Micah watched with rapt attention as the two young teens graced the stage. One was a girl in an elegant cream dress, tight over her body despite her lack of maturation. The other was a boy in a striking tuxedo that he would probably outgrow in a few months.
The girl presented her violin and took a bow over the crowd as the boy continued towards a sleek, black piano. A few moments later his fingers were playing over the keys with a slow and wistful tune. The violin joined in a minute later, the two making a longing duet. The song changed between something of a distant memory and the sound of something new.
The boy played another solo part for a moment; the tune of something new and wondrous. The girl joined in again to complete the piece. They began to slow again, the song aging into something of regret before coming to an end.
The girl left the stage, and the boy began to play a solo song again. It sounded more like something meant for two pianists, but he was able to combine both high keys and mid tone keys. The piece was light and like a slow enjoyment compared to the previous.
Another song change followed; faster paced and in the higher keys as the girl returned with her violin. It felt like a memory that wasn't meant to end. The piano overpowered the violin through that song, but they still complimented each other.
Another duet followed; this time the violin standing out more than the slow piano. The song began the decline from their happier tunes to something more sorrowful.
Two more similar solo piano pieces followed, and Micah left his seat during the last few minutes. He snuck behind the stage with his bouquet of flowers tucked against his rented tuxedo. He found the right nameplate at a preparation table—Alexander Christov.
Micah waited near it, shooting nervous glances around the backroom. A few adults roamed the place, likely instructors, while the rest seemed to be young adolescent performers. Micah could hear the last piano note, and the crowd gave its applause.
He cleared his throat and straightened up then, waiting. Micah caught sight of the girl that had been playing the violin; it looked like she was having a spat with her parents.
Parents seemed to start to flood into the backroom then and made Micah tense. He only hoped he could get a few words in before Alexander 's parents were present as well.
Finally he caught sight of the blond hair and slight frame as Alexander came in from the stage and headed towards his prep table.
"You played well," Micah offered lamely, giving out the flowers.
Alexander beamed up at him and took the flowers. "Thanks," he said, without the Russian accent Micah had been expecting. "Did you have a favorite?" the teen asked.
Micah stalled in panic for a moment. "Uh, the first one." His rented tuxedo still paled in comparison to the one Alexander was wearing—it looked expensive, even though in a year it wouldn't fit him.
"The Brain Crain piece," Alexander informed with a softer smile. "I like that one too. Melanie is an excellent violinist as well," he said, turning and beginning to look for the girl. He saw the issue she was still having with her parents and turned back to Micah with an apologetic nod. "What did you think of the Yiruma pieces?"
"Um... classical music isn't... my thing," Micah admitted. He didn't know what those pieces were. "I heard this was going on and figured I'd... stop by..." He began to mentally kick himself. People didn't just stop by to something that required tuxedos and an expensive admission fee. He'd come all the way from Montana to New York specifically for this.
Alexander 's smile faltered slightly in confusion, and Micah began his hasty retreat. He couldn't say it. "Anyways... I should go." He pointed back to the exit and the opposite direction of Alexander 's rapidly approaching parents.
Micah turned and walked off without another word, biting his cheek. He'd shaved and cut his hair for this, damn it—and despite Micah's darker skin, he couldn't even tell Alexander that they were half-brothers.
**Video is Yiruma - River Flows in You

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Our Little Nowhere [mxm]
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