Chapter 51- Ramé (n) something that is chaotic and joyful at the same time

Cecily

„You do love to always make a grand entrance, do you? "I grinned as soon as I got the chance to greet my best friend. It was the first day of classes and we'd just finished doing the warming up barre work and were putting the barres away. Tony had come in a few minutes late, claiming that she had to help her brother to get to class. This term, Mondays started with the separate classes….so it was true possibly.

"You look good T," I said looking at her all tanned and with shining freckles. She grinned

"Thanks…LA was a blast…but apparently, your holidays were…decent as well…" she winked, which made me blush then asked quietly "So…what were you two doing yesterday?"

"Miss Montgomery, Miss Barrington…would you grace us with your attention?" Miss Raine was impatiently tapping her foot then continued "As I was saying…the pre-eliminations for the Coup de Danse are in five weeks…so we will have some extra classes on Sundays"

A great groan filled the room but Miss. Raine ignored us and continued.

"We'll have three hours of special performance-based training mandatory for everyone. If you want, we can arrange privates on Sundays for your soli and duos…You can book the timings on your year specific bulletin board. It'll be hung up this evening at eight sharp…there are not many privates and the studios will be booked…so be quick.

Also, all type of outside work concerning dancing, acting, and other artistic performances will be prohibited for the next weeks. This includes the posting of dance-related videos, pictures et cetera on social media. The competition committee of Australia wants our representatives to have a clean image….and besides, you should also focus more on the dancing. Start with the usual combination in the center…Ms. …Barrington …Ms. Montgomery…a word."

I looked at Tony confused, who shared the same expression but shrugged and so we made our way to the front.

"What did you do now?" someone hissed as we passed a group of girls…but I couldn't make out who of them said it.

"Miss Raine?" Tony bravely approached our teacher who was fidgeting with her memo board.

"I wanted to discuss both of your social media…outlets…I believe due to your time in Los Angeles with Mr. Williams there are several videos of you online….and we have been contacted by some agencies …in your name we had declined any offers so far…since you are still a student here and you have agreed on the contract of the Coup de Danse you are not allowed to work with them….however I think you should be aware…I already contacted Noah and asked him to manage this further. But I believe you two are in constant contact anyways?" I saw Tony nodding blushing, because of embarrassment probably then Miss. Raine continued "Ms. Montgomery…we are making an exception with you….I believe that Mr. Wolkov has introduced you to a Mrs. Lake a few days ago."

I blushed, how did she know about the date Marlon and I had…creepy now I know how Tony felt like a few moments before…and speaking of her…she was grinning at me.

"Um…Yes…but we did the photoshoot just for fun…the pictures were for ourselves…"

"Yes, but Lake Photography has specifically asked for you to model in some of their shoots one of them being…an official shoot for our yearly promotion for the academy…you and Mr. Wolkov…to be exact…"

"What but…Marlon is...wait what?"

"You do have good chemistry…so it's only natural that your two lovebirds pose for some official pics" Tony grinned sheepishly, then, after seeing Miss. Raines expression quickly mumbled a "Sorry" and decided to look at her fingernails.

"You will have an official photo shoot with them after lunch. Since Mr. Wolkov had to left for the 3rd year tour in the morning. He and you will do an extra shoot after their tour. You, of course, are dismissed for the afternoon classes…I'll give you the details while the boys join you for the next class…ALRIGHT GIRLS"

And she went on yelling to us girls about sickled feet.

"You and Marlon had a secret photoshoot?" Tony still had that stupid grin and winked patting my shoulder "sure that you two are JUST friends?"

"Hmmmhh"

After the torture…uh, I mean class ended we just waited around for the boys to join us. Drank, stretched and chatted…and since the last thing was the most common with us girls…it was only natural that Lily and Liana approached me and T as soon as Miss. Raine left the room.

"So you and Marlon eh?" Lily grinned "Are you, two official? I mean can I set up a double date?"

"How…when?"

"Hon' I was standing at the barre just two meters behind you,…of course, I've eavesdropped me and Lia here"

"Did anybody else heard?" Tony asked Lia who shook her head.

"The others were busy in their warm up…you were late? Is Gabe okay?" She asked in concern.

"He's good…you'll see it once the course begins…anyhow…C? We were supposed to talk to Zach about possible solos for the coup…should I tell him sth? From you."

