Chapter 15
A Note Between Hearts
It was a quiet Friday afternoon, and the music room smelled faintly of varnish and warm sunlight filtering through frosted windows. Sophie unpacked her violin, glancing at Ethan, who was setting up his drum kit with a careful focus she had never seen before.
“Ready to nail this?” he asked, smiling.
“Always,” Sophie replied, though her heart was already racing.
They started their duet, letting the music guide them. The melodies intertwined effortlessly, and Sophie noticed Ethan watching her more than usual — not just for rhythm, but as if he were memorizing every detail of her expression.
As they moved into the slower section, Sophie hesitated at a tricky note. Ethan leaned closer, his hand brushing hers ever so slightly as he pointed to the sheet music.
Sophie felt her cheeks flush. The brush of his fingers was electric, sending a thrill through her she couldn’t explain. She nodded, heart hammering, and played the note perfectly.
“That was… amazing,” Ethan whispered when the section ended, his voice low and warm.
Sophie swallowed, trying to steady her voice. “We’re doing amazing.”
For a long moment, neither moved. They were close enough that Sophie could see the faint snowflakes stuck in Ethan’s hair from their walk earlier in the week. He reached out, gently tucking a loose strand behind her ear. Sophie’s breath caught.
“I… I like this,” Ethan said softly, voice almost a whisper. “Not just the music.”
Sophie’s fingers trembled slightly on her bow. “Me too,” she admitted, her voice barely audible.
They leaned a little closer, the warmth between them growing. For a heartbeat, the world outside faded — the snow, the school, the upcoming showcase — nothing mattered but the two of them and the music they created together.
Then the moment was broken by a clumsy knock on the music room door. Both jumped, laughing nervously, hearts still racing.
“Guess we’ll have to save the rest for later,” Ethan said, grinning, though his eyes lingered on her longer than necessary.
Sophie packed her violin with a smile, cheeks still pink. Winter in Crestwood had brought more than snow and melodies — it had brought the first whispers of a love neither of them could ignore.