A.N. Time for some Hanschen(: …… And Wendla. I guess. Lol, I like her honest.
Falling Slowly- Hanschen and Wendla ( Kris Allen's version, with some random harmonizer .com/watch?v=b0LISmz8WVc )
S P R I N GAWAKENING
Chapter 1
The familiar snicker broke Ernst from his state of daydreaming and he looked up to see the smiling face of Georg Zirschnitz, "Dreaming again, Robel?"
"Hello, Georg. How was your weekend?"
"Eh, boring as usual. I had to rake the leaves on our yard. How about you?"
Ernst shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, "Nothing special. Went to Mass and then went home."
Georg patted Ernst on the shoulder and retreated to his desk across the room. Ernst leaned on the palm of his hand and faced the window. He inhaled, and then exhaled. His favorite memories of Melchior are the ones he fabricated in his mind, especially during school days when he gets to see him in person. Although he felt guilty for thinking of him in such a sinful way, Ernst could not get over the fact that he admired Melchior like some famous musician.
Melchior was just tops; the bee's knees. He was handsome, athletic, not to mention intelligent, charismatic, and incredibly charming. And he always spoke up for what he believed in. One of the reasons why Ernst did poorly in class was because he was too busy fixated on Melchior. He hated it. As hard as he tried, he always got lost at some point during the day glancing at him.
"Oops!"
In the process of drooling over Melchior, Ernst had knocked over his piece of chalk and it rolled all the way to the back of the class. He got up and looked down at his feet searching for his chalk. He stopped suddenly and found it at the foot of another student. He recognized the shoe. This student always had his shoes so polished. The owner of the spotless footwear cleared his throat causing Ernst to shyly look up.
"It appears your chalk has grazed my shoe."
"I'm so sorry, Hanschen. It won't happen again."
"I didn't expect an apology."
"Sorry…"
"…"
"…"
Hanschen bent down to pick up the chalk and cupped one of Ernst's hands in his own, dropping the chalk into his palm. His hand lingered on top of Hanschen's longer than he had anticipated. Ernst figured, since Hanschen was the one to grab his hand, he would also be the one to remove it. And he hoped he'd do it soon because Ernst's cheeks could not get any hotter.
"Are you suffering a fever?" Hanschen placed his free hand over Ernst's forehead causing the timid boy to twitch slightly at the touch.
"No, I'm fine. Thank you."
Ernst hurriedly removed his hand and walked to his seat almost tripping over and empty desk.
"Otto?"
"Yeah, Hanschen?"
"Who was that?"
"What do you mean? That's Ernst Robel."
"Is he new?"
"No… Hanschen, he's been in our class all year, in fact, he's lived in this neighborhood all his life."
"I've never noticed him before."
"Maybe because you've never taken liberty to introduce yourself. In any case, he's always quiet in class. Except when we read passages from the Bible. He always jumps at the chance."
"He's rather interesting."
"What do you mean?
"Nothing that concerns you. I think we should sit down, Herr Sonnebitch is gonna be here soon."
"Hanschen!"
"You were thinking it, too."
As Ernst sat back down, Melchior Gabor followed suit and propped his elbows onto the top of Ernst's desk. "Hello, Ernst."
"H-hi, I mean, hello, Melchi—Melchior!"
Melchior chuckled, "Melchi is just fine. Actually, Moritz loves calling me that."
Ernst laughed awkwardly and scratched the side of his head. "So, what have you been up to lately?"
"Nothing much."
Ernst nodded and chewed on his lower lip. He was in incredible shock and awe that the Melchior Gabor had come over to talk to him, let alone lean on HIS desk. The two were met with silence which Ernst tried to break by clearing his throat. Actually, he attempted to clear his throat. He had actually made an "Mmm" sound and cracking his voice. Not his best icebreaker.
"Cute," was all Melchior said before leaning closer to the frail boy's ear, "Stay cautious of Hanschen. Please? He's a…different kind of person."
He cocked his head to one side and arched an eyebrow, "Different?"
