| Concerto He had been hunched over the baby grand for hours now. Justin leaned against the doorjamb and drank his coffee, just watching his lover. He loved how his dark hair fell slightly over his forehead after a long day. He loved how he dressed nicely, even though he had been in the same place since early morning. He loved the ink that stained his fingers. Justin had laughed at him, *Just use the keyboard, or the clavinova! Welcome to the 21st century babe.* But watching this process, as his love sat amongst strewn sheet music, covered in ink blobs, Justin was taken back in time. He imagined that he was watching Chopin or Stravinsky at work. He watched as the older mans long slim fingers flew effortlessly over the keys, pausing to write down something or scribble something out. The man chewed his lip in thought, before heaving a sigh and resting his forehead against the music. Justin sat his mug down and walked up behind his lover, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and resting his chin on the other man's head. He slowly inhaled the unique smell, hair gel and shampoo, slightly mingled with aftershave. It was a clean masculine scent. It filled his senses and brought on a smile. The man in Justin's arms sighed, leaning back against his young lover's chest. "I just can't get it Jus. Maybe I am not meant to do this." Justin planted a kiss in the dark waves. His hands moved to rest on the other man's shoulder and slid down his arms to the hands, their fingers intertwining. "Do you see these hands? I adore these hands." Justin pulled one up to his lips, touching the fingertips softly, then gently kissing the wrist. "Your music is beautiful because it comes from you. Play me what you have? Please?" The older man looked at his lover, smiling at the twinkling blue eyes and disheveled curls. He pulled his music together and began to play as Justin sat on the ottoman to the side. The music flowed from his fingers to the keys. His body swayed to the sound, his brow wrinkling and eyes wrenching shut to convey the raw emotion of the piece. The soft refrain filled the house, building in intensity to a mighty crescendo, then retreating, into a sweet lyric melody. It trailed into nothing as the player looked at Justin expectantly. "Well?" His eyes were down turned. He had never played this for a soul, so this was a big step. Justin didn't answer right away but soon a small, shivery sniffle escaped him. Tears coursed down his face. He was overcome by the music. "That was incredible. You are so talented. God, I am a lucky man." The pianist took Justin in his arms and held him, kissing away the tears. "No," he whispered, "I am the lucky one." ************************************** The piece, Discovery, was released on a special collectors CD for the Justin Timberlake Foundation/VH1 Save the Music collaboration. Each artist was invited to write their thank yous... "Thank you first to God, for setting me on a path as beautiful as music. And for allowing me to find an equally beautiful one in love. To my family, my friends, my "brothers" and especially my heart, my joy, my dream. You are my muse, you make my soul sing. Thank you for blessing my life. I love you J." J.C. Chasez |