Sway Read Online Free Page B

do you play?”
    “Piano,” Eric replied.
    “Ha!” Charlie whisper-shouted.
    I squirmed on the piano bench. That’s why he’d looked at me—he wanted my instrument.
    “I see.” Mr. Sachs’ eyes moved to me. “I’m afraid, Miss Elliot, the piano will no longer be yours alone.”
    I hung my head, hiding my disappointment.
    “I expect you to work together,” Mr. Sachs said, “to come up with a plan on how best to split your time at the keys.”
    Eric sidled up beside me on the bench. My eyes narrowed. Cute new boy had just become my competition and I wasn’t pleased.
    “Now, let’s play.” Mr. Sachs flourished his arms as if we were the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra rather than a bunch of high school kids.
    I played through Bach’s “Air on the G String,” a song that made every kid in class giggle when Mr. Sachs said the title aloud. I knew the piece by heart. The only time I made a mistake was when I glanced at Eric and noticed him staring at my hands.
    Our teacher began to nit-pick at different students, leaving the rest of us to practice on our own.
    “Do you want to take a turn?” I figured I might as well be nice.
    Eric nodded. I slid over but didn’t leave the bench. This was still my spot. He moved to the middle, his thigh pressed into mine. He didn’t seem to notice. I inhaled his clean, dryer-sheet scent.
    Eric focused on the sheets of music; his fingers hovered over the keys. He began to play an air-version of the song, his fingers never touching the piano. I knew right then he wouldn’t need my help. The song was slow but his hands moved with practiced ease. When he played with the class, his fingers on the keys, all pride I’d felt at my own almost-perfect performance died a painful death. Eric Wentworth was at least my equal at the piano, if not better. Either that, or else he knew that particular song really, really well.
    I looked back at Charlie and he raised his eyebrows at me.
    Through the rest of class, we took turns at the keys, neither of us leaving the bench. It was actually easy, unspoken. Just a nod and we’d switch places. I found I didn’t mind sharing the piano with Eric Wentworth after all.
    When class ended, Eric didn’t get up from the bench. He continued to pour out a melody, his head tilted to one side.
    “You’re really good.” The words tumbled out before I could stop them.
    His fingers jumped from the keys to his lap. He turned his head to look at me. We were so close on the piano bench that I could see myself in his deep blue eyes.
    “Ava’s worried you’re gonna upstage her,” Charlie said.
    Eric slid from the bench. “Nah.” He slung his backpack over one shoulder and flashed me a smile. “We can both have our moments to shine.”
    He already outshone me, but I didn’t mind.
    “I’m just sorry you have to share,” he said to me.
    I shrugged. “No big deal.”
    “She wouldn’t be saying that if you sucked,” Charlie said.
    “I’m Ava.” I shouldered my backpack. “This is Charlie.”
    “Eric.”
    “Cool shirt, dude,” Charlie said as the three of us headed out of the classroom.
    “This?” He plucked the t-shirt with his fingers. “They made a mistake when I went to get it screened. It’s supposed to be pointing down.”
    “Really?” I asked.
    “No.” His blue eyes twinkled.
    “I gotta head to gym,” Charlie said. Still facing us, he backed down the hall. “Lunch later.”
    I waved to Charlie and then turned to Eric. “What’s your next class?” My fingers fiddled with the smiley-face keychain hanging from my backpack.
    “Um…” He pulled a sheet of paper from inside his bag. “Algebra.”
    “Mine too. Do you want me to show you where it is?”
    His wry smirk had then turned into a full-fledged smile. “Sure. Thanks.”
    * * * * *
    With eyes closed, I could see us whispering together during that first algebra class as if it was yesterday. I could still feel the heat on my cheeks when I invited him to lunch with Charlie