"Actually I'm still not sure what to do…. I wanted something to match up with the duo so wanted to talk to Aaron about it…" I said "What about you girls"

"I think I'll do Coppelia, " Liana said "Dusty and I are doing the pas de deux as a classical variation…are you doing a trio with Vivian and Gabe Lil ?"

"Um…noo" Lily slowly said and eyed Tony, who was pressing her lips to a thin line "Vivian…apparently has chosen to stick with another partner…"

"What?" Liana said a bit too loudly and very happily so some of the other girls paid attention

"Andrew Cherié !" Vivian on cue interrupted the awkward silence as she spotted the boys coming into the room.

"Hey Vivi'" he said confused.

"Excuse me I'm going to barf" Tony muttered and left to talk to Zach who too entered the room.

"So…I guess the bet is off?" I asked Lily.

"Naa…they're just stupid I guess…as always…the bet is open until the end of this year anyhow" Lily said and then her eyes grew wide "Oh Look"

In came, slowly, still on crutches…but free of cast Gabriel Barrington.

"It's off! YAY" Liana and Lily yelled as he directly came towards us.

"Yes, the doctor gave me a clear today for that…however, I still have physio and I cannot fully dance on it till next week but the Coup is as good as in the bag!" Gabriel grinned and wanted to give Lily a high five, but forgot to keep his balance and stumbled. Luckily Andrew was suddenly there to steady him.

"Dude? Be careful you need to chill. I mean it's great that you are cleared but still…hey, guys" He said nodding.

"Cherié…we need to start prepping" Vivian who had been silently watching the none existing cast on Gabriel's leg, interrupted very suddenly. She probably was regretting her choice with Andrew right now.

"We still have time to prep-"

"OMG TONY!" Bubbles shrieked and everybody turned their head around to see Tony who was red in the face stomping away from Tristan, who had a bloody nose but was grinning triumphantly and gathered his stuff to go after Tony who was about to join us.

"What the heck happened?" Andrew asked in shock as Tony, red-faced and flustered came to a halt before me…she then realized our little group and tried to play it off as cool.

"He's an idiot," she said simply.

"Um…yeah but that normally doesn't cause people to bleed from the nose" Andrew stated.

"You sure? Cuz` I think your nose can bleed pretty fast too…" Tony glared then groaned since Tristan reached us.

"Well, Lil' Miss. Barrington that was a strange start in our partnership…but I like the passion behind it" he grinned wiping blood with the back of his hand

"Bite me…" muttered Tony and rolled her eyes.

"Gladly my sweet…but I have to take care of my nose right…we don't want that leotard of yours to get red stains…" and he triumphantly went away.

"T…you okay?" Lily asked with honest concern "You're still red in the face!"

"Adorable!", stated Vivi "You are still flustered about it was just a kiss Antonia…do not be such a child."

"How about you not being an annoying little know it all?" Tony barked back.

"He did what?" Andrew yelled and furiously looked for Tristan.

"Do you really need the attention, Antonia?" Vivian snarled.

"Enough!" I interrupted before we were the witness of a greater war "In your corners and start prepping for class…this is a dancing school!"

And to my surprise, everyone shuffled off…still shocked, confused and glaring (Yes T, Vivian, and Andrew were the latter) they returned to a corner with their partner and prepped.

"At your service general Montgomery," Aaron behind be said amused "Well done…how are you today Ma'am?"

"Ha-ha very funny Ar…. I'm good how are you?"

"Still kind of shocked at what just happened…Tony had almost been eaten by Tristan…but hey at least… it never gets boring here at the academy right?"

My phone rang, I checked.

One New Message from Messi with attached photo

Pashing Passion!

Antonia Barrington has been seen being kissed (or almost eaten up) by her new dance partner

Tristan Whatshisface. Passion ignited so fast that the 2nd years were witnessed of a Million-Dollar-Baby-like punch in the nose by our Ms. Barrington/Heart/Nose breaker.

Are you shipping #Tristonia?

Xoxo Messi

"Yup it never does!"

Aaron

"You sure that I can leave you alone with him?" I asked Tony who was glaring at Tristan waiting for her at the door. Classes had ended for the day and all were ushered away to free time and personal training time…and the newly partnered Tony and Tristan had scheduled one.

"Don't worry I'll be fine" Tony muttered with a small smile.

