Mae

Chapter 5

"I'll help you find Chris after our dance if you want."

"Thanks, it'll be cool to meet someone else from back home," Mae smiled, "I would hug you, but I can't in a tutu."

Soobin grinned, "oh how sad."

"I heard someone needs a hug?" came a voice from behind Soobin.

A boy with blonde hair and freckles appeared, obviously the owner of the voice.

"My name is Felix. You wouldn't mind a hug?"

"Okay?" Soobin answered unsurely as Felix wrapped his arms around Soobin's middle.

Mae giggled at the sight of this strange boy hugging Soobin. Soobin was so tall that Felix only came part way up his shoulder, and that made a funny scene.

"You said that your name is Felix? Well my name is Mae, and this is Soobin."

Felix un-attached himself from Soobin and straightened, "nice to meet you."

Another person appeared from behind Soobin.

"Oi Felix, come here bro," he said in English, a little annoyed.

Felix turned and let out a disappointed "coming."

"Hey, you're Australian?" Mae asked in English.

"Yes, are you?" Felix replied, waving the other boy over.

"Well, yes. Is he too?"

"Crikey!" exclaimed Felix with a big grin, "We found another one Christopher."

"G'day, m'name's Chris, and he's Felix and we are all from Australia, hello," Chris introduced in an exaggerated accent.

Mae giggled and a quick fire conversation in English followed. Soobin stood awkwardly off to the side, looking very small, even with his impressive height. He squeezed Mae's hand before heading off to hunt out Yeonjun. Mae was talking like she could go on all day, and he didn't understand much of it.

Soobin resolved to go back and remind her to head backstage in ten minutes. She likely wouldn't notice the time, and she had to perform her swan group dance soon. 

⋆ ♫ ♪ ♫ ⋆

Mae's last dance of the night was her duo with Soobin. It was later than most of the students usually went to bed, and everyone was dead tired after a whole day of dances. The dancers all sat together against the back wall, draped over each other, too tired to care if they knew the other or not.

Mae passed a cookie to Soobin. Grandma had made sure the two had enough to eat for the day. He took it and ate with a lifeless expression.

Mae and Soobin had done at least fifteen dances each, and would be back for an early start tomorrow to finish off their other entries. Mae flexed her foot, which was starting to cramp, and yawned as one of the staff asked for the first pair. 

A jazzy upbeat song came on and the two tired performers exploded onto the stage. Mae snorted at the irony of it all. She was beginning to dread having to stand up and dance, but at the same time, performing was her favourite thing in the whole world, and this time, she got to do it with Soobin. 

⋆ ♫ ♪ ♫ ⋆

"You two danced wonderfully!" Grandma congratulated Mae and Soobin as they arrived in the audience to watch the last final dances for the night. 

Mae moaned a "thank you" and crumpled into the chair next to her grandma. Soobin sank into the seat next to her, sweat pouring off of his forehead. Mae's face felt awful with all of her stage makeup caked on and her eyelashes were crunchy with mascara. Her hair was a crispy oily mess full of hairspray and hair oil to slick down unruly hairs. 

Mae felt like she was at the end of her energy and every muscle in her body ached. Her heels were blistered and her legs were shaky. But how she had danced! The thrill of the stage kept her from giving up. She was a performer. It was in her blood.

The bright lights and loud music banished all thoughts of possible sleep in the theatre and Mae and Soobin were content to watch the rest of the competitors dance, thankful that they were no longer on their feet. 

Someone tapped Mae on her shoulder and she groggily turned around. Felix offered her a tired smile.

"You guys dance so well together."

"Hey thanks." 

Mae took in the people sitting next to Felix. There were eight boys in total and an older man sat at the end next to Chris. 

"You have quite a large group of you," she observed.

"You bet. Seven of us are performing, but that kid in the glasses came to watch us. His name is Jeongin and he's still a junior but we can't be parted from him."

"Who is that guy sitting next to Chris?" Mae guestered with a tired arm. 

"Oh that's our principal, Mr. Jay Why Pee. He's Chris' uncle. He has an eye for talent but that is about the only compliment I can give him."

"I've heard he isn't the greatest," Mae winced.

"He's alright."

Grandma turned her head around and joined the conversation, "hello there young man."

"Hello," Felix smiled. 

"Are you two friends?"

Felix raised an eyebrow at Mae, letting her decide. 

Mae nodded, "Felix is from Australia."

"Well, you are welcome at my house anytime. I'll be baking this weekend, why not the two of you help me and Jake out?"

Felix's face lit up and he nodded, "making brownies is my second favourite thing to do."

⋆ ♫ ♪ ♫ ⋆

"Jake! Don't let Layla eat the batter!" Mae reminded her brother, who had gotten distracted trying to figure out the oven knobs.

  Grandma's border collie Layla was looking at the bowl longingly. 

"I'll get it," replied Grandma, who promptly moved the bowl further from the edge of the bench.

Mae finished greasing the cupcake tin and started to spoon the chocolate mixture in. Felix was busy alternating between manually mixing icing for the cupcakes and supervising the stand mixer which was mixing cookie dough. 

"Look at the mess we've made," chuckled Grandma as she booped an unsuspecting Mae on the nose with a floury hand.

"Hey!" she protested and then giggled.

Jake stood up after setting the oven and Grandma promptly booped him on the nose too.

"Not fair," he pouted.

He paused for a moment and then his face lit up. He swiped his thumb through a pile of flour and then made an ark on his grandma's forehead.

"Simba!" he cheered, "now we're even."