PARA THREE.
✖️ @charlottebanks
Some evenings, all Madigan wanted was to escape behind the black and white keys of the piano in the school’s theater. When there was nobody rehearsing inside, she found refuge at the wooden oak upright, fingers dancing in line with her emotions. The wide open space was great for her vocals, as well. And, this evening was no different.
With her score book open in front of her, notes and lyrics scribbled hastily across music staffs, the petite girl sang along to one of the songs she had been working on for the past few weeks, belting out the words as though her life depended on it. Hearing the door of the auditorium open at the side of the stage, the girl’s face went pink, as she stopped all together. “Oh, I uhm.. I didn’t think anybody would be here today. It’s usually empty on Saturday nights.” She mumbled sheepishly, over at the same blonde that had taken care of her only a few drunken nights earlier. “What, uhm, what have you been up to?”
Charlotte had spent most of the evening like she usually did, wandering around campus aimlessly, probably only to end up in the library at some point. She didn’t have too many friends and those she did have she didn’t want to appear clingy to since they probably had other plans seeing as it was a Saturday night.
She was just drifting past the theater, somewhere she hadn’t been inside in a while when she heard some faint music coming from within. Her curiosity got the better of her as she wandered inside, finding Madigan at a piano singing. She hadn’t seen much of the girl in days, she was starting to feel like she was being avoided. As she was caught she shrugged a little. “I heard you….I can leave if you want” She said, pointing her thumb over her shoulder at the door, her shoulders drooping a little. “Nothing really.”
“DON’T.” The request fell from her lips a little too quickly, and she couldn’t help but draw in a breath and try again - this time, less desperate. “I mean, you don’t have to leave.” She managed, slumping slightly against the piano bench. “I haven’t seen you in.. like, a week.” She mumbled, moving over a little, so that the blonde could join her, tapping the spot next to her on the black wooden stool.
“I’ve missed you.”
Truth be told, Madigan was still feeling a little embarrassed from the night she had spent with Charlotte last. She was drunk and upset, about a girl that had only made her life more difficult, meanwhile one that made her heart race had to comfort her. It wasn’t right, and beyond feeling embarrassed, she felt guilty.
