The Adventure of a Riddle

37- I Will Write You Notes

He decided to go along with it, halting his attempts at tuning the old piano. With an expression full of fake worrisome, he replied, "I'm afraid so. Now," he rolled up his sleeves and placed his hands back onto the black and white keys, "cease your talking."

Aurora complied, her mismatched eyes flickering down to his slender fingers as they started to play a tune unfamiliar to her. It was quite pretty. Having an excellent bonding idea, the witch grabbed her library issued French book of poems, opening it to the page she had last marked. She hesitantly looked over to him, only to see that his focus was solely trained onto the piano keys.

She cleared her throat quietly, and waited for an opening as she skimmed over the poem. When the music slowed, she sang in a soft tone, "Je te laisorrai des mots."

Aurora literally felt his eyes snap onto her, but she kept her focus on the French words to keep her nervousness at bay. "En-dessous de ta porte."

His intense gaze never left her face. "En-dessous ded murs qui chatent."

"Tout près de la place où tes pieds passent."

His playing seemed to match her tone perfectly, rhythmically matching one another in harmonies. "Cachés dans les trous de ton divan."

"Et quand tu es seule pendant un instant."

"Ramasse- moi,"

"Quand tu voudras."

"Ramasse moi,"

"Quand tu voudras."

They finally locked their eyes as she repeated the final verse.

"Ramasse moi, quand tu voudras."

They stared at one another for a few more moments, before Tom ultimately looked back down in order to finish the piece. She kept her steely gaze onto his hands, the blue veins in them showcasing themselves from the strain. The sound of the tune made goosebumps rise on her arms, suddenly glad that she was wearing a jumper.

When the song came to an end, their eyes met once again. "What did you say?" He asked curiously, placing his hands back into his lap.

Aurora released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. She smiled thinly at him before honestly stating, "I have no idea." She flashed the book of poems for him to see, and his coffee eyes zeroed in onto the poem she'd just sang.

She retucked the pesky piece of baby hair behind her ear again before adding, "I only know the first part translates into 'I will write you notes.'"

"You're learning French then?" He mused thoughtfully, "Either that or you are bored out of your mind."

"Both," she grumbled, with a hint annoyance. Her eyes fleetingly landed on diary-Tom, who was watching with an emotionless expression. It must be weird for him to see her interact with him but not actually him.

"Go on then," his urging voice broke her out of her staring toward diary-Tom. She shot her attention back onto the breathing version as his eyebrows rose expectantly.

"Alright."

Her nose scrunched up as she tried her best to translate, opening the second book of translations. "Let's see... I will write you notes, underneath your door." she spoke slowly, almost unsure as she continued.