Footsteps

5

"Miss Stone, do you know what the other possibilities are for classes I'll be in instead of Musical Theater?" I asked, tapping my foot, anxiously waiting for the other kid to come so we could get this all over with.

"Well, depending on your skill level, you could be put in many different things that can be made for specifically one to three people, or if you aren't very good, perhaps you would be put in Ballet, but I'd guess you'd be the higher option," she gave a weak smile.

"And, what are some of the classes that would be just for one to three people, exactly?" I asked.

"Well, maybe something along the lines of tumbling or contemporary, or if you're especially skilled and looking for something new, there is an older class that no one has done in years at the old theater next door to us, which is aerial acrobatics," Miss Stone began the list.

"Hm, they all seem like things I would like to do, and I have a short-lived history with AA," I laughed. The door to the music room clicking and groaning open startled me, and I turned swiftly.

For the love of crippled Christ our Savior.

Out of all people, out of the fine-tuned selection ranging from Aaliyah to Evan to Bade. Out of the good thousands of kids in my school that might be passionate about Musical Theater.

Shoulders back, chin up, confidently walking. Positively, most certainly, it had to be Joey La Coni.

And when he saw me, it was like a thermometer picked out of boiling water and dropped into an ice box. He slumped forward, dropping his head slightly, averting his gaze, and hurriedly shuffled towards me and Miss Stone.

Miss Stone's smile shown as she began to speak to the two of us. "So, we've got an interesting pair, here, my band student and my choir student, I don't know if you've met each other yet or—"

"We have," I muttered, trying not to sound aggressive, but somehow, even I couldn't fool myself into thinking it wasn't.

"Well, then, this might be even easier!" Miss Stone said cheerfully.

"That's not the word I'd use," Joey mumbled, almost matching my tone. Then I realized how angry I had actually sounded.

Miss Stone took a pained breath. "Anyway, we can make this turn around," she said confidently, the cheerfulness in her voice suddenly seeming less prominent. "Righty-then!" And it was back. "So I'm just gonna be asking you guys to perform some simple movements, who wants to go first?" She asked.

Joey and I turned and looked at each other. At first it was in a I wanna go first, you jerk-wad kind of way. But when we looked each other in the eyes, something we hadn't done since first hour when I helped him up after knocking him over like a moron, it was like a telepathic conversation between us.

I just swore I could hear him in the depths of my brain telling me he didn't want us to stay like this. Angry and upset at each other for God knows what reasons. And it was like he was telling me, he wanted to tell me why he was upset but there were no words for it, or words he wanted to say that could possibly explain how he felt.

Then there was a click, and I turned to Miss Stone. "I'll go first!" I smiled, giving the same one to Joey, who returned it.

"Alright, so I'll just have you take off your shoes, just for some of the exercises, and Eaden, if I told you to...Straightened Arabesque, no arms, just feet, what do you do?" She asked. I stood and did what she told me, and then proceeded to straighten and stand on one leg and point the other one to the back at about ninety degrees. "Very good, and can you tell me what the difference is between Straightened and Bent Arabesque?" She asked.