Getting Away : A New Adult Romance Story (Young Adult Romance Books "Swanson Sisters Series" : Book 1) by Amelia Jones Read Free Book Online

Chapter One
     
    The last notes of Bach’s ‘Partita in D Minor’ died away as Sophie gently lowered her bow and brought her violin to a resting position, the haunting notes still playing in her mind.
     
    ‘You will never be a solo performer, Sophie. You play well, have excellent technique and I cannot teach you any more than you already know. We have spoken of this before, yet no matter how many times you play that piece flawlessly here with me, you will never replicate the experience in a concert situation. You know this. I know this. We will work on ensuring you pass your Associate exams, then you should consider teaching violin as a career, or even classroom teaching.’
     
    Sophie didn’t want to hear anymore. She knew it all already and her teacher wasn’t being intentionally unkind, just realistic because the time for a serious decision had arrived. Without a performing career to embark upon, she would no longer have a reason to stay at college. It would mean returning to her hometown, to the family she had left behind in her quest to make a new life for herself.
     
    The sound of defeat echoed in her voice. ‘Yes, I understand. It’s just I never wanted to be a teacher. My parents wanted me to become a teacher but I never did.’
     
    ‘Listen Sophie, you would make a very good teacher and it’s a job you can make your own, particularly if you teach privately. If you spent one more year here and did a Diploma of High School Education, as well as another couple of grades with piano and flute, you would have everything you need to teach theory and three instruments. Not everyone has the ability to do that and be successful at it. But you do. Take it and work with it. It’s your best option. And you know I would of course, welcome you to be part of the ensemble for our Baroque work. You have real talent for that.’
     
    He hoped he had convinced her because he genuinely wanted her to join the ensemble, for at least a full year, with a view to staying on in Armidale as a teacher afterwards. Maybe even teach violin and some regular classes here at the University because the qualifications would all be in place.
     
    Sophie began to pack her instrument away, wrapping her violin in a piece of deep crimson colored velvet. ‘Can I think about it for a while?’
     
    ‘Of course, I’d be disappointed of you didn’t. But don’t take too long. I don’t want you to miss out on the opportunity. There will be a teaching vacancy here in the music faculty, the year after next and I want you to be in a position to consider it.’
     
    ‘All right, I’ll give it some serious thought and let you know. I’m staying here through the semester break to do the research for my final projects for Professor Anderson, so I’ll let you know what I decide.’
     
    ‘I know it’s hard to give up your dream of performing, but I want you to focus on an alternative that can provide you with the ability to be independent, anywhere you choose.’
     
    ‘Thank you Mr. Lorenz. I’ll see you next semester.’
     
    ****
     
    Sophie left the music faculty building and walked towards the lecture theater for her next class, psychology. It was an extra class that she hadn’t really wanted to take, but her degree program specified that it was necessary for a sprinkling of other classes to be included in addition to those for her double music major. She walked in and sat at the back, wanting to remain inconspicuous with her violin.
     
    While she waited for the class to begin, she thought about the conversation she’d just had with her violin teacher.  Disappointment weighed heavily on her shoulders, so that she slumped. It seemed that no matter what she did, it was never good enough and the discussion she’d just had with her violin teacher confirmed it. He’d never know the real reason though, no one knew that.
     
    ‘Hi, do you mind if I sit here?’ A polite, but tentative male voice was asking and Sophie moved slightly away in