Katie-Jean was all smiles for the rest of the day, and it killed Katey because she didn't know why.
"Katie-Jean, sweetheart," Katey began, sitting next to her daughter on the couch, "how are you making out with your new friends?"
"They're all really great. I'm actually kinda glad we moved here." Katie-Jean didn't even look up from what she was doing to answer her mom.
"What's that you're writing there?" Katey tried to read it.
"Just a letter to John. I don't think our relationship is going to work across an ocean." She continued writing.
"I'm sorry, dear. You'll find love someday."
"Uh huh." She signed her name, stood up, and headed for the stairs.
"Katie-Jean, come here," Brooke popped her head out of her room. Katie-Jean walked into her sister's room and looked around. There were pictures of actors all over the walls. "What looks best?" Brooke asked, holding up two dresses. "The pink one or the yellow one?"
"Umm, the pink one," Katie-Jean said.
"Okay, thanks."
Katie-Jean went back to her room. She put the letter in an envelope to be mailed. She plopped on the bed and thought about calling Violet to see if she wanted to go to La Reina que Baila later that week. She stopped thinking when her door opened. Katey walked in and sat on the bed next to her.
"I forgot to tell you. I went to lunch with our other next door neighbors. They have a son that's your age. His name is Liam. He's very nice. You two are going out to dinner and to see a film tonight. Get ready."
"But, Mom, I don't want to go."
"Well, you don't have John, so what is stopping you?"
"Maybe I don't want a boyfriend?"
"You're going, he's very sweet. Get ready, now!"
Katie-Jean sat out front waiting for Liam to pick her up. She smoothed her purple dress as she looked over. She saw the door to the house next to hers and a figure emerge.
"Hi, I'm Liam," the boy reached her porch and introduced himself.
"I'm Katie-Jean."
He was pretty cute. He had somewhat long blonde hair. She liked his blue eyes, but not as much as she liked Julio's. Wow, I think I really like Julio. Uh oh…
They walked down the path and into a car. "Where would you like to go?"
"I don't really know any places here, you choose," Katie-Jean offered a smile.
"I know a great restaurant. Do you like Italian food?"
"It's only my favorite." Katie-Jean smiled. Maybe this could be a fun night after all. Her chances were Julio weren't that great, so maybe Liam was a better match for her. A few minutes later, they arrived at a small restaurant. Liam opened Katie-Jean's door and helped her out. She smiled and thanked him. He sure was polite. As they were seated, Liam tried to make small talk.
"What college do you want to go to?"
"Well, I would love to have gone to University of New York to major in fashion design. It's always been my dream. I got in and all, even a scholarship. But then my mom decided to move here, so I enrolled in the local university. How about you?"
"I'm a sophomore at the local university. Well, I will be this fall." Katie-Jean and Liam continued talking about college until their spaghetti arrived. They ate and continued talking, finding they had a lot in common. She was really beginning to like him, but there was still a longing to dance with Julio.
"Listen, I had a great time tonight," Liam began, pulling up in front of Katie-Jean's house. "But I really don't see us working. I think we would make better friends, and to tell the truth, I only did this because our moms planned this."
"Oh gosh! I totally agree," Katie-Jean replied, happy that he wanted to be her friend. "You're a great guy, but I think you'd be more important to me as a friend."
"One kiss won't hurt though, will it?" Liam gave her a half grin.
"No, of course not." Katie-Jean winked as she wrapped her arms around him. The two kissed for a minute before Liam walked her to the door.
"Hey, thanks for everything. We should hang out sometime."
"I'd like that. Good night Katie-Jean."
"Good night."
"How was your date, Honey?" Arthur poked his head into Katie-Jean's room.
She rolled over to look at the clock. 9:30. "It was fine."
"Did you kiss him?"
"Dad…"
"Okay, Hun. Brooke made eggs, so come eat."
"I'll be down in a sec." Katie-Jean sat up and her dad left. She slipped out of her pajamas and into blue spandex biker shorts and a white cami. She braided her thick locks and wandered downstairs. Katey and Arthur sat at the table with a plate of eggs and buttered toast in front of them. Brooke stood at the stove, flipping eggs and managing the toast in the toaster.
