Julius
The breeze through the open windows surrounding the grand ballroom flows through Rosalie’s hair and cape? as she walks passed the symphony players. They stand in acknowledgement and respect as she passes and nods to them. I’ve been to the symphony enough to know my mother has made a grave mistake in assuming she is an amateur. The organ player/conductor is on his feet to meet her and bows to kiss her hand while looking a little to deeply into her eyes. He’s a young tall man with his dark hair pulled back in a man bun. I hate him.
“Why doesn’t she date him? He’s obviously in love with her.” Becca chimes in and the blonde with the purple lipstick named Violet shakes her head while drinking her champagne. I think she arrived with Rosalie.
“Are you kidding me? She would chew him up and spit him out. She needs a manly man.” One of the twins says and I couldn’t agree more but I’m to busy staring at the wonder on stage to acknowledge that fact.
She takes her seat. Long legs wrapped around her cello. Displaying a gold chain around her thigh. Her bare feet arched as though she were on her tip toes. Flawlessness and power radiating from her. She lifts her bow in a command for the players to begin. She tilts her head back and slowly shuts her eyes.
“It’s begins” her proud father tell us.
They start the intro to the phantom of the opera. With her eyes still closed she feels for her strings and positions her bow at the ready. When the bow makes contact with her strings everyone is on edge gripping their seats. To my total astonishment she opens her eyes and looks directly into mine as she plays the haunting melody. The music was beautiful before, but now it’s on a whole new level.
“Amazing” Ben says with his arms wrapped around a smiling Becca.
“Yeah but why is she staring at your brother Ben?” The twin Christopher states but I don’t care to say anything. My eyes are staring into hers and no fucking way am I breaking eye contact.
Watching her steady breathing, her pouty red slips parting slightly, the rise and fall of her breast. Lord I’m as bad as a teenager at a Justin Bieber concert. Mesmerized by my brothers soon to be sister in law. This doesn’t happen to me. I’m the one with the fan club not the other way around. I haven’t had to pick up a girl since.... forever it seems. Now I’m acting like a crazed groupie. I’ve got to pull my shit together.
She breaks our eye contact and finishes her part as the music builds. She slowly raises her bow, I’m feeling a solo must be coming. She looks up waiting for the moment, bow still in the air.
“Chaos” her father says knowingly.
As if on cue with nature, she reaches low on her cello and extends a painful note with her bow as a strong gust of wind blows out the candles on the table and her cape and hair flow all around her. The crowd gasps. Though I don’t recall hearing a solo on this song, it is pure, angry, haunting, and powerful. I can’t say I’ve ever in all our years of going to the symphony with our father heard anyone play like this. She is an original. She is the phantom of the opera. A masterpiece. I sound so fucking cheesy.
She goes two rounds back into the original melody and ends. Everyone is on their feet applauding with hoots and hollers from our table. She stands and bows then holds her arms out acknowledging the other players. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. My heart pounding in my chest. Feeling light headed and breathless. Contemplating whether I need a doctor. I’m fucked.
RosalieFor a moment I’m in another world. I hear the applause and open my eyes. For a brief second in time sadness breaks through me. I realize Scarpati isn’t here to see me play. My heart aches at the knowledge he will never see me play again. I snap out of my stupor and remember I’ve got a small speech to make. I walk towards the middle of the stage. “Thank you so much. The best musicians in the world are here tonight and I’m blessed to call them my friends.” “I’m sorry, usually I’ll give an opening speech but.... I was to busy trying to figure out who in the hell Josephine Valentino was.” I could here laughter coming from our table, especially the twins.
