Author's Note:

Wow it's been... it's been a long time hasn't it. Many things have changed, I'm at a different time in my life and I find myself thinking back to this story. There's so much I want to do with it, so much left unsaid and it would be.. unfair if I just. Dropped it forever. I can't promise I'll finish this in a year, it might just be two. But I'm not giving up on this and.. thank you for everyone who ever wrote me reviews of encouragement. You all are very sweet and the best fans I could ever ask for. Hey maybe I'll write professionally one day, who knows? Hahah anyway! Thank you for being ever so patient.

Also I'm trying out a different format a little okay, bear with me.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, bluh.

It was the middle of October which meant it was time for midterms.

Everyone around campus were wearing scarves or boots and the coffee shop on campus was selling their pumpkin spiced lattes like there was no tomorrow. Eliza delighted in studying on the highest floor of the library, observing students from her vantage point and burying herself in text. She considered herself lucky for not having to focus on general education classes anymore but here she was, books sprawled around her on the desk and she was no further being done with her paper for her chamber music literature class than she was a month ago.

'Get a grip, Liz. Just… finish two pages. Two pages and you can buy yourself a new dress.'

Two hours passed.

"Ugh, this isn't getting any better. Maybe I need to stop trying to study here," she groaned. Her fingers traced lazy circles on a book about Schubert, his face looking up at her from the cover.

It wasn't the paper that was really bothering her but more so the lack of contact she had with one Roderich Edelstein. After the encounter she had witnessed between him and Mr. Bonnefoy, he made sure to keep his distance from her. He wouldn't pick on her for answers during their theory class, he made minimal physical contact with her during their piano lessons, and even though he would respond kindly to her whenever she'd greet him with a "Good morning, Herr Edelstein" and notice the pink on his ears, his smile felt cold and empty. He even showed up to her September chamber group concert and only gave her a nod.

What had she done wrong? Was it her calling him by his first name? Was it the hand she had placed on his shoulder? How could she have offended him so?

These were the questions whispering at the back of her mind every night and she felt confused and ashamed whenever she'd see him. The conflicted emotions felt like they were tainting her crush on him and more than ever, she just wanted to be rid of it.

"Yes, surely... that's what I need. I just need to forget about him like that. Totally."

Her eyes were looking outside across the courtyard, searching for his figure. Elizaveta had learned his schedule by now. It was 3 pm, he'd get out of a meeting in the Arts and Letters department and be heading along right about now.

He cut across the yard, briefcase in hand and a rose in the other.

Heat flooded her face and crept down her neck as she tore her eyes away from him, staring down at Schubert's face.

'Just forget about him.'

"How come I didn't get to meet your little flor?"

"Antonio, please. She is a student and that is not the nature of our relationship. It is purely academic."

"Awe but c'mon, Roderich. Francis made it seem like she really had a thing for you!"

Roderich bit his tongue. Antonio was a tall, olive-skinned man with messy brown hair and beautiful green eyes. Very cheerful, easy going, and popular with everyone. Math teachers would blush when he'd saunter by and his fellow language professors all agreed he had a fantastic backside which Roderich had to agree with because they dated once.

Albeit three years ago but a relationship is a relationship and they remained friends, even if Antonio decided to spend his time nowadays with Francis. The three of them would meet every week in Antonio's office as he was head of the language department, teaching Spanish and Spanish culture and history to the bright young students of tomorrow. Today however, Francis had to forego their meeting, opting instead to wine and dine another lucky member of board of educators.

Antonio waggled his eyebrows, absolutely pleased with the silence Roderich gave him. "A ha! That confirms it! You like her."

"I do not."

"You do," and with this Antonio pulled him in close by his tie. "And you want to make sweet love to her, huh? Listen, if you need me to teach you how to pleasure a woman, I've picked up a few things since we last had s-"

"Antonio." Roderich was seething, a silent but fearsome fire burning in his eyes.

"Alright, alright. I'll drop it," Antonio let him go. "But seriously, perhaps it's time to open yourself up to these opportunities, you know? El amor es importante, even for you."

Roderich sighed, letting himself break his composure if just for a moment. Perhaps the Spaniard was right. He brushed back his hair, catching sight of his watch – 2:54 pm.

"Looks like I will have to dance around this topic another time."

"Lucky you, eh? Haha, be seeing you, my friend." They rose from their chairs and hugged, Antonio leaning in to kiss Roderich's cheek.

"Wait, take this before you go." Antonio plucked a rose from the flowers on his desk; a gift from an admirer, surely.

Roderich raised a brow.

"Just in case you run into her, si?" Antonio offered him the rose, a wide smile gracing his mouth.

"… Thank you." Roderich took the rose and held it delicately, fingers making sure not to crush the stem against his palm.