"Have me on short dial and I'll be there in a sec to beat him up"

"Aaron…you are too much of a gentle soul to do such a thing…but thanks, I appreciate the thought" T said and left to join Tristan, just to avoid him put his arm around her.

"I think the message from Messi has gotten into his head" Lily giggled and gave me a peck. She had just sent Gabriel off to his Physio and come back. Since Cece was on this photo shoot and Gabriel was busy so we both had no partners.

"So how about we just train and pretend that we are partnering up?" I asked as we made our way through down to the hall, hands intervened.

"Oh…I actually thought we can do something else together…I mean we kind of still have tons of time right?"

"I wouldn't call 5 weeks, tons!"

"I actually would!" I laughed nervously remembering that I started to prep for the auditions here at the academy 8 months prior and thought that was too little time.

"Well don't get me wrong Lil' but I kind of want to win this thing"

"And I don't'?" Lily was still playfully tangling our fingers together but there was a hint of something else…in her voice.

"To be honest...you don't seem to take these things as serious as…others do…"

"Oh like Cecily is like super into intensive training…" I saw her pout, chewing on that upper lip "She is at that Photoshoot of hers"

"Lils…I really need to focus" I sight and closed my eyes to not to look at her pouting…restraining myself not to give into her beautiful face.

"Fine…then go ahead…I'll do my own stuff then," she said and turned on her heel to strut down the hallway, ponytail whipping. Oh boy…`

Marlon

I was just about to unpack my clothes from the baggage when my phone rang.

"Make it stop I'm trying to sleep" Charlie Higgston whined from his bed. Yeah Lucky me, Luke and Jackson had to share a room. Yay! Ugh…

I grabbed my phone, kicked Charlie's foot that was hanging off the bed and pressed the screen to see Cecily's face.

"Hey Cec' how's it going?" I grinned into the camera and saw her blue eyes and by some change my smile got wider. I ignored the grin Luke was throwing at me and went outside the dorm room ugh hostel room.

"Sry little golubushka...the room was a bit stuffed," I said and watched her smile.

"Yeah, Higgson's ego is too big for any room…poor you…how long do you have to suffer?"

"Two days here…but being on a bus with him isn't pleasant at all too…it should be illegal to cramp dancers into those small seats…speaking of which do you know if you are flying business when you go to the coup"

"If…I go to the coup you mean…and that's big if…" she grinned

"With your dancing skills? Naa"

"Stuff it, Romeo…"

"Wrong play Hun, we're doing Much Ado…not Romeo and Juliet"

"Anyway…has Miss. Raine contacted you somehow?"

"Gosh no…I blocked that woman on my phone…why?"

"Well… Mrs. Lake…has contacted her to contact me"

"She did, photoshoot,shootwith" I said and did a little jump "I was waiting for her to do so…what did she say?"

"Well…I am about shoot withthem for the academy and as soon as you are back…we're having another one…"

"Well Golubushka that is great!"

"Honestly not entirely sure what to think about it…my face as an advertisement for the academy…"

"Why not, your face is you are gorgeous!" and that was it…her face was tomato red and she started to mumble

"Well…you…I get to get gunch…moing…going…lunch…bye…I gotta go"

"Yeah sure, lov-ing the hostel …hehe" I caught myself last minute and manage to turn off the front camera before getting red myself.

"AWWWW look at him so flustered" suddenly a girl shrieked…it was Zoe surrounded by other girls including Aria and Jen giggling.

"What are you looking at", I said a bit annoyed by their giggling.

"Hey you wandered in front of our room and started to flirt and making googling eyes at her" Aria grinned.

"Leave him alone girls…come on we need to get ready" my savior Jen said and shoved the girls back into their room.

Good 20 minutes later we were in the local theatre of this town and warming up for dance…and apparently it was a open studio day….so there were a lot of locals watching.

"I'm nervous…" Zoe mumbled and chewed on her fingernails "How will we manage to pull a good performance tonight when our dress rehearsal is a promotion…and not even in costume…"

She eyed the audience full of chattering children, mostly giggling pre-puberty girls, middle-aged ladies and grandmas and their badly moody husbands.

"Welcome to our, a bit different from usual dress-rehearsal" Zach started to introduced us to the audience.

I didn't bother listening to him explain the details of the play and the tour I was wondering what Cec might be up to now…it was only when Luke nudged my side when I tuned in again

"and our other male lead Luke Kelly as Benedict"

Luke smiled widely and waved making some of the girls in the audience giggle.

