Falconium Envy

Chapter 1

Zane dodged another couple of kids running through the house, lifting his guitar case above their heads and out of dangers way. Today was Saturday, meaning elementary kids would be in his hair all day. Both Zane and Taryn worked part time as music teachers for anyone willing to learn, usually kids or teens but there were a few adults who took their afternoon classes. The classes were held in the newly constructed building about ten minutes from his home and it was partially considered a school these days. Partially meaning that the local schools used the building and it’s facilities as music classrooms, taking advantage of the equipment and spare rooms. This place was huge, at least twice as big as Zane’s own house which was a mansion in itself and the building was supported by two acres of land behind it. Within the building itself there were soundproof rooms, recording studios, a huge kitchen, rooms set up as classrooms, rooms set up for audio and visual alteration and touch-ups and spare rooms used for bedrooms for anyone who needs to stay over, making it much like a drop-in centre in that aspect.

Because of the amount of underage children coming in and out of the ‘school’ and the fact that all of the ‘teachers’, including Zane and Taryn, were considered adults there were child welfare and safety regulations, not to mention health regulations that had to be kept up to task. There was, not only a ‘headmaster’, Johnny Wheaton but a cook who had to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at a specified hour every day, Sally Craft, a girl Zane and Taryn had gone to school with and a guidance councillor supplied by the government. So, really, it was more than a school, more like a drop-in-centre slash retreat for those who needed it where they could get a good meal and roof over their heads but, most people who ended up there had some sort of love or interest in music.

To keep the school afloat the recording studios’ were rented out at a price, anything wanted between meals was charged to the person, unless it was the remains of the meal before which, usually there was plenty of and the school was sponsored by many large companies owned by the parents of many of the kids around the area. That may sound strange but a lot of the people around here had money coming out of their rear end, the families of Taryn and Zane included.

If I could fall Into the sky
Do you think time
Would pass me by
'Cause you know I'd walk
A thousand miles
If I could
Just see you
Tonight

(NOTE: A Thousand Miles- Vanessa Carlton)

Zane grinned, making his way into the room he heard the voice coming from. It was Taryns latest pupil, Maria, a seventeen year old Italian girl who had the confidence of a wet rag with the looks of a supermodel, given the right outfit and accessories of course, of which she didn’t have much of. She was from a downtown family that, lovely as they were, didn’t really have much. Her father was a mechanic and her mother stayed home caring for her six younger brothers and sisters as well as he fathers mother who spoke no English what so ever. Doubtless to see why she was at the school so often, no doubt having so many people in one house resulted in a lacking of self time. She did, however, have an amazing voice, though not as good as Taryn, who was harmonising quietly in the background, playing her acoustic guitar, her favourite, of course.

And I, I
Don't want to let you know
I, I
Drown in your memory
I, I
Don't want to let this go
I, I
Don't...

Making my way downtown
Walking fast
Faces pass
And I'm home bound

Staring blankly ahead
Just making my way
Making a way
Through the crowd

Ignoring the way Maria blushed as he came in, he sat himself down on one of the spare speakers lying around the room and listened. It was a real pity Taryn rarely sung any more, after her throat was damaged she never really tried to get her voice back up to the standard it was at before, though he knew she could if she wanted.

And I still need you
And I still miss you
And now I wonder...

If I could fall
Into the sky
Do you think time
Would pass us by
'Cause you know I'd walk
A thousand miles
If I could
Just see you...

Taryn winked at him and smiled as she continued to play and sing as her student continued, stumbling a little, nervous of the extra attention. He grinned back and nodded encouragingly to the girl.

If I could fall
Into the sky
Do you think time
Would pass me by
'Cause you know I'd walk
A thousand miles
If I could
Just see you
If I could
Just hold you
Tonight

Zane clapped and Maria blushed as others joined him, having heard her from outside, they had come to listen more closely. Taryn stood up from the speaker she had been sitting on, guitar in one hand, she held Maria’s elbow for support and bowed with a smile, Maria following her lead nervously, causing more clapping.

“Well done, Maria, that was awesome. That’ll do for today.” Taryn said, her voice a little croaky, though with a smile as Zane shooed the audience off.

