"I'm just reading you like a book, my little love."
"Well, that's good," I stammer. "It's been a while since you, like... read."
She grins at me. "Is that the best comeback you have?"
"Yes." I smile back, knowing I've lost this round with mysister. "Your grin is so annoying right now; I want one of those pies to squish into your face."
She rolls over onto her knees and stands up. "I'm really glad you're coming, my little love. I'm going to stay in Connolly with Stacey for the weekend. Tell Dad, okay?" She dances along the mats towards the door and then swivels to wink at me.
Action
Alone in my studio,I turn the music up. I turn it up loud. The bass vibrates through the speakers. The music moves into me. My programmed body sways to its rhythm. I bourrée, fouetté, jeté, and pique around the studio, mixing routines and having fun. It becomes a free, wild workout of my body and ballet skills, and I have “Riptide” to thank for it.
Love this song.
The studio door swings open, and I catch a glimpse of someone in the mirror. I pivot to a halt, halfway through a fouetté, to see my favourite person standing with his hands stuffed in his pockets, a wide grin on his lips.
"Konnor!" I yell out and rush towards him.
He steps backwards when our bodies collide, but then his arms go around me and lift me up as I kick with excitement. He's here. He's here, and he's okay. The last time I saw him, he was a drunken, grieving mess with intense girl troubles like I had never seen before.
He lowers me onto the mats and turns to the prettyblonde girl blushing by his side. He steers me with his arm towards her and introduces her. "This is Blesk."
Blesk fidgets with her ponytail and glances at the floor and then nervously at Konnor. She's stunning and my brother is gazing at her with infatuation. This must bethegirl. He's a bit tightly strung as if her unease has become his.
"Hi, welcome to the Thunder Dome," I say, breaking the awkward moment.
Her face relaxes and then Konnor relaxes, and it's like a magnetic effect. I stare at my brother and take him all in. Even though he's freshly shaven and still so beautiful, his eyes look tired.
I shake my shoulders and stretch my hands out for him to take. "Come dance with your sister."
He digs his heels in. “Pipsqueak, no.”
I do a silly dance. "Come on, come on."
Konnor groans at Blesk. “See what I have to deal with.”
“Come on, you’re a beautiful dancer."
He shakes his head adamantly. “No, Cass.”
“You owe me for missing my birthday!”
Konnor sighs, tilting his head back in defeat and rolling his eyes. “Thank God, Jax isn’t here.” Jax is one of Konnor's best friends and they play rugby together. They are all manly and butch about it too. But Jax is fun, and I have no doubt he'd dance with me if he were here right now.
Konnor joins me in the centre of the studio, and we formalise our stance. I kick his foot into position. Sticking our noses in the air, we giggle. My feet take the first step, but I pretend to let him lead.
We waltz together just like we used to do when we were children. I stare up at my big brother and he grins down at me. I love it when he's home.
It's a special occasion when he bothers to make the longdrive from his campus accommodation to stay with us. And even more so because he has brought his best friend Jax and Blesk's friend Elise—who is so my spirit animal, it's not even funny.
Later that evening, as we all sit around the dinner table, laughter fills our home. Elise is just as weird as me. Blesk is sweet. She's a little shy, but clearly adores my brother.
After dinner, Blesk places a box full of cupcakes on the table. My face lights up. But everyone else is too full. Well, except Jaxon. I mock-frown at him over the chocolate fondant.
We share, like, twenty cupcakes in a cupcake battle that ends with me puking in my bathroom. All the while, Blesk and Konnor drink a little too much. The night quickly becomes eventful when Konnor and my friend, Faith, get into an argument. I end up having to kick her out. Konnor often gets into arguments with people...
At least I won the eat-off.
