Page 26 of The Breaking Pointe
“Hi, I’m finally back.Train was slow—again,” I say, slipping past her as we bump cheeks and side hug each other briefly.
I set all of my bags on the counter, finally taking one deep breath as I lean against it.
“You didn’t miss tofu stir fry, so you’re right on time.” She faces me now, pushing her hair out of her face.
I smile brightly, bouncing my shoulders a bit, causing her facial expression to become concerned.
“Someone’s abnormally happy.” She starts to smile as if she isn’t sure it’s appropriate.
“No—me?” I question her as I fumble with my necklace, turning around to face the grocery bags I set down.“A normal amount of happy.”
“Nu-uh, you’re all rosy, and you have a glow.” She turns me around again, smiling like she means it this time.
“I’mfeelingpositive.”Ipressmylipstogethernervously.
She rubs my arm and returns to stirring the food before taking another look at me.
“Good news about the girls, or the studio or something— oh!Did you get a show offer?”she exclaims, rushing into
various ideas.
“Nothing about the girls.” I hum my laughter, listening to her.
“Parents coming to New York?”she asks, raising her eyebrows.
“It’s not that, either. I wish that was it.” I shake my head, taking a few cans and putting them away. “It’s not a big deal, Lauren. I’m just smiley,” I insist.
“Welp, that just means that it is. So, c’mon. Fess up.” She stops her stirring and twirls the spoon like a wand.
I can feel my face starting to burn.She knows me as if we’ve been friends for a decade, and she can catch onto me like it’s nothing.I bet I’m as red as a tomato by now, just thinking about Colton.How soft of me to be so warped by this stupid date. “Don’t tell me it’s Danny,” she says with a displeased tone.
My head whips around to give her a glare.
“No.Absolutely not.”I turn around again to remove things from more bags.
She giggles, poking at my waist. “Is it pretty boy, Colton Kennedy? And he wants to take you out? And spoil you and bat his pretty, brown eyes at you?” she sings to me in a silly voice, tickling me now.
Unable to contain my laughter, I jump away from her and fix my hair, not giving her the answer.Only she would be able to make a joke that accurate.
Her giggles cut out like a power surge, and she pauses, standing beside me.
“I was joking…is it seriously because of him?”
I turn to her, briefly closing my eyes. “Must you make abig deal out of this?” I smile politely.
She nods quickly. “Yes! If it’s making you red and cheeky, then yes!” she squeals. “Just a little bit of detail, I have to know—please, please, please?” she begs.
I continue to put things away. “Fine. I saw him at the store. He was nice to me. Same as the other night.”
“Nice to you? That’s all?” She lets out a short laugh. “We’regoingonadatetomorrow,”Isayasquicklyas
possible,hopingshe’llmissit.
“Pardon me?You sneaky witch, that is such a big deal.” She laughs more.
At last, she engulfs herself back into the pan of food, turning the heat off underneath it.
“Y’know, Lauren, I doubt it will amount to anything, alright?Don’t get excited,” I say, trying to ease my mind more than hers.
