Unspoken Chords

A week after the showcase, Alexandra and Elise found themselves back in the studio, fine-tuning the songs they’d performed to such acclaim. The session had stretched late into the evening, the warm glow of the studio lights softening the lines of exhaustion etched on their faces. Vanessa had left hours ago, leaving the two of them alone to experiment and perfect their sound.

Elise plucked a quiet melody on her guitar, her eyes closed as she let the music guide her. Alexandra sat at the keyboard, fingers hovering over the keys as she studied Elise. There was something about the way Elise played—so free, so instinctual—that always left Alexandra in awe. Tonight, it felt even more magnetic.

“Try adding a harmony,” Elise said without opening her eyes. Her voice was soft, almost intimate, like the moment demanded a certain quietude.

Alexandra nodded, letting her fingers find the right notes. The sound bloomed between them, intertwining like threads in a tapestry. The harmony was imperfect, a little raw, but somehow it worked. Alexandra looked up to find Elise watching her now, her expression unreadable.

“What?” Alexandra asked, her cheeks warming under the intensity of Elise’s gaze.

Elise smiled faintly. “Nothing. Just… the way you play. It’s like you’re speaking a language I’m still trying to learn.”

Alexandra’s heart skipped a beat. She looked down at the keys, flustered. “I think you’re better at this language than you give yourself credit for.”

Elise laughed softly, the sound sending a shiver down Alexandra’s spine. “Maybe. But I like the way you speak it.”

The room seemed to grow warmer, the space between them charged with an energy neither of them could name. Alexandra’s hands faltered on the keys, and the music stuttered to a halt. She cleared her throat, suddenly hyperaware of how close they were sitting.

“Do you want to take a break?” Alexandra asked, her voice a little too high.

Elise’s brow furrowed. “Are you okay?”

“Fine,” Alexandra said quickly. Too quickly. “I just… need some air.”

She stood abruptly, nearly knocking over her stool in the process. Elise blinked, startled, but didn’t press her. Alexandra grabbed her jacket and stepped out onto the studio’s small balcony, the cool night air hitting her like a balm. She leaned on the railing, willing her racing heart to calm.

What was wrong with her? It was just Elise. Elise, with her easy grin and messy hair and… those eyes. Alexandra shook her head, trying to dispel the thought. She was being ridiculous. They were friends, collaborators. Nothing more. So why did her chest feel tight whenever Elise looked at her like that?

The door creaked open behind her, and Alexandra stiffened. Elise stepped out, guitar still slung over her shoulder, her expression cautious.

“Hey,” Elise said, her voice low. “You sure you’re okay? You’ve been… I don’t know. Quiet. Distracted.”

Alexandra forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just… tired.”

Elise didn’t look convinced. She joined Alexandra at the railing, the proximity making Alexandra’s heart race again. Elise tilted her head back to gaze at the stars, her face soft in the moonlight.

“It’s funny,” Elise said after a long silence. “The way music connects people. It’s like… we’re speaking to each other without even realizing it.”

Alexandra glanced at her, the words striking a chord deeper than she expected. “Yeah. I guess it is.”

Elise turned to look at her, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. The air between them felt heavy, charged with something unspoken. Alexandra’s breath hitched as she realized just how close they were standing. She could see every detail of Elise’s face—the faint freckles on her nose, the way her lips curved slightly when she smiled.

“Alex,” Elise said softly, her voice almost a whisper.

“Yeah?” Alexandra’s own voice was barely audible, her pulse pounding in her ears.

Elise hesitated, her gaze searching Alexandra’s face. “I… never mind. It’s nothing.”

Before Alexandra could respond, Elise stepped back, breaking the spell. The loss of closeness was almost painful, and Alexandra found herself wishing Elise had stayed. Wishing she had said… something. Anything.

“We should get back to work,” Elise said, her tone light but her movements hurried. She disappeared into the studio, leaving Alexandra alone on the balcony.

Alexandra exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to her chest. Her heart was still racing, and she had no idea why. All she knew was that something had shifted between them tonight, and she wasn’t sure what it meant. Or if she was ready to find out.

Inside the studio, Elise sat on the edge of the couch, strumming aimlessly on her guitar. Her mind was racing, her fingers stumbling over the chords. She’d been about to say something stupid, something that would’ve ruined everything. She didn’t know what had come over her, but standing out there with Alexandra, so close she could feel her warmth… it had been overwhelming.

She shook her head, trying to focus. This was ridiculous. They were friends. Partners. Whatever this… thing was, it would pass. It had to.

Alexandra reentered the room, her expression carefully neutral. Elise forced a smile, gesturing to the keyboard. “Ready to get back to it?”

“Yeah,” Alexandra said, her voice steady but her eyes avoiding Elise’s. “Let’s finish the bridge.”

They worked in near silence, the music filling the space where words couldn’t. And though neither of them spoke of what had happened on the balcony, the unspoken chords lingered, reverberating in their hearts long after the last note had faded.

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