lovely | JJ Maybank

1

be gentle with your hands as they search for one to hold.
be kinder to your heart as it looks for someone to love

"Maybe try to raise your chin a little higher," Noelle instructed, tapping the bottom of her chin. She turned it upward as she raised her arms, gracefully moving across the concrete in twirls.

Having observed the dark-haired girl, Sarah nodded before following her lead. She lifted her chin just as Noelle had, following each and every twirl that Noelle had done moments prior.

Noelle smiled, bobbing her head along to the soft music from the boombox. After Sarah finished her twirls, Noelle did the same move - just more passionate than before. She felt the music, getting way too into it as her body moved and bent in the direction she needed it to go.

"Seriously, how are you so good at this?" Sarah asked after Noelle stopped dancing. "Like, you make it look so easy."

Noelle shrugged, taking a long sip out of her water bottle before responding. "I'm not that good."

"You really are," Sarah argued.

"I've just been doing it for a long time, so some things are easier than others." Noelle sat on one of the patio chairs.

"I've been doing it just as long as you, Noelle, and I can't perfect the moves you do." Sarah copied her actions. "It's more than just routine for you, it's basically in your bones."

"It's my passion," Noelle responded.

Sarah smiled, knowing the other girl meant every word. She could tell just by watching Noelle during practices that dancing meant a lot to the girl, and she didn't know why. She didn't bother to ask, either, because she felt it might be too personal of a question to ask. They were friends but weren't that close to where she could openly ask questions like that.

"It's obvious, and I don't mean that in a bad way." Sarah took a drink of her water, "You'll have to let me know where you buy your shoes from, they're much better quality than the ones I own."

"I can send it to you now," Noelle told the other girl. She pulled her phone from her bag and found the link to the website she ordered it from. After sending the link to Sarah, she put her phone away again. "Are you sure you're fine practicing still? I know we did quite the practice earlier, I don't want to bore you with it."

"Anything's better than what I usually do all day." Sarah sighed, leaning back in the chair she sat in. "I don't mind dancing, although I don't have nearly the same amount of energy you have."

"Well we can do something else," Noelle suggested. "There's lots to do if you look hard enough."

Sarah smiled, looking around. "The pool looks warm."

"True," Noelle agreed. Just as she was about to say something else, the sound of the back patio doors opening caught her attention.

She glanced over to see her mother standing in the doorway, with two figures she couldn't make out behind her.

"Hi sweetie," Danielle spoke softly, smiling at her daughter. "Sorry to interrupt, you've got more guests."

Noelle's brows furrowed in confusion, unsure of who could possibly be there for her. The only other person she could think that it'd be was Corey, as Dahlia never came over unannounced.

She didn't have very many friends and the little friends she did have usually asked before coming over, which was rare.

"Okay," Noelle responded, realizing she hadn't said anything.

Danielle stepped out and to the side, revealing who had come over. Noelle was quick to notice Rafe Cameron, along with his best friend and Sarah's new boyfriend, Topper Thornton.