Clementine had become a wild child. Born in America but raised abroad, she now had little regard for the expectations of high society. But her reckless ways eventually catch up with her when she is kicked out of college in New York City and forced t...
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Her mother was ravenous when Clementine finally asked her to go to the dance studio.
Her mother, being the ex prima ballerina of Brazil that she was, was still in all the circles and it was easy for her to secure a studio in the city on a moment's call.
One in particular, however, was Clementine's favourite. Nestled in a neighbourhood that doesn't look like much - very local, very urban - there is an art dance studio with wide windows that opened out and the perfect hardwood floor.
This studio was often used by the national ballet school, and when Clementine used to study dance seriously, this was also where she had a lot of her private lessons (in addition to the group ones after school).
It was to her own surprise as well, that Clementine gravitated towards the studio after all this time.
She wasn't sure she'd remember perfectly how to do any of it. But as soon as she stepped on the floor, she remembered the feel of it. You don't do in dance, you feel.
Muscle memory took over and before she knew it, an hour passed by and she paused, taking a moment to look in the mirror, observing the slightly disheveled hair and sweat on her body.
For a brief moment, she forgot herself.
But looking in her eyes she was brought back to her present reality. And the ache that she felt deep inside. Somewhere between her heart and her stomach, what she presumed to be her soul, there was a new, nagging feeling ever since that night with Zico.
"What are you doing?"
Suddenly, Clementine was taken out of her daydream.
She looked behind her shoulder and instantly recognized the face.
"Mina!" Clementine exclaimed and ran towards her childhood best friend to hug her.
"Clemenitna! It's you?!" Mina answered in bewilderment, both hugging each other for what felt like and probably was the first time in years. "I can't believe it's you. I didn't know you were back in town. And dancing!"
"It's me," Clementine was guilty of this, not really telling anyone about her sudden change of plans.
"I was just leaving practise, and saw someone using the studio, but I had no idea it'd be you. Listen, I have some time. Do you want to grab a coffee or something? I feel like there's so much to catch up on."
Clementine glanced at the clock but then remembered that her days were mostly empty anyway and she could use some company. In fact she really yearn for it and this was like a little sign, message from above.
"Let me grab my stuff." Clementine moved swiftly across the studio, grabbing her bag and quickly changing so that her dance outfit would not be that conspicuous on the Rio streets.
They both ran through the narrow, cobble stone streets. Eager to hear about each other's lives, not saying much and instead saving it for later.
They found a very local and quaint cafe on a street corner, and quickly Mina was able to score them a table on the terrace. The waiter came and they ordered two coffees and sandwiches.
Once the waiter brought their waters, the conversation could begin.
"So," Mina began, her interlocked fingers supporting her chin as she brought her attention to her friend and peered at her through the sunlight flooding their table. "Where do we start?" She asked.
"I can't believe I ran into you. I meant to let you know, but things just happened sort of...sudden." Clemenitne tried to find the right word.
"How so?" Mina took a sip of her water and Clementine watched the cool beads run down her glass.
"Its kinda a long story - but long story short I am taking a break. From school, from New York City."
"Really? How long?" Mina asked, her curiosity obviously perked up.
"Not long, a semester probably. And you? Still dancing I see!"
"Oh, I'm taking classes at the college, and teaching and dancing on the weekends and evenings. You know how it is with our families, you can pursue what you want but only as long as you're taking over the family business at the same time...Anyway, I'm happy and busy."
Clementine nodded, not wanting to get into that conversation. Mina and Clementine were both from well for to do families, having gone to private school together. And if anything, at least their shared understanding of their background made it easy for them to understand each other and not have to worry about the divergence that comes otherwise.
"And, of course, I'm still with Eduardo." Mina added as if it was the inevitable ending to her paragraph. Which it kind of was, them having been on and off together for years. Eduardo was the nature choice for her family. "You?" Mina winked at Clementine, referring to her love life.
At this point, Clementine would have much preferred the conversation about their social class than this. She felt like she was somehow a failure again, having come so close to Zico and gone back to what seemed like 0 from a 100 so quick
Before she could respond, however, the waiter brought them sandwiches.
"And this," the waiter placed down two beers, "its from them." The waiter nodded towards the other side of the terrace, where a group of older men were sitting.
When Clementine looked over, they raised their drinks to them, as if that was the acceptable thing to do.
