《52 stories》Week 27: Piano

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Roman is waving goodbye his families and friends that helped him to unpack all his things into his new studio. It's a cozy apartment with a mezzanine and lots of space to invite people over for small parties. It's also in the middle of the most animated area of the city. He still have some unboxing to do, but it is more than enough for today. He lays on his brand new-old couch that he found in a thrift shop and turn on the tv to relax a little before going to bed. His bedroom is his favorite room of all. It's in a closed room on the mezzanine and every time he steps out of his room, he can have a good look of his place and the city right outside the big windows facing him. Roman is so glad that they managed to climb his piano all the way up here, on the small balcony like space in front of his bedroom. It's not the biggest piano ever, but it's still pretty heavy and hard to move around. But his family and himself are used to move it around and he can't wait to play it while looking at the sunrise or sunset. But first... More unboxing and a bit of cleaning.

A few weeks passed and Roman got his marks around his new place. He is getting to know his neighbours, even the ones that are not on his floor. There is this really cute emo boy about his age living on the floor right above him. He will have to find a way to start a conversation with him someday. It's a bit late in the evening, but Roman's fingers are itching to play some music. A few minutes shouldn't bother his neighbours too much, right? He climbs up the stairs and sits in front of his piano. He shuffles in his mind which song should he play an dsettle for something smooth and relaxing. He lets his fingers and mind flow with the sound of every notes. Music always helped him relax. Once he is done playing, he can hear clapping coming from downstairs. Out of habits, he does a small bow until he realise that he lives alone now. He looks around frantically, trying to find who broke in his apartment. But after looking around twice, he has to come to the conclusion that he is still alone in his studio. He scratch the back of his head 'must be the neighbour' Roman thought. He will have to remember to apologies in the morning to... Logan? If his memories are right, Logan is the one living right beside him, his apartment being right on the other side of the wall where his piano is. Logan shouldn't be too mad, he seems like a nice guy. Not reallytalkative and looks a bit like a nerd, but still, Roman is gettingalong well with him so far. Let's just hope this little late nightconcert didn't made him too mad.

The next morning, as Roman is stepping out of his apartment to go to work, he sees his neighbour doing the same ''Hey, Logan, sorry for the noise last night. I really wanted to play piano before going to bed.''

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''Oh, that is not a problem at all Roman. You see, the walls are completly soundproof so you didn't bother me at all last night.''

''Oh...great...''

''Is there a problem?''

''Huh, no. Not at all.'' They keep doing some small chat while going down the elevator to the main entrance and once Roman is alone again, he can't help but wonder... He did hear someone clapping for him. But he was alone. And if no one heard him... Roman shakes his head, maybe it was only because he was tired, he thought he heard something, but it must have been the wind or something, right?

A couple of days goes by without any other weird noise happening, Roman is trying to forget about all of it and goes on with his day in his new place. It is now the weekend, finally, and Roman is planning to do absolutle nothing! He finally unboxed his last box yesterday evening and now the only thing he wants to do is lay on the couch and watch tv and maybe play a bit of piano. Roman is done doing his little business in the bathroom and as he flush the toilet, he sees the water level slowly going up... and up... and up ''Oh no! no no no!'' he rushes out of his apartment and knocks several time on Logan's door. He doesn't have anything to deal with this kind of things. Why didn't he think about that before!? As the door open, Roman shout ''Do you have a succion thing for the toilet? I need one now!''

''Now?''

''NOW!''

Logan grabs his phone to call someone ''Virgil, we need your toilet plunger. Meet us in P... Roman's apartment, the one beside mine... please?'' He waits for the answer that Roman doesn't hear and he hang up ''He's coming.''

A few seconds later, they hear running foot steps coming their way. The emo boy from upstairs seems to hesitate for a moment in the door way, but run right into the toilet and starts to unclog it. It's definitely not the first time he does that. And he succesfully does it too. Roman's neighbours help him to clean all the water that floaded on the bathroom floor. Roman doesn't stop thanking them while they clean, saying how they don't have to help and that he has to buy them pizza or something to thank them. Which Logan accept right way, but Virgil seems to hesitate a bit, unconfortable. Logan gives him a knowing look and Virgil finally accept. Roman isn't really sure what is going on between them, but they seems to be really close to each other. As they leave, Logan wrap his arm around Virgil's shoulder. They are about to take a shower, change clothes and come back for the pizza. It is pretty much dinner time after all.