"What did I miss" I whispered to Jackson behind me

"Your chance to make oogly eyes at the audience…you were introduced and there was a looong silence in which you starred into space like an idiot…"

Well done Marlon.

Dustin

I was soaring. But more in the sense of being sore that the actual flying part.

There was no music to my piece, I had gotten the timing right but I needed to work on the technique and artistry…so I had decided to shut down the music for once and find mistakes in the dance by looking at myself in the mirror.

The Pe-Eliminaries were just weeks away…we have received our contemporary pieces, both soli and duos. The classical variations had yet to be decided and approved. And well, since my dance partner was helping Gabriel in his physio therapy session.

"Impressive" I heard someone say behind me after I had finished.

I blinked, confused and looked at the mirror and saw Vivian standing there cross armed and probably mentally taking notes, as she tends to do so often.

I blinked again and she came better into focus, nasty contacts…and I saw her giving me a faint smile.

"Thanks…" I panted reminding the manners my Nana had taught me.

"May I asked what you are doing here" I said after a moment of silence

"I was looking for training space when I saw you dancing …very focus and I liked what you did there…so why not watch it properly"

"Oh…okay….well…I'm surprised to see you here all alone…your usually accompanied by your…friends or Andrew"

"Andrew is also one of my friends dear Dustin" Vivian smiled "But if you're talking about Bubbles and Tristan…she is having a family visit and Tristan is in Studio 15 with Antonia"

Oh yeah, weirdest combination ever.

"Andrew is with Gabriel…he's helping him"

"And you're not doing that because?"

"Why should I?"

"Well," I said and turned around to her "For once…you seem to occupy his free time quiet a lot and second dance partner training…You haven't been partner for long time but bonding exercises are important"

"Yes, but I doubt helping dear Gabriel to properly exercise again isn't going to be a good exercise for me…"

"Weren't you the one you triumphantly declared that you want to do everything to be with Gabriel"

"Yes I do…but this won't help me in other things…I want to be with him but I also want a place as a finalist for the coup…so"

"You really want it all…"

"And I ask again Dustin, is it wrong to want it all?"

Andrew

"You sure that I can leave you with her?" I asked Gabriel as he made down his way slowly, without his crutches.

"Excuse me…standing right here Woolfe," Liana said amused

"Yeah, I know that's why I'm asking Brakeheart" I grinned.

"I'll be okay…you go and practice bro" Gabriel said moving slower than a snail.

"All right, call me if you need me"

"Well there is one thing...if you could please just bring this paper to the flower shop…anytime today" I rummaged through his bag and handed me a sheet

"You want to decorate our room?" I wondered and looked at the sheet "An order…"

"Yeah...it's the 8th…please make sure that they deliver it on the 10th"

"Come again…why?"

"Um…We're turning 17 this week" Gabriel laughed

"Oh yeah," I forgot "But you're not celebrating are you?"

"Not this time…Grandpa isn't allowing any parties in the house for a while"

"He's still grumpy about Dan?"

"Oh yes, refuses to talk to him on the phone and everything…"

"But Dan has settled"

"Yup, he's moving in with a couple of colleagues in shared living

for now, "

"Glad he's doing well… I'll take care of the flowers…see you mate" I said and left for the flower shop, Better I did the things quickly and then return to the studio for some extra practice before had the private with Miss. Raine.

I gave the florist the order Dahlias and Roses, Tony's favorite flowers…I hesitated should I order her some as well…then shook my head…no this was Gabriel's thing…I'll get her something different. I might just ask her directly, what's the big deal.

Well the deal is that everything was quite awkward with her nowadays. A voice in my head said.

Not thirty minutes later I was back at the academy and searching for an empty studio…what I found was none…all were occupied…great.

As I made down my way through the hallway I stopped by to see that the door to studio 15 was open. Well it was always a bit open, being that studio that had its main entry in the hallway but the music coming out of it seems familiar.

If I was not mistaken, that was Tony's solo music…her contemporary piece…

As I approached the door the music skipped and changed into something else and I heard Tony's voice.

"Once more from the top? And please try to make it work this time Tristan"

The music skipped back to another on the door I peaked in and saw Tony dancing with her new partner. Something inside me was stirring. I didn't like it…Maybe it was because the piece seemed to be a very intimate pas de deux, almost like a love story…maybe because Tristan's hand was a bit too high on the lifts to 'just support the leg', maybe because Tony decided to practice in booty shorts and a training bra.

