Chapter Text
"Piano playing? For ballet classes?" Wylan said with a raised eyebrow, eyes flitting between Nina and the poster in her hand which she'd just very loudly read out for him after storming into the room. Nina was grinning in front of him, and shoved the poster in his hand.
"Yes! I saw this pinned up at a cafe the other day and people running the dance school are some old friends of mine, they're really lovely!" Her grin faltered when she saw that Wylan didn't share her enthusiasm. "Come on Wylan, you're a brilliant pianist and it's easy money. Saints knows you need some of that right now."
Wylan chewed on his lip in thought. It was true, he really could use some easy money. He was currently staying with his closest friend, Nina, and her boyfriend Matthias ever since he'd been evicted from his flat for not being able to pay the rent on time. That happened after he got laid off from his job at the music shop which had to shut down due to lack of business. That was already barely enough pay to keep the rent going, and once that income was gone it seemed that his landlord couldn't wait to kick him out and welcome in someone with steady pay. So he'd turned up on Nina's doorstep with his bags and, thank the Saints, she'd let him in, offered the sofa and a place to stay until he got on his feet. That was two months ago.
Wylan wasn't trying to get comfortable in Nina's flat, staying there for free and using her food and water and everything else without have to pay anything towards it (because he couldn't). But the job hunt was an absolute failure and he supposed he should accept the fact that he was at the point where he should take anything available so he could leave Nina and Matthias in peace as soon as possible.
"I suppose I could give it a try..." He looked down at the phone number and sighed. "Easy money."
Nina clapped her hands and gave him a hug before pushing him to sit down on the sofa, put the number into his phone and, with a deep breath, he sent the first message.
Wylan Van Eck: Hi, my name is Wylan Van Eck, I saw an ad that you're looking for a pianist to play in your ballet classes and I'm interested in the position. I've been playing piano for over 10 years now and previously work in a music store where I gave lessons on the side. I'd be happy to send you a recording if you want?
He got a reply in only a few minutes.
???: Hi there! My name is Inej Ghafa, I run the school with a couple of my friends. I'm so glad to hear you're interested in the position, we've been in such need of a pianist and you're the first person to take up the offer! No need to send over a recording, I can send you the sheet music and if you'd like you could pop down to one of our baby ballet classes to try out? Don't worry, they're all very young so won't judge you if you mess up a note or two!
Wylan Van Eck: Coming along to a class sounds great actually, it would be good to try it out at the tempo the students will need.
Inej Ghafa: Brilliant! I'll send the music for that class over now! I'll give you a few weeks to learn it, how's 15th of June sound, three Wednesdays time? The class is at 3pm.
Wylan thought for a moment. He really had nothing else going on in his life. If he really focused on it, he could probably learn all that he needed to in only a week. It would be a relief to get this over with as soon as possible so he could be safe in the knowledge he's got a job. He was suddenly extremely glad he still had a keyboard that Nina had allowed him to squeeze into her flat.
Wylan Van Eck: Do you think we could do sooner? Like, next Wednesday instead? I think I could probably get it learnt by then.
Inej Ghafa: The sooner the better if you can do it! Do you know the Crow Club? That's where we hold our classes. Just come a little bit before 3 and show us what you can do!
Wylan Van Eck: Sounds great, I'll see you there :)
Wylan shut off his phone and leaned his head back against the sofa, letting out a deep breath. He felt like a 10 tonne weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He might actually be able to start making money soon. Make a life for himself again. And this Inej lady sounded really nice. He allowed himself to smile. Thank the Saints for Nina Zenik.
•••
Wylan clutched the sheet music tight in his hands as he walked up to the doors of the Crow Club. He felt like he was sweating buckets but that could have just been his nerves getting the better of him, which they often did. Ghezen, he needed this to go well. Too many failed interviews had happened in the past two months, he didn't know what he would do if he fucked this one up as well. He was good at piano, this was something he knew. He kept repeating that mantra over and over again as he opened the doors and stepped inside.
It looked similar to a church hall, a large space with tall ceilings and big windows high up on the walls. But it had been modified for dance lessons; there were mirrors lining the back wall with a bar attached and a beautiful piano in the corner of the room which Wylan's eyes were drawn to immediately. However he couldn't get to it due to the bustling crow of parents that surrounded him, all talking loudly to each other as they dropped off their kids for class, the age ranging from 7 to 10 years old. He caught sight of one man who was drawing the attention of most of the crowd which didn't surprise Wylan at all since he was probably the most gorgeous person he'd ever seen in his life.
He was tall, long limbed but nicely muscled, with dark skin and short dark hair. He was wearing the most garish looking work-out clothes Wylan had ever seen in his life that somehow didn't look awful on him. He grinned at all the parents and threw his head back and laughed at every joke. Charm dripped off him and Wylan wanted nothing more than to go and talk to him. Instead however, he just stood there, held his music tighter and felt himself turn red. Shit. He couldn't crush on someone who's dropping off their kid. He needed this class to start right away so they could all get out and Wylan could focus on the piano. And just as he thought that was when the man caught his eye.
