A moment later, they were in the living room, Mr. Pearson pulled a few books from his bag, flipping the pages. He exclaimed "Ha" he laid the book in front of Solana.
For the first lesson it wasn't much was taught, Solana was feeling a bit carefree.
He walked around the table, behind Solana he pointed at the few diagrams and words.
A serious expression, he said "Look, these are the parts of the guitar. This is the fretboard which consists of all the notes, You see those lines?"
Interested, Solana nodded, focusing her sight on the book.
Mr. Pearson glanced at her, said "Those are called the frets. There are kinda handy way of recognizing where particular notes are on the guitar, especially when you are playing."
Solana commented "So, they are just like the piano?"
Mr. Pearson said "Yes, but the way the notes are arranged in the guitar are completely different from the piano!"
"Oh" Solana replied.
For twenty minutes, they just went through the basics. He paused and said "Bring me your guitar!"
Solana said "Yes, Professor"
Solana left, unzipped her case and pulled her guitar out before handing it to the Professor. She stepped back and watched him, he rested the guitar on his leg, his left hand held its neck. His fingers glided through each strings, slow and unrestricted, it gracefully flowed like the river. Musically asthetic to the ears.
His face scrunched into a scrowl, his eyelashes flinched. He growled, expressing his distaste and said "Awful...Such a beautiful guitar, It sounds horrible!"
Solana blinked, blankly stared at her Professor. Internally Solana questioned him, 'What??? It's sounded good unlike my playing in the morning! How is it horrible?'
Nervous, Solana softly said "Sir,... Professor why did you say that?"
He raised a brow, he straighten his back, boring his eyes into hers.
Solana flinched back, fazed by his domineering aura.
Mr. Pearson sighed, he muttered under his breath "It isn't tuned, it is not your fault you are still a beginner!" while he twisted the knobs on the head of the guitar.
Solana said "Oh, I see. Do I have to tune the guitar before I play? And how do I tune it?"
Without looking at her, he lightly chuckled. He said "Not necessary, it a musician always checks their instruments to make sure they always sound good at all times and not off-key."
Solana agreed with him, see remembered cleaning her flute and checking the grand piano keys before playing them when she was still in her original timeline.
Mr. Pearson continued "If you want to tune it, you can by the ear, which can be hard but it is a skill every professional guitarist has mastered. Or you can tune it using a tool called tuner. And nowdays, most people prefer using the guitar app to tune their guitar."
Solana said "Professor, so which one do you think is the best?"
Professor said "I prefer by ear. It's more practical and convenient. And you as my student will have to practice skill and in the meantime, you can use a tuner until you master it."
Solana said "Yes, Professor"
Silently, the Professor tested the strings by playing a chord.
A minute had past, he exclaimed "Ah, perfect" and said "Now, I will begin teaching you practicals"
He cleared his throat, to draw Solana's attention. Just like last time, he strummed the guitar and gave a crisp sound. Solana could definitely tell the difference. 'So, this is what a guitar is suppose to sound like!'
As a music lover, she thought of asking her Professor to play a song or two.
Hesitation gripped her, her body stiffened. Nibbing her lower lip, she bit the bullet and said "Professor if it is alright can you play a song for me, please?"
Solana made the effort to use her cute puppy eyes card.
Solana's Dad, who silently passed them, saw his daughter antics and muffled his chuckle, to make sure not to alert them.
Mr. Pearson said "Ok, I guess I can play a song. But I don't know any of those popular pop songs, people your age like!"
Solana said "It's alright" she sat and attentively watched him.
Professor said "This is a finger-style piece, so don't be surprised when I play with my fingers instead of a pick"
He exhaled a breath, his arm rested on the guitar body. Suddenly, his fingers picked each string, while his other hand ran, gliding on the fretboard and played.
A word popped into her mind 'Magic' Solana gasped, 'it was magical' She controlled her breathing, she closed her eyes and felt.
She saw herself floating across the green fields, cattle grazing on the fields. He changed his tempo, transported her to the rushing river, dashing against the sharp rocks and bends of the bank, it flowing down into a waterfall. She felt the wisps of water vapour on her face and smelt the scent of fresh water. The current slowly took her to the fishes, happily swimming and jumping in the crystal clear lake.
The scenery dispathed, when the music stopped. Solana knitted her brows and opened her eyes.
"How do you like it?" Professor said.
Solana replayed the scene in her head, she said "It was mystical, I could almost feel it"
His mouth stretched into a wide grin, he said "So, you could see it?"
Solana nodded.
"It is a good thing my student isn't tone deaf. You have potential" He said, placed the guitar on the table.
"Huh?"
He explained himself "Many can play an instrument if they try and practice long enough but empathy and sensitive taste of music can't be trained or taught."
Solana's father walked in, we both turned. He mimicked a mine, knocking the air and walked through the imaginary door, before them. Solana was amused and giggled. And he said "Madam, lunch is ready!!" he dramatically bowed, acting like a Butler. He said "Mr. Pearson you can join if you want."
The Professor's eyes lightened, the corner of his lips lifted, into a close lipped smile.
He politely said "I'm sorry, maybe some other time, I have other things to do! Before I leave, I want to show Solana how to play a few chords"
Henry went back to the kitchen. She heard the clatter of plates in the background.
