School Bands Can Be Romantic Too
Imagine 2: School Bands Can Be Romantic Too
Summary: College!AU, in which Reader, a full-fledged band geek, is a good friend of Enjolras.
Pairing: Gender Neutral!Reader x Enjolras
Warnings: Minor anxiety, Enjolras’ hair, swearing in French, classical music (don’t underestimate Mozart).
Credits to me, Victor Hugo and Aaron Tveit.
[Written: 7 Oct, Edited: 8 Oct, Published: 8 Oct/30 May, 18]
Note: I don’t care what you identify as, a bird, a boy or an avalanche helicopter, you’re wearing lipstick in this.
Pushing my way past a few bodies, I tried to get out of the walking crowd. At the same time, I was standing on my tiptoes, searching for a certain head over the horde of people. “Enjolras”, I tried, grabbing the arm of the person in front of me. But the arm of the blond boy didn’t feel like Enjolras’ at all, and as he turned around, his absolutely-not-Enjolras’ face made it clear that he wasn’t the one I was looking for.
“Sorry, I thought you were someone else.” Smiling apologetically at Not-Enjolras, I hoisted my backpack further up my shoulders, and continued to walk. I didn’t let myself turn red in embarrassment before I was sure Not-Enjolras couldn’t see me. Continuing my search for my good friend, I almost skipped at the thought of what I was going to tell him. He knew very well how much I’d wanted this, and I couldn’t wait until I got to see his smiling eyes as I told him the news.
Finally, after stepping on twelve toes, none of them my own, I spotted a familiar blond head. This time, I was sure. This had to be Enjolras.
“Excuse me, I’m trying to get through. Sorry, I’m just-”, I breathed to those I had to push past. They gave me silent mutters in answer, and it all made me shout: “I’m sorry for trying to be polite!”
It all came out a little louder than I’d planned, and it seemed like even Enjolras had heard me. The blond boy turned away from his friend Grantaire to see me.
“(Y/N)!” Enjolras smiled, and reached out a hand to draw me out of the mass of people. “I thought I heard you scolding those seniors over there”, he noted, smirking. I returned his smile with a wide grin. Grantaire looked a bit uncomfortable for a second, before leaning up to Enjolras’ ear and whispering something I couldn’t hear. Enjolras’ response was to blush, the red covering his cheeks almost unnoticeably, and slap Grantaire’s shoulder. I shook the many theories about what Enjolras’ friend could’ve said out of my head, as I tried to keep an innocent face.
Grantaire locked eyes with me for a second, before turning to Enjolras again. “I’ll see you at the meeting”, he said, and left us alone. (Well, as alone you can be in a crowded corridor.)
Enjolras scratched his neck, a delicate smile on his rosy lips. “Don’t mind Grantaire – he’s always like that.”
I nodded, forgetting what my intentions of finding Enjolras were for a quick moment.
“So, you texted me you had something to tell me. What is it?” He looked nervous, almost anxious, but I brushed it off as the usual university exhaustion. I could hardly contain my happiness at what I was about to tell him, and I was practically bouncing
“I GOT ACCEPTED INTO THE SCHOOL BAND”, I practically shouted, earning a couple of odd glances from the passer-bys. Flushing red, I repeated myself at a more ear-friendly volume.
“Really? That’s great!” He hugged me, something I wasn’t expecting, but I went along anyways. His chest felt warm and almost cushiony. It took a millisecond for me to wrap my own arms around his middle, but I soon relaxed into his embrace. I’d never expected him to be so soft, and I found myself almost jealous of his past girl-and boyfriends. (Almost.)
“I’m so happy for you”, he said as he released me from his gentle embrace, and I couldn’t help but to smile even brighter.
For a few seconds, we just stood there. We didn’t stare into each other’s eyes or something like that, no. It was more of a What-the-hell-do-I-say-next kind of silence.
“So”, Enjolras began, again scratching his neck. “When’s the first practice?”
I checked my wristwatch, exclaiming a silent “Merde” as I noted the time. “It’s in five minutes! I’ll have to go, but I’ll see you tonight.” I gave him a small wave and a meek smile, before turning on my heel and walking away.
“Bye…”, Enjolras breathed, watching how I disappeared into the crowd.
My eyes were glued to my shiny black shoes, as I tried to slow my breathing. The extravagant, black concert clothes I was wearing felt itchy, I held my instrument close to my chest. I could hear how the crowd on the other side of the curtain was laughing and chatting, blissfully unaware over the nervous wrecks who were about to perform tonight. This is what you’ve always wanted, I tried to tell myself.
