Concert

[Four years later: Elise is attending university in California, studying astrophysics]

"You know I don't do concerts," Elise grumbles. "I might as well just stay and finish this multivariable calculus problem."

"Come on," Astrid whines. "We have to go to support Lyon. You promised."

Elise knows. She agreed to this a week ago, for the sole reason of Lyon, their violinist friend, performing at the classical music concert, but she's not going to let Astrid get away with it that easily.

The summertime breeze drifts through their apartment window, refreshing for a warm Californian day. Term is over and Elise normally would've been back in Massachusetts, but she's picked up a research project at the observatory that she'll be working on during the summer.

"Sky-ye." Astrid calls. Elise sighs. Astrid, as always, is as stubborn as she is, but they've gotten along surprisingly well since they'd met their freshman year, and now they're roommates in their off-campus apartment.

Knowing that Astrid isn't going to let her finish the problem she's working on, she sets down her pencil. "You said there's no dress code for this kind of thing right?"

Astrid grins. "About that…"

~~~~~

Elise has scavenged just about the only dress she owns out of her closet, a modest black dress with no decoration. She put her foot down on makeup, so she's ready to go in a few minutes.

"Astrid, if you aren't done in two minutes I'm going back to calculus!"

"What use is a summer vacation if you're just going to work all the time?"

"What use is a summer vacation if you don't get anything done?"

"To relax. Come on, have fun a little!"

"Calculus is what I consider fun. Not social events or ones involving classical music."

"What, not even if your friends are there?"

"Nope, since I have other perfectly good opportunities to hang out with you guys that don't involve things I don't enjoy."

"Well, too bad, because I'm ready." Astrid emerges from her room, swinging her car keys. "Let's go!"

~~~~~

Elise is proud that she's made it through half the concert already without falling asleep. She supposes that having to listen to Kathryn, who'd picked up piano a few years ago, practicing at home has helped, and applauds with the rest of the audience as the orchestra finishes a piece.

"Next up is an original composition; please welcome piano soloist Aiden Carter."

Elise jolts up. The movement catches Astrid's attention, who whispers, "What?" as the audience applauds.

"Nothing." Elise shakes her head. She must've misheard. It was probably Aiden Lipton or something. Or maybe a different Aiden Carter; that's got to be a pretty common name.

But the figure who comes onto the stage is undeniably Aiden, her Aiden.

This is a performance that Elise would pay attention to if her mind wasn't spinning right now. She and Aiden have grown apart a bit over the past four years, an unfortunate but natural consequence of time and distance. They still talk every so often, but the last time they had called must have been a month ago, and it's incomparable to how they used to text each other for hours on end, daily.

So what in the world is he doing at a concert that's a half-hour drive from her university? How did he come here? Why did he come here? And even if they don't talk as often as they used to, why wouldn't he let her know he was coming?

When the performance ends, Elise finds that she half enjoys the piece, which she reckons is a compliment to how talented Aiden is. Or maybe she's just half delusional at this point.