III.
Resonance
Alarice Edelstein had grown since her second father's funeral. She was seventeen now and like her biological father in every way, from her brown hair that cascaded down to her waist to her violet eyes that stood out, large in her face. Today was the first day of her senior year and she looked forward to being done with high school and going to Julliard for violin. She had already been accepted.
She was very protective of her father now. He was thirty-seven and young to have a child her age, but his health was rapidly deteriorating. She knew that it had begun with the death of her Vati Gilbert. Alarice still caught her father staring at his late husband's picture every night. Now and again he would find her looking in on him and turn around with a weak smile.
"Follow your heart, Ally," he would murmur. "Remember that we'll both always love you."
Alarice was fully convinced that her father hadn't accepted Gilbert's death yet. Sometimes she felt as if he believed the other man was still there.
She ran up the steps of the Performing Arts Center, ducking into the orchestra room and sitting down at her place in the concertmaster's chair. Humming, she got out and tuned her violin, glancing around the classroom with warm eyes. This was the only class she ever missed over the summer. This year was going to be the best.
There was a soft clearing of a throat behind her. Blinking, Alarice turned around and smiled at the girl she saw. Juliette looked as wonderful as ever, her long white hair flowing down just as long as Alarice's own, her dark red eyes a jolt back to the past as they so closely resembled her second father's eyes. The other girl was in a tank top and shorts while Alarice always wore silk dress shirts and long slacks, no matter the warm weather.
"It's been all summer, Ally…" Juliette said quietly, sounding uncharacteristically shy. She moved closer and sat down right next to Alarice, biting her lip. "I know you've been preoccupied… Congrats on Julliard, by the way, but you've got to tell me now. I mean, just about every guy in the school likes you, which is awesome, but I did ask you back in May and…"
Alarice leaned forward and silenced Juliette with a kiss, which seemed to shock the other, as she froze, then leaned forward and slid a hand into Alarice's hair, holding her closer.
Follow your heart is what her father always told her… And while Alarice knew that yes, a lot of boys at her school were interested in her, especially Daniel, who she had been friends with since childhood, her heart would always lead her to Juliette, just as Roderich's always would take him to Gilbert.
Alarice and Juliette married June 6, 2013, just after graduating high school. Three days later, Roderich Beilschmidt died. He left to be with the one he loved, reunited once again.
And with that, our story is done. Yes, the chapters got shorter. But I hope you liked it anyone! Please review! Playing With Fire will be updated as soon as possible, so keep an eye out.