A Music Lesson [Wales]

[Emma Lambert]

Emma Lambert gently strummed an open chord on the new guitar she’d recently bought for herself as she sat on the floor, waiting outside the music store. The Belgian had recently received a bonus for one of her reports and thought she might as well treat herself to something... so she went for a guitar. She had no idea why, quite honestly. Emma was a keen saxophonist, and had never really considered playing another instrument. But for some reason it had just caught her eye. Now she needed lessons. That was why she was sitting outside the music store, waiting for the owner to return from his lunch break. There had been an advert in his window that he would give music lessons... and Emma needed them.

Sighing as she brushed a blonde lock out of her eye, Emma leaned back, propping the guitar up at her side. With an impatient huff she glanced at her watch. She’d been told to meet this Mr. Evans here ages ago. She didn’t realise before that he would close the store up for lunch.

“Oh well,” Emma mumbled to herself as she stood up and brushed off her jeans. “He should be on his way.”

[Rhys Evans]

Rhys was heading back to his store, his mid shoulder length black hair up in a ponytail. He knew he had a meeting with a prospective student but they were late and so he continued on his day as scheduled. He ignored the gawking on the streets that his elfin looks and slightly pointed ears along with his white dress shirt, black vest, black dress pants and black dress shoes tended to get him. If people had nothing better to do than stare at a random stranger, then that was their problem and he honestly couldn’t care less.

He approached his store pulling his keys out of his pocket. Rhys noticed the blonde woman sitting next to the door but made no move to acknowledge her as he let himself in. Footsteps followed him in and as he glanced behind to see she had come in.

“Can I help you?” He asked in his Welsh lilt.

[Emma Lambert]

As Emma stood twiddling her thumbs, she noticed a man walking towards the shop. He was quite handsome, she had to admit. With his scruffy, long dark hair and his sea green eyes... Although she had to admit, his ears made him look slightly like a fairy. Hey, maybe he was a fairy. She had to stop herself from chuckling as that thought crossed her mind.

The Belgian’s face soon dropped when he walked right passed her without even acknowledging her. How rude! He was lucky that Emma was a very forgiving person; otherwise she would’ve been really angry.

Letting out a sigh, she picked up her guitar and followed him inside. Emma faltered slightly when he suddenly addressed her. His tone seemed a bit... harsh. Was he not a people person?

“Um... hallo,” Emma began as she walked after him, holding out her hand for a shake. Her dark green eyes quickly scanned over him, looking him up and down before she continued.“I’m Emma Lambert. I came for the music lesson you were advertising. You are Mr Evans?”

[Rhys Evans]

Rhys tried to tone it down the last thing he needed was to deal with another crying woman like his annoying sister. He knew he was not a people person but the shop needed all the extra cash he could bring in and teaching was the best way to do it.

“Yes and I am guessing you want guitar lessons?” Without waiting for her to reply he bent to pull out a packet. He held up for her to grab.

“This has the payment form, the days I’m available and all the useless other government forms you have to fill out.” The government really did control everything especially small businesses. They wanted to know what you were doing, how you were doing and how much money you were making off of it. That’s just the way things were. Since the resistance had started that iron fist got a good bit tighter. Unfortunately for everyone it meant more forms and more monitoring.

[Emma Lambert]

Emma was finding it hard at the moment to keep an open mind about people like she usually did. She was well known at the office and around town for being incredibly friendly, never judging people... But this guy was so rude! She just couldn’t understand it. Had she said or done something wrong or that might have insulted him? Quite honestly, she was perplexed by his attitude. Maybe he just needed to warm up to people.

With a quick nod, she opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted by Evans holding up something. Blinking in surprise, she took the packet and opened it up gently, peering inside. She listened intently as the man spoke, rolling her eyes at the contents inside.

“Damn government,” she hissed quietly, without even thinking. Quickly, the woman covered her mouth with her hand, hoping he hadn’t heard her. Emma didn’t know if he was against the government, and being careless like that was dangerous these days. “Um, yes. Guitar lessons...” she gabbled nervously, trying to cover herself as she held up her guitar. “I play the saxophone, but I’ve never even touched a string instrument.” Without even realising it, the Belgian found herself blinking her bright eyes, batting her lashes slightly.