"Aren't were doing good so far this time," I saw Tristan grinning as he looked up to Tony, who was in a fish dive.

"Better" Tony said in between breaths "But you always mess up the next…don't drop me…when"

But he didn't drop her she stopped dancing because they nailed a particularly difficult combination.

"Well? You were saying" Tristan grinned and stopped dancing aswell, waiting for a high-five.

Tony hesitated, then shook her head and gave him the satisfaction of one. But the Idiot decided to tangle his fingers around hers and pull her closer. T merely rolled her eyes in annoyance and flicked off his hand that had found a way onto her hip.

"You want another bloody nose"

"I repeat myself...the kiss was worth it"

"I repeat myself" she mocked his tone "I am not interested"

"I can wait" Tristan winked and gave her a twirl, then he saw me standing there and suddenly I saw him panic "Oh…h-hey Andrew…whatch ya doing here? Your private isn't starting."

Tony whirled around, in all her glory, ponytail whipping and all.

"Hey…" she said with a smile which I had to return.

"Hey," I said stepping into the studio

"Soooo…what do you want here?" Tristan pressed again.

"Um…I needed to check in with Mun- Tony for a second" I decided to say.

"All right…just let me grab my water" she said and went to the bar across the room to grab it.

Now Tristan was looking at me, then he decided to turn his back to me.

"Just warning you Tristan," I said quietly so only he could hear it "If I see your hand on her, in ways it should not be, you'll end up with a broken one."

"What?" Tristan turned around.

I just smiled, since T was back and went to the hallway.

"Soo?" Tony said after she gulped down her water.

"Well…I wanted to ask you directly…what do you want for your birthday?"

"My birthday?"

"Yes, you know that date you and your brother blessed earth with your presence…you celebrate that and receive gifts…"

"Yes, yes smartass…but you really don't need to get me anything…I'm not even celebrating."

"and we both know that there will be a party as soon as either Dustin and Lily take a look at the calendar and realize what date is coming."

"Even more a reason to avoid them this weekend." Tony muttered "and besides the third years are returning and they have their show on Sunday night…soo…"

"Well…Lily and Dustin will do a party with or without your approval…"

"That's true though…" she muttered and chewed on her bottom lip and sighed "Well if you guys insist on buying something and am entirely sure that you guys will buy me something even if I don't want anything…there is this new instant camera...if I make it to NY this would me a neat idea..."

I faltered, well I wanted to ask what 'I' could get her…not 'we'…

"But don't get your head wrapped in these things…better you focus on getting that place in the coup…"

"If I get a place"

" 'When' you get the place, Mr. Improvement aka scholarship holder," she winked

"Bunny!" Tristan yelled from inside "Come on, hop hop…."

"I'll kill him eventually..." Tony muttered in annoyance.

"Want me to do it?" I suggested making her laugh.

"I'm fine…it's just …he's annoying in his tries…"

"And pretty forward in a physical approach…about that T…" I waited then rummaged through my bag and pulled out a light jumper "I think….um…make me a favor and wear this"

"Okay?"

"Just…because I am not sure if Tristan can control temptation"

"Temptation?"

"Yep…" I prayed that I didn't turn red and hoped it wouldn't make anything more awkward, since Tony seemed to blush, but she pulled the jumper over her head.

It was a bit too big for her, the collar was pretty loose and you could see her collar bones completely….

"I better be going", she said suddenly "…good luck with your private…I bet Raine will tell you your classical soli…"

Lily

I wasn't really angry at Aaron, I understood him pretty well…but still…can't you have both…fun and a career…speaking of fun…I decided to host a small party for the twins…they didn't know yet…while Gabriel had been busy the last two days on learn how to properly walk again. Tonia had been rehearsing, with and without Tristan and it was making Bubbles crazy. Correction crazier…she even refused to come to the party in the common room. It was Friday night, I had ordered Cece to occupy Tony and Lia was in the kitchen making snacks, Aaron was assisting…I was ordered out of the kitchen after I managed to burn a toast that they wanted to make croutons out of. So Dusty and Me cleaned out the common room and prepped, music and decoration when Andrew and Vivi, strolled in after rehearsal.

