Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Touch ❯ Chapter 2

Chapter 2

 

 

Heero arrived home around 4pm the next day. He set about tidying his small living room, most of the space taken up by his pride and joy. His piano. A guitar sat propped in the corner. Sheet music was spread over the top of the piano. Paper and pencils on the desk beside it. There wasn't much to tidy. He wasn't the best housekeeper in the world but he spent most of his free time at his piano or playing his guitar or writing music. There just wasn't that much to mess up. Still he wanted things to be as neat as possible for the interviews he had arriving.

 

He looked up from straightening a pile of papers and saw Mr. Darlian outside in his yard, taking the dog out for a walk. Dinner tonight. He groaned. Why had he said ok? He didn't like being a guest. He was a bit shy sometimes meeting new people. He wondered just how old Mrs. Darlian's granddaughter was. What was her name? Helen, Helena.... No, Relena. It was Relena. He committed the name to memory saying it over and over as he finished cleaning up.

 

He changed into nice jeans and a navy blue pullover turtleneck sweater before his first appointment was to arrive. He was to only see two today and make his decisions about teaching them by the end of the week. These were advanced lessons he was offering and not everyone was up to taking the classes. He didn't want to waste his time on petulant little children that were being drug along by their mommies to music class. He wanted committed students that had music running through their veins rather than blood. He knew they were out there. He just had to find them to teach.

 

He looked at his watch and realized he had time to sit down for a drink. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and opened it, taking a long drink. One of his few vices, one he refused to give up.

 

He sat looking out the window at nothing. Thinking of when he might go to visit his family. He'd moved away from Sligo when he'd gotten the teaching job, wanting to get out on his own, spread his wings. He was 23 years old and right now felt very alone. It wasn't like Mrs. Darlian thought. He wasn't lonely. Not really. There were times he wished for companionship in the evenings when he came home and saw the lamps lit in every house he passed by. Coming home to an empty, cold house wasn't always cheery. But he got by and he stayed busy. He went home often and he had his own group of friends he hung about with, playing snooker and football on the weekends. He was content if nothing else.

 

He saw a car pull into the drive and his first interviewee arrived. Getting up and tossing the beer in the kitchen dustbin, he rinsed his mouth at the sink, spat and wiped on a towel. Grabbing a stick of gum from the kitchen counter, he peeled it and put it in his mouth.

 

A knock on the door and he was there in just a second. He was greeted by a young mom and her little girl. The girl appeared to be around 8 years old, around the same age as the children Heero taught at the school. He smiled and invited them in.

 

"Hi, I'm Heero Yuy. It's nice of you to come by to speak with me about the lessons. How are you?", he asked as they walked inside.

 

"We're fine, thanks, Mr. Yuy. I'm Michelle Howard and this is my daughter, Nicole.", she said as Heero stuck out his hand to shake with her. He bent forward and stuck his hand out to Nicole who smiled up at him and put her small hand in his.

 

"Hi, Nicole. It's nice to meet you. You love piano, eh?", he asked her and she nodded enthusiastically and smiled. "Good. So do I. Would you play a bit for me?", he asked and she looked at her mom, who nodded and then walked with Heero over to the piano. She sat down and he placed a simple piece of sheet music in front of her.

 

"You may begin, Nicole. Just take your time.", he said softly and sat down on the bench beside of her. As he watched, her fingers floated over the keys and he felt his heart soar. Could this be it? Could she be what he so wanted to teach? He closed his eyes and listened as she hit each note perfectly. When she was done, he smiled down at her.

 

"That was lovely. Would you play one more for me?", he asked and she nodded again. Heero was besotted with the child. She was polite and musically gifted. He had already made his decision. He just wanted to see just how talented she was. She looked at the music sheet and then back at Heero.

 

"What's the matter, Nicole?", he asked her, for her brow was puckered with worry. "If you can't play it, it's ok; that's what we'll learn in time. Would you just TRY it for me, eh?", he asked her gently.

 

She looked at her mom, who nodded and smiled and gaining confidence from that, she put her fingers to the keys and attempted the sheet of music. As before, Heero closed his eyes and listened. Her timing was impeccable, her talent amazing and natural. She didn't play the piece to perfection but he hadn't expected it of her. Still, it was more than a nice start and he found he was excited and ready to teach her.

 

"Come over here, Nicole and we'll speak to your mom about classes, how's that?”, he grinned at her and she smiled up at him as she slid off the bench. Michelle had stood and was smiling, very happily. It was apparent she was very proud of her daughter and happy that Heero had seemed impressed. She knew of Heero's reputation and talent. Everyone in their small village did. For Nicole to be accepted was quite the honor and she couldn't wait to get home and give the news to her family.

 

"Would you like to learn a bit more piano, Nicole?", Heero asked as he bent down and took her hand in his.

 

"I'd love it.", she said shyly and looked up at her mom.

 

"We would BOTH love it, Mr. Yuy. Thank you so much!", Michelle smiled.

 

"No, thank YOU for bringing her to me. She has an amazing natural aptitude for the piano and that's wonderful. I can sit down and work out a lesson plan that will take her through to Christmas I'm sure. Are you willing to put that much time and effort into it, Nicole?", he asked her and she nodded solemnly.

 

"Wonderful. I'll give you a call on Sunday, Mrs. Howard and please, you may call me Heero, that's so much better!", he grinned down at the little girl.

 

"Bye, Heero.", Nicole said as she reached the door and waved at him.

 

"Goodbye, Nicole. Practice your regular lessons and I'll see you on Monday, ok?", he grinned.

 

"Ok.", she said and skipped down the steps toward the car.

 

"Thanks, Heero. This means so much to Nicole and to me. Her father was killed in a car accident six months ago and Nicole withdrew completely from everything except the piano. This is the most animated I've seen her in that long. I don't know how to thank you.", Michelle said and tears sparkled in her clear green eyes.

 

"Ah, no thanks needed, Mrs. Howard.", Heero said and she interrupted him.

 

"If I can call YOU, Heero, you can surely return the favor and call me Michelle.", she smiled.

 

"Ok, Michelle. As I was saying, no thanks are needed. It's an honor to work with a child of Nicole's talent. I don't get to experience that very much. I'll be calling you on Sunday as I said and we'll discuss rates and schedules, how's that?", he asked and she nodded and smiled as she walked down the steps toward her daughter.

 

He watched them drive off and breathed in deeply. What a wonderful first interview! He looked at his watch and noticed he'd spent more time than he'd meant to with Nicole but he wasn't sorry, not in the least. Just then his phone rang and he picked it up.

 

"Hello?", he asked.

 

"Mr. Yuy. This is Jessica Foster. I was supposed to be there for an interview with you right now and my mom isn't home!”, he heard over the line.

 

"That's ok, Jessica. Just ask your mother to call me and reschedule, ok? It's no problem, you've still got time.", he said.

 

"Cool!", she said and he laughed.

 

"If I'm not in when she calls back, please ask her to leave a message on my answer phone. I'll get back to you.", he said.

 

"Ok, thanks. Bye!", she said and rang off.

 

He hung up the phone and looked at his watch once more. Time to go across to have dinner. He was glad it had worked out this way. He didn't want to have to arrive late as an invited guest. He grabbed the bottle of wine he'd purchased on his way home from work and his keys. Going out the door, he locked it behind him and walked quickly down the steps.

 

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