Something about this Tuesday afternoon would be different. I would actually be excited to go to a ballet lesson.

I had been going for a nearly two weeks now and I was pleasantly excited. The team had been told because of a conflict I had to skip practice on Tuesdays (something about having to pick Katie up from school).

As usual I was always a bit late to Alexandria's lessons but that was always because her former teacher and owner of the studio Rosie always stopped me to chat. I hadn't told Alexandria that Rosie always stopped me and chatted to me and that she was actually one of the nicest people I had met in my life.

And I'd met a lot of people.

"Lincoln sweetheart how are you?" I smiled at the usual greeting I got from Rosie. "I'm okay, are you good?" I asked her leaning my elbows against the desk. "Lincoln I am always good but since you asked..." and then she proceeds to tell me another vibrant story about her day and I liked that she told stories.

My mum used to talk to me about when she lived in England and she used to tell Katie and I stories which were vibrant and colourful just like she used to be.

"Oh gosh I'm sorry Lincoln I'm going to make you late again" Rosie had spotted the time blinking on the computer and I shook my head at her. "It's no problem Rosie" I waved her off and she sighed "your a good kid Lincoln Valentine but don't let Alexandria give you a hard time" she winked at me and I rolled my eyes.

I said goodbye to her and began to climb the stairs.

I could hear Alexandria's usual steps: heavy but with rhythm. Pushing open the door I could see her her twirling around back to wearing her usual dark sweats and catching my eye were a her shoes which were now red instead of pink.

I watched her fall on her feet and she looked frustrated but she stood up again and she positioned herself to begin again she saw me. "Oh hi" she suddenly looked embarrassed that I caught her in a moment of a mistake. "That was really cool" I blurted out and the pink tint did not go unnoticed. "What me falling?" she rolled her eyes and I copied.

She was so hard on herself. Like me with football we strive to be the best and the standouts, to be the one everyone remembers. I understood her on that playing field but everywhere else Alexandria Stappord was a mystery wrapped in a goddamn riddle.

"No, the thing you did before that Cairo or did that fall already mess with your memory" I chuckled and her lips curved in a smile. "It's called a fouetté but it's never been hard for me, I don't know why now I can't nail it" I watched her sigh and walk over to me. "Come on let's start with the positions, I think after this week you can start a basic routine" she grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards the barre and I followed her lead in a warmup.

We began the positions again and I was finally getting the first two was still shaky in my third and fourth which is what we were working on today.

"Your getting better" she told me and let out a laugh. "Cairo I am as bad as a blind bull in a china shop" she rolled her eyes and fixed my posture "Hyrule your getting better I swear" she assured me and somehow she made it seem like I could be as good as her.

"Your never told me why you have to do this" she said and I tensed "I don't want to talk about that Alexandria" I said and I could see her look offended. "Fine"
"Fine!? Your pissed because I won't tell you a secret?" I didn't mean to yell at her but we were both private people and naturally we kept our secrets very close.

"I said fine Lincoln, let's just drop it" she roughly jerked my arm into a correct position and I angry moved my hand away from her.

"Damnit Alexandria" I was getting frustrated at her now or maybe I getting frustrated at myself for letting my own secrets build up and that someone actually cares enough to ask.  Without wanting or a second thought I grabbed my jacket and stormed out of the studio, leaving her behind. When I barged into the reception area I could see Rosie's shocked expression as I slammed the door.

I was pissed and maybe I was over reacting but I didn't care. My secrets stayed buried at least most of them. I drove myself to one of the less known haunts in our neighbourhood and walked inside.

Samantha Blake inc. was a previously shut down bank which was now a bar. Named after Samantha Blake who originally owned the bank nearly fifty years ago. Honestly I needed alcohol and possibly lots of it.

Sitting at the bar the bartender stood wiping classes and when he noticed me he took my order (beer) . Thankfully our neighbourhood wasn't big enough for everyone to know everyone so of course we all had a fake ID (mine was Charles Cartwig).

I was at least half way done when I saw someone at the door way, searching. When I looked at the face more closely I nearly choked.

Alexandria?

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Sorry it's been awhile and I can't believe I am almost at 1k reads!? Also Howler has just hit 4K reads.

I would also like to make a shoutout to oscitant_writer for leaving such lovely comments on this story and voting x

L xx