The sterile white walls of the audition room felt like a prison, suffocating Colet. The other violinists, each one a prodigy with nerves of steel, only amplified her self-doubt. As she took her place on the stage, her heart pounded a frantic rhythm against her ribs.
The first movement of the concerto flowed flawlessly. Years of relentless practice had honed her technique to a razor's edge. But as she transitioned to the second movement, a melancholic melody, her fingers faltered. The memory of Maloi, her gentle smile and teasing words, flooded her mind. A discordant note ripped through the room, shattering the spell. Shame burned in her cheeks as she finished the piece, the silence that followed deafening.
Disappointment clouded her vision as she exited the stage. The other violinists, faces etched with a mix of pity and relief, offered hollow condolences. Colet barely acknowledged them, her sole focus on escaping this stifling atmosphere.
She emerged from the building into a world bathed in golden sunlight. The rain had ceased, leaving behind a sparkling city and the faint scent of petrichor. Yet, the world seemed muted, devoid of color. Her dream, so close yet so distant, felt like a cruel joke.
Dejected, Colet found herself drawn back to The Melody Maker. The café, usually bustling with activity, seemed strangely deserted. A note scrawled on the door explained - "Closed for personal reasons. Back soon."
Disappointment gnawed at her. Not only had she failed her audition, but she couldn't even seek solace in Maloi's warm presence. With no other place to go, Colet sank onto a nearby park bench, the violin case a dead weight by her side.
Hours bled into one another, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Just as despair threatened to consume her, a familiar voice broke through the haze.
"Colet?"
Maloi stood before her, her face etched with concern. Relief washed over Colet, so intense it took her breath away. "Maloi," she choked out, her voice thick with emotion.
Maloi knelt beside her, her eyes filled with a gentle understanding. "The audition didn't go well, did it?"
Colet shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. The dam she had so carefully constructed crumbled under Maloi's compassionate gaze. In a torrent of words, Colet confessed everything - the audition, the doubts, and the confusing feelings she couldn't articulate.
Maloi listened patiently, her hand reaching out to rest on Colet's clenched fist. The touch, warm and reassuring, sent a current of electricity through Colet. When Maloi spoke, her voice was soft and soothing.
"Your music... it was beautiful, Col. Even with the mistake. It held something real, something I haven't heard in a long time."
Colet's heart pounded in her chest. Was Maloi reading too much into it? Or was there a flicker of something more in her eyes as well?
"But what about Star Hunt?" Colet whispered, the future suddenly bleaker than ever.
Maloi shrugged, a hint of defiance in her smile. "Maybe your dreams need a little rewiring, Col. Maybe they don't involve stuffy academies and sterile concert halls."
Colet stared at her, the implication hanging heavy in the air. Was Maloi suggesting a different path? A path that might lead somewhere altogether unexpected? With the embers of hope rekindled in her chest, Colet knew one thing for sure - her journey with Maloi had just begun, and the melody playing in her heart was a new composition altogether, filled with both uncertainty and a thrilling sense of possibility.
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MELODY & MAYHEM (Macolet AU)
FanfictionThis story follows Colet, a stoic violinist, and Maloi, a vibrant café owner, as their paths intertwine in a bustling city. A slow burn romance blossoms fueled by stolen glances, whispered secrets, and a shared love for music. But just as their feel...