That’s not true, an obnoxious voice in the back of my mind answered. Enfer, I thought. Shit. Because it was true. This was only a part of what I’d wanted.
In my imaginary dream-scene of what was to happen, Enjolras was there. He wouldn’t be tonight, and I knew that. He’d told me a week or so ago, a regretful look on his face. He’d then offered to come to one of the rehearsals, but I’d declined. I knew it wouldn’t be the same. He needed to be at a political meeting, and I understood that. I knew that they were so close to some kind of outbreak, and it was critical for Enjolras to participate in every minute of it. But still, I couldn’t help but to wonder if I’d feel a little less panicky, if I knew that my blond friend was out there. Blond “friend”, the voice in my mind sneered. If you were only “friends”, you wouldn’t be on the verge of a panic attack just because he isn’t here-
“Okay, everyone.” The conductor, a red-headed senior student with constant sleep-deprivation showing in dark bags under her eyes, clapped her hands together. “It’s showtime.”
Holding my instrument in my knee, much like a baby, I quickly shuffled through my music sheets to find the right one. I locked eye with the conductor, trying to tell her that I needed more time. She gave me a short nod and an understanding look, and then turned to the crowd to ramble on about how Mozart had been furiously scribbling down music notes as his wife was giving birth. Finally finding the correct music sheet, I breathed out in relief, before prepping it on the notestand. The conductor raised her conductor stick, signalling for us to prepare. It’s showtime.
A good half an hour of the two hour concert, the entrance door opened. I could watch in the corner of my eye how a stressed, heavily breathing Enjolras sneaked into the hall and sat down in one of the seats in the back. As I switched note sheets, I locked eyes with Enjolras for a second. He discreetly waved at me, mouthing a gentle: “Hi”. I smiled at him, and I could almost feel how my eyes were gleaming. It took quite a lot of willpower not to walk up to him and…
(Yeah, I think you get what I mean.)
After carefully setting down my instrument on my chair, I slowly walked down the stage. I had ten minutes of break, then I’d have to wait until the concert ended until I could speak to Enjolras again. With determined steps, I started to make my way to the back of the large room. For every step, my legs felt more tired. Let’s just turn back, a hesitant voice inside of me said. My feet slowed down, and I almost stopped walking entirely. My mind was racing, and I breathed in air deeply. Just as I was about to turn around, I could see how Enjolras was walking towards me. His determined steps gave me new confidence, and I was soon moving briskly.
“You made it”, I said, blinking at him, as we were standing close to each other.
He breathed deeply, and said: “I couldn’t miss you on your big night. You’re brilliant up there.”
We became quiet, and I could feel how the seconds were ticking away.
I took a deep breath. “I-”
Enjolras blushed a little, scratching his neck and smiling meekly in a hesitant action. “You first.”
I nodded, taking a deep breath and summoning all courage I could find in the corners of my conscious.
“I… Oh God, how do I say this… I feel like I want us to…” I cleared my head, trying to straighten out my words. “I want there to be an us.”
“What do you mean? Of course there’s an us, I don’t see-”
“No, you don’t understand. I want a proper us.”
A shrill ringing cut the silence short, signalling how we, the musicians, should be getting back on stage.
“What I’m trying to say is that I’m in love with you”, I said quickly, feeling how the panic slowly settled in me. I almost wondered if Enjolras even had heard me, becuase he showed no reaction. Twisting my hands, I looked up at him with uncertain eyes. I questioned if time had stopped, because it seemed like Enjolras had.
A second ringing sparked even more stress inside of me.
I nodded, trying to hide my glassy eyes. “Ok, I get what you’re trying to say. I need to get back now, so-”
In the matter of milliseconds, Enjolras tugged my hand and arm and pressed his lips against mine in a dramatic way. His hand found my jaw, tilting it upwards as he tried to deepen the kiss.
A third ringing brought me back into the concert hall.
“I have to go-”, I tried. Enjolras stole a last peck, before letting me go. I stood dumbfounded for a second, before turning on my heels and rushing back up on the stage. Composing myself in the matter of seconds, I grabbed my instrument and found the correct note sheets. I tried to ignore the knowing glances from my fellow musicians, but the flush still got to my ears. In the few seconds before the conductor showed for us to start, I stole a glance from Enjolras in the corner of my eye. It was only now I could see how my red lipstick had left noticeable marks on him. He grinned cheekily and winked at me, cocking his eyebrows. I blushed deeper and smiled, before retorting my eyes to the sheet music. Yeah, I thought. This is exactly what I wanted.
lets just pretend these don’t exist