He gestured Solana to sit next to him, she did as he asked. He said "Oh, Solana get me my bag"
She came back and presented the bag to him. She sat and watched. The Professor passed her a few papers. And said "These are for you, it is just for your reference on the different chord arrangements."
She briefly glanced and turned the pages. He said "Go back to page no.1 and look here"
She tilted her head, he said while he showed her the first chord "This is called the C chord. Listen carefully and don't forget the sound" He strummed the guitar, Solana listened attentively and showed a few more chords during their session.
Mr. Pearson handed her the guitar, he guided her how to play. She pressed her fingers on the fretboard accordingly to the chord shape on the paper. She strummed the C chord.
After she strummed a few times, he gave a few pointers and commented that she still needs to work on it. He left with a farewell.
Solana was at the table, having lunch with her father and her thoughts drifted to her lesson, she had half an hour ago, while he scoped a mousel of food off her plate.
Henry struck a conversation, said "So, how was he?" he coughed after he waited for her reply.
Solana heard his cough, said automatically "Yes, Yes"
He asked again. Solana said "Oh, he is good"
"That's good to hear!" He said.
Half way, the doorbell rang. Before Henry rose from his seat, Solana said "I will get that"
When she opened the door, she gasped. Totally out of her expectation.
Samantha was in front of her, with a smile on her face. Solana stared at her, Samantha said "Hello!...Hmm, can I come in?"
===
In the her room, Samantha was opposite of her, Solana squinched her eyes and studied her. Samantha wore a black dress, from far it seemed gothic, taking a closer look, it had sheer flower straps, showing her tanned shoulders. The dress was embroidered monochrome floral patterns which ended to her knees and high heels.
Under Solana's intense stare, Samantha faked a cough. She said "I wanted to invite you to a party, it will be held next week, at my house. Friday at 7:30." She pulled out a card from her purse. Solana took it, Samantha said "What's wrong? You seem to be acting strange"
'Of course, you think I am strange since, I am not the original Solana.'
Solana calmly said "I wasn't feeling so well!"
Samantha said "Oh, is that the reason why you were absent today as well?"
Solana opened her mouth to reply, the door was knocked and it opened, interrupting their conversation.
Solana's father walked in, had a tray of pastries in his hands. He said "Oh. Hello Samantha, you must be the mystery guest"
Samantha chuckled behind her hand, said "Oh Uncle, how are you doing?"
He shrugged his shoulders, said "Fine, I guess. So, what brings you here?"
Samantha straightened her posture, she said "I just want to have a chat with Solana and invite her to my party next week"
"Oh, Party?..." He said, knitted his brows. He paused and continued his casual way of talking "What's the occasion?" his eyes discreetly shifted to both of them. Solana bit her lips, she pleaded with her eyes.
Samantha said "Last day of school, isn't that an occasion to celebrate about?"
Henry laughed along, he said ."So, when is the party?"
Samantha said "Uncle, I didn't know you still like to party." phrasing it an odd way, Solana eyebrows were raised.
Henry said "Can I come?"
Samantha giggled, she said "Sorry, uncle you aren't invited. Is it alright if I have a moment with Solana?"
"Sure, if you ladies need me just yell, Ok?"
"Yes, Uncle" Samantha replied.
Henry nodded and backed away from the room. Once the door was shut, Samantha giggled and began her questioning.
She stood, her arms on Solana and stared into her eyes, she said "So what's wrong? This isn't the way you normally act!"
Solana tried to avoid her eyes, smiled wrly. 'I knew sooner or later someone would figure that something is off, Should I lie to her? I guess, I have no choice"
Solana puffed a breath, composed herself and acted. Solana thought of the saddest thing she experienced, she faked a tear and resembled a heartbroken person, she said "I'm sorry, It just that...I'm not in a mood for party and stuff. I still trying to forget and move on from him. And I'm sure you must have heard that after the party, I was hospitalized. My body and mind is still trying to recover from that event"
Samantha features softened, she hugged Solana and said "I'm sorry, It's my fault for being insensitive."
Solana snobbed, said "No, I should have informed you but too many things took place and I ...didn't have the time to tell you"
Samantha rubbed her back before she broke the hug. Samantha wiped Solana's tears with her handkerchief, said "Here take it" pushed the invitation into her hands. "If you change your mind, we will all be waiting for you"
Solana internally praised herself 'Eureka, haha I'm the best, it seems my acting has gotten better!'
Solana sniveled, in a soft voice, she said "Sure"
Samantha said "Alright, stop being an onion. You are making me cry... Please Smile" showed her toothy grin. She used her fingers to stretch Solana's mouth into a smile.
Solana awkwardly tried to smile, Samantha giggled and said "That's better"
They both laughed together.
For a few minutes, they chatted about stuff like school, boys and parties.
When the topic changed to boys, Solana felt uncomfortable. And tried to steer the topic, when Samantha asked about Cameron.
Samantha soon left, leaving the pastries untouched, which Solana gladly ate and stuffed her stomach, to calm her nerves. It was her guilty pleasure and second, she didn't finish her meal so she was a bit hungry.
Food helped her to think, she thought of her acting, a smile bloomed on her face. 'Ametria it seems that I'm not stiff like a board.'
She wondered what was Samantha's intention, but she just shrugged it off as it wasn't important. It is pretty simple, she was just inviting her to a party, since the previous Solana was her friend and parties seemed to be their natural habitat. Solana giggled at that thought.
Bored, she decided to practice her guitar in her room.