Norway X Violinist!Reader - Open Windows Chapter 4

~2 months later~

"Take it."

"No."

"Take it."

"No."

"Take it!"

"No!"

"For the last time, take it!" You practically scream, waving a small plastic device in his face.

"No!" He yells back.

"Why not? It's not going to kill you!"

"Maybe it will!"

"It's just a metronome! Get over it!" You snap, patience wearing thin. The metronome bounces back and forth in your hands in your agitation.

"I can practice perfectly fine without it!"

"Geez, Lukas! Every musician has practiced with a metronome at least once, if not more! Don't give me that uppity attitude just because you learn everything so fast!"

"And that's why I don't need it." He replies, a faint trace of smugness in his words and around his lips.

"Prove it, oh great master of violin, by playing measure 15 again."

He picks up the bow and takes a deep breath before he places it gently on the strings, and proceeds to play the pick-up note and octave written in the aforementioned measure. Everything is perfect until he reaches the middle of the octave and plays it more quickly than it needs to be. Realizing his mistake, he stops playing and purses his lips.

You tap your foot and cough discreetly while on the inside, you're laughing gleefully. You count down the seconds before he says something.

"I was wrong." He mumbles.

"What? I can't hear you over the sound of the wrong notes you played!" You say sarcastically, and somewhat regret it afterwards for probably hurting his feelings.

"I was wrong." He repeats, a little louder.

"What did you learn today, Lukas?" You reply.

"I need a metronome. Fine. Happy?"

"It's not about me being happy, it's about playing it the right way." You correct him gently. Deciding not to torment him any further, you bend down and pocket the device in his violin case, right in front of him.

"Hey, ______. How can I be like you?" He says, suddenly.

"What?" This question takes you by surprise.

"What do I do to play like you?" He's looking intently at your face, as if the answer will suddenly come out of it.

"Um, practice a lot, I guess? It should be pretty obvious by now, right?"

No answer.

"Look, Lukas. Maybe to you, being perfect is everything, but it's not really correct, at least, not to me. I don't play perfect to be perfect, I play because I want to feel what I'm playing, not just hear it."

"It takes both the mind," you say, and brush his forehead at the same time, "and the heart." At this, you place your hand over his heart, and for a few seconds, feel his heartbeat.

"Wow. Okay, sorry for doing that! I just wanted to prove my point, even though it sounded really weird, don't you think so?" You take your hand away and let it go back to your side. "Also, I don't mean to force my beliefs on you. If you think your way of playing is correct, then it's fine. We all have our own ways of playing music."

He still doesn't speak, and stands there with a glazed and distant look in his eyes. You snap your fingers in front of his face, and he comes back to normal.

"Well, I have to go now, but I'll see you tomorrow!" You hop down from the stage and make your way up the aisle. "Oh, and don't forget to practice with the metronome!" You say with mock seriousness.

The door slams shut behind you, but the lights still stay on for Lukas.