[Rhys Evans]

Rhys couldn’t help the snort coming from his lips as she cursed. It was amusing to see such an innocent looking woman curse.

“I understand but what can you do? I can give you your first lesson today, just to see if you think the paperwork is worth it.” He said as he pulled out his own older looking guitar. He was trying to keep the blush off his face when she made that face. Why the heck did he think that was cute? He glanced at her hands and noticed they had a worn look to them.

“You’re also on a computer a lot.” He led her to the back room where there was a small studio with instruments around it; he took a seat on the nearby sofa and patted the seat next to him.

“Before we begin I want to show you how to properly hold a guitar.” He said as he did as he said on his own guitar.

[Emma Lambert]

Emma cocked her head to the side slightly when she heard the man snort at her, arching an eyebrow.

"So you don't agree with this either?" Emma began lowly as she slowly edged her way over to Mr Evans. She knew she shouldn't really talk about the government like this, but sometimes she just couldn't help it. The Belgian paused, however, when the Welsh man spoke of giving her a trial lesson. "Ah... ok. Thank you." Emma found her smile return at his small act of kindness. That was incredibly nice of him to do for her. She noticed that he suddenly seemed a little uncomfortable. Had she upset him somehow?

"Hm?" she mumbled, glancing down at her slightly worn hands. "I guess that's pretty obvious." The Belgian woman giggled slightly as she followed him to the back room. Carefully seating herself down across from him, she picked up her guitar and copied how he was holding his.

"Um, is this right, Mr Evans?" Emma asked whilst glancing down at the instrument. It felt a little uncomfortable for her. Maybe she wasn't holding it right...

[Rhys Evans]

Rhys blushed at expression on the woman near him. So what if he snorted? It was sarcastic.

“No I don’t, but who in their right mind would?” Rhys himself couldn’t stand all the paperwork that the Government forced people to do. He watched as Ms. Lambert came closer. “You’re welcome. Anything to help and get around the government.” He realized that he didn’t like it when she frowned, it didn’t suit her at all.

“Just a little bit and only to a trained eye.” Rhys replied. He watched as she sat across from him and place her guitar in her lap like him. He set his guitar down and walked behind her and placed his hands over hers. “More like this.” He moved her hands slightly into a better position. “It might seem awkward now but it will help your playing a lot.” He moved back to his seat and picked up his guitar. “We’ll start with chords.”

[Emma Lambert]

Emma glanced up briefly at the man and noticed he seemed to be... blushing? That was odd. Had she done or said something that made him feel embarrassed? Quickly, the blonde shrugged it off, deciding it was best not to loose concentration on the first lesson.

"People who stand by the government, maybe?" she smiled wryly, slightly relieved to be able to speak to someone else who wasn't trying to cover up their true thoughts about the current situation everyone was in. The blonde couldn't help but laugh brightly at the man's remark. His sarcastic way was actually starting to grow on her already.

Emma gave a small shrug as she glanced at her teacher again, seeing if there was anything she could take in about him. Eventually, her eyes landed on his hands. "Well, seems I don't have a "trained eye" as you put it. Unless you count the fact I can tell you play the guitar well and frequently." As soon as Mr. Evans put his hands over hers, she felt herself flush deep red, just like how she had noticed him blush. Suddenly the blonde felt like a really hypocrite. "I see..." she mumbled softly in reply, keeping her head lowered so he wouldn't notice her scarlet cheeks. "It does feel awkward, but you are the expert so I won't question it." Slowly she raised her head when he sat back down and nodded, turning her attention to his hands to copy them.

[Rhys Evans]

Now she probably thought he was a weirdo and he wasn’t. That was his brothers and sister. Well his sister was more annoying than weird, but whatever.

“You mean ffyliaid. Anybody who stands up for the government is an idiot who is blind to the truth.” Of course as he was saying this he was thinking of a certain male with blonder hair and green eyes. He suppressed a smile at her laugh she had a very nice laugh if he were to admit it at least to himself. There weren’t many people in the city that got his sarcastic, dry sense of humor. It was very refreshing.
“Trust me I say that from experience. I started with the piano first and then learned the guitar and it took a while to adjust. But you will adjust with practice.” Rhys was surprising himself a lot today. He was not the assuring type, he never was. So why was he going out his way to reassure her? He placed his fingers in position. “This is the A chord.”