"Yours will be done
in a minute." Brooke said.
"Smells good," Katie-Jean
commented as she sat at the table. A minute later, Brooke placed a
plate of eggs and toast in front of Katie-Jean. She walked back to
the counter and brought over her own plate. The family ate a
delicious breakfast. They talked anxiously about what they planned
to do that day.
"How was your date, Katie-Jean?" Katey looked at her daughter through tired eyes.
"It was nice. Liam is really nice, but –"
"Oh that's great, I think you two make such a cute couple."
Katey got up from the table before Katie-Jean could correct her. Arthur had also finished his meal. After the girls finished, Brooke washed the dishes and headed upstairs to shower. Katie-Jean walked into the living room and towards the phone. She decided to phone Violet and see if she wanted to do something.
"Hello. This is Katie-Jean Anderson. May I please speak to Violet?"
"Sure, dear, just a moment." Martha answered the phone and called for Violet.
"Hey Katie-Jean." Violet was now on the phone.
"Hi. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out."
"I can't right now. I think Sara and Emily are headed to La Reina Que Baila tonight so I was going to go with them. Wanna come?"
"Sure, I'd love to."
"Do you want to invite Liam?"
"Why?"
"Isn't he your boyfriend?"
"No, we decided to just be friends."
"Oh, so he's available?"
Katie-Jean laughed. "Yes."
"Hmm, I think I'm going to invite him. Do you have his number?"
Katie-Jean gave Violet Liam's number and made plans to meet at 6:30. She hung up the phone and plopped on the couch. Katey came downstairs carrying her gym bag and dressed in a pink warm up suit. "Wanna come to the studio with me? I'm teaching a few little girls basic ballet, and I could use some help."
"Sure, I've got nothing better to do." Katie-Jean wandered upstairs and changed into one of her ballet leotards. She pulled sweatpants on over and headed downstairs.
"Good job, Annie," Katie-Jean encouraged a little blonde on how to do a pirouette. She stood up and watched the other five year olds gracefully whirl around the studio.
"Jenny, point your toe out a little more," Katey corrected. "Yes, just like that."
"Christie, good pirouette." Katie-Jean clapped. She smiled and looked over towards the corner. A young Spanish girl was trying to spin. "Hey, you look like you could you use come help. What's your name?" Katie-Jean smiled as she bent down to the girl's eye level.
"I'm Gracie." The little girl had a quiet voice, and she seemed very shy.
"Would you like some help on this pirouette?" Katie-Jean offered. "I took ballet for years."
"I can't spin right." Tears welled up in Gracie's eyes.
"Aw, don't cry, Gracie. Look, like this." Katie-Jean demonstrated a perfect pirouette.
"Wow, where'd you learn that?" Gracie asked in astonishment.
"My mom taught me. You know what, my mom is your dance teacher. Miss Katey will make you as good a ballerina as I am."
Gracie tried to imitate Katie-Jean's pirouette, and almost got it. Katie-Jean moved Gracie's arms and legs to form the ballet move. After a few tries, Gracie was improving. "Great job, Gracie. Keep up the good work!"
"All right girls, start getting ready to leave. Your parents will be here," Katey called, turning off the music. A bunch of little girls ran around packing up their things.
"Thanks for helping me, Miss Katie-Jean." Gracie smiled holding her bag on her shoulder.
"You're very welcome. Here, I'll walk you to your parents."
"My brother is picking me up today, my Mommy works."
"Okay, let's go."
Katie-Jean was surprised to see Julio as she stepped into the hot June sun.
"Julio!" Gracie ran and gave her brother a hug.
"Well, I didn't know you ran a ballet school," Julio smiled, walking up to Katie-Jean.
"It's my mom's, I try and help out whenever I can," Katie-Jean explained. "Gracie shows a lot of potential."
"She's always
wanted to take ballet lessons, it's kinda cute actually." Julio
grinned. "Wanna hang out later?"
"Sure, I think I'm
going to La Reina que Baila with my friends tonight."
"Great, I'll see you there. Good bye, Katie-Jean."
"Bye Miss Katie-Jean!" Gracie waved anxiously.
"Bye Gracie and Julio." She waved and watched them walk down the street.
