Circus ⚜ Ch. 3

Later that week, Andrae was with his friends outside, enjoying the beautiful early autumn weather after school.

"So. How's classes?" Sahir asked, pulling apart a blade of grass.

"Architecture has been fun. I already have a few ideas I want to implement at home," Andrae answered.

"Yes, and literature has lots of pretty girls," Taji grinned. "And actually good books this year."

Amaro had a book over his face. "You people are so boring."

Vlastik, having known Andrae the longest, pointed to a spot of empty grass. "Hey Drae, you should do that thing. You know, that thing you do."

"What thing?" Sahir asked, curious.

Andrae grinned and got up. Ditching his jacket, he stood in an open spot and did a standing backflip.

"Woah! Do that again!" Taji said, running a hand through his hair.

"Do what? I missed it." Amaro removed the book in time to see him do a handspring. "Wicked! How do you do that?"

He was about to do a third flip when something caught his eye. Someone was moving rather quickly across the lawn. "Is that... Kezia?"

She glanced back and waved.

Andrae pointed frantically to his jacket, and Vlastik threw it to him. "Catch you guys later." With that he ran after her to see where she was off to in such a hurry.

"Kezia!" he called again. Finally he caught sight of her over by the cabs. "Kezia. Hi."

She looked back and smiled. "Oh, hello. What's your hurry?"

"I was going to ask what was yours. Are you going to ballet practice?"

She nodded. "Yes."

Going out on a limb, he asked, "Would you mind if I watched? If not that's fine. I know how performers can be with the extra pressure."

She looked surprised. "Oh... You want to see me dance?"

She was so cute flustered like this. "Yes. Why not?"

With a small smile she nodded to the cab. "Okay then. It won't be that exciting, mind you."

He shrugged. "I don't mind. It's better than watching Sahir tear apart leaves."

She chuckled and got in, scooting over for him. "The Arts Academy, please," she told the driver.

They drove a fairly short distance to the second castle, getting out and heading straight for the back of the exquisite building.

Kezia pointed to an ornate door. "If you go in this way, I'll be up on stage with the others in a few minutes."

"Alright." Andrae went into a small auditorium clearly meant for practice. Bits of sets were strewn about to be used for the theatre class, and a beautiful old piano was set up for music and dance. He sat in a seat and waited for her to come onstage.

A woman was already there, prepping the stage. Soon five ballerinas came out and began stretching.

"Good afternoon ladies. Today we'll be working on your solos for the recital coming up. Veronica, you're up first."

Andrae watched each of them work through the kinks in their dances. He paid special attention to Kezia. She was so graceful and strong. She reminded him very much of an acrobat. But she had a precision that was just remarkable to him. Through it all, he could see her passion, her patience, and her beauty.

As they finished, the woman pulled Kezia aside. "I'm proud of you, miss Cioaba. You have mad the most improvement considering your late start. Well, considering you're used to an entirely different dance style altogether. Well done. You've worked hard."

Even from a distance he could see that she was glowing. "Thank you Madame Palova."

Andrae waited for her, and grinned as she walked up.

"Did you hear that? I might actually get to go to the Arts Academy for my third year!" she gushed.

He smiled. "Well you looked amazing. I can believe it. How are you so perfectly precise? She was correcting mistakes I didn't even notice. You looked so completely natural."

Kezia bit her lip to keep from grinning like an idiot. "You really think so?"

"Yes! Absolutely." Looking out at the lake illuminated by the setting sun, he said, "Would you want to stop by Vanera for something to eat?"

Her lips quirked in a grin. "Like, a date?"

He grinned hopefully. "Yes...?"

She thought for a second, smiling. "I'd like that."