It's a beautiful Saturday morning as I pedal my way down the familiar promenade. I smile up at the gray clouds covering the sky and breathe in the city's pollution through my nose.
Although I'm awake right now, a part of me feels like this is nothing but a dream. A beautiful illusion I'm bound to wake up from. That in reality, I didn't blow up the important audition yesterday just so I could be there during Nate's performance.
I shake my head at my absurd thoughts and continue moving down the stone path. I'm tucked so far inside my own bubble of happiness that I almost miss the faint sound of a sweet romantic melody. Instantly my legs begin to move in a faster rhythm, while my heart races in anticipation.
Can it be?
The closer I come, the louder and clearer the sound becomes until I finally lay my eyes on him. On the same spot as so many times before stands a young violinist, who is producing a magical melody with the small wooden instrument.
The corners of my lips tug into an immediate smile when I stop my bike beside the familiar stone bench. A small group is already gathered around him in a semi-circle, but I pay them no mind. As doesn't he.
Nate has his eyes focused straight past them on one person and one person only.
Me.
I slowly slip off my trusty bike and lean it against the side of the bench just as Nate draws his bow one last time against the strings of the violin. The final note hangs in the air for a few heartbeats before the surrounding people burst into a round of applause.
I follow their lead and clap a few times, while keeping my eyes on Nate the entire time. His chestnut orbs leave my nut ones only for a second when he bows to his audience and then puts the violin down inside its case. The moment he straightens back up he moves through the crowd and makes his way over to me.
"Show off." I murmur when he stops beside me. "I thought you were now too proud to play outside on the street. You are, after all, an official member of the city's orchestra."
"That makes no difference when it comes to my girlfriend." He diminished the last step of distance between us. "For her I would play anywhere, any time."
"Oh, really?" I cock my head to the side, unable to keep a grin off my face.
"Really." The moment the last letter leaves his mouth, he leans down and presses his lips against mine.
I ignore the surrounding people and return his kiss.
"After all, it's all because of you." He rests his forehead against mine. "My muse. Without you, I would have never made it."
"Does this mean our daily practices are over now?"
"You don't need to sit in the practice room with me anymore, if that's what you mean. But you still have to spend every afternoon with me."
"Oh? Doing what exactly?"
"I have a few things I can think of." He gives me a deep kiss that has my entire body tingling with anticipation.
"I'm sure you do." I roll my eyes at his smirk and smack him against his jacket. "But I already know what we'll be up to next."
"Is it something similar to mine?" His wraps his arms around my back to prevent me from moving even a step away from him.
"I doubt it." I chuckle at his disappointed pout. "We're now going to teach you how to play just as magically without me in the same room as you. Because I don't plan on spending my entire life glued to your side."
"And whose side do you intend to be glued to instead?" He narrows his eyes and tugs me a little closer.
"My own." I shake my head at his quick flash of jealousy. "Despite being a couple you can't expect me to spend my entire life constantly with you. I have my own life, thank you very much."
"We'll see."
"What do you mean we'll see?" I match his narrowed eyes from before. "There's nothing to see."
Because he remains quiet, I'm about to add something else when the pocket of my jacket begins to vibrate. I squirm out of Nate's hold and reach for my phone. To my surprise I immediately recognize the caller ID.
"Warren?" I lift the phone to my ear.
"Has he told you the good news?" He screeches into the phone.
"I was there yesterday." I roll my eyes.
"Not his performance. I mean your part as a presenter."
"Presenter?" I look up at Nate, who averts his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"Your new boyfriend apparently convinced one of his teacher that you would be the perfect presenter for their next college performance. Something to do with the teacher owing you for the way you saved the day during the annual performance."
"Owe me?" I keep my eyes on Nate, who is still looking at anything other than me.
"That's what Penny told me. Apparently—" His words are cut off and instead the sound of shuffling fills my ear.
"Warren?"
"I'm sorry, but Warren can't come the phone right now," Penny says from the other side of the call. "Tell Nate Warren's sorry for spilling the truth before he had a chance to himself. And you, don't be angry with him. He already feels guilty enough that you missed your audition because of him."
Before I can say anything in reply, the line goes dead. I don't even try to see if either of them is still there and instead lower my phone.
"What did you do?" I ask Nate.
With a loud sigh he finally turns his eyes back to me. "I may have cashed in a favor with Mr. Young for you to be the presenter during the college's next scheduled performance."
"I don't need—" I stop myself when I catch the way he averts his eyes again and how his arms lower down to his sides. "Thank you."
His eyes instantly snap back to mine and the moment I catch the hopeful glint in them I know I made the right choice. Despite how uneasy it made me feel knowing that I got the part because of his influence, I decide to accept the opportunity. But at the same time I promise myself to do one heck of a job, which would leave no doubt to why I was chosen as a presenter.
"Are you really thankful?"
"I am." I nod and hook my hand around his. "I'm grateful for the opportunity."
"I was afraid you'll get angry, so thank you." His smile returns, and he once again pulls me close to him. "You'll do an amazing job."
"You can be sure of that." I smile back up at him. "I'm going to show everyone that I'll make one hell of a presenter."
This is, after all, something I want to do for the rest of my life.
My passion.
THE END
***
Hi!
Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to read this story. While I know it isn't my usual kind of supernatural romance, I really wanted to give it a try. I first got the idea for the story back when I was writing Red Moon (second story in my previous series called Colors of the Moon), and now I can't express how happy I am to have finally put it onto paper (into a word document to be more exact).
Anyway, thank you again for reading my work and I hope to see you again in any of my future stories :)
As always I would like to take this opportunity to thank my sister @Lilydpete for editing yet another one of my stories. She also finally caved in to all of my nagging and created her own Wattpad account. So, if any of you find yourself in need of someone to proofread your stories, feel free to message her. I swear she's even nicer than I am.
For the last time in this story, please, remember to vote and comment if you like the chapter.
Much love
-E