JuliusAs soon as Rosalie finished her performance I had to go get some air. I walked out looking for a balcony. I zig zagged through the halls and bummed a cigarette and lighter off a passer by. I don’t usually smoke but tonight I needed to take a load off literally. Finally I reached the back of the venue and found two huge wooden doors. I pushed the heavy doors open and found a secluded balcony and fresh air. I was lost in my thoughts. Reflecting on my life. To the world of social media I’ve been given the name of playboy billionaire. I have more money and women then most men can only dream of. Yesterday I did a photoshoot with GQ magazine to be featured as one of the worlds sexiest bachelors. My family has always gained attention in the public eye for our wealth
Rosalie To say I’m taken back by how dangerously handsome Ben’s brother Julius is would be an understatement. It’s not fair that he is 100% off limits being Becca’s soon to be brother in law. He is tall, maybe 6”2, dark brown wavy hair that falls a couple inches below his ears. His eyes are the most dangerous feature on him. They are a stormy grey. Rare. Intriguing. His voice is like a murky strong whiskey. When he lets out a husky laugh I can’t help but shiver in delight. Wait a second. Haunting good looks, melodious laugh, grey eyes? If he didn’t have a tan I’d be sure he was a fucking vampire. Drawing in any unsuspecting woman. This off limits thing sucks. It’s like dangling the clearest, cleanest coldest water in front of me in the burning hot desert. And I am parched. “I have all t
Julius We run to the balcony doors while the lightning and rain start pouring down. I go for the handle. “It’s locked!” I yell to Rosalie over the wind. She tries the handle too. Nothing. We bang on the doors hoping someone will hear us. With as far back as this balcony is plus the thick wooden doors, it’s not likely anyone can hear us. Suddenly, Rosalie starts kicking the door. I like her style, but it would take an elephant to knock these doors down. “Heeeeelp!!” She gives up and starts yelling over the balcony. My phone has no reception and as I try making an unsuccessful call for help to unlock
Rosalie The storm passes and the lights come on breaking our kiss. I’m not sure how far I would’ve gone with Julius if we weren’t interrupted and that terrifies me. I have put him in the “off limits” category in my brain and have so far done a crap job in keeping it that way but holy shit that kiss shook me to the core. I need to chalk it up to the moment. You know, like thinking we were going to die in the tornado. Seeing Julius practically naked just confirms he wouldn’t be seriously interested in me. He is way to perfect. And comes from a rich family. I don’t want to end up like Becca trying to please stuffy wealthy people. Having his large manhood pressed against me about drove me crazy. It’s not fair how perfect he is. There’s no doubt he
Julius When the twins told Rosalie about my billionaire playboy status I wanted to puke. I’ve never been ashamed of it until now because I knew it wouldn’t impress her in the slightest. I never cared before but after meeting her, something is starting to change in me and it is both terrifying and exhilarating. Tonight has been a whirlwind of emotions and I need to step back and access. I hated how we left things, with Rosalie friend zoning me again and pretty much spelling out that she’s not interested. But even she can’t deny our chemistry and that kiss of death. I haven’t pursued a woman in a long time and she’s about to break my stride. She wants to be friends? I’ll go with it. Just to be close to her. I walk in after putting her cello in the
Rosalie After answering a million questions from Violet on the car ride home and telling her everything, I drop her by her house and head home. Violet is an odd bird and that’s the many reasons why I love her. After hearing everything that happened with me and Julius she thinks and I quote: “Your auras together are like an explosion of rainbow colors. That’s very rare. I feel something is going to happen between the two of you. It’s frightening and beautiful” unquote. See what I mean? She’s great and a total blonde bombshell. Not to mention one of the greatest blues singers I’ve ever heard. I’m surprised Julius didn’t put the moves on her but then again, he was stuck with me all night. As soon as I arrive home I’m met with my favorite person.
Rosalie I wake up from a very naughty dream to my phone alarm. Damn it, I was just getting to the good part. I head downstairs and make my coffee. Caesar is sleeping on the floor next to the fireplace. “Good morning.” I greet him and he lowers his head to go back to sleep. I know exactly how he feels. I showered and washed my hair last night so I pull back my hair into a high ponytail today. I throw on light make up and lipstick. Put on my yoga pants and a spaghetti strap shirt. Then I throw on some boots. I decide to not wear a bra. I give no shits. I pack a dress to change into after yoga and some heels. I tell Caesar bye and take off in