𝙻𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚢 : ᴘᴀɪɢᴇ ʙᴜᴇᴄᴋᴇʀꜱ

23- Bond

Emma stood in the kitchen, peering out the window at the snow-covered backyard where Drew was already dribbling a basketball, his breath visible in the crisp winter air. It was still early, and Paige had left for a short visit with her old basketball coach, leaving Emma and Drew alone for the day. At first, Emma had been nervous about spending one-on-one time with Drew. He was only 11, but there was something about wanting to make a good impression on Paige's family that filled her with butterflies.

Now, though, as she watched Drew eagerly practicing his moves, she felt a sense of calm and excitement. She had always loved working with younger kids, and Drew's energy reminded her so much of Paige's. She wanted to build a relationship with him, especially knowing how close he and Paige were.

After finishing her cup of coffee, Emma bundled up in her coat and gloves, grabbed her scarf from the hook by the door, and made her way outside to join Drew.

The cold air hit her cheeks as she stepped onto the back porch, but the warmth of Drew's excited energy was infectious. He spotted her almost immediately and waved her over, bouncing the ball with practiced ease.

"Come on, Emma!" Drew called out, grinning. "I want to show you my new move!"

Emma laughed, walking through the snow toward him. "Alright, let's see it," she said, genuinely curious.

Drew quickly set up for a layup, dribbling smoothly before executing a perfect shot off the backboard. The ball sailed cleanly through the hoop, and he turned around with a wide smile, clearly proud of himself.

"Nice shot!" Emma said, clapping her hands. "You've got some serious skills."

Drew beamed at the compliment, bouncing the ball back to Emma. "Thanks! I've been working on it every day since Paige came home. She showed me a few new drills, and I've been practicing a lot."

Emma caught the ball and dribbled it slowly, testing her own ability to move in the snow. She hadn't played much basketball since she was a kid, but she could appreciate the precision and focus that went into it, especially with someone as dedicated as Drew.

"You're definitely getting better," Emma said as she passed the ball back to him. "You've got great form."

Drew smiled but then hesitated for a moment, looking thoughtful. "You're really good at ballet, right?" he asked, his tone more serious now. "Paige told me you've been dancing since you were little."

Emma nodded, feeling a little surprised by the question but also touched by his curiosity. "Yeah, I've been dancing for as long as I can remember," she said. "It's always been my passion."

Drew dribbled the ball absentmindedly as he continued. "Is it hard to keep doing something for so long? Like, when it gets really tough, do you ever want to quit?"

Emma considered the question carefully, appreciating the depth of Drew's curiosity. She could see that he was trying to understand the dedication and persistence it took to pursue something you loved, even when it got difficult. It was a question she had asked herself many times over the years.

"There are definitely times when it's hard," Emma said honestly. "Ballet isn't always easy. It's physically demanding, and there are days when my body is sore and tired, or I feel like I'm not improving fast enough. But even on the tough days, I remind myself why I love it so much. I love the way I feel when I'm dancing, how I can express emotions and tell stories through movement. That's what keeps me going."

Drew nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration as he listened. "That's kind of like basketball for me," he said after a moment. "I love playing, but sometimes I get frustrated, especially when I can't get something right or when other kids are better than me. But I don't want to give up because I want to be really good, like Paige."