"Well, his personality is kind of…unsettling. At times. Just, trust me on this okay?"
The rest of the boys all settled into their desks as Herr Sonnenstich arrived. They sat up promptly and greeted him in unison. He replied nonchalantly and immediately started to jot things down on the blackboard while murmuring a few things. Hanschen however, paid no attention to their teacher and focused all his concentration to the boy stealing glances at the window.
S P R I N GAWAKENING
"Oh, isn't this exciting! A free day from school! How wonderful it is Frau Mueller became suddenly ill!"
"Thea, what a horrible thing to say!" Anna interjected. The two girls, accompanied by Wendla and Martha were skipping down the sidewalk leaving their schoolhouse behind.
"What? You know it's true! You're just as happy as I am!" Thea twirled around dropping her books in the process.
"Thea, your books will get ruined," Wendla said picking up her friend's belongings.
"Oh, just let them! They're old anyway."
"If Papa saw my books in even the slightest bit of damage, he would ring me dry." Martha shuddered at the thought provoking Anna to rest her hand on her arm, "It's alright; my books are perfectly clean."
Anna smiled sweetly and let go of her arm, "We should all head over to my house for tea time."
"Tea, how boring! We should scope around the boy's schoolhouse! They're stuck learning while we get to be out in the open—we should try getting their attention from the gates!" Thea squealed at the thought and grabbed her books from Wendla.
"But won't that get them into trouble!" Secretly, Wendla wanted to go along with idea, she wished to see Melchior as much as possible. Ever since h stopped attending Mass three months ago, she's been deprived of his image.
"So? It's not us being whacked by the switch."
"Thea!" Martha and Anna exclaimed at the same time.
S P R I N GAWAKENING
"Herr Gabor! I will not warn you again!" With that said Herr Sonnenstich whacked Melchior's shin. The loud noise it made resonated throughout the room causing Ernst to heave as his heart raced faster. Hanschen took notice and wanted nothing more than to grasp him by the shoulder.
Hanschen:
I don't know you/
But I want you all the more for that/
"Oh dear! Melchi Gabor is being punished! How gallant!" Thea exclaimed, "such a radical!"
"Thea, control yourself." Anna scolded. The girls stood outside the school gates looking into the window where Ernst Robel sat. Wendla pawed at the twisted wires and frowned as she watched Melchior's frightful scenario unfold.
Hanschen and Wendla:
And words fall through me/
and always fool me/and I can't react/
Hanschen:
And games that never amount/
to more than they're meant/will play themselves out/
Hanschen and Wendla:
Take this sinking boat/and point it home/
we've still got time/raise you're hopeful voice/
you have a choice/you've made it now/
Falling slowly/eyes that know me/and I can't go back/
moods that take me/and erase me/and I'll fade back/
Wendla:
Well you have suffered enough/
and warred with yourself/it's time that you won/Oh-oh
Hanschen and Wendla:
Take this sinking boat/and point it home/
we've still got time/raise you're hopeful voice/
you have a choice/you've made it now/
Falling slowly/sing your melody/I'll sing along//
"Now. Sit down, Herr Gabor."
The switch was placed back on top of Herr Sonnenstich's desk. The last bell rang and the boys stood up in an instant. They filed into a single line and stacked their blackboards one on top of the other. Ernst's first instinct was to rush over to Melchior's side and ask if he was okay, but Hanschen had other plans.
Hanschen calmly walked in front of Ernst's path and placed a firm grasp on his shoulder, "I'll accompany you home…?"
"…Ernst?"
"Right, Ernst."
"Stay cautious of Hanschen. He's a…different kind of person."
Hanschen rolled his eyes, "Ernst?"
The boy immediately snapped out of his thoughts. "You will?"
"I just said so, didn't I? Or perhaps I was talking in my head."
"Oh no, I heard you. I was just…I was just wonder—I mean, making sure—I mean—" Unfortunately, this was 'the best excuse' Ernst could muster up in such short notice.
"Okay, okay. Don't kill yourself. Well, shall we? I can't be late for supper."