Challenge: Kai tries to learn to play the piano!
"Young man, care to explain to me how you managed to turn a 'do-re-mi' into . . . I can only call that a do-si-do?"
For someone who usually had such a high opinion of himself, Kai had a surprisingly large and unusual set of insecurities. One thing in particular was bothering him these days: his lack of musical talent. He was eager to look good in front of Skylor, and he'd been thrown in for a loop when he learned that she could play several musical instruments. Her father had seen to it that she was very thoroughly tutored while he was raising her alone on his island.
Meanwhile, Kai didn't know how to play a single instrument. He figured he'd better do something about this quick if he was going to maintain his image of coolness, and he also figured that the most sophisticated instrument he could play would be the piano.
Unfortunately, the best available person to teach him was Cole's father. Cole thought it was hilarious, but Kai didn't share the sentiment.
"Your hands are out of position again," scolded Lou, prodding Kai's wrist with his cane. "Proper hand position is vital to smooth and accurate piano playing. And for mercy's sake, at least stay by middle C!"
Kai set his teeth, kicking the underside of the piano quietly to release his frustrations. He'd only been learning for half an hour, and already he was starting to regret this. Lou was not a patient teacher, and Kai was not a patient student.
"Can't I play something besides 'Chopsticks'?" said Kai, trying to keep a polite tone. "This . . . isn't really an impressive song."
"Impressive?" Lou puffed up in indignation. "Young man, you cannot hope to accomplish anything 'impressive' without first learning the basics! Even the greatest pianists started out with basic tunes like Chopsticks, so it's plenty good enough for you."
"But it's just borinnnnnnng," Kai couldn't help groaning. Lou gave a huff.
"If you can't be bothered to apply yourself, I can't be bothered to teach you. Teach yourself, if you know so much."
He strode limpingly out of the room, probably thinking he would leave Kai dismayed and lost. Kai, however, was rather grateful to be free of Lou's bristling presence. Sighing deeply, he cast the piano a sour look and slapped down a handful of black-and-white keys. They gave an angry collection of twangs. Kai found himself smiling a little in spite of himself; the discordant sound was rather satisfying. He slapped down a different handful, then another, then slammed one arm across a whole swath of keys, experimenting.
A while later Cole poked his head into the room, a little worried. Judging from the noise clanging from within, he was starting to think his dad and Kai must have gotten into a fistfight on top of the piano. Instead of that, he found only Kai, perched on the piano bench and happily banging keys willy-nilly.
"Uhhh . . . piano lesson didn't work out so well?" ventured Cole.
"Nope," said Kai. "But I figured it out myself!"
Cole cringed as another unholy combination of notes rang out.
"Uhh, Kai, that is not piano."
"I know that," said Kai. "But I found something way cooler than regular piano." He smirked in satisfaction, rattling a few more random keys. "This is HIPSTER piano! I liked it way before it was cool."