He left and made his way back to the music building, seeking peace in his office to collect his thoughts and avoid thinking of his green eyed, beautiful flower.

Elizaveta had gathered up her things and shoved them inside her bag, checking out whatever books she needed and resolving to not come back to the library until she was finally done. That would be her motivation. None of this "stalking-your-piano-teacher-from-far-away" nonsense. She had grown out of high school antics long ago.

Still, as she headed back to the music building to get a few hours of practice in, she thought of the rose Professor Edelstein carried. Was it from his lover? Was he going to give it to his lover? Did he even have one?

These were the questions that needed answering.

Maybe she could find a way to ask him after class, if he was up to speaking with her. "Oh, how is Mrs. Edelstein? You mean, you -don't- have a wife? What about a girlfriend?"

Yes, that's how she was going to do it!

Nothing could possibly go wrong with this plan!

Eliza laughed bitterly to herself.

'Fuck, I need a break,' she thought.

She made her way inside the music building, instantly finding comfort from the cool breeze of the afternoon in the sounds of music drifting through the halls. The hunt for an empty practice room would soon begin but first she wanted to make a stop by the vending machine and snag some goldfish crackers.

Someone was kneeling down at the machine, attempting to wiggle their arm up through the disposal slot to snatch a bar of chocolate that got caught in the metal coil on its way out.

They cursed in German, setting the flower they had held out of view gently on their briefcase.

"Professor?"

Professor Edelstein paused, his forearm halfway up the machine and turned his head to look at her.

"Ah, Miss Elizaveta. Er, good afternoon."

"Are you trying to get that candy bar? Really?"

He scoffed at her. "Chocolate and yes. These machines are tricky and I'll have it out in a bit."

"No no, professor. Allow me." Eliza moved forward, leaning down to help him remove his arm from the slot. Roderich rolled his sleeve back down his arm as he watched her study the stuck Hershey's bar.

Eliza giggled to herself. It was simple, really. The machine just needed a good smack in the right place and she knew exactly where to hit it.

She stood up, moved the machine to lean toward the left and hit it on the right side, close to the plastic screen.

The Hershey's bar tumbled down effortlessly and Elizaveta leaned the machine back on its four legs.

Roderich was stunned. How did this girl move the whole machine? How did she know where to hit it? It was written all over his face when she tossed her hair back over her shoulder and got a snack for herself, bending down to retrieve his and her items.

More importantly, how was her ass that amazing in leggings?

Roderich coughed, interrupting that train of thought as quickly as it came.

"Here you go, Herr Edelstein." Eliza said sweetly, offering him his chocolate bar.

"Ah, thank you, Elizaveta. You're certainly strong, aren't you?" He fought to hide the quiver in his voice, fought to keep his distance.

Eliza smirked, noticing the pink tint on his ears and the slight nervousness in his voice. "I like to work out."

He gulped and glanced down at the rose in his hands.

"Well, for your efforts."

Elizaveta took the rose he offered her and she gave him a small smile. He ignored her for this long and he thinks he can just give her a rose and call it even?

She brushed the rose against her lips, trailing it down her mouth to her neck and collarbone, acting natural.

"Thank you, Professor. See you later." Eliza swaggered away from him and down to the practice rooms, heart beating furiously, not daring to turn around to see his reaction.

Roderich laid his hands against the machine, grounding himself in the smooth black metal, willing the haze that clouded his mind at the sight of those petals against her skin to leave him.

He took a few deep breaths, ignored the fire in the pit of his stomach, and made his way back to his office, groaning only once the door was shut and locked behind him.

After a moment of silence and controlled breathing, his phone went off, alerting him to a text, shaking him out of his thoughts.

"So there's a Halloween party at a club downtown whiiiichhh is in a few weeks. You're coming whether you like it or NOT! ;p" The text from Antonio read.

Roderich rolled his eyes but with the state of mood he was in, perhaps agreeing to it might not be such a bad idea after all. He shot him a quick 'yes' and settled down at his piano, stroking the keys.

This was his true love.

His immortal beloved.

As his fingers danced along the keys, he refrained from imagining himself peppering kisses along Eliza's throat, down her shoulders and those strong tanned arms. But he had long lost himself in his fantasies, felt the tight heat from his stomach, making him tremble as he played. He was defeated; some things just could not be solved by music alone.

As he drove home that night, Roderich recalled the way she said his name a month ago, her gentle hand placed on his shoulder to comfort him.

He thought about what it would be like for her to be straddling him, leaning over him like she was the hunter and him the prey, the sacrifice for the night. Pinned down by her thick muscular thighs, her back arching as their hips met, her calling his name like a siren song from her lips that he would die to hear again and again.

'Mein Gott,' he thought to himself.

'I'm screwed.'