The Rizzoli's were surprised to see Jane up and running the following Saturday morning. Frank looked at Angela who shrugged happily. Maybe Jane just really liked her new job. Really, really liked it. She made breakfast for everyone, which is something she never did voluntarily before.
"Well aren't you Little Miss Sunshine?" Tommy chuckled, observing his sister flipping pancakes.
"What, I can't do something nice for my family once in a while?" Jane quipped.
"I'm not complaining!" Tommy held up his hands, "but say, if I didn't know any better I'd say you met some guy at work or something" he said, grinning. Jane spun around, spatula in hand, waving it menacingly at Tommy, a snappy comeback on the tip of her tongue.
"C'mon kids," Angela interrupted, "Why can't you just sit quietly like Frankie?". Frankie turned red as both of his siblings shot him a glare. Jane was back to smiling a few moments after. Maybe she really met a guy, Frankie thought.
After breakfast, Frank caught Jane sneaking a few of those delicious blueberry pancakes into her bag. He raised an eyebrow in question.
"In case I get hungry at work!" she replied indignantly. And with that she left for work.
Jane arrived at Miss V's studio a few minutes later. It was a few miles away from home but she practically ran the entire distance. She checked to make sure her pits weren't too smelly from the exercise, and quickly pulled her hair into a ponytail so she looked a little bit more presentable before entering.
As soon as she pushed through the French doors, she was greeted by a quite uh, voluptuous ass. Maura was bent over, untying her shoes. Perfect timing. Jane cleared her throat. Maura looked up.
"Well, hello Jane" she beamed.
"Morning" Jane replied, sticking her hands in her back pockets. Maura was now seated on the bench, putting on her pointe shoes.
"Well, are you just going to stand there?" Maura chuckled and patted the bench next to her. Jane took a seat, wishing she'd stolen some of her mother's perfume. She racked her brain for something cool to say, but Maura turned out to be a good conversationalist.
"So, the recital is coming up soon. I'm glad."
"Oh, how come? Do you like performing?" Jane asked.
"I do… that, and it means more rehearsals. So I'll get to see more of you." Maura explained.
Jane blushed. How was this girl she had just met so forward? She just oozed confidence. Usually Jane was good at making friends herself, but she found herself rather nervous around Maura. At the same time, she felt a strong desire to impress her.
"So, I uh, I made some blueberry pancakes and I have some with me, if- uh, if you wanna try one" Jane offered. Even though she didn't cook often, she was a very talented chef. What better way to impress her new friend? She had already started fetching the pancakes from her bag when Maura answered.
"Thanks, Jane" Jane smiled at the way Maura said her name, "but, I really shouldn't eat right before practice." With that, she got up and entered the studio. Jane looked on in disbelief as Maura walked over to a few other ballerinas and struck up a conversation.
"What? How could she just tell me that she's glad to see more of me and then just leave? After declining my pancakes too!" Jane wondered to herself, confused. Just then, the French doors opened. Miss V strode in elegantly.
"Come, Jane" she said with her trademark double clap, "time to begin!"
The class passed quickly and Jane was too occupied and focused to catch a few stolen glances at this mysterious Maura. She had received instructions at the end of class to learn the pieces from Swan Lake for the recital. So when class was over, she pulled up the sheet music on her phone and tried to learn the Danse des Petits Cygnes. She had just finished playing through the piece twice and was working on memorizing it when she heard footsteps coming down the hall. Her heart sped up. Could it be Maura?
Indeed it was. She slipped in to the studio just as Jane began to play again. Before Jane could cease playing to greet her, Maura whispered "Don't stop." At the sound of Maura's sultry whisper, the hairs on the back of Jane's neck stood on end. But she continued playing. She was looking down at the piano, but in her peripheral vision, she could see Maura gliding across the studio with arabesques and jetes. Jane wanted to do nothing but look up and admire Maura's grace, but she had to continue playing. At the end of the piece, Maura stood at the barre, panting heavily. She was really worked up.
