"ACHOO!"
Alva caught her handkerchief to her nose and sniffled. She reached her other hand to adjust her pillow, sitting more uprightly in bed. She breathed a heavy sigh and wondered how many days it's been since she caught this awful flu. Days? It's probably been more than a week. She was getting bored of being locked up for so long. It was her decision to stay in isolation though, and for good reason; if she came as much as one inch near one child in the classroom, it would surely spread to that child, and then to the next, and then to all the other children of Smeernsburg, and that would be it for the remainder of the school year. No, it wasn't worth it.
She glanced to her bedside table piled up with 'Get Well Soon' cards. She smiled gratefully at them. Her students have been so thoughtful, sending her cards, flowers, and even stews made by their mothers. Jesper had delivered these items over the past days, and Alva was careful not to get too close to him as he handed them to her. Jesper thought she was making too big a deal out of it, saying it surely wouldn't hurt if they went out for a walk, or sat together and shared a cup of cocoa, but Alva wasn't willing to risk it. She didn't want him to feel as achy and sniffly as she did. Besides, the children were at the post office almost every day. If Jesper caught it, then all her efforts to keep away from them would be wasted.
Still, she was tired of being secluded for such a long time. What was it now? Was it still March? She wasn't sure anymore. The worst was over though. It would only be a couple more days until she was fit as a fiddle and can go back to teaching, spending time with Jesper, and visiting Klaus. For now, her only company were her books. Alva looked back at the book in her lap. She thought reading her favourite book would take her mind off it. However, finding she could hardly focus, staring at one page for hours and rereading the same paragraph over and over again; she resolved to read a book she knew she woudn't like, seeing as she was going to have a miserable time anyway. It was a book a well-read person like her should have read a long time ago: Romeo and Juliet by the famous William Shakespeare. Knowing it was a romantic tragedy, she was sure she wouldn't enjoy it. There were some witty lines here and there, but the lengthy declarations of love only made her nod off sleepily all the more.
A rattle startled her. Alva froze and listened. The noise didn't sound like it came from downstairs. That better not be a rat in her room! She was not ready for a late-night combat.
She heard it again. It sounded like it came from the window. Alva got up, her book at the ready in case she needed to fend herself against any rodents. She quickly drew the curtains, and to her relief there was nothing on the window sill, but she panicked when she saw Jesper outside about to throw a large stone towards her.
"Are you trying to break my window?!" Alva shouted, opening the glass hastily.
"You sound well." Jesper smiled in amusement.
"I'm better." Alva said hoarsely, realizing she had strained her voice after shouting so loudly. She cleared her throat and drew a deep breath, regaining her composure. "What are you doing out here so late, anyway?"
"I wanted to show you what my dad sent me today!" Jesper grinned and waved his hand excitedly, reaching for a dark case on the ground next to him.
Alva squinted, making out the object's shape in the dim glow of the streetlights.
"Your violin?" She asked.
"Uh-huh," Jesper nodded and opened the case. Alva knew he played, but she had never heard him play; his instrument practically an ocean away. After admiring them for a moment, Jesper held out his violin and bow to show her. He looked as excited as the children of Smeernsburg showing her their Christmas presents.
"I figured," Jesper started, "since you've been feeling down with this cold lately, and you're refusing to come out-"
"For your own good!" Alva frowned.
"Right, of course," Jesper smiled and shrugged, "I thought," he grinned, "I could play you your favourite song to cheer you up!"
"My favourite?" Alva crinkled her nose, wondering which song Jesper meant. She liked many songs, but she couldn't particularly think of one that was her favourite.
"Yup!" Jesper said confidently, "I just need to tune this thing first." Alva watched as he turned and twisted the violin's knobs. She shook her head and sniffled when a chilly wind hit her. Was Jesper really going to stand out there in the cold night air, playing her favourite song - whatever that was - just to make her feel better? She hugged her book, tapping her fingers on it uneasily. A few minutes ago, she was rolling her eyes at the two lovers in her book meeting at the balcony, declaring long, sweet, poetic speeches, and yet, here she was standing at her window, about to be serenaded. She felt her cheeks grow warm and shuddered at the strangeness of all this. A thought struck her, and she looked towards the street, scanning it.
"Y-You know if Mogens sees you, you will never hear the end of it." Alva said huskily.
Jesper scoffed. "Let him!" He shrugged, busily tuning away at his instrument.
Alva raised an eyebrow at this newfound nonchalance. Jesper was always wary of Mogens, cautiously evading any situation that might entice sarcastic comments from the ferryman. This was so unlike him. Alva felt lightheaded. She wouldn't be surprised if within the next seconds she heard a thud and opened her eyes to her bedroom floor; all traces of this surreal dream merely a blur.
Jesper positioned the instrument between his shoulder and his arm, striking a few long chords. "Just testing," he smiled. "You'll have to excuse me. I'm a bit rusty, you know." She nodded, encouraging him to go on. He played another chord and, displaying a bit more confidence, he cleared his throat and announced: "Presenting: Miss Alva's favourite piece!"
Alva leaned in anticipation. She grasped her book tighter and held her breath. A soft breeze blew as Jesper set his bow carefully over the strings and played:
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five quick, smooth notes. They sounded so familiar.
They were followed by seven similar, equally fast notes. Alva closed her eyes, trying hard to recall how she knew this delightful tune by heart, its own strings started strumming along as Jesper played.
Jesper paused and looked up to catch a glimpse of his friend's reaction. He smiled at her focused expression, bit his lips, and continued playing:
One. Two. Three. Four. Five notes. Just like the first five.
Alva's eyes shot open. Five. And Five. Ten…
"Jesper!" She cried in disbelief. She recognized this song! She taught it to her students. The song about numbers and catching fish! "'Once I caught a fish alive!' Seriously? That's my favourite song?!" She shouted, failing to supress a smile.
Jesper broke out in laughter, pointing his violin's bow at her. "Happy 1st of April, Alva!" He grinned triumphantly.
For a moment Alva thought about throwing her book at him, but she decided to let it go. Why did she let it go?
"Well, joke's on you." She held her head up, tossing her long hair behind her with a smirk. He had said he was going to play her favourite song to cheer her up; and that's exactly what he did. "That is my favourite song." At least now it was.
Not as cheesy as you thought it would be now, was it?
Please tell me it gave you a laugh!
Don't violins just make anything sound romantic and grand? There's a violin cover of the song available on YouTube, and it's a duet! Which is kind of what I was going for there if you caught my drift ;D
Inspired by ask_jesper's drawing on Instagram/Tumblr of Jesper playing the violin. I can totally see him playing a violin, but can't see him play anything serious :D And obviously inspired by lockdowns, quarantines, and window/doorstep visits.
I'm no musician, so I apologise for any inaccuracies.
I thought about adding this extended ending:
"Jesper's mouth hung open. His eyebrows rose.
"ACHOO!"
Alva sighed."
but I figured he was already 'defeated.'
Bonus points if you've spotted Lydia. She's in there twice if you read closely, very subtly and playfully nudging Alva to fall for Jesper, as well as helping Jesper - quite literally - play her like a fiddle ;)
Tell me your thoughts, and if you laughed :D