Piano

Abby was on her way to the grocery store to get more lettuce for Rex when a red light caught her. She glanced out her window and saw a small instrument shop. In the window there was a beautiful grand piano. She admired the instrument and wished she knew how to play. She had always loved the beautiful sound it ejected. However, she never seemed to be able to find the time or patience to learn.

The light turned green and someone behind her honked, forcing her to peel her eyes away from the piano and get on her way.

The next week Abby decided to walk to the grocery store. She stopped to admire the piano. She was shocked to see that there was someone playing it; someone in an all too familiar hat. 'Conner?' she thought before going in and sure enough there he was, his hands flying gracefully over the keys.

Conner glanced up as the jingle of the bell above the door signaled that someone had entered. He stopped playing and turned to the customer.

"Abby?" he asked astonished.

"Please don't stop," she told him.

"No, it's okay. I was about done anyway," he said standing up.

"Please?" she begged.

"Um…I guess I could play one more song."

Abby smiled and walked over to the piano. Conner scooted over and motioned for her to sit next to him on the small bench, before beginning to play a new song.

"You're really good, Con," she told him with a smile.

"Thanks," he smiled back, a slight blush creeping to his cheeks.

"Why do you play here though?"

"The owner, Bo, lets me come here and play whenever I want. He says he keeps it in tune, but I have a different theory. I think it's because he fancies my grandmum who was the one that taught me how to play."

"I've always wanted to learn how to play. My mum was brilliant at it. When I was younger we had one and she would play everyday when I got home from school. Jack always found it a bit annoying, but I loved it. It had such a pretty sound."

"It does. This one's my favorite though," he said switching songs.

"What's this?"

"Debussy, The Girl With the Flaxen Hair," he admitted with a blush.

"Wow, Con, it's really pretty," she said as he finished and a voice called from the back, "Conner!"

"One second. I'll be right back."

Abby nodded and Conner ran to the back storage room.

"Can you help me with these boxes?" Bo asked him.

"Yes sir."

"They need to go up on the top shelf."

"Okay," Conner said picking up the first box which he assumed from the weight was most likely filled with music books and lifted it to the top shelf.

"So who's the pretty little bird?" he asked him.

"Her name's Abby."

"Well, who is she to you?"

"She's my co-worker and my flat-mate." They could hear Abby tapping random keys in the front room.

"So you're living with the girl."

"Not like that, sir."

"How many times must I ask you to call me Bo?"

"Fine, Bo, there's nothing going on between us."

"But you wish there were," he told him.

"Yeah, a lot."

"And she wishes it too."

"No she doesn't," Conner protested sadly, lifting the last of the boxes up and placing it on the top shelf.

"No, she does. I could tell by the way that she was watching you play. Her eyes were full of love."

"She loves the music, not me."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that. Ask the girl out for coffee, see where it gets you," Bo told him with a wink.

"She doesn't like coffee," Conner replied without thinking. "She sticks with tea, two scoops sugar, no cream."

Bo smiled, "See there you have an advantage over all of the other blokes in town. You know her already. You won't have to fret over what to order for her."

"I don't know."

"Listen up my boy, I made the mistake of not telling your grandmum how I felt and I've regretted it my entire life. I waited to long and she was swept off her feet by your grandfather. Don't make the mistake I did. Don't let someone else get to her first. I'm sure plenty of people have their eyes on her," Bo said, placing a hand on his young friend's shoulder.

"Fine. I'll ask her. I doubt she'll agree though," Conner sighed.

"What have you got to lose?"

"You mettle worse than an old hag," Conner grumbled before walking back out to the main room where Abby was looking through one of the beginner books.

"Do you want to learn how to play?" Conner asked.

"Eh, I don't want to trouble you."

"No trouble really, I like spending time with you."

"Bo wouldn't mind?"

"Bo would love it," Conner smiled.

"Okay, yeah," she nodded. "Thanks Conner."

"Sure. Hey Abby, before I lose the courage to ask, do you want to get a cup of tea sometime?" he asked resisting the urge to fiddle with the lose string on his glove.

"Yeah, I'd like that."

"Really?" he asked excitedly.

"Really," she smiled.

"All right then, great."

"Conner?"

"Yeah Abby?"

"You know this is the part where you're supposed to kiss me right?"

"Oh, right," he chuckled before leaning down and pressing his lips to hers. –

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I actually really like this one. Tell me what YOU think though. Your guys' opinion always matters more than mine.

Spike.