Aron Snow leaned back in his seat as the subway pulled out of the Melita Street station. His light green eyes focusing on the ceiling as he tried to fight the nauseous feeling in the pit of his stomach, but it simply would not go away. He had been feeling this way since he had left his house and it hadn't subsided. What if he messed up? What if something went horribly wrong? Center stage wasn't somewhere he wanted to be. All his friends and family would be watching, and having an opera singer for a mother and a father, whom had spent time in Arion, hence his name, was a military Trumpeter, didn't make his nerves subside anymore.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllxBdfkgyG
"You'll do fine..." a girl leaning on his shoulder murmured, though he was unsure if she was still asleep or actually awake as her eyes were closed. He gently rested his head on hers, his brown hair mingling with her auburn hair. The smell of her shampoo still resonated with his nose. Was that pomegranate he smelled? Or vanilla? He should really know what brand his mina rataska* used. He closed his eyes and let the scent distract his mind. Oh, it was that spring fresh aroma that Life Line Home was pushing out. He remembered her buying it because they had it on sale if you tested out the corresponding skin moisturizer.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiShwFUgz8w
Though they were both musicians, only he was playing today. Her instrument had been broken during transit back from a performance in Helidara. Ice Bird Airlines graciously was paying for the repairs as it happened on their aircraft. She never seemed to have stage fright from what he remembered, which was how they met. It was during a band camp with the Moana Troupe**. She had belted out an entrance far too soon. Loud enough that it surprised the conductor and she went on to even argue with him that she counted right. What followed was him assisting her with learning how to count and follow the conductor in 6/8 time and proper note articulation. Something that took him well over a month to do, he had to teach her in less than a week. Yet on the day of the performance, he remembered well, she didn't show any real nerves and played almost as well as if she had always known. She had nerves of steel that night and then asked him out the next day, which completely blindsided him.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡal6R2bMyZ9
"Now arriving at Sapphire Way Station," the automated voice on the train spoke, breaking his reminiscence. He felt her head move under his, and had he been a few moments later on moving his head out of the way, she'd have probably knocked him out when she jerked awake.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieXk6k41xZ
"Had a good nap Selbina?"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHEbWMM0xm
She nodded and smiled as her amber eyes opened and she stretched her arms. "Mhmmm. It'll even be better once Aron Snow takes his first bow and wins the Forte Music Cup." Though he had his doubts, her smile reassured him. It gave him some confidence as they got up to get off the train. The strange part is, had she been taking part, she'd probably beat him, though she'd just as likely still support him, with a few minor jabs of competitiveness. But for now, she looped her arm in his and leaned on his shoulder. "We're gonna do good and while moaning about how many mistakes you made, they're going to crown you the winner and I'm going to say 'told you so!'." She seemed particularly giddy with that last bit, giggling as she finished up.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIWeb1NKcN
As they entered the Sanson Music Hall, she let go of his arm, she held his pale hands in her tan ones, "You'll do great and we'll all be proud of you!"308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI9RfuRipr
"Thank you," he said before stealing a kiss and letting her go towards the audience entrance.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMGCdilO42
He walked towards the contestants entrance and went into a waiting room. Some of the contestants he knew from previous contests and performances. The pale brunette was Millia Santos was a piano prodigy. The next guy with raven hair and amber eyes was Theo Felana was a well known drummer and even had his own garage band. Black hair and blue eyed Jai Taru was an operatic dynamo, and Gertrude Mint was somewhat of a wild card with her unconventional use of music. All of them were off to one side, dead serious as usual, getting their minds into gear to prepare to play. There were two others chatting away, neither of whom he recognized. They waved to him as he entered before going back to their conversation. A third was staring intently at sheet music. He assumed it was their performance piece.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBtqMmKJBH
He took a seat in the corner of the room away from the others. They turned on a TV in the room to show the live show. The hall was packed! Not a single seat looked empty in the entire building. Not only that, the camera panned to some Xelhan music royalty in attendance. The members of Oleander and Tekau Iwi bands were in the front row, up on one of the balconies was blues singer Altana Mint and next to her was his childhood idol Lux Fenrain who was a singer/pianist. That alone almost scared him more than the judges who were from the Xelha Philharmonic and Choir Societies. He started feeling sick again as he thought about performing in front of such a group of A-Listers.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDYfiF8Nn9
The order of performance was drawn and listed. He would go last. And so, one by one, each candidate performed. The performances seemed to get better and better as the night went on. The group seemingly unfazed by the crowds they were playing in front of. Each candidate got a loud round of applause as they finished and walked off the stage. Finally, it was his turn, and the MC, solo guitarist Blueshawk, called him out. Slowly he got up, feeling empty in the pit of his stomach as he followed the MC out to the stage. This was it. The moment he had been dreading as he heard his name called out on the sound system. He walked to the middle of the stage, the blinding lights gave him a momentary reprieve. He had never played before so many people, but the lights prevented him from seeing exactly how many there were. As he was about to turn, he thought he heard "Go Aron!" from the crowd. He turned around and for a moment, he thought he could see Selbina through the lights. Her happy smile, freckles and all, with a few stray strands of her auburn hair fighting with her eyelashes. He smiled as he took his seat and placed his hands on the keyboard. Yes, he knew what song he'd play. It was the song he had played countless times for her. The song they first played together when learning 6/8 time. The tune he had named after her. The Selbina Jig. He hit the first key and focused on playing the tune as he did for her. As he always did, the speed and accentuated notes all meant to reflect her random, yet quick witted personality that he had fallen for. The girl he loved to play for and the girl who loved to listen and encourage him. Though it was a night in front of thousands of people, as he played, it was as it always was, just him and her in his room, playing music for each other and appreciating each other.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4hgVvRVAA
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Culture Notes308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LQmIrlHZo
*Mina Rataska or Rataska is used to refer to ones significant other.308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBUaJKOES0
**Moana Troupe is the Naval Band/Choir308Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsKPNl8IPn
