Erik Route.

Stacy slowly approached the buffet table; with being late home from the college then having to quickly ready herself for the party she had neglected eating. Instead of grabbing the nearest food available the opted to grab a glass of punch, cautiously tasting it to ensure it was alcohol free. She smiled, glad she had something to accompany her as she made a mental note to get some food later. She aimlessly walked away from the buffet, wondering how she could occupy herself.

Her eyes were filled with admiration as she admired the decorations in each room but all that was forgotten as something caught her eye. Slowly she approached the object, noting that it had been moved in a more suitable location for the party tonight. She wondered when it would be used, and for that matter who would be the one playing it.
"I see something has caught your eye" a smooth male voice spoke and Stacy looked at the newcomer briefly, lightly laughing at being caught.
"What can I say? I have a soft spot for pianos" she confessed with a grin, her eyes immediately drawn back to the object.
"It's a good job you're not the only one then" the voice told her and Stacy found herself turning away from the piano to properly look at the stranger. She instantly recognised him, even though she had never met him face to face before Mika had described him to her and shown pictures.
"You must be Erik" she greeted as he charmingly smiled her way. Stacy remembered the warnings Mika had given her about him; he was naturally charming in his way and took every moment to flirt with another. Stacy could instantly read that from him now that she had met him in person but she couldn't help but believe there was more to him.
"And you'd be right" he cooed, leaning ever so slightly closer to her form.
"And what would your lovely name be?" he asked in an attempt to flatter her but Stacy seemed unfazed, her facial expression showing nothing more than politeness.
"Stacy" she simply replied. She saw the recognition instantly appear in his eyes, his charming atmosphere fading away.

Erik smoothly moved towards the grand piano, taking a seat as he fiddled through the number of books on the stand.
"Mika mentioned you left one of your books here… Ah, here it is" Erik spoke, pulling out a black covered book from the pile. Stacy's eyes widened at its reveal.
"Oh I've been wondering where I left that. I must have left it behind when last visiting here" she told him, watching him flick through the pages. Every now and again Stacy had visited the mansion, Mika being the only one home as they hung out. When first realising there was a piano in the house Stacy had practically drooled at the object, Mika being quick to learn that she had learnt to play since a child.
"There's quite some complex stuff in here" Erik noted, a touch of seriousness to his voice and Stacy couldn't help but wonder if he had looked in the book before.
"I couldn't resist. Mika had mentioned you played so I wondered what you was learning" Erik honestly told her when noticing her expression.

A smile played on her lips as she bravely took a seat next to him on the bench, her eyes falling on the pages he was slowly flipping through.
"I wouldn't say I'm learning them" she offhandedly confessed, earning a surprised look from the man.
"I got that book a few years back, I dug it out the other week to play some songs for Mika" Stacy continued on, her hand stopping his as he went to flip the page.
"That one is probably the best song from the book" she quietly informed him, removing her hand from his. Erik looked between his hand and the song she had selected, a frown on his face that Stacy couldn't quite understand.
"It's the hardest too" Erik murmured after a moment, setting his eyes on her and Stacy grinned knowingly.
"Not one to enjoy a challenge?" she teasingly joked and in an instant the Erik she was warned about returned, his charm overpowering.
"I never suggested that" he told her with his velvet voice. Instead of encouraging him Stacy shrugged,
"You usually learn the song as a pair, it's easier that way" she seriously said. Erik parted his lips, wanting to say what was on the tip of his tongue but he soon closed his mouth. Stacy noticed the motion, wondering why he held back but she dismissed the thought as he set the book on the stand, the page still open.
"Would you play it for me?" he asked in curiosity and the current music seemed to dim in the background, the timing suspicious. Stacy glanced around from where they sat, realising that people were already expectantly looking their way. One of those people happened to be Mika, the woman sending her a sly grin.
"That girl…" Stacy murmured, Erik wondering what she was on about before he noticed Mika's watchful eyes. Erik had been oblivious when Mika had suggested talking to the woman that he now sat next to but he was quick to realise Mika had planned this.
"You don't have to if you don't want to" Erik quickly backtracked, hoping that Stacy didn't think he was a part of it all but Stacy shook her head with a smile.
"It's quite alright, I'll get her back another time" she told him and with her smile still on her face her fingers hovered over the keys.

A soft melodic tone rung out from the grand piano, each tone fluent as Stacy played the song from the booklet. Erik's eyes were glued to her finger movements, not knowing how a simple human could move them so fast. Unknown to the dancing guests Stacy had closed her eyes, not needing the paper to show her where to place her fingers. She could only feel one set of eyes on her, the woman wise enough to know it was Erik who watched her in interest. As the song came near its end Stacy reopened her eyes, gazing at Erik for a moment with her soft smile before finishing her song. The crowd clapped in praise as Stacy stood momentarily, bowing in response. As she retook her seat her eyes fell onto Erik once more.
"I have to confess" she lowly said, moving her book to the side as she grabbed a red coloured one.
"Mika mentioned you played too so I may have looked in the books you used" she honestly told him. Without a thought she turned to a certain page, looking suggestively at Erik as she placed it back on the stand. Erik brightly grinned at her silent request, taking over control of the piano as his fingers began to play the song she had chosen.

