Chapter 2

Ding! Dong!! Ding!!! Lori rang the bell as Josephine played the violin in the garden. The bell which made a lot of noise was there to train her not to listen to the sounds around her but to the one inside of her.

     "You played at school today, right?" Lori asked Josephine after two hours of practice.

     Josephine just placed her violin in it's case and went to the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle of water and gulped it down. "Mom, thanks for believing in me" she said as she went back to the garden.

     Lori smiled and picked up the violin. She played the opening bars to "I love you" children's rhyme. Josephine stared at her mother. "I badly want to play with him but I doubt I'll be able to?" She said.

     "Life has no limitations except the ones you make darling" Lori said.

     Her daughter sighed loudly "I haven't decided what piece to play yet" she complained.

     "Of course you have" Lori said.

     "What am I going to play?" Josephine asked.

     Immediately, Lori switched the sound and played Vivaldi's "Four Seasons". Josephine sighed again " I guess that will do, oh, mom I'll be right back"

     "Where are you off to?" She asked

     Josephine laughed softly, "I'll be back for dinner"

     So, off she went to the Lincoln Park Passerelle bridge.

     Of course, I haven't told you where this story is based.

     It is based in the north side of Chicago, Illinois, US. Isaac, Josephine, Flora, Georg and Ivana all attend Lincoln Park Prep Highschool.

     Now, back to the story, Josephine enjoyed the scenery she got from standing on the bridge. The Northern Cardinals sang and she hummed alongside with them.

     She heard footsteps. She looked behind her and there stood a very pretty young lady everyone knew.

     Flora Banks.

     She was even prettier than how people described her. Long black wavy curly hair. Red plumpy cute lips.  Fine shape. And blue dreamy eyes. The tip of the iceberg was when she began singing with the Cardinals.

     Josephine wished she had brought her violin along. The sound was so melodious. After some time she mustered a little courage and walked up to her.

     Flora was startled as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw a girl her age "Hi" she said.

     "Hi" Josephine replied in kind "You have a really nice voice" she threw in a compliment.

     Flora giggled "It's the only thing I have to hold on to" she said

     "I have an idea, I play the violin. Would you mind if we do a duet here tomorrow?" Josephine asked hoping she would agree.

     "I don't mind" Flora replied "By the way, my name is Flora Banks" she added

     "Josephine Abrams"

     Flora smiled "Tomorrow then Josephine" and they parted ways.

     Josephine couldn't contain her joy when she got home. She was all over the place. She hardly even touched her dinner. "What's going on?" Her mother asked.

     "Tomorrow, your daughter, will be playing her violin while the great Flora Banks sings" she screamed in delight.

     Lori smiled. "I believe in you and don't ever stop believing that" she said.

     The next day Josephine ran to the Passerelle bridge with her violin immediately after lunch. There, Flora waited for her patiently.

     "So, what song do you want me to play for you?" Josephine asked.

     Flora smiled "Our Song" by Taylor Swift please".

     Josephine smiled. That was an easy piece. She played and Flora sang. Such a beautiful combination.

     In the music room, Isaac heard the sound and smiled. He listened and decided to accompany it with the piano.

     The girls heard the piano sound and Flora stopped singing "He's playing the piano" she said with joy.

     Josephine stopped playing too, "Who's that?" She asked.

     "That's Isaac Smith, winner of last year's Chicago Classical Musical" Flora said in a single breathe.

     Josephine gasped.

     "Do you have a problem with what I said?" Flora asked

     Josephine shook her head. "It's just that I've heard a lot about him and never thought I'd meet him" she said honestly.

     Flora smiled " I could introduce you to him if you want" she said.

     "I don't mind" Josephine replied "Could you tell me more about Isaac?" Josephine asked politely.

     And thus, their discussion took a more feminine turn. Flora talked about how she had known Isaac since they were babies. They were four months apart. About how in Elementary school, they went to concerts and plays together. About how they loved a particular violinist prodigy who hadn't performed in ages. About how timid and shy Isaac was. She went on and on and on. It didn't take time for Josephine to notice that Flora had a huge crush on Isaac. That meant if she had to be friends with Isaac, she had to have a different guy she'd claim she loved.

      "But sadly Isaac stopped playing 6months ago due to his mother's demise" Flora said gloomily.

       "Then why is he playing now?" Josephine asked curiously.

      "Because we forcefully signed him up for Chicago Classical Musical" she said and laughed.

     Josephine laughed too.

     Soon it was dark and time to go home. They walked till they got to Josephine's street " If you still wish to see Isaac, meet me at the Parasselle bridge tomorrow" Flora said beaming a smile.

     "Thank you" Josephine said and walked home. Her mother stood at the door.

     "Enter in and tell me all about it" her mother said and they spoke till late in the night.