“Thanks Taryn.” The girl beamed, her brown eyes twinkling, she practically skipped to the door before turning back, “Bye Zane.” She added quietly, nervously and he winked at her, sending her skittering away with a quiet giggle.

“Someone has a crush.” Taryn laughed softly, the exertion on her throat having worn her voice thin. It was something that always got Zane mad, if she at least tried she could get then muscles in her throat strong enough to sing again, the doctors said she could sing again but it was like she had given up, like she didn’t want to sing any more, not after the accident, not after…

“What are you thinking about?” she asked suddenly, cutting off his thoughts, “Your face is all scrunched up like you’re mad or something. What’s up?”

“She has a beautiful voice, doesn’t she.” He started, glancing at the door.

“Yeah,” Taryn smiled fondly, “she does!”

“Not as good as you, though.” Zane prompted and Taryn’s forehead crinkled instantly and a frown appeared on her face.

“Zane, you know we’ve talked about this-”

“No Taryn. You know you could still sing if you just tried.” He said, exasperated and not understanding at all, “You’ve got an amazing voice. You know it but you don’t care. If you were to just start singing again you’d be signed up by an agent in a second and become a star instantly.”

“What if I don’t want that? What if I don’t want to be a star, Zane?” she asked, her voice cracking angrily.

“What are you going to do then? Stay here for the wrest of your life? Get married to some rich vegetable and become the perfect house-wife?” he asked, waving his arms around for emphasis.

“Yes. That’s what I’m going to do. That’s all I could ask for.” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. He didn’t believe her.

“No. You could ask for so much more, that’s scraping the bottom of the barrel for you, Taryn, you know it. You wouldn’t be satisfied here, it’s fine for now but, in a few years, you’d be over it, you’d be anxious and wrestles and you’d be tied down, unable to leave and unhappy for the rest of your life.” He said and he saw her blanch slightly, she knew he was right. He stepped closer to her as she examined the ground and their shoes, refusing to meet his eyes, “I didn’t mean to yell at you, Taryn and I don’t mean to lecture you, I know you have enough people doing that already but,” he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair then placed both his hands on her shoulders, causing her to look up at him, “it’s just… since Trey, it’s like you’ve given up. Not just on singing but, everything you used to enjoy. I know everyone says you’re healing, you’re getting over it or dealing with it, whatever but Taryn, they don’t know you like I do. I’m worried, Taz. You’ve got me worried about you and I don’t know what to do.” She looked down again, a tear splashing down onto her cheek and he pulled her into a hug.

“I’m sorry.” She mumbled into his chest, clinging to her friend, “I’m sorry, it… it just hurts, Zane. It hurts and I don’t know how to stop it. I-it won’t stop h-hurting.” She said, breaking down into sobs.

“I know, sweetie.” He whispered, blinking back tears of his own as he kissed her head, stroking her back, “I know. It’s all right.” He continued this until her sobs quieted and she looked up at him again with a sniff.

“Sorry.” She smiled sheepishly up at him. He just grinned, squeezing her tight again then letting her go.

“That’s okay, squirt. I understand.” He said with a shrug, turning to unpack his guitar.

“I am trying, you know.” She said quietly, picking up her own guitar and strumming a few notes.

“Hmm?” he asked turning his head to see her out the corner of his eye.

“I am trying to start singing again, you know.” She told him, “I know I should’ve started earlier and all but it still hurt way too much.”

“And now?” he asked carefully.

“It’s dulled to an aching throb. Not quite gone but I’ve accepted that it’s there and will always be there. It’s about time I started to live again.” She said with a small smile, staring at her guitar strings as she played. Taryn didn’t have to see his face to know Zane was smiling, though he didn’t say anything, happiness was practically radiating off him in waves.

“I’m proud of you, Taz.” He said quietly and began strumming his guitar in tune with hers. He smiled softly as she started singing quietly.

Does the sun shine up at you when you are looking down?
Do you get along with the others around? (NOTE: Angel- The Corrs)

It's got to be better than before
You don't need to worry now you're gone.