Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 19:41:09 -0500 (EST)
From: Sean R <seanr_13@yahoo.ca>
Subject: The Missing Piece of a Piano - 15

Bar 15

The woods are the best place for them to be alone.  There
is an absolute absence of people.  Even the ones they can see
down at the lake or across on the grassy cliff are practically
in a different world.  Daniel explains everything to her again.
This time with details.

He does not tell her everything but he tells her what's
important.  He tells her why it is hard for him to play the
piece.  Faye, who has never dealt with anything like this
before, is at a loss for words.  But she is impressed with the
intensity of the love Daniel is capable of feeling.  So instead
she kisses the back of his hand and tells him that she has to
leave.  That she will walk home.

Most of his ill fated relationships ended because he wanted
them to; because the girl wasn't making him happy.  Because
nobody except Keith could make him happy.  But Sophie Richards:
short brown hair, dark brown eyes, taller than he is, was the
one who wanted it to end.  She was the one he never fucked.
They kissed one last time after she told him that she did not
want to have sex.  Even though he told her he understood and
that he could wait, she told him she had to leave and she walked
away.

The characteristics of her walk: her entire body straight;
no turning around; a false smile before going; leaving Daniel
with a sense of emptiness.  Faye's walk as she disappears into
the trees.



When she leaves he sees the boys and girls back for a swim.
Amongst them Faye's brother.  He watches the innocent swimmers
change and then jump into the cold water.  He watches them play
with each other without the slightest care that boys are playing
with girls.  They are past the age of cooties but not yet old
enough to have complicated relationships.  He guesses that at
least half of them are dating each other but when they become
kids swimming in a lake these relationships no longer matter.

They come out of the water and this time Daniel can see
that they're not lighting cigarettes.  He takes the fastest
route he knows down to the beach; the boys and girls look up at
him in surprise.

They laugh when he orders them to throw out the joints but
he grabs Seth's and throws it into the lake.  He reaches for the
second boys' but he throws it away, followed by the rest.  He
tells them to get their clothes and follow him to his car.  The
boys start changing and the girls disappear into the trees.  In
ten minutes they're driving away from the lake, boys and girls
all trying to explain to him where they live so he can get them
home.

"Thanks," Seth says when all of his friends are out of the
car.

"What for?"

"For not telling any of our parents."

"What makes you think I'm not going to tell yours?"

"Come on Daniel, you wouldn't!"  Daniel stops the car on
the side of the road.  There is little traffic and with the
engine off only the sound of crickets mixed with the occasional
distant engine can be heard.

"Seth, if I don't tell your parents, what's to stop you
from doing it again?"

"Look I just won't okay, I promise!"  Daniel stares at the
boy, helpless.  He tries to think back to when he started.  He
remembers the only thing that would have made him stop, apart
from his parents' tyrannical ruling of his life until he was off
drugs.  Keith.  He was the only thing.  But even of this Daniel
is not completely sure.

As he looks at Seth he knows that it is a different
situation.  Seth is only doing the one thing and even then he
does it only occasionally, with his friends.  It is something he
can stop very easily.  The addiction, while probably there, is
not strong enough to consume his entire life.  Daniel places his
hand firmly on Seth's leg, squeezing slightly through his jeans.

"I used to do weed," Daniel says.  "I know that you only do
it once in a while for fun with your friends, but I used to do
it all the time.  And other stuff too.  And trust me it wasn't a
great time in my life.  I couldn't concentrate in school, I
couldn't play any music, I couldn't play any sports--I had
trouble in gym class `cause I would get out of breath so
quickly--and I don't want to see you end up like that.  If I
hadn't stopped I'd have completely ruined my life.  I already
wrecked that part of it."  He lets go of Seth's leg and starts
driving.  He knows that if Seth has something to tell him the
boy will say it; he doesn't want to force the conversation.

Seth his silent until Daniel gets out of the car to walk
him inside.

"You're going to tell them aren't you?"

"No.  I just want to talk to your sister."

When he sees the look in Faye's eyes he knows that she will
not become the second Sophie.  She asks why they have come
together.

"Daniel gave me a ride," Seth says, after which he walks
off quickly.  Faye embraces him.

"I'm sorry I walked off like that," she says softly to him.
"You've just told me so much and I needed to think about it all.
But I have now.  And I love you so much and Daniel I don't even
care.  I mean I care but it doesn't bother me.  At all."  He
leans forward and kisses her cheek.  She gives him a look: is
that the best you can do?