The Challenge Part 3
The Ballet
Scanning the crowded room, a scowl faced Olivia shakes her head. Guessing her current state of mind is no mystery given the look on her face. She looks over at Fitz who is grinning with a smug arrogance that makes her want to slap the taste out of his mouth. He got her again and she is livid. Not because he got her but because her gut totally failed to set off an alarm alerting her he was up to something.
Today she happily adorned herself in her favorite evening dress expecting to sit admiring elaborate décor befitting the type of date she was promised. However, much to her consternation, there are no ornate red curtains trimmed in gold braiding, no stage with polished black flooring, no lavish set designs, or comfortable upholstered seats. Instead she finds herself overdressed, in a school auditorium with walls bathed in drab institutional colors, sitting on a hard wooden pulldown seat surrounded by an audience decked out in chinos, jeans and broom skirts. She shifts in her chair trying to get comfortable, repeatedly tapping her fingers on the chipped armrest in a vain attempt to release some of her festering annoyance. Tilting her head, she continues to periodically turn to Fitz ever so often just to roll her eyes.
"God woman will you stop fidgeting and eyeballing me".
"Fitz, you told me we were going to the ballet", Olivia whispers through gritted teeth.
"This is a ballet".
"Fitz, this is dance recital a toddler dance recital", she seethes.
"Your point being?" he grins.
Olivia sighs, "seriously Fitz".
"Hey, you set the parameters of this challenge. Going to Lincoln Center is not an option given your draconian budget restrictions".
"Why did you let me dress up knowing we were going to a dance school recital?"
"Are these youngsters unworthy of your best evening finery? Aren't you always talking about representing, treating everyone from the lowest to the highest with equal respect...yada...yada...yada?"
"Apples and oranges Grant", she grumps back.
"Being pre-judgmental is not an attractive look on you Pope".
"I'm not being pre-judgmental".
"You most certainly are. Not one child has taken to the stage and you've already decided observing their dance skills is a waste of your time. Tell me Olivia, as a child, were you told you lacked the coordination necessary for artistic dance? Do you have unfulfilled prima ballerina dreams? Does being here bring back painful memories? Is this why you're a cynic?" He grabs her hand in a show of mock sincerity for dramatic affect.
Olivia thinks to herself, there are too many people in this auditorium with phones and cameras for her to escape an assault charge because she's ready rip rich boy a new one.
Fitz starts cracking up at the look on Olivia's face. She is so easy to rile.
Realizing Fitz is teasing her infuriates Olivia even more. Poised to unleashed a verbal body check, Olivia is interrupted by dimming lights and thunderous parental applause.
A group of toddlers march on stage in the pas marché lead by their instructor. The caravan of six little girls, each dressed in pastel colored tutus and tights with matching headbands form a line facing the audience. The music begins and the teacher stands in fifth position with her bowed arms above her head. She turns slowly several times making complete circles with her little danseuses mimicking her moves. The pint size corps de ballet squat out demi-pliés, kick out grand battement, and sauté jump from side to side to a musical beat only they care hear.
One by one each girl performs a solo move until the first soloist becomes impatient waiting for the others to finish. She races back and forth across the stage interrupting each of her classmates turn in the spotlight. From that point on, the recital descends into delightful anarchy where the youngsters most coordinated moves consist of running in a circle and adjusting the elastic bands on their underwear and tights. The girls bump into one another, jump instead of pliés and constantly wave to their families. An adorable tot with long curly brown hair completes a spin on one knee, clearly, she prefers her hip hop class, then sits down in the middle of the stage to play with her shoes. There's only one little boy in the recital and he refuses to take to the stage until the sauté, the only move he's interested in and willing to perform. He comes from behind the thick black stage curtain traversing the length of stage several times fully engaged in a sequence of beeline jump-walks. Satisfied he's completed his part, forty-five seconds into his performance, he takes a seat on the stairs leading to the stage. He pulls an action figure from his pocket and spends the rest of the recital bouncing the figure off the wall and making it fly through the air.
Fitz looks over at Olivia who seems mesmerized. She oohs and aahs and laughs as if she is one of the proud parents. By the end of the recital Olivia is on her feet clapping enthusiastically and shouting brava.
"Well did you enjoy the show?"
"Surprisingly, I did, I had you pegged an uncultured swine. I'm glad to see you are a patron of the performing arts".
"You wound Ms. Pope. I'll have know I rank toddlers in tutus right up there with Swan Lake, the Nutcracker and Gisele".
"Grant, you never cease to amaze me. You actually know the titles of three classic ballets. Did you google the top ten list this morning so you could impress me?"
"That's for me to know and you to prove".
"Thought so", Olivia smirks.
"Face it Pope, this ballet will make your top five list."
"Really?
"Yes really, when you think of the ballet you will forever remember the performance where the little girl in the yellow tutu sat on stage grunting, hands gracefully placed on lap, while she took a dump in her pull-up", he chuckles.
Olivia laughing, "poor thing she was too precious. I can still hear her mother screaming, Meagan no!".
"Pope I know you intend for this challenge to teach me important life lessons and I get that but I hope it also teaches you to look beyond the trust fund, expensive cars and frat house antics and really see me. I want the memory of these dates to always bring a smile to your face and a heart full of laughter".
"Fitz, you're right. I need to be open to gaining personal insight as well".
"Olivia, in the end, when all is said and done, hopefully we're both better people, better people who have mind blowing sex".
Olivia punches Fitz in the arm. "You had to ruin the moment".
Looking into each other's eyes they sense a shift in their relationship. They're becoming friends and with a bit of luck maybe something more.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
AN- So what do you think? I think this date so in character for this version of Fitz. Forgive me if my ballet references didn't flow correctly. I quit ballet in first grade, wait, the more I think about it, it may have been pre-school. LOL
Olivia is slowly falling for charming Fitz and Fitz is already enamored with Olivia.
Our favorite couple will have two more dates then this extended one shot will come to an end.
I already have the dates planned but if you want to offer suggestions I'll take your ideas under consideration. Even if I don't use your idea at least you'll bring a smile to my face and anyone else reading your review.
Until next time, be blessed and be well.
