Rifiuto: Non Miriena
"Are you sure it's wise to let Zoe fly out all the way to New York by herself, and stay with some girl she met through Telsa's pen pal program?" Allison asked, as she and Carter made their way through GD.
"I've had her checked out, Ali, she's just a girl from Jersey who works with the New York Ballet. She's playing the Arabian in The Nutcracker."
"I don't like it." Allison replied, as they drove into downtown Eureka. She didn't let the matter drop, even after pulling in front of Cafe Diem and taking a seat at the counter. "Have you seen her? Do you know what she looks like?"
"As a matter of fact, I have met her. She's a very nice girl. Young. A dancer, accepted to Julliard at thirteen." Carter said, handing Allison the files he'd secured on Jo. Allison rifled through the papers, reading everything.
"You believe her?"
"Ali, these files prove that she exists-"
"I know! I'm going to New York for a whole week with Jo!"
"You're so lucky, Zoe! If only my pen pal were that cool!" Both adults looked up to see Zoe enter with her friends and take a seat at a nearby table. "Are you going to meet any sexy New Yorkers while you're there?" Pilar asked, as Vincent brought their coffee.
"I don't know. Jo hasn't really said much about what we're- well, what I'm going to do. She's going to be performing. They opened last weekend to rave applause and reviews. She sent me an article about the show. Listen to this-" The girl cleared her throat, and began, as Allison and Carter turned to listen. "'The New York Ballet Company's opening weekend of The Nutcracker has been met with some of the highest marks in the world of ballet..." She skimmed the article, finally coming to what she wanted.
"'The highlight of the show, in this reporter's honest opinion, isn't the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy or the duet by Clara and The Prince; the highlight is the Arabian Pas De Duex in The Land of Sweets. The prince and princess, who dance Arabian Coffee as an offering to the visitors, bring all the smooth, richness of the gift they offer to this dance. Composed mainly of difficult lifts and tricks that no other dancer would dare try, the pair execute them to perfection; not a hair goes out of place with this sultry dance. Sparks as rich as the land they pretend to be from fly for this pair: Mikael Martinez and Josefina Kathleen Lupo. Their performance has many- both in the company and out- if this pair is dancing their own pas de deux after the performance ends for the night.' I want to see the whole show now."
"Are they really seeing each other?" Pilar asked. Zoe shrugged.
"Jo won't say. She refuses to admit to anything. She says she's married to her dance and nothing else. But look at this! She also sent some publicity shots."
And she proceeded to lay out several still photographs of the dancers: Russian with the flowers in their hair; French and their pink bows and tulle skirts; Spanish in the stiff red tutu, Arabian in the Jasmine inspired dark mahogany two piece.
"Is that her?" Pilar asked, snatching up the photo of the Arabian performers. Zoe nodded. "She's gorgeous! And he's hot! How can they not be dating?"
"I don't know. If they aren't, they totally should be. Could you imagine the babies they'd make? Absolutely gorgeous!"
"Hey, Zoe? Can we see those?" The teens turned to see Carter at the table. After a moment, she handed them over, and Carter gave her a small smile before returning to the counter, laying them in front of Allison. "That one's Jo." He said, pointing to the girl with the piercing dark eyes.
"She is beautiful." Allison conceded. "Are you sure about letting Zoe do this?" He thought a moment.
"No. But I trust her."