"What's going on here?" Vivian mused at the now to clean room

"You're not really doing this are you" Andrew laughed and shook his head "What can I help you with"

"First, don't make anything dirty Andrew…and to answer your question Viv' Tonia and Gabby are turning seventeen tomorrow and we are celebrating that"

"Oh", Vivian said and looked like she was deep in tough" But you guys do know that we have school tomorrow….and we're having the assessment of our dances for the coup?"

"Yes….and?" I shrugged "We're having a fun evening for once…come on Viv' I'm sure that you'll enjoy yourself…and you are friends with Gabriel aren't you"

I heard Dustin give a little huff. When we turned around he just shook it off as

"Chocked on my spit"

"Alright…I'll come…is there anything I can provide…" Vivian mused "Jelly shots? Punch?"

"Um…Vivian alcohol is not prohibited on the academy premises" Andrew said a tad in disbelieve...

"Well…but there is always a glitch in the system"

"I think the jelly will be okay…but don't make it too strong… Ms. Cotterjee does have her day off…but we don't want the teachers to find out" I mused "Andy…can you be a dear and help me with putting up the garland.

"Sure" Andrew slid his bag off the shoulders and helped me hang up.

"I'll go and prep the food in the first years' kitchen…I assume Aeliana is in ours"

"How come" Andrew laughed "That you assume it…"

"Well she and Aaron are the only ones who actually can make some food and I guess Aeliana can't wait to make something for Gabriel "Vivian said and turned to leave.

"Cec' is keeping T busy?" Andrew asked me.

I nodded "and Gabriel is out with his dad..."

"K…I bought the camera for Mun and the jacket for Gabe", Andrew said and put the gifts, wrapped and ready on the table.

"You're such a sweetheart, here the money…I collected it" I said and took the envelope from the pocket of my hoodie and gave it to him. And then while he was tugging it into his bag…I saw a small jewelry box.

"What's that?"

"Nothing", he said quickly and tried to bring the bag out of my reach, but I had grown up with two brothers. I am very able to snatch the thing I want away…okay Dustin, who was probably curious as well, tricked Andrew and drew his attention to him for a millisecond.

"Guys…privacy?" Andrew complained but Dustin blocked his view

"What is it Lil' open it?" he said.

"Is it what I think it is?" I grinned at Andrew who was getting more panicky

"Open it Open it!" Dustin said excited.

I opened the navy box and saw a fine, rose gold chain…a necklace with a simple single droplet pendent, a flower dome-cut green stone.

"Oh my gosh it's sooo pretty" I shrieked and gushed.

"It's for Tony isn't it", Dustin said grinning.

"Both of you are such children," Andrew huffed and grabbed the box from my hand and carefully (please note that) put it back.

"Yeah right" Dustin laughed "WE are clearly the ones who are acting childish"

"I think she'll like it" I grinned and eyed Andrew who gave a hint of a smile

"I hope so…"

Jen

The tour was going well, surprisingly. Yes, we had the usual ups and downs but all in all…the dances were good…even Luke and Aria, managed to pull off Beatrice and Benedict very well…since they weren't supposed to talk…both of them talking was a difficulty.

"How is Barrington doing?" Aria asked, I just got off the phone with him. We were about to take the bus, that would take us back to Sydney…so I called up Dan in London. It was 9pm there, the day before…weird…I know. He had just come Home from work and had fallen asleep while talking to me but he wanted to ensure that I got the twins upcoming birthday gift right…they had the birthday tomorrow on Sunday…we'd arrive there in the middle of the night and would have the performance in the evening. Why we were heading out early? Well we decided to have a beach day somewhere in between Sydney and the middle of nowhere.

"He's doing good so far," I told Aria and Marlon who just had joined us "He moved into a shared living house with a few fellow dancers."

"A house?" Aria blew air

"Not a villa, it's a small 4 room unit they rent, shared bathroom, kitchen and small living room."

"Yeah, I was thinking of sth. similar when we graduate" Marlon said

"Us?! Aria laughed "living together?"

"Yeah…I mean you and Jen already sort of live together…and me and Luke…so why not share everything after school too."

"Yeah I'm not sure after your little nude run the other day...I want to" Aria grinned

"Hey…I officially an academy legend now…"

"If you say so Marlon…."

Cecily

I was with Tony, at home with her…after such a long time. She apparently needed to sort out her clothes and was rummaging through her closet, while I was sitting on her bed, the cat on my lap and food, freshly brought every 10 minutes from her grandma, at the bedside table. I was supposed to guard her, until Lily send me a text saying it was okay to come back to the boarding house…but as far it looked now we were stuck here for quite a while.

