He sloughed off his outwear, stripping down to his dance shirt and tights. Next, he pulled his black ballet shoes on and began to stretch out, aware that Mason was watching him the whole time.
"What?"
"You don't look excited."
Adam glanced up, as he stretched over his leg to touch his toes. "Should I be?"
"Uh... yeah! Assuming youwantto apply for Ballet Torsion."
Adam froze. "I'm just not sure it's my dream anymore."
Mason came and sat close to him, mirroring Adam's stretch, even though he had to be more than warmed up after a day full of rehearsals.
"And when–if—Mum and Dad start talking to me again, they'll need me back at the dance school."
"Is that what you really want?" Mason asked quietly, before switching legs, an action which prompted Adam to do the same.
"Luc thinks it's time I start doing what I want to do."
"I'm not going to disagree with that, but is being a professional dancer still something you want? It's a hard life, Adam."
"You said it was worth it?"
Mason grinned at him. "It is. I love every minute of it. But I eat, breathe and sleep ballet." Mason pressed his lips together. "Last time I checked, so do you."
"I love dancing," Adam agreed. "But would I be thinking about applying for a company if Mum and Dad hadn't chucked me out?"
Mason shrugged. "Maybe not, but is that because you've given up on your dream completely, or because you feel youhaveto help your parents out?"
Adam couldn't answer that.
Mason bounced up to his feet. "Come on. Let's finish warming up and get the photos you need taken. Then we can work on the video. If you're not feeling the passion by the time we're done, I'd say you've got your answer." He held his hand out to Adam. "But for what it's worth, I think Luc's right. You should do what you want to do. If that's applying for a dance company and moving in with Luc, go with it." He grinned. "And I give you that advice as someone who is most definitely not trying to get into your pants."
Adam couldn't help but smile as he took Mason's hand and allowed his friend to pull him up. "That must have been really hard."
"What?"
"Agreeing with Luc."
Mason winced dramatically. "Yeah, I'm not your brother's greatest fan. But he does talk sense sometimes."
"You know he was only an ass to me because he was in love with me?"
"I'm glad you've forgiven him." Mason began to bounce on the spot. "I'm glad he makes you happy."
They continued warming up. Adam was mostly silent, but Mason talked enough for the both of them, chattering about his daily training and rehearsal schedule with so much enthusiasm, that his words chased away Adam's dour mood.
By the time he was standing inpassé reléve, his toe pointed to his knee so Mason could take his photo, Adam felt genuinely excited about applying to Ballet Torsion. It was an excellent ballet company and it would mean he was with Luc.
"What if my parents can't run the dance school without me?" he asked, as he switched legs.
"Big ego there," Mason teased.
"You know what I mean," Adam growled. "They can't afford to pay another teacher the going rate."
"They'll manage," Mason said. "They might have to juggle the timetable around, so they only have to get a part-time teacher, but theywillmanage." He hugged the camera to his chest, his feet naturally settling into first position as he stood, facing Adam. "If dancing professionally is still your dream, you need to reach out and take it now."
"Before I'm too old?" Adam asked.
