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❛ ᴏᴄᴇᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ sᴛᴀᴛᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɪᴏɴs ꒱　


❝ IT'S LIKE WE'RE BACK
IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AGAIN ❞

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"It's been awhile since I've seen you down here, Gollum."

Juliet smiled at the sound of her friend's familiar voice and turned to see him leaving the orchestra room. "Hi, Kendrick. What's new?"

"Not much," he said with a shrug as he joined her. "What's new with you?"

"Nothing with me, but one of my teachers is getting married this weekend," she answered as they began to walk down the hall. "I haven't been practicing as much since the school year's almost over and I didn't make orchestra this semester. I've been thinking about playing at the wedding, though."

"I think that's a great idea," he offered supportively. "Have any of your friends heard you play?"

"No, only my mom and dad."

"I bet you're looking forward to that, then."

The redhead's expression became nervous. "Well, not really. I've discovered that I have a bit of stage shyness. I mean, the only reason why I was able to sing with you at the karaoke was because I wasn't alone. But when we went to the poetry reading I thought I was going to puke."

His nose wrinkled. "Thanks for that pleasant image, Gollum. I'm sure you'll do wonderfully. Besides, they're your friends and family; they're not gonna give you a hard time if you mess up. And here's a tip: hardly anyone can tell anyway."

"I know," she murmured. "But I've known Mr. Feeny for so long that I'd want to do any song I play justice, especially the traditional wedding march. I'd be so embarrassed if I did mess up."

"So you're obsessively practicing again?" Kendrick teased her as they reached the stairs.

She huffed. "I'm not obsessive—" She sighed. "Okay, maybe I am."

"At least you can admit it."

Juliet stuck her tongue out at him as they made it to the first floor. "See you later, Kenny."

"I thought I warned you about using that?" he asked pointedly.

"Yes, but you insist on continuing to call me Gollum. Which one is less flattering?" 

"Perhaps you make a good argument," he conceded. "But I do happen to think I'm very creative. If it makes you feel better, though, maybe I'll use Firecracker more often."

"That would make me feel better," she retorted lightly. "So, I'll see you around, Not-Kenny."

"See you around, Firecracker."

🌎🌎🌎

Nervously, Juliet knocked on Mr. Feeny's office door the following Thursday. She had stalled in asking him due to her anxiety about the proposition and now it might be too late. After he'd answered, she entered. "Hi, Mr. Feeny."

"Miss Capelwood, this is a nice surprise," he said as he looked up from the papers he was grading. "What can I do for you?"

Instead of sitting like she normally would have, the redhead lingered by the door with an apprehensive air. Her teacher immediately picked up on it as she spoke: "um, it's actually what I can do for you."

"Oh? And what would you like to offer?"

She cleared her throat uncomfortably as her fingers wound themselves into the hem of her shirt. "I, er, have. . . sort of recently picked up a new hobby. The, um, Violin. I've gotten pretty good at it but I haven't played in front of anyone except my parents yet. I totally understand if you say no, but I was wondering if you'd like me to play at your wedding? I mean, I know organs are traditional but everybody likes live music, though I don't know if I'd be any good—"

As the girl continued to ramble, the older man's expression softened as he became touched by her request. Like the Matthews and Shawn, he'd always seen her as a pseudo-grandchild because he'd known her for so long. It was obvious by her proposal that she regarded him with equal respect. Eventually, her words trailed off, allowing him to reply: "we would be honored to have you, Miss Capelwood. If I had known you'd picked up an instrument we would have come to you first."

Pleased, Juliet felt her worry abate (at least for the time being.) "Thank you, Mr. Feeny. Would-would you like me to play anything else besides the wedding march?"

He gave her a curious look. "Did you have another song in mind?"

🌎🌎🌎

When they arrived at the Matthews' home, Juliet gave Shawn a stern look. "Don't you get emotional on me, got it? We came here as friends."

"I know, I know," he said as he held up his hands. "You've already reminded me three times in the car. It's like we're back in middle school again."

She rolled her eyes at his complaining. "Alright, I'm just making sure. It is a wedding after all and you're the cheesiest, sappiest person I know."

He stared at her with offence. "Cheesy? Sappy? You're not talking about anything that describes me." His gaze fell on the stairs as Cory's sister came down them. "Aww, Morgan's the flower girl. Gimme kissy."

"No," the redhead replied flatly. She didn't allow him to respond as she made her way over to the corner where the desk sat. The redhead placed her Violin case on the table and opened it to position it correctly. She'd had the foresight to tune it before she'd left for the wedding so she waited for the Minister's nod before she began.

Even though she could feel the weight of some stares on her, most of the audience was paying attention to the Dean, who was following Morgan's path to the aisle. Juliet let the music fade out at the end of the song, perfectly timed with the bride meeting her soon-to-be husband at the altar. The Minister began to speak: "we are gathered here today to join this couple in holy matrimony which is an honorable estate. George and Lila have chosen to express their love in their own words."

Mr. Feeny went first. "Quietly, I have searched for love for much of my life and now that I begin this marriage of our spirits I am incredibly lucky to have found it."

"My only sadness is that I found you so late in life," the Dean replied, "that we've lived our lives spending more days apart than together."

"But you've given me your love and friendship and I promise I'll make up for the lost time."

"For marriage is based on those things but friendship most of all."

When they finished, the Minister continued: "do you, George Feeny, take Lila Bolander as your lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold, until death do you part?"

"I do."

"And you, Lila Bolander, take George Feeny as your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, until death do you part?"

"I do," she answered.

"With the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

As Mr. Feeny and Dean Bolander kissed for the first time as a married couple, Juliet began to play the second song she'd recommended for the wedding: a Shaker hymn called Simple Gifts. It had a sweeping melody and lyrics that fit the ceremony well. While she played, she remained oblivious to Shawn's attention that was focused solely on her. His were eyes wide and his mouth was slightly parted as he listened to what she could do for the first time.

Although he'd known that she could play an instrument, of course, it was very different than actually hearing it. He couldn't have hidden the admiring look he gave her even if he'd tried, in awe of her skill (the fact that she was just a beginner was hardly detrimental in his opinion.)

"Hey, man, you're staring," Jack said. He joined his brother on the stair landing to make the comment.

"Have you ever seen anything more beautiful than a woman playing a Violin?" Shawn breathed out in response.  

A/n: The song I linked above is the departing music Juliet played at the wedding. Another variation of it, Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland, is quite possibly my favorite piece to play on my flute! (and here's a sneak peek: Simple Gifts is the name of a future work I'm planning!) 

[written oct. 2021]
[edited jun. 2022]