“Does that mean you’ve figured out how you feel when you’re with him?” Zoe smiles at me, her eyes glinting.
“Yes.” I lower my gaze, my cheeks burning.
Mae squeals excitedly. “I knew it! God, you have to tell us everything!”
“I will, this time I really will.” I join them at the barre and finally start my warm-up. Every minute counts.
“Did everything go well with the song?” Zoe asks, leaning far over her outstretched leg.
I nod. “Really well, actually. The guys recorded four songs, and they all turned out great.”
“What are they going to do with them now?”
I don’t get a chance to answer Zoe as Mr.Conrad enters the studio just then, followed closely by Easton.
It’s been less than half an hour since we said goodbye after he walked me to my room, but it still feels like an eternity. It’s silly. He’s wearing a dark-blue hoodie that makes his eyes look even bluer, his hair falling messily over his forehead, and I want to go over and kiss him. Again and again and again.
He smiles when he sees me, and I am infinitely in love.
“Hi,” he mouths, and I read his lips.
“Hi,” I whisper back. There are butterflies in my stomach. Mae and Zoe are watching us, giggling softly.
“God, you two are so adorable,” Mae says. I can hear the smile in her voice, and I can’t help but agree.
I turn to my friends again when Easton sits down at the piano. I can’t stare at him the entire time, even though I’d really like to. God, what’s happening to me?
“Good morning, everyone. Let’s start right away. I have a lot of plans for you this week,” Mr.Conrad says. Any other day, this would be the moment the happy butterflies in my stomach transform into a bundle of nerves, but not today.
Today I couldn’t care less that even after almost two months of extra practice with Zoe and Mae on the weekends, I’m still hopelessly behind, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.
I don’t care because Easton is here, glancing at me in the mirror from time to time, making me feel much too warm while his fingers glide confidently across the piano keys. I don’t know if it’s because I’m not really into it today, not as determined or focused as usual, but somehow everything seems a little easier.
When we move from the barre to the center to work on our jetés,I find I can jump a little higher and keep my legs a little straighter. My muscles are burning, but it’s the first time that I’ve been able to keep up with the tempo—and with everyone else—as we switch legs in the air to land with a different foot forward each time.
I feel strangely weightless, and it’s crazy how easy everything is all of a sudden. I feel so light. I’m probably just imagining it because I’m surrounded by a pink cloud of total infatuation, but even that doesn’t really matter to me right now.
“Much better, Rayne. Try to pay a little more attention to your hands, but otherwise very good,” Mr.Conrad says, praising me.
A beaming smile spreads across my face, even though I’m breathing heavily. My stamina has improved, but not enough to get through an hour with Mr.Conrad without any problems. Especially when we’re practicing jetés. Maybe it’s only in my mind that things are easier.
“To finish up, let’s work on your grand jetés,” Mr.Conrad continues, and Mae lets out a barely audible, tortured groan next to me. She hates grand jetés, where we have to leap with our legs stretched into a split. I can’t blame her. I would hate them too, any other day. But today... well, not so much.
We’re divided into groups because there isn’t enough space for us all to leap at the same time. I’m together with Zoe, Jessica, and Kelly, and when I leap, legs stretched wide, higher than I’ve ever leapt before, it feels a little like I’m flying.
***
The day goes by quickly, with pointe class passing just as fast as the first lesson with Mr.Conrad. When Zoe and I finally enterthe contemporary dance classroom, Melanie is already waiting for us, even though we’re early. She greets us with a brief nod and a warm smile.
“Did you have a nice weekend?” she asks, sounding genuinely interested.
We both nod at the same time, and Zoe starts laughing as I blush again.
Melanie raises her eyebrows. “Did I say something wrong?”
“No,” I reply hastily. “We had a great weekend.”
“Very good. I hope you got some rest. Breaks are important.”
