I'm going to explain this before I dive into the next chapter.
I made Lenalee a man for two reason. One, I really can't stand Lenalee as a girl. Don't know why, she just started rubbing me wrong after the third volume, when she got 'helpless'. And two, there was no way I was going to be able to write a good nice girl, so femme-boy. It does have a rhyme and reason. It is involved in the latter plot. By some characters Lenalee will be referred to as a girl (cough KOMUI cough). Once again. There are reasons.
So fans of Lena, I'm sorry if you don't like the gender bender there, I am keeping her personality quirky and nice. But I've seen my own fair share of lady – Kanda. (He is my favorite character.) And I don't bash them. SO don't bash me, kthx.
--
Chapter Three :.: A Shared Song
After Toma had showed him to his room, which from what Allen could tell he was sharing with two other guys, he was directed to the activities hall and dinning hall.
"Since its Saturday we don't have regular classes, but we do get recreational classes. If you go down to the rec rooms, look for the registration desk, and you can sign up for your four extra circular classes. You can meet me up for lunch in the dining hall after if you get done before it's over."
Toma nudged him in the right direction before running off to do his own thing. Allen passed some lavish rooms, such as a student lounge, two libraries, and a gym. Which kept him wondering, 'How could Cross afford this?' He kept his eyes peeled for the registration. Did they have a music room here? Or maybe it was an orchestra or symphony.
"Excuse me?" Came a wavering voice behind him.
While trying to search for the illusive registration desk, he passed it. Allen turned on his heels and apologized for wandering so mindlessly. He found out that the woman he was speaking with was the head of the music department. Her name was Ms. Lotto.
"Can I fill all of my extra classes with music based ones?" Allen asked before thinking. Ms. Lotto looked surprised.
"Yes, sure thing." Ms. Lotto paled in complexion as she handed him his schedule.
Allen thanked her, wondering if she was alright when he had left. Curious of what his class assignments were he unfolded the forms and read aloud.
"Periods 1, 3, 6, and 8, Music Theory for Advanced Placement?" Allen's brows entwined together, a small confused frown on his face. He'd never heard or such a course. He located the room number on the paper and looked around the recreation halls for the numerals. He passed one room. Stopped. Then backed up several steps. In the room was a crème coloured piano beside four black ones. It contrasted the way Liberace did against most typical classical pianists. Allen walked up the to familiarity. He was reminded of the piano in Cross's home when he sat at the bench. A little tag on the fall caught his gaze. Shock befell him when he read that it was a property tag.
What the tag said is what stunned him.
"Property of Allen Walker"
In a messy scrawl underneath, it said 'Take the damned thing, might make you whine less.'
"Well this makes things more interesting." He said staring at Cross's handwriting. He felt weird. Like he was grateful and even more confused then he was when he walked into the campus. How the hell had he even gotten it on the campus so fast?
"Don't question it." He told himself. "Cross may never do stuff like this again, so just be happy." He pushed up the fall and smiled at the still new keys. This was his piano. He looked around carefully and started playing the first thing that came to his head. Ave Maria. He softly hummed the melody. Bordering on the heart of the piece, he heard delicate notes sung as the room's door closed.
" Ave Maria! In preda al
duol,
Non mi lasciar, o madre mia, pietà!
O madre mia, pietà!
In preda al duol,
Non mi lasciar, non mi lasciar."
A smaller girl, who was seating her self down on the bench beside him, was singing Ave Maria in rather flawless Italian. She had long blonde hair and a light complexion. She had a bandage rapped around her left eye and the side of her face.
Allen saw no need to stop playing because a person came in. He'd never actually played with a singer before. It was nice and tranquil. Allen flowed his hands over the keys like water, closing the song just as his accompaniment paled into silence. The little girl fidgeted and offered her hand. "I'm sorry." She began, "I just heard the piano . . . it sounded lonely with out the lyrics . . . and . . . I joined in unasked and. . . I'm Lala?"
She sounded anxious as her own name came out a question. Allen shook his head and took her hand to shake. "I'm Allen, I'm new here. It's a pleasure. And this was fun. I've never heard such a pretty rendition of it." The girl, now dubbed Lala, smiled and said it was all his playing that made it sound good.
The duo ended up sharing a laugh and mock bicker about who had made the song sound as nice as it did. The pair agreed that it was a team effort. "You know, you are the first piano major I've met who is modest."
Allen tilted his head and smiled. "I'm the first to be modest, really? All the players I knew where unpretentious too. I've always thought the piano was a humble instrument."
Lala nodded and mused, "You're better than some of our top-notch players. In fact you'd probably have given Daisya a run for his money. . . "
"Daisya?"
"Oh, I forgot that you said you're new. Daisya was this amazing pianist, and keyboardist too. He was in The Black Order. One of the schools peak bands. He was expelled last month and Black Order has been ever suffering since." Lala dipped her head sadly, then a thought struck.
"You should audition for them!" She exclaimed, "I know the back up singer, he's one of my best friends, and he's been desperately searching for a good pianist. They'll listen to whoever's willing to play."
Allen looked rather disinterested though.
"I . . . don't know. You're actually the first person I've played with. I'm not accommodated to performing with others." Allen's stomach rippled loudly. "Oh, shoot! I was supposed to meet up with Toma for lunch. He stood from his bench too quickly and got a little dizzy spell. "I'll see you later Lala! I'm going to get some food. In fact, want to come with?"
Lala shooed him away, stating that she had already eaten. As soon as she was sure that Allen was out of earshot she wiped out her cell phone and flipped it open. She speed dialed and held her phone to her ear, a smile gracing her face.
"Lena, I've found you a brilliant pianist."