The moment they made eye contact, a smirk graced the man's face and he excused himself from the parents to walk slowly to Wylan, subtly eyeing him up and down. Wylan somehow turned even more red at the blatant attention.
"Hi. Haven't seen you here before." The man said once he got to Wylan. "One of these little rascals your sibling or...?"
"Um..." Wylan barely managed to say, swallowing. Then he mentally slapped himself. This was a job interview. He couldn't afford to get caught up in flirting. He needed this, for himself and for Nina and Matthias. "No, I'm just here to play piano, a kind of trial thing?"
At those words all of the man's bravado dropped and he looked incredibly embarrassed.
"Oh God, of course you are, I should have assumed and this is now, extremely mortifying for me!" He rushed out, rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous laugh. He struck his hand out for Wylan to shake. "You must be Wylan Van Eck. I'm Jesper Fahey. I teach this class? Most of the others too. I'm really sorry that that was our first impression."
"You're the teacher?" Wylan couldn't stop himself from blurting out.
"Yeah, that's the reaction that most people have. They usually assume it's gonna be some close to retirement age lady who's gonna rap someone with her cane if they don't point their feet properly." Jesper laughed. Then he grabbed Wylan's arm and started dragging him towards the piano. "But enough about that, today is about you! I'm really excited about this, Inej told me about all your experience, you sound like you're gonna be more than qualified for the job!"
Wylan just smiled politely and nodded as he sat down at the piano and gave the music to Jesper to put in the right order for how the class was going to go. He tried not to feel too embarrassed about how their first meeting had gone. It hadn't seemed to have affected his chances very much, but he had to be on his a-game when playing just to be sure. He ran his fingers up the keys, cracking his knuckles and playing the scales a couple times. Jesper smiled down and him and then clapped his hands twice, the sound echoing loudly throughout the large hall.
"Okay kids, in a big circle in the middle!" He yelled, grinning as all of them ran away from their parents, giving them a final hug before the room quietened sufficiently once all the parents had left. "Now we have a guest with us today who's gonna be playing the piano for us. Everyone give a nice Crows welcome to Wylan!"
Wylan smiled and gave the kids and little wave while they all screamed a big hello at him before Jesper told them to quiet down. He then sat down on the floor with them in the circle and Wylan watched as they all pointed their feet into the centre. He'd never been to a dance class before and he almost wished he could just sit and see what it was like.
"So first of all we're gonna start by stretching out feet out like this. Happy feet," Jesper pointed his feet towards the centre. "Angry feet." Jesper flexed his feet so his toes were pointing up at the sky.
He repeated it a few times until the rest of the kids had it too, and then looked at Wylan to play the first piece. It was a simple one meant for a warm up like this. Then Jesper had them up off the floor and practising tendus which Wylan just understood to be pointing your foot. Why they had to complicate it with French words was beyond him. Each exercise that Jesper carried out had a different piece and Wylan played them all perfectly. He himself was grinning by the end of the class. Jesper was a brilliant teacher, firm with the kids if they were messing about too much but knew how to make them laugh and make the class fun. By the end of the hour all the kids ran out with beaming smiles and the parents thanked Jesper as they went.
"You know it's always my pleasure." Jesper replied to one parent, sounding extremely genuine as he shook their hand before they went. Once the door was finally shut he sighed and stretched.
Wylan swallowed. Jesper stretching was definitely a sight. His shirt rode up when he lifted his arms up above his head to reveal his muscled back that had a sheen of sweat. Then he leaned down to touch his toes, stretching out his legs, his back facing Wylan. Wylan, who squeaked when faced with that sight and turned away before he could turn too red to use the heat of summer to justify.
"Oh shit sorry, I'm so used to being by myself here after class I almost forgot." Jesper laughed, jogging lightly over to the piano and taking Wylan's hand, getting him up off the stool. "You were amazing by the way Wylan. You've definitely got the job."
Wylan blinked a few times, trying to process the words he just heard and the fact Jesper was holding his hand at the same time.
"You- I've- I've got the job?" He stuttered.
"Yes! You knew every piece perfectly! And you learnt all that in a week that's insane Wylan! We'd be crazy to not take you on!" Jesper was grinning wildly. "Just message Inej when you get home and you can exchange all the details you need!"
"Thank you so much! You have no idea how much I need this." Wylan said. "Really this just- This means everything, and you are such an amazing teacher, I'm really looking forward to it Jesper." He shook Jesper's hand wildly, who rolled his eyes and pulled Wylan in for a tight hug.
"You're part of the family now! We're a huggy bunch! Well, not all of us, just me and Inej really, but you are now too!" Jesper squeezed Wylan tightly and held on until Wylan slowly hugged back. "We're gonna have a great time."
"Thank you again. So much!" Wylan said as he gathered up his things and walked backwards to the exit, keeping his eyes on Jesper. "Just- thank you!"
He left the hall, ran to his car and started screaming down the phone to Nina straight away, not even caring in that moment if Jesper were to walk past and hear every word he said.
Because he got the fucking job.