Neighbour

44.

"How are you feeling? Ready?" Eddy asked his neighbour - or, well, roommate - as they got their shoes on. By the door stood two violin cases, neither belonging to Brett. He would be using one of them today, though.

"Nervous," Brett admitted a bit quietly as he finished the knot on his shoelaces and stood up. He took a deep breath. "But it's fine, really. I'm grateful they let me keep my job despite not working for weeks."

"I think it would be pretty shitty of them if they didn't," Eddy said honestly. It was easy to tell how nervous Brett was about this, and he understood why. He knew there would likely be questions waiting for him. Why had he been away? Why had Mike told them he was in a car accident?

"Guess so, yeah," Brett nodded, combing his fingers through his bangs to push them out of his face. "I've missed playing, though. It'll be good to get back to it properly."

"It will be. And honestly, I'm happy they're willing to give me another chance too," Eddy said, opening the door for the both of them and stepping out, shielding the view to Brett's apartment door with his body. He had gotten into the habit of doing that every time they went out together, knowing just the sight of the familiar door put a dent in Brett's control over his anxiety.

"Why wouldn't they? None of it was your fault," Brett said gently, going to press the elevator button. "Besides, the jury was super impressed with your audition. They even said they'd consider offering you a position in the orchestra."

Both of them paused and looked at each other as Brett realized he had said something he wasn't supposed to tell anyone. His eyes widened.
"I uh... I mean..." he stuttered, but Eddy spoke before he could continue.

"What?? For real life?" Eddy asked, feeling his heart beating out of his chest. "Naahhh, you're joking. Nope, nope, nope. I'm nowhere near good enough for that, right? I'm just some nobody, average violin teacher..."

"You play really well, you know. And you nailed that audition... But I wasn't really supposed to tell you that..." Brett said, stepping onto the elevator when it dinged and opened the door. Eddy followed him, though he felt somewhat dizzy. A good dizzy, though.

"I figured the audition went well, but... THAT well? Nah," Eddy said, shaking his head. "You sure you're not just flattering me? I mean..."

"No, no, they genuinely said that. But god, please don't tell them I told you. I wasn't supposed to," Brett said softly, running his fingers through his bangs again. "They were gonna consider it after the project, if you worked well with the other musicians and fit in with the work culture and all."

Eddy pressed the button to go down to the parking garage, and felt the elevator move. His stomach was filled with excited butterflies at the prospect of a proper, full time orchestra job. It had been what he was working towards his whole career!

"Hopefully they haven't gotten too bad of an impression, with me just randomly disappearing off work right before the concert and all, then," he said on a slow exhale.

"I hope not. It'd be awesome to work with you full time," Brett said gently with a small smile. Eddy loved the thought of that as well.