The Hero they thought was a Nerd

Aria of a lonely heart

Bryce's POV

I flicked open my violin case.  

Ms. Vale asked me to prepare a performance for another group of her class.  I was thinking deeply on the way I should do my performance that wouldn't be too overwhelming.  I really don't want to lose my cover so early in the year.  I was really digging this undercover thing of mine.  I don't have any meetings to start up, no signings for the next few days or even any meetings with my grandparents for prospective brides.  I mean who wants to get married in this day and age.  It's not that I don't want to find the girl that would make my heart go pitter pat but I really liked these moments of solitude where I can put my focus on what I want to do and how.

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.I grimaced as I remembered the poem my teacher had asked us to analyze.  It was a poem written by William Wordsworth entitled "I wandered lonely as a cloud".  I could never describe myself as a lonely cloud but sometimes I wondered if I ever was one.  My work has made me a drifter in my own life that I do not know which way I should go or follow.  Should I go with the flow of expectations that everyone is expecting out of me?  Should I continue to make myself as rich as Solomon and create a kingdom to control or should I look for other avenues to be helpful to others?

I continued to think about it as I slotted the bow onto the the violin strings and started to play the notes of the Lonely Violin.

Of all the instruments that my company has made and sold over the years, the violin has been my long time companion.  It's true that I can play almost all kinds of instruments except, woefully, the flute, which to my chagrin was pitiful.  I mean, a virtuoso such as myself should have been able to play the simplest of instruments but the complications of puffing the air onto a piece of wood was really something I could never accomplish.

Anyway, griping about the flute did not deter me from learning to master at least one instrument and the violin seemingly called out to me.  The strains from the strings and the steadiness needed to hold it while being caressed by the bow, its music almost as entrancing as its method of playing.  At first, it was difficult to play it being more interested in stringed instruments kept me working on how to play it.  I learned to play the guitar first before the violin but going acoustic seemed ordinary to me.  I wanted something that would pack a punch and the violin was it.

I could always feel the power of the music that I am playing when I handle a violin.  Ms. Vale used to comment that I would be in my own world when I play the violin and that it would take a nuclear attack before I would be able to disregard the seduction of letting go with playing.  A lot of my co-musicians were envious of this talent of mine but I can never tell them how the popularity that I kept receiving has become a burden.  I wanted the thrill of playing an instrument but I prefer it to be in an enclosed space.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry."  A voice intruded in my musings.  I still held the bow in mid swing and looked at the door.  There were dozens of females standing there which caused me to frown deeply.  Ms. Vale assured me that this room was vacant and unused by the music students so I was confident that I won't be disturbed.

Fiddlesticks!  Can't a guy catch a break?

"Yes?"  I asked with a sigh before placing my violin back into my case and placing everything back in its proper place before facing the group of giggling girls.  My eyes squinted at them in annoyance.  I really hated this part of being popular.  I moved to hunch my shoulders back into my usual disguise.

"Um, we'd like to learn more how to play the violin.  Can you teach us how?"  The girl twirled a lock of hair and asked with coquetry.  I huffed in annoyance.  

"I don't have the time."  I replied briskly before leaving the baffled girls into their imaginings.  I can never tolerate girls who do not respect someone's privacy and personal space.  

I need to look for another place to practice on.

I decided to go to Ms. Vale and ask her for a new place for me to practice on.  As I was stomping my way towards the teacher's lounge, it just so happens that I saw the same girl who played the harp enter the lounge before me.  Curious, I discreetly followed in and I was surprised when she approached Ms. Vale.

It seems she was asking to be trained for a special concourse competition that she was roped into joining.

"I do have the time to be your coach but I think a younger coach would be most helpful to your cause."  She was saying.

Oh no!

I started to discreetly make my way out of the door.  No way am I going to be roped into training a young girl with playing an instrument when I have more problems to take care of although David would say otherwise.  

"Mr. Latimer, how good of you to be here."  Mr. Winters, my English teacher called out to me as he made his way towards me.  "Could you help me out?"

I closed my eyes and I tried to expect the inevitable.  I accepted the map roll from Mr. Winters and the book bag before hearing my name being called.  I looked back at Ms. Vale and true enough, she was looking at me with an expectant smile, the girl beside her was looking at me aghast.

I approached them, telling Mr. Winters that I will be with him in a sec, already anticipating the request.  I tried to hold on to my temper but I already knew I can never say no to the person who made me into what I am today.

"Can you be a dear and help out this young lady?  She was asked to perform for the guests of the principal and to take part in the music concourse The Golden Virtuoso had won in."

My eyebrows shot up and looked at the girl.  She can't even look me in the eye.

Babysitting?  Hah!

"Oh, alright.  I'll work it in my schedule."