The Nutcracker Under the Mistletoe
The Christmas lights were creating a dim glow around the room, making it feel more homing and intimate. All anyone could hear was laughter and chatting, the Christmas songs were just background noise. I gazed at all of the people around the room just chatting and having conversations. Everyone seemed to be with a group, while I silently sat in a corner just watching not wanting to disturb anyone.
I silently moved from my seat towards the kitchen, where Hillary was. Just as I pushed the door open to the kitchen, a flurry of mahogany red hair danced towards me.
"Diamond Night, you get back into that living room. You are not allowed anywhere near this kitchen," Hillary said before I could even say a word.
"But Hillary—"
"No buts Diamond Night now move it or lose it," I rolled my eyes at my oldest best friend but did as I was told.
I sighed but walked back into the living room, just as I was about to return to my corner I heard a voice with a thick Southern twang call out my name. "Diamond."
I turned in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Theodore 'Teddy' Williams. I smiled at the sight of my best friend’s Alabaman cousin. He had filled out more, from the last time that I had seen him, must have been from all that football at school and being on a row team. Maybe the ballet practices with his mom had something to do with it too.
"Teddy," I exclaimed running towards him to give him a hug. He caught me mid-jump into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck as I was dangling 13 inches above the ground. I smiled at hearing his laughter to my reaction of seeing him.
"Theodore Williams, you put мой маленький бриллиант (my little Diamond) down this instant!" Came another voice with a soft Russian accent to it.
"But Mama—" Teddy started to complain.
"Down Theodore," Stacia Willams told her oldest son.
Teddy sighed but did as his mother told him to. Now that I was safely on the ground, I turned towards my Russian surrogate mother. While we weren't related, Stacia and I have had a close bond since I had first met Hillary's cousins. Stacia had helped me with my dance career. Of course, over the years Teddy had always been there to help. He had wanted to be my ballet partner but when we had started high school he had taken other interests like football.
"привет(Hello) Stacia," I said with a smile and gave her six foot frame a hug. She was so tall, while I was a measly five foot one. Stacia never really cared about my height; she always told me that I had the body and grace of a true ballerina.
"Diamond, my darling, how are you?" She asked. Teddy standing behind me.
"I'm wonderful, how are you?" I asked, I couldn't wait to tell her the news.
"The same. Now what's this rumor that I've heard about you concerning one British dancer?" She outright asked not wanting to be subtle.
"It's nothing really," I started.
"Oh it is definitely not nothing," Teddy interjected before I could finish.
I rolled my eyes at Teddy before continuing, "It's not a big deal. I mean I just happen to be dancing the Derek Smith who will play the Nutcracker Prince in the Nutcracker, while I'll be playing Clara."
"You're going to be Clara?" Teddy asked his voice full of shock and happiness.
"Yes," I said nodding my head and looking at Stacia for her approval on my role.