"And I thought I had a lot of dance wear", I said looking at the pile of 'old dance clothes' she wanted to donate.

"Yeah, I've been collecting", she said throwing a playsuit onto the pile.

"Why again are you doing this?"

"While I was in LA , one of Noah's roommates decided to change my whole wardrobe….and I have to say I kind of like it"

"No way…you're finally giving up on that green hoodie?"

"Never," She grinned "But I decided that dresses aren't that bad, sometimes they are really nice…playsuits too…"

"Yeah until you have to go to the toilet" I laughed.

"Oh yeah…and yeah…I own too many clothes anyway"

"and you always wear the same all over again…so most of the clothes are…"

"taking too much space", she said and stuffed the clothes into a huge plastic bag.

"That jumper you wearing is new though", I noticed nibbling on a carrot "I could swear that I have seen this one before somewhere…it's a tad big thou"

"Don't you know…oversized clothes are trending now" Tony said with a faint blush and started folding the clothes on the other pile.

"LA, has done you well" I mused and looked at her "Noah did take good care…you sure that you don't want to marry that guy?"

"Absolutely…" Tony laughed "That would be so weird anyway"

"But you guys get along so well…and he's fascinated by you…you know choreographing all these dances" I had seen the contemporary solo he'd done for her.

"Yeah…,it's more of an artistic soul connection…but he's like a brother to me… and believe me I've seen Noah flirt…as in romantically…and he is surely not doing it with me" she laughed "You know that he is teaching at the coup?"

"Is he allowed to…? I mean are you allowed to perform with his choreo when he's there?"

"IF I perform there…" Tony corrected "He's not a judge…just giving master classes…so that's fine…"

A knock on the door.

"Come in"

"It's me baby doll" Louis Barrington came into the room with a plate of cucumber with dip "Hello Cecily. Antonia, Grandma had send more food…and I wanted to inform you that Gabriel is back at home…"

"Thanks dad…how is he"

"Okay…he was in a foul mood in rehab"

"Yeah…,he face planted in the bathroom today …" Tony said barely hiding a grin "Andrew mentioned that he was very embarrassed"

"He needs more patience…"

"And I think that the coup coming up isn't the best thing for his patience"

"Right…I better get down stairs and send Gabriel up here, before my father starts berating him about this topic…can I send him to you?"

"Sure…" Tony said and stacked the clothes in her closet "Um Dad, these bags there are for donation…can you please bring them downstairs"

"Sure thing…enjoy you day girls" he said, picked up the three bags and left.

"Well that was surprising" I just had to say it out loud "Your dad seemed so chill"

"He's been different the last days…and according to Gabe its even weeks…" Tony said with a smile "I think the whole situation with Dan and Jen and Gabe's accident triggered something deep deep deeeeeep inside of him…"

"and he's seeing that you been happier as well" I mused while the door opened once again to let Gabriel in, he was only on one crutch now…that barely supported him…it was there just in case.

"Does our grandfather realize the concept of recovering from a broken leg?" he complained and sat down on the bed.

"I am still trying out to find a way that I may be not related to that guy," Tony said finishing up the closet and joined us on the queen-sized bed.

She carefully put a pillow behind Gabriel's back so he could lean on it.

"Hey…isn't that Andrew's jumper?" Gabriel suddenly said and Tony managed to somehow look not entirely flustered.

"Yeah…I borrowed it…and forgot to give it back to him" she shrugged to play it off as cool but I knew why my bestie was blushing.

"At least you stop stealing my jumper and hoodies now" Gabriel, clueless as ever said and nibbled on a cucumber slice "So how long do we have to stay here until we can get to that party?"

"Dunno maybe another 30 minutes?"

"You know?" I said surprised.

"Uh…yeah?" both of them said in unison.

"Lily isn't as secretive as she thinks she is…." Tony laughed "But don't worry I won't dress up too much so she will have her little dream of a big surprise..."

"You meanie!" I laughed and nibbled on another carrot.

And yes, Lily was 99,9% convinced that the surprise was a success…blame Tony's acting skills…. However, mmm the small party turned out to be not so small after all…


Part one of two :) Disclaimer: the next chapter will deal with topics of partying and related drinking.