(Reef's diary)
Dear diary,
Not much happened. I watched Apollo and Henry play checkers for a while before Lucy invited me to partake in the festivities.
I found it was much more exciting to watch the two of them. And I had a significantly smaller headache when not paying attention to the music - a series of loud, low pitched notes on the electric guitar with little rhythm, played by who else but Lucy, and accompanied by what seemed to be mindless shouting (there may have been words there, but I was unable to make them out if so) by her friends.
Basically, before she allowed me to exit the corner, I sat at a table, watching other people do mind-numbingly boring things. After I exited, I sat on the ground, listening to other people play mind-numbingly irritating things.
Nonetheless, I was taught to have good manners, and tried picking out good things in the music. I found nothing. While I am certainly no musical prodigy, nor could I even play anything more than basic songs, I do like to think of myself as appreciative of it. In almost any song, I manage to find something good, whether a nice melody or catchy tune. As such, it was really saying something when I disliked her music.
When she finished, I called out, "Might I suggest the next song be something that will not cause my ears to ring?"
She frowned, but nodded. "I guess?"
She ran upstairs, back into her room, as I appreciated the moment of (near-)silence. Not that the other partycomers shared the sentiment. As if purposely trying to annoy me, they immediately began chatting.
I muttered curses before sighing, flattening my ears against my head. Please let this be over soon... Glancing towards the direction of my other two teammates revealed that they were still playing checkers, not even looking up.
One minute later, Lucy came running down, nearly tripping over her dress in the process. On her back were several pieces of paper with musical notes printed on them."Okay, I think I got something."
"Oh?" I perked an eyebrow at this.
"A concerto written by some guy with a long name. Because of that, ir's probably unpronounceable."
"The word 'unpronounceable' is longer than any musician's name I know of," I remarked.
I was about to ask what the name was, but I reasoned that, given she had begun running off again, she would not answer. It took another minute for her to return, carrying a violin.
"This is going to be boring..." she muttered.
She set up the sheet music on a stand and stood on her hind legs before she began to play.
It was an amazing sound, soft and slow, but alluring. Though her friends somehow thought it was boring, from the whispers among the crowd.
If I did not know better, I would think she was trying to lower their expectations, only to surpass them completely. A note glided to another one beautifully, and suddenly, the tempo increased.
It was enough to satisfy both myself and her friends. It was far from pop, still classical, but rather than the slow, depressing tone often seen, it was quick and happy.
I was mesmerised by the music, and applauded when it was done - though, given I had long fur, it cushioned the sound to make it softer.
As such, she barely heard it, talking to herself. "I really messed up on the glissandos," she mumbled.
"That was amazing!" I said cheerfully, standing. Lucy looked at me in surprise.
"What? Oh, thanks." She walked over to me, plopping down and leaving the instrument behind. While she was beside me, I took the opportunity to ask something that I had been wondering:
"So, Lucy, I have been wondering: why did you invite me to leave that corner of the room but not the others?"
She shrugged casually. "Why not? You seem a whole lot more... normal than the two of them."
Frowning, I perked an ear. "But normal is different in the standards of different people. To myself and Henry, you seem abnormal. You think of yourself as perfectly ordinary."
"I'm extraordinary, thank you very much."
I scowled at her.
"Fine. I'm pretty sure you know the answer, though. Mu friends wouldn't really like them."
"Your friends?" I questioned. "The same friends whom you refused to ask for help because they would dislike that? A true, true friend helps a friend in need."
She hesitated... and then nodded."Whatever, fine. I'll go see if they're willing to tear themselves away from checkers."
I followed as she walked to the corner where they were, and watched.
"Hey guys, you can stop playing if you'd like."
They continued, Henry capturing one of several kings belonging to Apollo. "I never said that, actually," said the latter, not bothering to look up.
"Oh."
They continued playing in silence.
"Admittedly they do not seem like they wish to join in the festivities."
She shrugged, flicking her tail. "Told ya so. I'm going back to the music."
Just as she said, she walked over to her violin, her expression pondering and thoughtful, before she picked up her bow, and began to play.
As melodic, bittersweet notes filled my ears, I waved a paw in front of Henry. He responded not, and I shrugged.
((A/N: These next few paragraphs are basically long descriptions of Lucy's music. You may find it boring. [~~~] signals its end.))
Walking back to where everyone else was, I took note of the music.
It was fast and somehow airy, despite the low tones used throughout. The first few seconds were spent assuming the song was a happy one, but I soon noticed its sad undertones. The jubilance was very much forced, seeming to even fool itself into thinking it was a cheerful tune. How she caused this effect with a single instrument is a mystery to me.
To say what happened next was abrupt would be a lie. It was almost expected - emphasis on almost. It was more of a nagging suggestion at the listener's mind, rather than a screaming "SHE'S GOING TO DO THIS!" 'This' referring to the complicated melodies she started up. The sound was barely music at all, more of random noise. Yet, considering the skill displayed earlier, I found myself drawn to continue listening.
After each few bars, the volume increased, and it alternated between a sinister voice to a happy invitation. As if it were fighting a verbal battle with itself, constantly pushing. The 'evil' one grew shorter and shorter after each turn, and the 'pure' one longer. What is she doing with this? I couldn't help but wonder.
Suddenly, all the sound stopped, but she stayed holding her violin. And after about two seconds of anticipation, it started up again.
It was beautiful.
Certainly, it could've been much better, but my expectations had been significantly lowered, so the happiness was welcomed. It started out intense and defensive, eventually slowing and softening slightly to a peaceful bliss.
What I found strangest, though, was that this was obviously not the kind of music she liked to play. She had shown to prefer wowing everyone, and the melody in the middle would have taken much effort. Wasted effort. Nobody would truly like it. Why?
[~~~]
As the song ended, her 'friends' booed. "That was terrible!" complained one, voice high-pitched and annoying.
Lucy smirked. "Ruby... I. Don't. Care." She stomped her paw to punctuate each word. "You are terrible. Terrible friends, terrible people. You couldn't play anything half that advanced if your life depended on it."
A canine, presumably Ruby, scowled, walking up to her. "How dare you? We're all populars like you, so you need to respect us."
"Like this!" she yelled, and I stepped back, startled. "We're not in school, so it doesn't matter what groups we're in! And even if we were, I'm the leader! If anything, you should respect me!"
Ruby, too, stepped back. "Fine then, I'm leaving. Who's with me?"
A murmur rose from the crowd and they flooded through the door. Lucy... well, to say she looked dejected is an understatement. I wondered what I should do, and eventually walked up to her.
"Good job getting rid of those people," I praised, my formal demeanour nearly slipping in shock.
"Thanks, I guess." She glanced at the clock. "Well, the party's about to be over anyway. Where are..." She looked at Henry and Apollo, who were still playing chess. "Wow."
It has been a long day, so I shall not write anything else.
Signing off,
Reef
By tye way, I was trying to tell a story with the song, though I probably failed since I'm not very familiar with music.
A life of sarcasm, rudeness, and popularity that she thought she liked. The dark undertones represent the nagging doubt that people really like her. After all, surely Henry told her of the "principal chose the one she hated most" thing?
Y'know Reef's lines in which she questions Lucy's friendships? This is her thoughts throughout. "Sinister" referring to the thoughts of the Populars being superior, "happy" being a life without them.
When she snaps.
