perform. The last time was…" They trailed off abruptly, and the room got very silent again. Ava and Ann were both all too aware of the last time Ann had seen Ava perform and they knew why they hadn't seen her perform since.

Ava coughed, "Do you still like Disney?"

Ann nodded.

"I've learned some new songs. I could play a couple, after dinner,"

A million dollar smile lit up Ann's face, "I'd like that a lot kiddo,"

A few days later, when Ava stepped in the Youth Center she spotted Gideon and Clarissa standing outside the auditorium doors, speaking with a man she didn't recognise. But looking at him, the overalls, the tool belt around his waist, the faded cap on backwards with a name stitched into it, she could guess it a plumber. She slowly approached, wanting to speak to Gideon.

"…blessing in a disguise,"

Ava just caught the end of what the plumber was saying. He was showing something to the ladies.

"See the ring of rust on the inside there. Rust particles can break off and clog the sprinkler heads so water can't pass through if they're activated,"

"I don't understand, why would they use a rustable metal?" Clarissa asked.

"Well, as far as I can tell, the iron part is only on the section meant to screw onto the pipe. Technically, it doesn't touch the water, but even the smallest gap liquid can get in. And if you what you told me is right, these pipes were put in when the building was built, back then restrictions were much laxer. A business could use cheaper materials to cut down their cost,"

"Unbelievable," Clarissa muttered shaking her head.

"Are you saying all our sprinkler heads could be like this?" Gideon asked.

"Unfortunately,"

Gideon and Clarissa exchanged a look.

"Has the system ever been used?" He asked.

"No, not that we've ever known,"

"I can check the other sprinkler heads while I'm here," The plumber said.

"And if you find they're all damaged like this?"

"I won't tell health and safety your building is a giant fire hazard,"

Clarissa pinched the bridge of her nose and Gideon sighed, "Please do check. We'll have to figure out our plan based on your findings,"

"Shouldn't take me more than an hour," He nodded, picking up a ladder.

Gideon saw Ava then and gave her an apologetic smile, "Ava, I haven't forgotten our session today. Could you just give me ten, twenty minutes to finish things here?"

Ava nodded, "I'll go get warmed up,"

"Sounds like a brilliant idea," Gideon gave her shoulder a quick squeeze before heading off after the plumber.

Ava headed to the steps. The drum of conversation and laughter Ava had been hearing as she crested over the top of the steps. Amaya, Nate, Ray, Wally and Jax who'd all been in the hallway stopped talking as they saw her. Nate and Jax had evidently been the middle of fighting over a bag of M&M's. The partially open bag now remained suspended between their hands, some of the content slowly spilling out. They were all frozen, looking at her.

Ava paused for a moment, looking over each of them. But she pressed forward, turning her head down.

"Got the keys from Rip," Sara's voice sounded suddenly from behind Ava.

That made her stiffen. Glancing back she could see Zari and Sara coming up the stairs, Sara holding a set of keys above her head. The smile on her face vanished when she saw Ava. Ava's jaw clenched and she pushed her way through the Legends to get out of there. She got as far as the door to the practice room when she felt a hand on her arm.

"Ava wait," Sara begged.

Ava's hold on the doorknob tighten and it took everything in her to not turn around. She didn't want to meet Sara's eye right now. She wasn't sure what she was more scared off, finding pity in Sara's gaze or Sara seeing the shame in hers.

"Please, Ava I'm sorry about what I said,"

"Oh, and why's that? You weren't lying, were you? Rip sent you on a pity project to dig into me,"

"It wasn't a pity project. Rip asked from a place of concern. And I was… concerned too. Curious. More curious," She added the latter part on in a rush.

Ava's will gave out and she looked at Sara. Behind Sara, she could see all the Legends watch them. That spooked Ava and she pulled away from Sara's grasp, going into the room.

"Wait," Sara caught the door before she could close, "Just hear me out, please,"

Ava's gaze flickered from Sara to the Legends and then back. Sara glanced back, realizing her friends were all watching. She tossed the keys at Nate who was the nearest, "I'll be there in a minute," They took the hint, getting their room open and filing in and shutting the door behind them.

"You should just go with them now,"

"Ava, please, let me explain," Her voice was desperate at this point.

Ava hated the way it made her resistance crumble. She stepped away from the door, "You have until I get my things set up," she said, not looking at Sara as she started to take her sheet music out of her bag.

"Rip and Gideon both see potential in you. That's why they want to know if there's a deeper reason you don't want to perform. They just want to know there isn't anything keeping you back,"

"Why would they care?" Ava snapped, the words coming out harsher than intended.

"I know you haven't been here that long, but even you must know that's their whole MO at this point. They help even when you think you don't want it,"

Ava stopped shuffling her music sheets for the third time, the truth of Sara's words sinking in.

"And why do you care?"

"I was surprised when Rip said you weren't performing,"

"You were surprised?" Ava looked at Sara.

"Duh,"

"Why?"

"Because you're stupidly good Sharpe," Sara all but shouted. The force of her words had Ava taking a step back out of the share surprise, "And I know it's not my business but if you're not playing because of something dumb like some idiot instructor at the last place you were learning to play told you were no good, or that a pretty girl couldn't make in orchestra or… I don't know one of those dumb reasons they use the movies all the time I'd be really disappointed in you. You're better than that,"

Ava's whole body tensed visibly. She'd been getting her violin and bow out of the case. But she froze up, clutching the instrument to her chest, not looking at Sara.

"Wait," Sara's tone softened, "It's not one of those reasons is it?"

"No!" Ava instantly snapped, but she backpedalled, swallowing thickly before saying again, softer now, "No…"

"Then what? 'Cause I don't believe it's stage fright, or you feeling out of place,"

"I do get stage fright," Ava said timidly.

"But it's not that," Sara said, her voice sure.

Ava's posture was still stiff as she shook her head.

"Then…?" Sara prodded gently.

Ava's eyes raked the room, looking for an escape route. Ironically, that came in the form of not an exit but an entrance. Gideon's entrance. She walked in just then, clapping her hands, "Alright Ms. Sharpe you have my undivided attention now, oh, our young Captain Lance. This isn't another dispute over the noise level, is it?"

Ava shook her head, "But Sara was just leaving,"

"But," Sara started.

Gideon's hand came down on Sara's back gently. She gave Sara a pointed look that said, 'I've got this handled.' Sara looked like she wanted to protest but Gideon gave her a pat on the back. With a sigh of defeat, Sara took her leave, with one last glance back at Ava. Gideon closed the door behind her.

"Would your conversation have anything to do with the incident on the roof?"

"How do you know about that?"

Gideon gave her a sly smile, "Ms. Sharpe, very little happens at this center that escapes my knowledge,"

"Sara let it spill you want to know why I don't want to play,"

"We just want to be sounding broad for you, if there is something holding you back mentally or physically,"

"I just don't like playing on stage,"

Gideon had a deep, scrutinizing expression. She finally said, "Understandable. But is that the only reason?"

Ava nodded. Gideon didn't look entirely convinced but, thankfully she didn't push it.

Nardragon~ until the next page.