Summary:

To Ilya’s surprise, Shane climbs up onto the quartet’s mini stage and sits down on the chair behind the cello. The other musicians disperse too, taking their rightful places in the semi circle. Shane adjusts his arms and picks up the bow, letting it rest on the body of the instrument. The cello is a little too big for him, but it’s not too difficult to accommodate: he nods, satisfied. They begin. Music fills the area, gentle in its melody. Shane looks a little apprehensive at first, if not nervous, as his arm trails back and forth with the bow, but by a couple lines into the piece, he eases, shoulders unwinding, body swaying loosely. He settles into the music, focus sharpening— it’s clear he has years of experience behind him. “Oh my god,” Ilya says. or: at a gala they’re at, the cello player of the quartet playing live music never shows up. shane fills in for him (now with ch 2: ilya asks shane to play something for him. naturally, shane picks ‘can’t help falling in love’)