Once they are all gathered together around the table, eating the well deserved pizza, Roman can't help but notice how Virgil is looking around. And maybe it's the emo make up, but he seems sad. Roman tries to ignore it, but he can't help but worry about his new friend ''I guess it's none of my business Virgil but, are you okay?'' Logan and Virgil both look at each other with this knowing look again. Logan silently encourage him to speak and he does ''It's just... A bit weird to come here after... everything that happened.''

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''After what happened?''

Virgil wraps his arms around his chest and seems to close up completly, he gives a pleading look to Logan and Logan explain ''We had a close friend that was living here. His name was Patton...'' Roman look a tboth Logan and Virgil ''Was?'' his eyes widen as he understand what they are trying to say ''I'm so sorry.''

Logan shakes his head ''You didn't know.''

''Did it happen-''

''No...No he was on vacation.'' Roman only nods, putting his last bite of pizza back on his plate, his appetite now completly gone. They all stare at their plates for a few moment, all not really knowing what to do. Logan finally breaks the silence ''I think it will help us to be able to come here again... It will help with the grieving, I think.''

''Of course, anytime! I like to hang out with new people.''

They both thank Roman and decide that it was enough emotion for today and they both leave for their respective apartment.

Now that Roman is alone again, he can't help but to think about that night, when he heard the clapping. What if it was... No, impossible. Or is it? Roman takes a quick look at his piano and knows what he has to do. He climbs the steps two by two and sits in front of his piano and starts to play. He doesn't know anything about this Patton guy, so he plays lots of different songs. Trying to find something that will bring him back or something. After he is done playing this particularly silly and happy song, he hears the clapping again. He takes a deep breath and turns around. He doesn't see anything, but he can swear he feels someone watching him ''Patton?''

Nothing.

''I know we don't know each other, but I met Logan and Virgil. They are your friends I think and... I...'' Roman let out a loud sigh and put his head in his hands. What he is doing? Talking to himself like that. He looks out the window and he can't help but let out a small scream. There, in the window's reflexion, another man on the small balcony. He stands up, almost falling off of his small bench looking around, but he doesn't see anything or anyone. Roman tries to calm his breathing, he sits on the floor and try to calm down. Which he finally manage to do after some time. He stumbles to his bedroom and crash on his bed. This was enough emotion for today, he has to agree. Now time for bed. Tomorrow he will have the time to worry about what just happened.

The next morning, he asks his new friends if they would like to talk about Patton to him ''To help for the grieving and all...'' Roman explains to them when they ask why he wants to know about Patton. They both agree and come back into Roman's apartment. They tell him how Patton was A small puff ball of love and energy. He was pretty much the dad of their small group. They then show him a picture of the three of them and Roman try as best as he can to hide his shock. He can swear that the man he saw in the reflection was Patton. Blond hair, grey cardigan wrapped around his neck, blue shirt and kaky pants. No doubt about it. Roman decides to keep this for himself for now. He doesn't want to scare or give Virgil and Logan false hope. He will have to look into that to be a hundred pourcent sure before talking to them about all of this.

The three of them eat the leftover pizza for lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon together, talking and playing some board games. Roman can see how his two friends are getting less and less unconfortable in the apartment. It is really helping them after all. Roman can't help but smile and once they both leave for the evening, Roman goes back to his piano and says ''I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can... Please tell me if I should talk about you to your friends. Do you want them to know that you are still here?''

He waits for an answer, but nothing happen. So he starts to play. Any songs, he doesn't bother to finish the one he started before playing another one. He plays and plays until he feels a chill going down his spine. He turns around and he sees Patton floating in front of him. See is a big word since Roman can see right through him, but there is no doubt, it is the Patton he saw on the picture earlier that day. They both stare at each other for a while, until Patton gesture to the piano ''You want me to play?'' Patton nods eagerly ''Okay.'' and Roman plays again, he doesn't even stop to make dinner. He even keeps playing after the sun completly disappear behind the buildings and horizon. He plays until he doesn't feel this chilly feeling around him. He let his fingers sits on the piano keys for a bit before finally standing up to grab a little something to eat. He doesn't know how he is going to explain this to Virgil and Logan, but he could swear that this is what Patton would like him to do. So they could all say their goodbyes.

Roman will have to find the good words, to not scare them away. To make them believe him. And since Roman always have been good with words and stories, it shouldn't be too hard, right... Right?

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