Chapter 12 ~ ACCAREZZÉVOLE

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Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.

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A heartwarming melody filled the air. It was as if the sound resonated from the walls of the concert hall. Each and every one was moved to tears by the beautiful melody that erupted from the young pianist.

Phoenix let a smile play on her lips to mirror her emotions. Her playing struck the hearts of those within the audience. As her playing came to the end, people gave a standing ovation.

"And that was The Red Phoenix with her rendition of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata."

Phoenix bowed and she gracefully made her way backstage.

She and Masquerain crossed paths and for the first time in her career in music, the Red Phoenix felt a shiver run down her spine as she caught a glimpse of Masquerain's icy expression, betraying nothing. Not even a small glimmer of emotion in his emerald pools.

The audience fell into silence as Masquerain took his place center stage. His playing started with a flare of the skill he has mastered. It awed every single solitary person, well, all except for one.

Cerulean eyes stared at the violinist, narrowed and calculating.

'What are you playing at Masquerain? Are you trying to make a mockery of classical music?' she thought angrily. For, as you see, Phoenix believes that one is not worthy of being a musician if you do not put your heart and soul into the music you are going to partake with others. And right now, she could not feel any of that emotion which, in eleven years of rivalry, Masquerain never failed to project.

After his performance, the audience was completely silent before applause started softly, gradually increasing in magnitude.

"The Green Masquerain with Tzigane by Ravel."

Masquerain made his way backstage and he immediately caught sight of Phoenix.

"No rose this time?" she asked. He smirked.

"Have you come to expect them?" he queried.

"Truthfully speaking? Yes, yes I have." she answered. He then bowed before her as he offered her his outstretched hand which gently detained a rose. Phoenix accepted it and Masquerain left without another word.

'I'll figure you out Masquerain…That I swear…'

"Miss Maple, are you paying attention?"

"Huh? What? Yes ma'am!" exclaimed May in surprise. The class burst into laughter as May's cheeks turned red.

"Well then, since you have been paying close attention, why don't you solve the equation on the board?" asked their teacher sweetly. May slowly got up and nervously walked to the board.

'Using the quadratic equation, find the value of x and y… Oh great…even the first few words give me a headache…' thought May.

"Uhhh…" she said oh so intelligently. Their teacher sighed.

"Would anyone else like to try?" she, their teacher asked. Everyone was silent for a while. After a few moments, someone sighed before raising his hand.

"Ah yes, Mr. Hayden."

Drew stood up and made his way to the black board. With a relieved sigh, May went back to her seat.

Drew analyzed the problem for a moment before writing down the complete answer.

"Very good Mr. Hayden," praised the teacher as she wrote something down on his class record. She tsked at something on her record a few moments before the bell rang.

"Alright, class dismissed and next meeting we will discuss proving." she announced. The class burst into several, different conversations and walked out in pairs or groups.

Drew studied May's troubled expression for a moment.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked. May was a little surprised.

"I don't think my grades in Math will be…satisfactory this quarter…"

Drew flipped his hair and he scoffed. May glared at him.

"Drew!" she exclaimed, frustrated.

"Miss Maple, a word," called out their teacher when May and Drew were at the door. May froze for a few seconds before turning around and walking towards the teacher's table nervously. She stole a quick glance at the door and she inwardly fumed when she saw that Drew wasn't there anymore.

'Traitor…' she hissed in her mind. She directed her attention to their fifty-something year old math teacher. Her graying blond hair was in a tight bun. She had on intricately designed glasses to enhance her gray eyes' vision.

"Miss Maple, I feel that I must call your attention to your…borderline grades…I'm advising you to raise them if you plan to retain your solid A- from your middle school years. I can recommend you a student tutor…"

"I appreciate your concern Ms. Miller…I'll work hard to boost up my grades, again thank you." interrupted May as she eyed the clock on Ms. Miller's table.

"Yes well…you're welcome…"

"Well, if that's all…I really must be going…" said May, walking to the door slowly, backwards, still facing Ms. Miller.

"Well…that's all I suppose…"

"Great! Thanks, but I really must go…bye!" yelled May as she made a dash for the door. May walked briskly and she barely noticed the chartreuse haired boy leaning by the door, until he spoke.

"Why the rush?" he asked.

"Please Drew, not now, I have things to do," begged May. 'Things to think about…' she thought.

Drew stared at her distressed sapphire orbs. He stood there for a moment dumbstruck. All he could do was stare at her retreating back.

The scene faded and it reconstructed into that of May playing the piano fiercely. The tune was restless, something that made your heart uneasy. The moon illuminated the passionate angel of music. Her blue eyes were blazing. She realized that it was far too late to be practicing only when she ended her playing. Nevertheless, she resumed. She started pounding on the keys mercilessly but after a while, it turned soft and melancholic.

'May…' thought Max as he stared at his sister silently from the slightly ajar door.

May's playing ceased and she slowly got up. Max silently crept back to his room. Sluggishly, May made her way to her room. Once she got there, she lay on her bed, thinking.

'Why am I failing math so miserably!' she wailed mentally. As if to answer her question, her subconscious produced a replay of last week's concert, specifically, Masquerain's performance.

May let out a frustrated scream into her pillow. She glared at the ceiling.

'It's all Masquerain's fault.' she thought to herself.

As the brown-haired pianist wallowed in her worry, the chartreuse haired violinist drowned in his dreams.

Drew found himself in an unfamiliar place. Then, the ground shifted but somehow, it managed to remain solid. He found himself in a meadow, and in that meadow, there was beautiful music…and yet, it wasn't heart warming…it was…disheartening…

A cold breeze caressed his face and it directed his attention to a white grand piano…

And playing the piano, creating that melody, was May.

"May?" he asked, unsure. She seemed not to have heard him. His brows furrowed when he noted May's dismayed expression.

All he wanted to do was make her smile. To make her happy. And he didn't know why.

He took one step towards her and then, everything turned black once more, leaving Drew in the void, falling…

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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Meaning behind the chapter title:

accarezzévole – expressive and caressing

~ This is because May was being excessively expressive.

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