Band/Orchestra-

Namine stared at the letter in her hands, rereading it for the fourth time, the words still not sinking in.

"Ugh! Will you stop doing that!"

The outburst startled the blonde, causing her to drop the letter. She frowned at her sister as she bent down to pick it up, brushing off imaginary dirt.

"Stop doing what?" Namine asked innocently.

"Stop reading your acceptance letter for the millionth time and just celebrate already! You haven't moved from that seat as soon as you got it!"

Namine cringed at the thought. "It's all kinda hard to believe," she admitted.

"Why? You're amazingly talented and you've earned this! You've worked so hard to get to where you are!" Kairi told her sister as she pulled out a chair to sit beside her.

Namine thought about her sister's words, eventually slamming her hands on the table and standing to her feet.

"You know what? You're right Kairi! I have worked hard for this!"

"Yeah I am!" Kairi exclaimed also standing. "You know what else your big sister is right about?!"

Namine shook her head. "What?"

"We still need to celebrate!"

——-

"Don't worry Namine. You can do this," she thought to herself, her hands sweating as she clutched the strap of her violin case tighter. The school looked in front of her, a gargantuan building that looked as if it had been carved by the hands of giants rather than mere men.

She took a deep breath as she reached out with shaking fingers to grab her rolling suitcase and took her first step into the future.

All around her students were gathered on the sprawling lawns of the campus enjoying the last few days of freedom before the school year began.

She smiled as she watched a group of friends playing frisbee and another student strumming his guitar contentedly. However, not paying attention to where she was taking her next step proved to be her downfall, as her foot caught on the uneven slab of sidewalk in front of her.

Namine's life flashed before her eyes as she started the ungraceful decent, clasping her violin case tightly to her chest. However, just as she was about to make contact, Namine felt a much different sensation. Hands wrapped around her shoulders preventing her from meeting the hard concrete beneath her. Namine opened her eyes and instantly blinked as she gazed down into eyes as clear as the sky above.

A boy, about her age it seemed, was down on one knee, his arms wrapped up underneath hers and supporting her weight with his own to prevent her from meeting the cold cruel fate that she had been destined for only moments ago.

She yelped as she realized their position and bounced back from him, only to suddenly descend backwards. The boy's quick thinking and even faster reflexes however rescued her yet again as he leapt to his feet and grasped her wrist, successfully pulling her back up onto her own.

Namine breathed a sigh of relief that was met with a similar reaction from her savior.

"Whew! That was a close one!" He exclaimed, putting his hands into the pockets of his dark wash jeans and smiling pleasantly at her.

A surge of pink bloomed across Namine's cheeks as she looked at him, bowing her head in slight embarrassment, only to notice a large tear in his jeans and a trickle of blood coming from his left knee.

"You're bleeding!" She cried out in concern.

The boy looked down at his knees to see the red liquid now staining the denim.

He shrugged his shoulders in reply, smirking despite his minor injury. "Well, now my style will be more 'hip'! My friends have been complaining that I'm too old-school," he rolled his eyes playfully at the mention of his friends.

"Violin?" His sudden question caught her off guard.

"What do you mean?" Namine asked in return.

"Your case," he informed, gesturing towards the instrument with his chin. "I'm just assuming of course, but it looks like the same case I have,"

"You play violin?" Namine questioned excitedly. Meeting someone on her first day before she had even gotten to her first class who played the same instrument as she did was the luckiest thing she had ever experienced! She was certainly telling Kairi about this later.

He shrugged again. "I mean, I'm not the best in the world but I do love to play. And you?"

"Oh violin is everything to me! I didn't think I was going to get in this year, but I was surprised when the selection committee chose my entry performance as one of their favorites. I've never been so proud!"

He smiled at her and nodded in understanding. "Oh! I'm Roxas by the way," he said, extending a hand towards her which she gladly accepted.

"Namine,"

"That's a beautiful name," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Thank you. I like your's as well. Has a very strong sound to it,"

A slight blush spread up to his ears, Roxas muttering out a word of gratitude. "Would you, like me to show you around campus? I just happen to have some free time,"

"I would love that. Thanks!"

Roxas took her suitcase and they began walking together, Roxas pointing out different places as they went and explaining what they were for.

It was such a lovely time, that when Namine had to bid her new friend farewell, she didn't really want to. "Will I see you tomorrow?" She asked suddenly, worried that he might disappear forever if she let him go.

"Absolutely! That's a promise!"

——

Namine walked into the auditorium and was blown away by the majesty of it all. The chairs had already been set out for the orchestra and a few students were milling about, their instruments by their sides or in their hands. She looked for Roxas, finding him talking to another boy who looked identical to him holding a French horn and a tall, thin, redhead leaning against a beautiful rosewood bass. She approached with caution, the redhead prodding Roxas in the shoulder when she was a mere few feet away.

"What? Uh, Namine! So good to see you!" Roxas greeted warmly, a grin overcoming to his face.

A pair of throats clearing alerted Roxas to his former company.

"Oh! Namine, this is Axel my best friend and one of our best bass players. And this is my twin brother Ventus," he gestured to each guy beside him. "Guys, this is Namine,"

"Nice to meet you Namine. I've already heard a bit about you from Roxas," Ventus said, juggling his French horn to his other arm so he could shake her outstretched hand.

"You have?" Namine replied, a bit surprised.

"Oh he wouldn't stop talking about you last night! His tongue is almost as quick as his fingers!" Axel said, laughing at his friend's flustered face.

