Ballet, Apples and Wolves (Oh my!)

Answers

I wake up with a start. That... That wasn't a dream. It was a memory!  "She's Andy's and Steph's kid!" "...They've already taken Stephanie away from us." So last night was not a dream at all. Darin did come to my recital and I am adopted. I'm adopted. I feel sick. Running to the bathroom I grab my toothbrush and start to get ready. Answers I need answers.

     I need to know everything now. I go to my dresser and find some clothes, not really caring what it is. I start the shower after looking at the clock on my wall. It reads eleven in the evening. Christ, I slept that late? I take a quick shower not washing my hair which is a bad idea but nevertheless I put it up in a messy bun. Drying off I put on my clothes quickly. Without thinking I take the card out of my Juliard folder he'd given me at the recital. Darin Ricci. I'm not going to like this. My gut is telling me so. Things can't be that bad though, can it?
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"Thanks for meeting with me. I'm sorry if you were busy or whatever. I don't know what I was thinking-" "You weren't." Darin Ricci interrupts me, his voice kind. "Thinking that is. Don't worry about it Josaphine, I don't sleep much anyway." How strange. "Oh." Is all I can say. Well I figured he was weird but not sleeping, I mean everyone sleeps. Everyone who is normal that is..

I've decided we meet in a public place, I know he says he is  my uncle and we share some similarities but that does not mean that I trust him completely. I decided that McDonald's was the perfect place to talk. It's always filled with people in case Darin decides to do something crazy. Also, I was in dire need of a Mcflurry. Yes, I am a committed ballerina who pigs out on ice cream. You'd do the same if you found out you were adopted as well. Glancing at Darin now up close in lighting he isn't as intimidating like I thought he was. Aside from his obvious masculinity and deep brown eyes, he looks rather young to be my uncle. I've noticed that he always has his jaw set as if he's thinking about something impending and arms crossed. It's like he has 'No Bull' written across his forehead.

"So why'd you call me. Not saying that in a rude way, I'm happy you called actually. I was just shocked when I got your call... So fast. Is everything alright?" I can't help but notice the concern in his voice his face however expressionless. Why is he concerned about me? He doesn't even know me. Oh right, he is my uncle. This is so weird. "Well, it's just... Last night you told me I was adopted. You said you're my uncle from my real fathers side. It's natural to have questions about all of this, right?" I look at him hoping he doesn't find me insane but he's nodding, his face, if I didn't know any better, almost excited.

"And um I'm not entirely sure why I'm talking to you about this. I mean, I don't know you, you don't know me. It's just... My birth parents..." His face is thoughtful as he looks past me. I fiddle with my Mcflurry completely shy all of a sudden. "Yes? Go ahead ahead. You can talk to me Josaphine." I look up at him sharply, "What?" "Like I said before, I'm your real fathers brother. Your uncle. You can ask me anything. It is your right to know." Nodding I look at my hands. Alright we're getting somewhere. "So tell me about them." Darin looks at me like I'm the local idiot. "What?" I sigh finishing the last little bit of my ice cream. "Tell me about my birth parents. What are they like? How did they meet? You know, feel me in about them. I literally do not know anything about them" I frown. I hate not knowing important things like this. Why wouldn't either of my parents tell me about something so important like where I come from.

Something obviously must of happened to my parents since they could not keep me even though they wanted to. Darin scratches his chin obviously uncomfortable. "Well?" I persist. Darin glares at me as I smile at him not at all phased by his obvious displeasure of me at the moment. He digs in his pocket retrieving a small picture and hands it to me. In the photo, there is a young beautiful woman and a very good looking guy staring into the camera looking extremely happy. I look up at Darin, he nods. "Yes. Those are your parents. Alright. Your mother, Stephanie well she was beautiful. Obviously. One of the most beautiful human beings I have ever come across." Darin clears his throat looking away from me as I blush. Okay, so my uncle seriously had some feelings for my mother, I think that's clear enough. I stare at the woman in the photo who is my mother. Stephanie. Darin runs his hand through his hair. "I'll admit I did fancy Stephanie, at one point in my life. But she was Andrew's as soon as she laid eyes on him." There's a silence in the air that all but drowns me. Darin looks so grieved with his thoughts that it  has my heart breaking a bit for him. It must of been dreadful for him to have feelings for someone who only has those same feelings for your brother. I come up with another question to evade this prolonged silence. "So, my mother, Stephanie. Where was she from?" Darin nods his head not looking at me. "She came from NYC to Oklahoma after highschool finished. She got accepted to Oklahoma State University and took the opportunity to leave NYC." Darin takes a swig from his McDonald's cup.