Write about stealing Time

Jonta stared at the sheet in front of him and let his fingers slide over the keys of the piano. They didn’t press hard enough to make a sound; the boy was just getting a feel for the instrument now, trying to work his way through this cloud that had taken up residence in his mind, and was preventing him from finishing his assignment.

His father had deemed it necessary that if Jonta was going to be a part of the courts, then at his age he was more than ready to begin learning some of the finer skills of Thoullan nobility. Such as, composing music.

At first, Jonta had been apprehensive at the thought. He was used to the other silly things his father had his tutors shoving down his throat- fencing, history, geography- things other Thoullan children were expected to learn, if their parents had the coin. But music was another matter. Music was a sacred thing to the Thoull, and composing and playing it were tasks that were taken very seriously. Jonta wasn’t sure he had what it took to pull it off.

Which was why he was here, staring at the staff paper in front of him with a gloomy expression as his fingers continued to wear useless paths in the ivory beneath them. With a heavy sigh, Jonta let his head fall onto the keys, wincing when the resulting cacophany hit his ears.

“Not really my style, but I guess you are the maestro here.” The blonde’s head shot up from its position on the keys. In the doorway behind him, Evan stood with his arms folded and his shoulder leaning on the doorframe. His all too familiar smirk was in its usual place and, as usual, was being used to make fun of Jonta (although it was used to mock Kels in equal measure, so the boy supposed that he didn’t really have any reason to complain).

“Evan. How long have you been there?”

“Long enough to see that you’re not getting anything done. You know that Hawa won’t let you slide with only half a composition.” Jonta rolled his eyes and turned back to the piano.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I don’t need yet another person coming around and telling me that, you know.” Evan chuckled under his breath and joined his friend on the piano bench. Jonta pursed his lips as his personal space was invaded. The bench wasn’t very large, and Evan had long since grown taller than any of the Thoullan children on the estate, and most of the adults as well. It wouldn’t be long before he towerered over every inhabitant of the Feole estate. It was just another reminder for the three- Jonta, Kels, and Evan- of how different they really were.

“I know, sorry.” Evan said, although he didn’t look very sorry at all. “What are you working on now?” The taller boy reached up to grab the music off of the piano, and Jonta caught himself staring, watching as Evan studied the music with a look of quiet concentration. It was the same expression he wore when he was working on sorting out some complicated strategic maneuver; Kels would often quiz him on combat situations that her tutors presented her with, and wait while he almost immediately produced the simplest and most efficient resolution to the problem.

But Jonta would never notice something like that. Of course not.