Page 73 of Damaged Boys Don't Fall For Bubbly Girls
“Thanks. Your form is perfect, too.”
“You both are doing amazing!” Brock cheers. “Go Clara and The Nutcracker.”
Gael and I chuckle as we continue the number. When I’m on point, Brock cheers again, telling me how incredible I am. I silently laugh to myself because he told me that he doesn’t even know if I’m doing the dance right. But I’m thankful he’s here to cheer Gael and me on. It definitely boosts my confidence.
“Again,” I tell Gael once we finish the number. “I want it to be perfect.”
“Your wish is my command,” he says as he rests his hands on my waist. He and I are totally on the same wavelength as we continue with the rehearsal, and I feel like I trulyamClara andhe’s The Nutcracker. The world always disappears when I dance and am in my element, but I feel it so much more now.
When we’re done, Brock jumps to his feet and claps. “I might not know much about ballet, but that was the best you’ve ever been! Good job, guys.”
“Thanks,” Gael and I say as we fling our arms around each other.
“I’ll get you drinks,” Brock offers before rushing out to another studio. There isn’t a water cooler here.
“It’s so great to have Brock here with us again,” Gael says as he wipes some sweat off his brow. “This might sound lame, but it’s like…there’s more light in our life.”
“It’s not lame,” I assure him. “I totally get what you mean. It felt like darkness descended on us after the accident, and it just got darker after Brock left, and the years after that.”
Gael grins as he wraps an arm around me. “This is why you’re our queen. Because you always get it.”
“The Water Boy has returned,” Brock announces as he walks in with two cups of water.
“Water Boy?” Gael says with a laugh as he takes a cup and downs it. “Thanks, man. I really needed this.”
“That’s why I’m the perfect water boy,” Brock says. “Because I know when you need a drink even before you do. Here ya go, Lexi. My water boy sense tells me you’re really, really thirsty.”
I also laugh as I take the second cup. “Thanks, you’re right. I’mextremelythirsty.”
“Now go get me a refill,” Gael jokes.
“I would if you really were thirsty,” Brock admits.
“This guy is an angel.” Gael throws an arm around him and yanks him close. “How did we survive the last four years without you?”
“I’m sorry—”
“No, don’t apologize. It’s in the past.”
I nod. “Exactly. Everything is all forgiven.”
“You bet.”
“Okay, thanks,” Brock says. “I’ll try not to feel so guilty anymore. I guess I have a long way to go. Are you guys done rehearsing?”
“Want to take it from the top again?” I ask Gael.
He shakes his head. “As much as I love dancing with you, I need to get home.”
“Okay. I’ll rehearse myself.”
“That’s cool.” Gael heads to his backpack and sweeps it off the floor. “Just don’t overdo it.”
We wish him goodbye. Brock settles back in his seat and I play the music for my dance number. Like before, I feel this in my bones one thousand percent. Like I’ve literally transformed into Clara. I hope this carries to the real performance as well.
After I’ve been dancing for twenty minutes, Brock gets up and tries doing his own ballet moves. But since he’s never had lessons before, he kind of looks like an unbalanced duck.
I burst out laughing when he jumps in the air with his arms and legs outstretched, trying to mimic one of The Nutcracker’s steps. But he almost falls flat on his butt.
