Rebecca

Surprisingly, Mom is happy that Emily is my new friend. She doesn't make any new rules or curfews, and instead tells me to have fun at the library. I didn't know my mom knew what fun was.

Emily says that she has midterms coming up at school, so she won't be able to come to the library everyday. But most days, she's there. And I sit in the room and she plays her violin, or we just talk. 

"My dad has been so annoying lately," says Emily one evening. Mom bought me a new sweater, and I run my hands over the itchy material. The room is warm and quiet, and Emily plucks at her violin softly.

"Why?" I ask.

She sighs. "I don't know. Always working late, and then he gets home and he's so temperamental. Sometimes, I think he'd rather I live with my mom in California."

"California?"

"That'd never really happen, though. She's too busy. With work and stuff, I mean." I hear her hand run along the soft carpet, hear the breaths that exhale through her nose. She smells faintly like cinnamon. 

"That sucks," I say. 

"Yeah, well, whatever." Emily plays a few notes, the crystal clear sound encompassing the small study room, and I breathe them in. 

She clears her throat and the music stops. "Hey, Rebecca?"

"Yeah?"

"I haven't told anyone this, but I applied for a music school in the city."

My jaw drops. "Emily! That's amazing!"

"No, it's not. I have to audition for a panel in a few weeks. I can't..." she pauses. "You know I'm bad at playing in front of other people."

"You can play in front of me."

"Yeah, but it's not the same."

"Well, why don't we practice now? Play for Mrs. Summers or something."

"No!" her voice tightens, and she breathes sharply. "I mean -"

"Emily, c'mon. You can do it. It's just Mrs. Summers. She won't care if you mess up."

"Yeah, but..." I hear Emily stand up and pace the room, her shoes sinking in the carpet. "Do you think I should?"

"Yeah! Just do it. It'll make the audition easier."

"I don't know..."

I reach out and grab my cane that I leaned against the wall, run my fingers over the smooth plastic. "Let's go find her."

"Rebecca - whoa, whoa, slow down, I need to process this."

I smile. "Em."

"Becca."

"Bring your violin. This will be fun! You're such an amazing violinist. Think of this as a practice audition."

Emily breathes deeply. "Okay."

"Okay! Let's go."

We step out of the study room, Emily at my side, and head downstairs to Mrs. Summers desk. I run my hands over the spines of books as we walk through narrow bookshelves, run my fingers over the stairwell railing, breathe in the comforting scent of vanilla and old books. 

I hear a few people murmuring around us, the sniffs of colds and the clearing of throats, but I don't think the library is too busy right now. Emily bounces on her toes beside me, her breathing deep and unsteady.

"You can do this," I whisper as we near Mrs. Summer's desk. "Hello, Mrs. Summers!"

"Hi, girls!" I hear the smile in her voice. She smells like chocolate covered almonds. "How are you today?"

"We're doing great," I say. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and smile at Mrs. Summers. 

"Have you finished the audiobook, Rebecca?"

"Not quite yet. Almost done with it."

"Fabulous, just fabulous!" Mrs. Summers types something quickly on her computer. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Emily inhales sharply beside me. "Yes," I say. "Emily was wondering if she could play her piece for you. It sounds amazing."

"It's not amazing," Emily says quickly. "I'll probably mess up. I just would like some practice, you know, playing in front of other people, besides Rebecca I mean -"

"Of course!" says Mrs. Summers excitedly. "I would love to hear you play, Emily!"

Emily shifts her weight from one foot to the next, clearing her throat. "Okay, let's go back to the study room -"

"No, no, it's fine! Why don't you just play here?"

"In the middle of the library?" Fear weaves through Emily's voice.

"Well, there are only a few other people in here right now. Besides, it's classical music. See, look, that nice young man sitting over there is nodding at us. Hello, Jonathan! Everyone would love to hear you play."

 Emily takes a few shaky breaths and I nudge her arm. "You can do this," I say quietly.

"I don't know," she whispers. 

"Yes, you can."

The front doors to the library swing open and shut and cold air washes in. I breathe in and lean against Mrs. Summers desk as Emily runs her bow softly against the same note a few times.

"Are you ready?" Emily asks quietly, her voice only slightly shaky. "I don't - I'm probably going to mess up, so don't expect anything amazing."

"Of course, no pressure!" says Mrs. Summers kindly, and I smile.

Emily takes a deep breath, puts the bow to her violin, and plays the first note. Then the second.