Page 137 of The Breaking Pointe
He slides his arms around me, slightly lifting me from the floor as he embraces me.
“Mhm, anything for my girl, c’mon now.You should know by now,” he says warmly, kissing my tightly slicked back hair.
I pull away, beaming up at him. Freshly shaven face and a haircut. All groomed. Just like I met him.
“You look so clean.So good,” I say.
He licks his lips.“Not in front of the girls, I’ll say somethingwild.”Hechuckles,pickingupthebag.“Open.”
“What?”Ilookatitbeforetakingit.
“It’s for you.Just open it,” he says.“Think of it as the first of many Christmas gifts.”
I smile, looking inside, then leaning into him to kiss his jaw before reaching inside and pulling out the pieces of tissue paper.When there’s no more to pull out, my fingers hit wood, making me look inside again. I set the bag down, and use both hands to pull out a small box. It’s stained a perfect cherryred,andglossedovertomakeitbrandnew.Witha
new feature added—my initials.
My music box is restored. Better than it ever has been. “You did it…” I stare at it,my eyes burning with salty
waterworks.
“Is it okay?”he softly asks, watching me.“I’ve been working on it for a while, until I felt it was perfect.I know you haven’t been in the best spirits lately, and it’s not always about me. I thought it would make you smile.” He looks at it.
I set it down and throw my arms around his torso, squeez- ing it.
“It is perfect.You’re perfect.”I grip his shirt, and push my body up so that my lips can meet his, kissing him softly. The excitement runs through my body, causing me to pull my lips away and look at him.“It’s perfect, Cole.It is.I’m…”
I start to say the words… But then I remember.
“You’re…” he tries to make me continue. “Happy.” I rub his chest. “I’m happy.”
He kisses my forehead, lingering and then pulling away. “Good luck, okay? I should get seated.”
I nod as we let go of each other and watch him make his way out. “Bye…” I murmur.
I turn around, looking at the girls who had all helped themselvestoCole’s‘invisibilitycupcakes’,halfsmiling at their giddiness. Looking at the music box, I pick it up to admire it once more, using two fingers to lift the lid. When it opens, a small ballerina with red hair levitates out of it and begins to twirl in a circle whileSwan Lakeplays in the series of little chimes and rings.
Thejinglecomesoutclear,withoutskipping,oraudio
disturbances.
I don’t even have to twist a knob to make it do anything anymore. It’s perfect.
It’s not lost on me that the things Daniel destroys, Cole puts it back together and restores it.
His way with the girls is perfect. Being with him is perfect. All I’m waiting for is three words from him.
35
the nutcracker
COLTON
Sitting in the velvet auditorium seat, the soft glow of the lights washes over the theater, casting a warm aura around Noelle as she prepares to take her place among the dozen little girls.I can feel the anticipation rushing through meas if it’s me who’s on stage.The music begins, a familiar melody that stirs something deep within me. My eyes never leave the stage, filling with reverence as she starts to glide into motion. Her movements encapsulate grace, like water flowing over the smoothest stones.Each pirouette, each leap she takes feels like an expression of whatever pure, raw emotion she’s been keeping from me.A story woven through theartofdance.It’snotherstory,butshe’stellingitlike it is.Her body speaks in a language I yearn to understand fully—one that conveys strength, beauty, and an undeniable passion. I can see the concentration etched on her face, the wayherbrowsfurrowandhereyescloseasshelosesherself
in it all.
Her spirit is soaring.
