Page 79 of Crescendo

“I think you will. And the important part is knowing that you want it, for yourself.”

I settled in at the grand piano again, its polished surfaces gleaming in the light. I did want it for myself. I wasn’t sure I was ready to admit that to anyone else, but a tiny voice inside of me—one hidden behind all of the doubt and the reasons I didn’t deserve it and shouldn’t even try to get it—wanted it. For Callum, but for me too. Lydia had been played at the Royal Albert Hall, her music, beautiful and moving and seminal, had filled that space and, for the length of her songs, owned that room entirely. I wanted to know what it would be like to be there alongside her, to have a little piece of that magic, and to know I’d done something right in this whole thing.

Clara grinned at me and gestured for me to play. So I did. As easily as breathing.

The emotions swirled around inside of me, violent, jarring,alive,and I played what I had so far. It felt so different these days. Encouraged by Lydia and inspired by the way she heard music and simply knew what else it needed to fill it in, I didn’t stress about the rules so much, didn’t stress about technical perfection on the first few runthroughs. I just… felt my feelings and played.

When I finished, tears were filling my eyes again, my heart aching in my chest.

“Wow,” Clara breathed, sniffling and attempting to swipe subtly at her own eyes. It hadn’t occurred to me that I could play something that made other people cry—outside of Lydia at least—and I knew Clara wouldn’t appreciate me commenting on it. “I think you’re going to win.”

“I don’t know about that,” I laughed, running a hand over my hair.

“I do. You and Lydia are just like each other.”

My body tingled at the comparison. “How so?”

She shook her head. “It’s like you breathe this stuff, like you’re having a conversation with each other that’s so muchbigger than the rest of the world can hear.” She looked at me. “You’re a great composer, Ella. Don’t let anyone tell you any different—even yourself.”

“Ah. Um. Well, I’ve got nothing on Lydia. She’s incredible.”

“I do so love walking into a room to find people are already complimenting me,” Lydia said with a laugh as she slipped through the door and joined us.

The sight of her was like someone finally unlatched the vise that wrapped around my chest. I knew that was too much for the limited time we had together, but we were in this thing and whatever pain was waiting for me at the end of Crescendo, having her look at me like the whole world was slotting into place made it worthwhile.

“Have you told Ella that her piece is spectacular?” Lydia asked Clara as she moved to stand behind me at the piano bench, her hands coming down to rest on my shoulders, her front warm against my back.

Clara shot her a pointed look. “I have told her that. She knows we’re all hoping she wins this competition.”

“Too right we are. She’s beating Eliza and that’s that.”

I laughed. “Eliza’s been at this a lot longer than I have.”

“Hey, if she wanted us to cheer for her, she needed to be nicer. You’re talentedandlovely, so you win.” Lydia leaned in to press a kiss to the top of my head and my stomach jolted pleasantly. It was quite a bit more intimate than she usually behaved around our friends. I hoped she wouldn’t regret it too much later.

Clara hummed in amusement. “Well, I have to get to my own composition, so I’ll leave you and yourtalented, lovelyfriendto it, shall I?”

“I feel like you’re talking to Lydia,” I said, “but she’s definitely the talented, lovely one.”

Clara rolled her eyes, fully recovered from the earlier emotion and back to her usual self. “You two are ridiculous. I’ll see you later for movie night.”

We bid her farewell and, once we were alone, Lydia settled onto the bench with me, pressed tight against my side, one arm wrapped around my body, her fingers gripping my hip to hold her in place. “Do you want to play for me?”

I turned to her. She was so painfully pretty. Her skin clear and luminous from that California sun, her eyes piercing, and her soft lips spread into the perfect smile.

“No,” I murmured. “I want to take you somewhere.”

Her eyes went wide. “Oh, yes?”

“Yeah.” My heart pounded in my chest. Was I ready yet? I wasn’t sure, but I wanted to be, and maybe that was the most important part.

Besides, I wanted to do this for her. She deserved it.

I stood up, taking her hand and pulling her with me.

Lydia let out a startled sound. “Not that I’m against a beautiful woman pulling me off to wherever she wants me, but are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Hm. No. Not yet.”

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