Page 33 of Faking Summer
fifteen
Caroline
A shrill squeal pierced the silence, shattering the concentration in the room. I turned just in time to see a whirlwind of elation in a sparkly leotard hurtling towards me.
"See! I told you you could do it!" I caught the little girl mid-flight, her tiny arms cinching around my neck in a victorious embrace. Her cheeks were flushed with triumph, eyes glimmering brighter than the sequins on her outfit.
"I expect all of them to look like that from now on," I said, setting her down.
"You're the best," she breathed out.
"You did it all by yourself. Remember, control is key." I ruffled her hair as she scooped up her backpack, and skipped out of the room.
Just as I took a sip from my water bottle, footsteps entered the room behind me.
"Do you believe in lost causes?" The words came out hesitant, with a trace of sadness.
I turned, finding Reese's little sister, Lola, standing timidly. Her gaze held a flicker of hope.
"Lost causes?" I asked curiously.
"Th-that's what the other girls are saying," Lola stammered, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her top. It was completely opposite of the confidence her brother exuded. "That I shouldn't even try out because I'm a lost cause."
I could feel the weight of her insecurities threatening to suffocate her potential, but lucky for her, she had me. I knew I’d be able to help her make the team, and we were definitely going to work on her confidence—although her brother surely had enough for both of them. It wasn’t just because of the deal I had with Reese but because she reminded me of a young me in a way. I was always underestimated; I always felt as if I needed to work harder than others.
"Lost cause, huh?" My voice was a whisper as I tapped on my chin. "Well, they obviously don't know who they're dealing with.”
"Let's get started, Lola. We have work to do." I motioned her forward into the heart of the studio room where I liked to believe miracles happened.
"You really think I can make the team?" Her words were a fragile hope wrapped in vulnerability.
"Absolutely. I have no doubt," I confessed, taking a few steps closer to her. My shadow stretched across the floor like a dark promise. "And now you have me in your corner. We'll prove them all wrong—you're going to make the team."
Her smile, hesitant at first, eventually widened. "Thanks." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You don't seem the way Reese described."
"And what exactly did your brother say about me?" I asked, beginning to stretch an arm behind my head.
She mirrored the stretch I was doing. "He said you were a firecracker," she began, "looked like a Barbie but would probably act like a drill sergeant."
"Let's keep him thinking that," I murmured, my voice low with mischief. She nodded, acknowledging our unspoken pact. "It seems like he cares a lot about you. Who would have known he’d have such a soft spot for his little sister."
"Reese is complicated," she said suddenly, fixing her hair in the mirror. "People don't get him. They see the surface, how arrogant and bold he is, but beneath that, he's... different."
"Different how?"
"He actually has this really big heart," she continued. "It's like he's better when no one's watching. When the eyes are on him, the mask goes up, you know?"
"Sounds familiar." I smiled, my mind drifting to the countless times I'd hidden behind a mask too. "Well… let's get to work."
"Why are you helping me, though?" Lola asked.
"Because it's what I do," I answered smoothly, even though it was more a lie than not. I couldn't exactly tell her about this crazy deal her brother and I had. "I love teaching."
We started with the basics. With each jump and motion, I saw her confidence rising just a tad. She was building trust in me with every corrected posture and softened landing.
"Point your toes," I instructed. "Yes, just like that."
An hour vanished before I knew it, leaving us both breathless. Lola's grip tightened around her water bottle, her face flushed.
