The first frost of winter settled over Crestwood High, dusting the world in a fragile white hush.
The air was crisp, and the days were shorter, golden afternoons giving way to early twilight.
Selene could feel the shift not just in the seasons but within herself—something stirring,
something uncertain.
She told herself she wouldn't go through with it. The winter concert was a foolish idea. Lila had
been too eager, too hopeful, as if Selene was someone brave enough to stand on a stage.
But despite herself, the thought lingered.
And in the quiet of the music room, when it was just her and the piano, she could almost
imagine it. ---
The school hallways were noisier than usual as the excitement for winter break loomed.
Students whispered about upcoming holiday plans, rushed to finish assignments, and clustered
in groups that Selene had no part in. It was the same as always—except it wasn't.
Because for the first time in years, she wasn't completely alone.
Lila had wormed her way into her world, and with her came the others. It was slow, cautious,
like the first tentative notes of a melody searching for harmony.
There was Noah, the quiet guitarist with an old soul who always had his fingers tapping out a
rhythm against his knee. Then Mira, the poet with wild curls and ink-stained hands who could
turn even the simplest phrase into something profound. Theo, all boundless energy and
mischievous smiles, played the violin with an intensity that belied his easygoing nature. And
there was Ava, the pianist who was everything Selene wasn't—bold, confident, unafraid.
They were Lila's friends, but they didn't push Selene away.
She wasn't sure what to do with that. ---
One evening, as they sat in the music room, Lila stretched out on the floor, her sketchpad
abandoned beside her.
"You should come to practice," she said, staring up at the ceiling.
Selene frowned, shifting her fingers over the piano keys. "Practice for what?"
"The concert," Lila said as if it were obvious.
Selene tensed. "I didn't say I was doing it."
Lila rolled onto her side, propping herself up on one elbow. "No, but you also didn't say no."
Selene exhaled sharply. "I just… I don't think I can."
Lila watched her for a moment, something unreadable in her expression. Then, with a small
smile, she said, "Okay."
And that was it.
No pushing. No pleading. Just patience.
But Selene could feel the words settling into her skin, lingering long after the conversation
ended. ---
The First Step
It happened without her realizing it.
One afternoon, Lila mentioned a rehearsal, a casual invitation that wasn't an invitation at all.
Selene wasn't sure why she followed her, but she did. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was
something else.
The music room wasn't empty this time. The others were there, instruments in hand, their
laughter filling the space. The air buzzed with an energy Selene didn't understand.
"Selene," Noah greeted, adjusting the strap of his guitar. "You play, right?"
Selene hesitated, glancing at Lila, who gave her an encouraging nod.
"I—yeah," she admitted.
"Cool," Noah said easily. "What kind of stuff do you like?"
She wasn't sure how to answer. It wasn't like she had a playlist of favorite songs. She just…
played.
Ava leaned against the piano, arms crossed. "Are you actually joining, or did Lila drag you here
under false pretenses?"
Selene felt her stomach twist. She shouldn't have come. This wasn't her space.
"I—"
"She's just checking it out," Lila interjected smoothly. "No pressure."
Ava studied her for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough."
Then, as if nothing had happened, the rehearsal continued.
Selene stayed in the corner, silent, watching as they played. They were messy and chaotic,
laughter bleeding into missed notes, but there was something magnetic about it.
For the first time, Selene wondered what it would be like to be part of it. ---
Collisions
The next few weeks were a delicate balance of hesitation and curiosity.
She never officially agreed to join, but she started staying longer, lingering after school, fingers
idly drifting over the keys while the others played. She didn't think anyone noticed.
But Ava did.
One afternoon, when the others had left, Ava approached her.
"You don't have to be scared, you know."
Selene bristled. "I'm not scared."
Ava raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips. "Sure."
Selene's jaw tightened. She didn't like Ava. She was too confident, too blunt, too unafraid of
saying what she thought.
"You're talented," Ava continued, resting a hand on the piano. "But talent means nothing if you
don't use it."
Selene stared at her, the words stinging more than they should have.
"You think I don't want to?" she asked before she could stop herself.
Ava's gaze softened, just a little. "I think you're afraid of being seen."
Selene had no response to that.
Ava shrugged. "Just… think about it."
She left before Selene could figure out how she felt. ---
Breaking Point
It happened during a rehearsal.
A piece of the song fell apart, a missing chord, a hesitation in timing. Ava sighed, rubbing her
temples.
"We need a pianist," she said bluntly. "We can't keep playing around this gap."
The room was quiet.
Selene felt the weight of their stares.
Lila spoke first. "Selene knows the part."
All eyes turned to her.
Her pulse pounded.
"I—"
"You don't have to," Lila said softly.
But Selene wasn't sure she could back out now.
Ava crossed her arms. "Prove me wrong, then."
Selene's hands curled into fists.
She hated being challenged.
And maybe that was why she moved, why she sat at the piano, heart hammering in her chest.
She played.
It wasn't perfect. Her fingers trembled. But the moment the notes filled the air, something clicked
into place.
It was different than playing alone. The music was alive, shifting with the others, weaving into
something bigger than herself.
And when it ended, the room was silent.
Then Theo whooped. "Hell yeah!"
Ava smirked. "Took you long enough."
Selene exhaled.
Maybe this wasn't so bad after all. ---
A New Beginning
The winter concert loomed, a storm on the horizon.
Selene wasn't sure she was ready.
But when she sat at the piano, surrounded by people who had somehow become friends, she
thought—maybe she didn't have to be.
For the first time, she wasn't alone in the music.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.