AROUND THE HEART IN 80 DAYS

Forty Two

"...voilà me portrait sans retouche
De l'homme auquel j'appartiens
Quand il me prend dans ses bras
Il me parle tout bas..."

Rebecca stopped the packing and faced the door. The knocking of Blair's shoes against the parquet floor stopped too. Just as one of their dancers made his way out of the hall, Edrei made his entrance, his hands searching the bag strapped on one shoulder.
He was... healthier? Healthy looking? His arms had more defined bumps, his colour was brighter. Then there was the mood he walked in with. There was a ghost of amusement in his face no matter how hard he was trying to look unbothered.
He wore a large grey sleeveless shirt that fell an inch or two lower from the top of his thighs and he had on dark tights with grey leg warmers and trainers. Last time anyone one had seen him dress like that, he was still a performer.

"Christmas after Christmas. Or are the heavens opening today?" Blair snickered and proceeded with breaking the wood in her new shoes.

Rebecca could only eye her brother suspiciously. This was the second time ever he had shown up at Blair's studio. The first being the opening where she had dragged him to make an appearance.

"Blair Waldorf!" He walked to Blair who was seated behind Rebecca and crouched to her level then put his arm around her in an awkward hug. Blair winced and pulled away with immediate effect. Rebecca covered her mouth in both shock and amusement as Edrei just shrugged.

"I cannot believe you still call me that. Do you have a death warrant? And what's with your sudden presence? Becca what is with him?"

The brunette shrugged in reply then beckoned quickly for him. He obediently moved on to the floor next to her and set his bag down. "What's come over you? Did you plan to give us a good laugh by stopping by? You know Mama has been worried sick 'cause you didn't show up when she told you to. She almost cried for her little boy, Edrei."

"Stop teasing me with that. I sincerely have work issues, it's the beginning of the year, that's how it is. How is Alex?"

"He's fine. Finer now since you hardly ask of him. And give your mother a call. It's me she cries to. You know Papa disappears when it's time to console her. And I see some twinkling of laughter in your face, Iddy. What has you so excited?"

He stared down at his hands, "Laughter? What laughter? I just felt like dancing today. Is that so wrong?"

She turned to him immediately. "Dancing?"

"I felt happy today, OK?" He bent his head low as his grin widened. "And it's a good thing you haven't locked up the studio yet. We can just go through some basics. I just felt like..." he began to make gestures with his hands, "letting all this emotion out."

"Emotion? Edrei, what's happened to you?"

"Why are you asking me that? Does something have to happen to me?"

Rebecca shuffled in her sitting position so she was facing him. "Did you go to Isis' today?"

"I did yesterday."

"With Jacqueline?"

"No. Alone. She had work."

"I see. And did something happen at your workplace that's making you so happy?"

"No. Sales is sales. Normal."

"Then is the happiness coming from your personal life?" That question was asked with hope. Her mother told her about him spending the night with the woman that came the other night. The family members were pissed, Rebecca was far from it.

"Oh Becca," he playfully nudged her leg with his and relaxed his weight on his palms behind him. Rather than stop, he mindlessly kicked on at her legs.

"Psst, Becca. Becca, what are you two saying? He had sex, didn't he? Is it that Jacqueline girl? Did they sleep together?" Blair crouched forward.