Pull my strings

Starting to understand

She didn't really mind that though, the sting that ran up her arm made her spine crinkle slightly but mostly she could just feel her smile grow.

Tullio looked up with a spark in his eyes as he saw them return only with a slight falter when Liam worked and left her aside, he asked sweetly.

"So my dear, where are you from? And how did you meet young Liam?"

Ditzy wrote down in her book and lifted it up,

'I'm from the top, I actually only met Liam recently while he played the piano."

Tullio's eyes widened slightly before looking closely at her,

"A high society lady?"

She curled her fingers in her auburn hair hiding behind it as her cheeks warmed and she straightened her tie, she gave a short nod as Liam rolled his eyes.

"Lemme guess, you think that you're perfect-"

"Liam."

Ditzy noticed the tension rise and tried to soothe it by asking about the name of the shop, Tullio softened while reaching for his watch that wasn't ticking.

"Tim was my brother, he passed away several years ago and I took over his shop,"

He coughed into his arm before marvelling at the woodsman-ship of the violin he was observing. Meanwhile, Liam lifted a box and placed it nearby his whole body seemed tense like he was waiting for something to go wrong.

A small speck of dread filled her when noticing she had forgotten her violin at the school, smacking her face with frustration.

"Is something the matter dear?"

She wrote about how she forgot her violin and he scratched his beard, the sound making her arm itch.

He gave a toothy grin and looked between her and Liam, clasping his hands together and bouncingly announcing.

"Since you both play why don't you perform for me! Go on now don't be shy!"

Liam protested, his eyes bulging across the room as he was ushered to a piano in the centre. A violin was placed in her hands and when she looked up Tullio was leaning over intently, her instincts guessed that he would not take no for an answer.

She glanced over her shoulder to see Liam sigh before placing his fingers on the piano.

They began playing Ave Maria, a beautiful piece that made the old man shiver. Although he had heard the piece previously he noticed a slight difference in the two playing, while Liam focused deeply on his hands Ditzy seemed lost in the music, her eyes shut and her body swaying along.

A chord went out of tune and all eyes landed on Liam who seemed to be panicking about messing up the note, Tullio held in a breathe as he stormed out the building.

"Oh dear, perhaps I was too hasty..."

She wrote,

'What's wrong? What happened?'

She placed the violin back in a case as he rubbed his beard, he began to whisper.

"I thought perhaps he was ready to play again."

The young girl tilted her head puzzled, her eyes searching for an answer only for him to not answer.