Starlet

23. Date

The next day is the first day of my new classes. These classes seem much better. I figure out I'm an earth magician. I can grow plants. I am super excited. Now I need to buy a house with some land, so I can grow things. I'll make more money. I also learn how to make a door in the very first class. I guess there's other stuff they can do, but the teacher has to wait for everyone to get good before he moves on. I am going to practice so much. I have to get good with doors, so I can take the second aerial class. Nadine, Thora, and Coral aren't taking it. They said they can learn with the brains. It's more of the same, but it adds a ribbon. I feel better doing it with the instructor.

After my classes, I run home. Then make a door to my apartment in the castle. I go back and forth a couple of times, then the door sticks at my house. I climb in the window and use the backdoor for a while. Then that sticks. So, I go to the porch and climb in the window. I'll use the dining room door. Dipak sees me climb in the window and loses it. He's standing in the path laughing his ass off. "Get back out here."

I climb out the window and Dipak and Omar are both laughing now. "Oh, these kids and using windows."

Dipak nods. "I know."

Omar steps in front of my front door. "Reach to the center of the door. Grab the magic and pull it apart. Then release it. It's a magic jam. What doors are jammed?"

"Front and back doors."

"I'll make sure you can unjam them. Start with this door."

I get it to work again. Then he makes sure I get the back door. This is amazing. I go from my apartment to the house a billion more times. I fix them as they stick. Then I go to the theater in Switzerland. I find a sign for the aerial. Sign-ups are in 3 days. I sigh. So happy I learned in time.

Then I do my aerial practice in the village theater. I'm convinced it wasn't such a good first impression with Collin. He never came back. Silvia knows who he is. They're not in any classes together, and she doesn't know who is in any of his classes. But he doesn't appear to have a girlfriend. I blow it off. I have the brains play some music. I start with ballet like always. Then I use the wires to lift me while I spin. I do love to dance. The music gets stronger, and I jump to the center bar. I let the music flow through me. I love it. It feels like home. When it's over, I lower myself to the ground.

Collin helps me off the bar. "You are beautiful up there. You're an amazing dancer."

"Thank you, sir." I smile and look at the floor.

He hands me a flower.

My eyes fill up with tears and I can barely see. "A flower for me?"

He smiles. "Will you come to dinner with me tomorrow? I know it's last minute. I froze up before but I..."

I smile at him. "I would love to."

He kisses my hand. "I'll be at your house about 5:40."

"I'll see you then."

He smiles and walks out. I am frozen in place.

I stand there until Silvia grabs my shoulder and shakes me. "I HID WHEN I SAW HIM. YOU HAVE A DATE. HE IS SO CUTE. MOVE OR SOMETHING."

We squeal and jump up and down. "I NEED SOMETHING TO WEAR."

"YOU'RE RIGHT. LET'S GO SHOPPING." She pulls me and we run for the door.

Andy walks in the theater. "No. Try again."

I run back and put my dress over the dance clothes. Then I let my hair out and run for it.

The next day, I dress pretty and do my hair. I put on light makeup and get my shoes on. I go outside at 5:30 and sit on the swing. I guess if he doesn't show up, I'll fish tonight. Or I can go check my vault at my home castle. I don't know if anything will be in it, but I feel like I want to check.

I look up and he's here. He's dressed nice in a button-down shirt. He's got his hair combed to the side.

I smile and hop up.

"You are so pretty."

It takes everything I have not to kiss him. "Thank you, sir. You look nice." I fix a button on his shirt.

He puts his arm around me. I can't help but shiver, I love this. Then he walks me off the porch. "I have reservations at 6 for dinner. You want to walk through the park first?"

"I would like that. I get overexcited about bunnies though. I'll probably point out every single 1."

He chuckles. "That's alright. You like all animals?"

"Mostly. Maybe not some big animals with a lot of teeth."

"Yea, some are scary. So, I know you're in theater and dance. You work at the castle. What else do you do?"

"I start at 8 with my first magic class. I'm done by lunch. Lunch at noon. Dance class from 1 to 3. Then there's dance at the theater from 3:30 to 4:30. 5 is play practice. 6 dinner. I pass out pretty early during the week. And I'm not sure if that schedule is correct. It's being shifted because of the school changing my classes."

"I bet you pass out early. That is a lot."

"So what do you do?"

"I have classes from 8 to 1. Then I tutor for 2 hours. I didn't have to, I just like that."

"It's always nice when you find something you like."

"Makes it not seem like work. After that, I take a few hours off. After dinner, I take lessons for horn."

"I love music."

"Me too. I can really tell you love it though. You are like an angel dancing. The music seems to come alive with your dancing."

"That might be the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me... So, you watch me dance?"

He smirks. "I was there early on Friday. I spent about 15 minutes watching you. I didn't want to interrupt. But I didn't want to be a crazy stalker either. I was confused, but you're amazing to watch."

"15 minutes isn't so bad. I sent my friend Silvia out for information on you, Monday. She gathered it all week."

He stops and rubs his eyes laughing. "Does she have long light brown hair?"

"Yea. How did you know?"

"She watched me all week."

Then I laugh. "I didn't know what you wanted on Monday. So I sent her off to figure out who you were. Nothing specific."

He nods. "She never approached me, but I could tell she was watching. Did she figure anything out?"

"Only that you're not in any of her classes. Or anyone's classes really. And you don't appear to have a girlfriend."

"I do not have that yet. And I tested out of the reading, writing, and math. A lot of the skills. So, I take classes that are empty or mostly empty. I get more time with the teachers that way."

"That's really smart."

"Like getting private tutors in some of my classes. And if I don't understand something, I ask, and we go right back over it. I'm not fighting with 20 other people for 1 teacher's attention."

"That's probably the smartest thing any student did. You must be very smart."

"My dad actually thought of it. But he is a smart man."

"Sounds like it."

He opens the door to the restaurant for me. We go in and sit.

"This is really nice. I've never been here."

"It's quieter than the other places in the village. I figured it would be easier to talk."

We talk and laugh through dinner. Then we go over to the band and dance for a couple of songs. A slow song comes on, and he pulls me close. I smile and snuggle him. I do like him.

He drags his thumb over my jaw slowly. Then he tilts my face up. He gives me the sweetest kiss right in the middle of the dance floor.

Then we walk to my house slow and snuggly. I like him a lot. And he seems to like being close with me.

We get to my door and he smiles. "Can I take you out again sometime?"

"I would like that."

He gives me another of his sweet kisses. Then he kisses my hand. "I'll come see you at 4:30. Before Friday. I'll set something up for next weekend."

I smile so big. "I can't wait."

One more kiss and he leaves. I go in smiling.