"You okay there, Maur?" Jane said, surprising herself as the nickname slipped out so effortlessly.
"I'm fine. I just really want this. I need to be the Swan Princess" she explained, still breathing hard. Jane took this opportunity to walk towards her. She placed her hand on the small of Maura's back. She was almost doubled over and Jane was sure this was the first time she had seen her without her normally impeccable posture. At the touch, Maura straightened.
"Would you bring me my water bottle, please?" she asked. Jane nodded and exited the studio to grab the water from the bench in the hall. When she reentered, she was holding the purple water bottle in one hand and a small Tupperware container. Maura was seated cross-legged on the studio floor now, in the same position that she sat when she first listened to Jane play.
"Here," Jane said as she approached Maura and sat beside her, "your water, and a little snack to get your energy back up." Maura smiled as Jane offered her a pancake. She noticed only then that she was really hungry. She was sorry for being so abrupt with Jane earlier and she was really glad that she did get to try the pancakes after all. They were sumptuous!
"Mmm!" Maura couldn't help but exclaim.
"I knew you'd like them." Jane smirked.
"Wow, Jane. I'm impressed! Did you make them yourself?" Maura asked.
"Yup," Jane said. Mission accomplished.
"Well, I wish you would cook me breakfast sometime" Maura laughed.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously." Maura said, looking into Jane's eye for a moment.
Jane was suddenly aware of how close their faces were. She pulled back and allowed Maura to finish the pancake in peace. Afterwards, Maura stood.
"Jane, I'd like to practice one more time, if you don't mind. Auditions are next week." Maura did her best puppy dog face, hoping like many others, Jane would comply.
"Oh, well you can. But I'm not playing for you." Jane said.
"What? Why?" Maura was surprised her charm hadn't worked this time.
"I want to look at you…I mean, maybe I can help you out, from a musical standpoint" Jane said, rubbing the back of her neck as she stood up next to Maura. She was a good few inches taller than the petite ballerina.
"But, how am I to dance without music?" Maura asked, concerned.
"Ever heard of Youtube, little lady?" Jane laughed, pulling out her phone.
"Of course I have. It's a video-sharing website headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States. The service was created by three former employees in February of 2005 but then it was-"
"Wow, thanks Talking Google, but I've already pulled up the piece if you're ready to practice." Jane interrupted.
Maura nodded, not sure if Talking Google was meant to insult or praise, but she walked over to the right side of the room and stood in her starting position.
Jane sat at the piano but made sure she had a clear view of Maura, then she pressed play. The sound of the string instruments swelled in the room, contrasting with Jane's playing. Jane was only the accompanist for the early rehearsals as there would be an orchestra playing for the recital. She wished she could be playing for the recital as that meant more rehearsal time with Maura, but then again, not playing means she could have a seat in the audience and admire Maura for the whole show.
Maura moved with great agility across the room. She was the picture of grace and she embodied the character of the little swans perfectly. As her hands moved above her head during a turn, Jane was surprised to see her incredibly toned forearms. As the music sped up, so did Maura. She was brilliant. Soon, the piece came to an end. Jane was awestruck. Maura strode over to where Jane was seated and took a sip from her water bottle.
"Well?" Maura asked, unable to read Jane's expression.
"That was brilliant, Maur." she said earnestly.
"No one's ever given me a nickname before. I don't have much friends" She stated matter-of-factly.
"Really?" Jane asked. She seemed so perfect, surely she had tons of friends at school, or so Jane had thought.
"Well, now you have me." Jane said. She did not expect Maura to throw her arms around her, but that's what happened. Jane loved the way Maura felt in her arms. Sweat was glistening on Maura's chest but Jane did not mind, because somehow, she still managed to smell great. After a few seconds, Maura pulled away, much to Jane's discontent. She flashed her brilliant smile and Jane, thanked her again and left the studio. Jane's heart melted at the smile. She practically skipped home that day.
