As we pulled up to the community center, I noticed that it wasn't too packed. It was well after lunchtime, so that may have been the reason, but to minimize people getting too excited, my bodyguard, Lance, suggested that I wear a mask inside. I don’t really care about getting noticed, but I was well aware of how out of control it could get, so I humored him.
“Okay, niece,” my aunt said with a smile. “We’re just making a quick stop to see how everything is coming along, and then we can go grab a bite to eat before taking you back home so you can spend the rest of the day helping Devin.”
I nodded, a small smile gracing my face as I thought of getting to spend time with my little sibling. They were getting ready to start their first year of college and wanted me to come along to help them shop for their dorm room. Technically, they were supposed to start college last year, but we all thought it was best they take a gap year because their senior year of high school had been so stressful. Also, since they’d graduated a year early, none of us felt comfortable with them staying on campus before they were eighteen.
Of course, we asked them how they felt before making any decisions, and they assured us that they thought it was for the best, too. They didn’t feel ready to live on their own just yet, but now they were excited to move on campus finally.
It warmed my heart to see them becoming more confident as the days went by. Growing up, they struggled a bit because people sometimes treated them differently because they didn’t quite function like the others their age. They were very particular about certain things, felt feelings deeply, and thrived on routine. They hyper-fixated on foods and hobbies, and ifthings interested them, they wouldn’t stop until they learned everything there was to know about it.
I always thought it was fascinating how much information they retained, but their teachers weren’t impressed, especially when their interests and tendency to ramble became disruptive. Instead of doing the schoolwork like others, their attention would be elsewhere. And when they did try to focus, it was hard. I still remember the many nights they’d cry at the table, frustrated that they were having such a hard time.
They’d also wondered why people were always treated like they were helpless and couldn’t do anything for themselves. For a while, they hated that they weren’t like the other kids, admitting that because of this, they’d been bullied from time to time. At that point, I was about ready to go up to the school myself, because every day for the first few weeks of sixth grade, Devin would come home and tell me how miserable it was. How miserable their life was.
I eventually told our parents, and they were able to get Devin to see a psychiatrist. After a few sessions, they were officially diagnosed with autism, along with severe anxiety. They continued to work with Devin, but it became clear that being in public school was just too hard for them.
So, at their psychiatrist’s suggestion, our mom pulled them out of school and switched to homeschooling. She was a high school teacher then and left her job to stay home with Devin and teach them. She made sure that even though Devin was no longer in public school, they never felt lonely or like they missed out on anything. One of her favorite things to do was take Devin to the community center to meet other homeschooled kids, and they eventually made some great friends.
We made sure that Devin knew that no matter what, they were loved. We showered them with patience and understanding, and together with their tutor and psychiatrist,they were in a better place than they were years ago. Devin was surrounded by so many people who didn’t play about them, including their friends, Tasha, and Eddie. They were as thick as thieves, and I loved that for the three of them. They even took a gap year together with Devin so they could all start college together. It was really heartwarming.
“You good, Dawn?”
I looked up to see my aunt and two bodyguards looking at me in concern. I nodded, smiling as I put on my mask. “I’m good,” I assured them. “Excited to see my favorite sibling. I haven’t seen them in like two weeks.”
“People would think that Devin wasyourchild with the way you are about them.” My aunt chuckled, and I shrugged playfully.
“You know they own my heart. I’d do anything for them,” I admitted.
Which was true. Ever since they were born, I’d been spoiling them and doting on them. They meant so much to me, and after seeing how people treated them for just existing, I vowed to always shower them with nothing but positivity, love, and acceptance. When they came out to me a year ago as genderfluid and pansexual, I made sure that they knew that I’d never stop loving them or treat them any differently. They were and always would be safe around me. That was a guarantee.
“Between you and Dominic, Devin is going to be strict as hell once they start dating,” she laughs as we make our way into the building. “Y’all got their standards so high.”
“Good,” I say triumphantly. “Now they know that they shouldn’t settle for the bare minimum and that whoever is interested in pursuing them needs to come correct. They deserve to have high standards just like any other person.”
“And you’re absolutely correct,” she agrees.
We continued chatting as we made our way down the hall and towards the courtyard that housed the amphitheater. It’d been updated since my last visit and could easily seat about 2,500 people. It was big enough for a decent-sized crowd, and it made me even more excited for next weekend. I couldn’t wait to perform my latest single, but also to see just how much we would raise. I was hoping to top last year’s fundraiser.
After talking a bit to the owners ofLoveOverJudgement., we said our goodbyes and headed back the way we’d come. As we passed by the rooms where they hosted small dance classes, I heard a familiar sound coming from one of them. It sounded a lot like my recent single, so I moved closer to have a look.
To my surprise, the room was occupied by a group of adults who looked to be around my aunt’s age. They were dancing along to my song, but to a simplified version of the choreography I’d spent many days learning for my music video. My eyes drifted over to the instructor, and I was instantly mesmerized by the way she moved. Her eyes were closed, and I could tell that she was feeling the rhythm like only someone who’d been dancing their whole lives could.
When she opened her eyes and chatted with the others, I smiled to myself as I caught a glimpse of the gorgeous smile that lit up her face, traveling to her eyes. Her cheeks were rosy from all the movement, and it added to her allure. I wanted to get closer so I could hear her talk because I knew that her voice sounded so lovely.
I watched as she signalled for them to do the routine once more, and then she began walking towards me. I panicked internally, but my feet didn’t move from their place. It wasn’t until our eyes locked that she stopped doing what she was doing.
Her mesmerizing brown eyes stared back at me, and I felt my heart rate pick up. I’d never been the nervous type, but she had me feeling things I’d never experienced before. It wasa weird feeling, but it also felt right. Here I was, standing with these two beefy bodyguards beside me as I was bewitched by this gorgeous, voluptuous dancer who was more skilled than any other dancer I’d worked with, and I’d only seen a little of what she could do. I bet she had plenty more skills and tricks up her sleeves, and I wanted to become familiar with every one.
Just as I was about to reach for the door, she turned around and began to talk to the others. I snapped out of my trance and quickly turned to walk away when my aunt circled back to see what was taking us so long. I do wish I had at least gone in to get the woman’s number, or at least her name, but we had pulled out of the parking lot before I could remember to. So much for that.
“Okay, Dawn, here’s the list of volunteers for the event next week,” my aunt said as she handed me a folder. “Most of them are regular volunteers and instructors at the center. They’ve all had a background check run on them beforehand.”
I nodded as I settled back into the seat. We had a 45-minute drive to my parents’ place, so I slid on my headphones and listened to my lo-fi playlist as I flipped open the envelope. My aunt always ran a background check on people I worked with, so I made sure to familiarize myself with them. The last thing I wanted was surprises. I liked to know exactly who I was working with for me and my team's safety.
As I was flipping through the pages, one in particular caught my eye. It just so happened to be the same gorgeous woman from earlier smiling back at me.Raine Williams.I continued reading her profile and found out that she’d been dancing since she was six. She volunteered to teach classes at the center every Saturday, but her day job was as an office worker for the local newspaper.
“Hey, Auntie, did they know they were signing up to work for the event I’d be headlining?” I asked.
“They knew that they signed up to work a charity concert, but it hasn’t been disclosed yet who the headliner would be,” she replied. “The company plans on keeping it a surprise and dropping hints leading up to the event.”