The two continued on the night this way, swapping as each song finished and softly speaking to one another. It may not have been much of a night to some people but the pair were content with the turn of events, both feeling comfortable with one another's company. With Stacy being such an easy going person Erik felt he didn't need to act in front of her, she was so open and welcoming that no matter who approached her he knew that she would accept them. As for Stacy she was naturally good with reading people, her experience in the past much to her benefit as she slowly cracked the man out of his shell word by word.

They night was drawing to an end and the pair knew they had to play the final song. They were in the middle of discussing who was going to play it but Stacy found a solution.
"Why don't we both play?" she suggested softly as Erik looked through the books to find a suitable song. He paused on the correct page, his brow raised but he widely grinned.
"How could I ever say no to that?" he replied after a moment. The pair set their fingers on the piano, already knowing who had to play each part. Both of them played in unison as they performed the final tune, the guests loving their choice of song as they merrily danced the night away with their partners. Stacy watched on, a part of her sad that she wasn't the one dancing tonight but as she felt Erik's arm brush with hers she smiled. There was no denying that he was charming with his forward approach and his flirtatious smile but Stacy had set those factors to the side. She had searched for and found the small touches of normality, the passion he had for certain topics but most importantly she noticed that there was more to him than met the eye. Throughout the night Stacy had wondered if she'd ever cross paths with the man again and be given the chance to know him better.

Finally the song came to an end, the pair of pianists standing to bow as the guests clapped away in joy. Surprisingly it was Stacy who pulled Erik into a brief embrace, the man's figure frozen for a moment before returning the gesture with a light chuckle. Wordlessly the two pulled apart, gazing upon each other as they smiled happily.
"Wow who would have thought this was the first time you two have played together" a voice from nearby spoke and the pair glanced over, looking at a very smug Mika.
"I can't imagine it was pure chance" Stacy sceptically spoke with a raised brow, Mika throwing her hands up defensively.
"Now now, none of that" she playfully warned before laughing.
"Admittedly I wasn't expecting you to play more than one song" Mika continued on, a touch of curiosity in her tone but Stacy merely shrugged.
"I couldn't simply deny such good company" Stacy cheerfully said, nodding towards Erik who grinned at her statement. Mika wearily flickered her eyes between the two before removing her current thoughts.
"You should take the moment to have a break" Mika spoke suggestively, hinting towards the unused chairs. Stacy eyed her for a moment, wondering if she was planning something else but she took the bait, agreeing to her suggestion as she took a moment's break. Erik was the only one to accompany her, the pair thankful that they had the time to properly talk.

As the guests were slowly thinning out Stacy had taken a second to call a cab, not wanting to accept Erik's offer of having him drive her home. She was grateful for the offer but he was tired, they both were at that point and as Mika called out to Stacy of the cabs arrival she yawned.
"That came quicker than I thought" Stacy told him as she unsteadily stood, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Erik let out a soft twinkle of a laugh as he stood alongside her, walking her over to the front door where Mika patiently waited.
"Hey, thanks for coming tonight" Mika told her friend as they embraced in farewell.
"Couldn't break a promise, could I?" she jokingly told her but the pair knew that Stacy would have come either way. Stacy placed her eyes onto Erik, smiling his way as he lightly bowed.
"Thank you for keeping me company tonight" he told her and she tilted her head in acceptance, turning to leave through the doors. As she was about to exit the mansion Mika grabbed her hand, surprising her.
"We're thinking of doing something New Year's Eve, a small get together" Mika told her, her eyes sparkling.
"Would you like to join us?" she added hopefully. Stacy remained silent for a moment, faking out her non-existent though before laughing at Mika's pleading expression.
"I'd love to" she honestly said. Mika squealed at her answer making Stacy shake her head in amusement.
"I'll give you the time when we meet up before Christmas" Mika informed her allowing her to move out the door. Stacy did so but halted, turning around to face them properly.
"I'll see you in a few days" she told Mika but her eyes soon fell onto Erik who remained in place.
"I'll see you on New Year's Eve" he told her and Stacy warmly smiled his way.
"Perhaps I'll show you how to play that song" she lightly suggested making the man eagerly nod.
"That sounds like a lovely idea" he responded. There was no charm in his tone at his response, instead it was filled with friendliness. Stacy smiled as she waved the pair goodbye, approaching the cab to enter it.

As she glanced back at the mansion while the cab pulled away her smile never faded. It was rare for Stacy to truly find the time to enjoy playing music and most impossible to find someone close to her skill. With the chance of playing with Erik again at the end of the year she couldn't help but hope that things would change. As she arrived home and tucked herself in bed she realised that, somehow, she had forgotten the music book yet again.