Breaking Pointe | Rough Draft

Four

The weekend arrived, bringing with it a much-needed reprieve from the pressures of life. My body felt heavy with exhaustion, yet the weight lifted just a little when Mary Anne texted, insisting I come over for girl time. I couldn't say no to her offer of wine and a Margarita pizza. Honestly, how could anyone?

Her apartment was a haven—warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the sterile museum-like atmosphere of my own home. Every corner of her place had a personality, from the mix of family photos that covered the walls to the colorful canvases that screamed joy. Her canopy bed was draped in soft pastel linens—yellow this time—and piled high with cushions in varying shades of white. It looked like a cloud made specifically for dreaming, with twinkling fairy lights casting a cozy, golden glow across the room.

It felt like a hug you didn't know you needed until you were wrapped in it.

Even if it did look like My Little Pony threw up in here.

Mary Anne was the embodiment of sunshine. Even now, sprawled out on her bed in mismatched pajamas and no makeup, her golden hair in a messy bun, she looked effortlessly put together. She turned to me, eyes bright with excitement as she dug into the pizza box. "Just wait until you taste this! I swear it's the best in the city!"

I perched on the edge of the bed, pouring myself a glass of wine as I eyed the pizza. "I hope you're not planning to get me drunk before we even start," I teased, taking a sip. The tartness hit my tongue, followed by the comforting warmth of alcohol spreading through me.

"Please," she scoffed, popping a slice into her mouth, "like you could get drunk on just one glass." She winked at me, the mischief in her blue eyes unmistakable. "Now spill. Tell me everything about that Nathaniel guy. Was he cute?"

The question hung in the air, and my body reacted before my mind could catch up. My cheeks flushed, the warmth from the wine intensifying as I fumbled to set my glass down. "He's... infuriating," I blurted out, the words coming out harsher than I intended.

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, barely containing her amusement.

I huffed, tossing my slice of pizza back into the box before flopping onto her pillows. "He thinks he knows everything about dance when he doesn't even practice ballet! He just... moves around like it's a joke." My voice tightened at the memory of him moving through the studio with that ridiculous grin, like nothing was serious, like dance wasn't everything.

Mary Anne snorted, clearly reveling in my frustration. "Sounds like you're totally into him."

"I am not!" The words left my mouth a little too fast, and I immediately cringed, turning my face into one of her pillows. The embarrassment bloomed hot across my cheeks.

"Oh, Amelia," she teased, drawing out my name in that sing-song way that let me know she was enjoying this far too much. "It's normal to be attracted to someone who's your complete opposite. It's basically a law of the universe. Science and stuff."

"Ugh," I groaned into the pillow, my voice muffled. "He's a distraction."

"A distraction you're totally into." She giggled, poking my side until I peeked out from behind the cushion. Her face was alive with glee as if my torment was her entertainment for the evening.

I shot her a half-hearted glare. "Your endless sunshine is disgusting."

"You love me." She batted her eyelashes dramatically before poking my shoulder again.

"Unfortunately."

"And all my sunshine is super hot," she said, winking before tossing her hair back over her shoulder. "Guys dig girls who don't look like they work nights at a graveyard."