"I hate to interrupt your little get-together, but professor Eraqus will be here soon," a tall girl with blue hair said, a taller brunette young man trailing behind her carrying a bassoon.

"Ugh! Way to kill the mood Aqua!" Axel complained.

"I'm just making sure no one gets in trouble!" Aqua defended, her hands finding a home on her hips.

"Sure thing mom!" Axel mocked her.

"That's enough Axel. We'll get ready Aqua," Ventus said urging his brother to follow him to their seats on the stage. Namine took a seat in the back of the violin section, knowing that some seats were already assigned from the previous year.

"Alright students," an older gentleman spoke as he made his way across the stage. His greying hair and beard signified that he was a master of his craft and his commanding presence demanded attention and respect from all those present. "Since two thirds of you are newcomers this year, I'm going to be assigning you new seats," several students groaned upon hearing this.

"And since so many of you think that you're too good to be replaced, then we're going to have our own little audition session, right here, right now,"

More students groaned.

"In front of you, you should all have the sheet music for Song From a Secret Garden. As we go through the piece, I'll have everyone stop and only a single orchestra member will continue on. Does that make sense?"

When the class collectively nodded, the professor gave a stiff nod and a short, "Good," before he carried on, lifting his baton to begin their practice.

Each student did remarkably well when it came time for his or her turn, Namine listening with bated breath for her name to be called but it never was. She grew more and more depressed as the piece went on, getting closer and closer to the end. She had just resigned herself to not being able to play a solo section when the conductor pointed directly at her. She froze for a breath before and then started playing.

Every measure was exact, every note perfection. She couldn't have asked for a better performance, and neither could the professor since he ended up making her the seat next to Second Primary of the first violin section. She shouldn't have been surprised at who it was.

"You? You're Second Primary?" Namine asked, staring into a familiar pair of blue eyes.

Roxas chuckled good-naturedly.

"I thought you said you weren't very good," she admitted.

"No, I think what I said was 'I'm not the best in the world'. Clearly though, you made a big impression on Professor Eraqus though, because it took me a whole semester to earn this seat. You got here in one day,"

Namine blushed from the praise, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I just did my best. It helps that he chose one of my absolute favorite pieces to play,"

"No kidding! That's one of my favorites too!" Roxas exclaimed, his smile growing wider if that were possible.

"Perhaps, we could play it together sometime?" Namine offered, shifting slightly in her seat as she waited for his answer.

Roxas nodded. "Most definitely!"

Namine offered him a sweet smile as the pair shook on their own personal commitment. Namine had a good feeling about this year.

——-

"You look beautiful," Roxas whispered, clasping Namine's free hand in his own, planting a chaste kiss on her knuckles.

She blushed and thanked her boyfriend, looking down at the blue satin dress she wore. She squeezed his hand tightly for a little more reassurance before the stage coordinator informed them that they were to get ready.

"I'll see you out there," Roxas said, giving her hand one more kiss as he made his departure.

"Wish me luck?" She asked.

"You don't need any," he informed her with a wink and then he was gone. Namine watched from behind the curtain as the orchestra members filed out onto the stage dressed in their fine formal wear. She paid extra attention to Roxas as he sat in the seat reserved for second chair violinist. He looked so professional in his three piece suit, a blue bow tie causing his lovely eyes to pop even more than usual.

Namine tore her eyes away from him as the stage manager instructed her that it was almost her turn. She took a deep steadying breath and walked out onto the stage, taking a deep bow towards the crowd as she took her seat in the first chair of the first violin section. She turned slightly to Roxas who smiled at her with his eyes and gave her hand a quick reassuring squeeze as Professor Eraqus came out on stage to thunderous applause.

He took a long bow and stood, and in a rare occurance, addressed the crowd instead of turning towards the orchestra.

"Today, you will see the talents of some of our most brilliant musicians trained here. However, to start out our program this evening we have a special performance. I would like to introduce to you our second chair, Roxas Strife and our Concertmaster, Namine Caelum who will be performing for you tonight Song From a Secret Garden,"

Roxas and Namine rose from their seats in synch, bowing as they made it to center stage. The blondes looked at each other and nodded as they began their first notes.

[Listen to any violin duet of A Song From A Secret Rose Garden on YouTube for the full effect.]

The duo finished to riotous applause and a standing ovation. Roxas embraced Namine and whispered just how proud of her he was.

"Thank you Roxas. This is such a dream come true. I can't imagine this day getting any better!"

"Oh it's just about to," Roxas said, surprising her by getting down on one knee, placing his violin on the stage, and pulling out a blue velvet box.

"Namine, would you be willing to make beautiful music with me for the rest of our lives?"

Namine's answer was to throw her arms around her man's neck and pepper his cheeks with kisses.

Roxas laughed as he placed the ring on his now fiancé's finger and then helped her to stand only to face the full force of the crowd's even louder applause.

Professor Eraqus approached the couple with a stern expression that melted into something slightly softer.

"Congratulations Namine," he said, reaching out a hand to shake her's which she gladly took while Roxas retrieved his violin.

"Thank you Professor! I wouldn't be where I am today without you!"

Eraqus shook his head. "No Namine. This doesn't have anything to do wtih me. You're here because you've earned it,"

And for only the second time in her life, Namine truly believed that she did.

Phew! What a chapter! I loved writing one where Namine is the talent and Roxas is still talented but supports her rather than outshines her. I think that both Roxas and Namine would play violin and I didn't really make it clear, but Aqua is the pianist for the orchestra. I originally had a different ending than the proposal, but I went with my gut and now I'm glad I did! Please enjoy!