Part 8:
Joxer arrived inside the dance studio and sat down next to Pierre, who was sitting behind a pair of large drums. He started to tune his lute when Jace walked inside. "Hi Jace," he greeted his brother.
"Hi, Joxer. Thanks for stepping in tonight for Spiros on such short notice. I appreciate it," Jace replied.
Joxer grinned. "Hey, that's what brothers are for!" he said.
Jace's face fell for a split second before he returned the smile. "Yeah." He turned around and smiled as some of the students started filing inside the studio. "Good! I like it when my students are on time," he said approvingly.
Joxer noticed the quick change of expression on Jace's face when he said the word 'brothers', but he didn't say anything. He simply went back to tuning his lute.
Adora stood in front of the mirror staring intensely at herself. "Mom, do I really have to wear this? I look like a..." Her hands fell to her sides loosely.
Gabrielle walked inside Adora's bedroom and smiled at her daughter. "I think you look pretty in it."
"I know you do, but... It needs to lose this." Adora removed the sash. "There. That's better."
Gabrielle smiled and gave her a hug. "You better get over there."
"Mom, could you please get Papa to change his mind about Saturday? I really want to go to the dance."
"Dorie, you hate dancing!"
"I know, but I like Ioannes and he asked me."
Gabrielle chuckled. "I'll try, but don't count on it. Once Joxer makes up his mind, it's pretty difficult to get him to change it."
Adora gave Gabrielle another hug. "Thanks, Mom. If anyone can do it, you can."
"Okay. Now you better get going."
Adora smiled as she left. Eve was outside waiting for her friend. "Come on, Dorie. We better hurry. I hate being late. You know how Uncle Jace makes such a fuss when anyone is late."
"Yeah, I know! He has a major hissy fit!"
Both girls laughed as they entered the studio and the other students stared at them curiously, wondering what they were laughing at.
Jace approached them. "Well, it's nice... Adora, what did you do to your dress?"
"Don't have a cow, Uncle Jace! I just removed the sash."
Jace fanned himself. "Oh dear, you ruined... Oh, never mind!" He clapped his hands. "Okay, everyone get into your positions. Hurry now."
The girls moved to one side and the boys to the other side. At a signal from Jace, Joxer began playing a lively tune on the lute, Pierre keeping a steady rhythm on the drums as the students began to dance. Adora rolled her eyes as Jace had the students partner up. "Keep your heads up and SMILE! Nobody likes dancing with a gloomy person! Feel the rhythm as you move!" Jace said as he watched the students with an eagle eye.
"OW! Hey! Stop stepping on my foot!"
Adora looked at the young man. "Sorry," she mumbled.
Jace, having heard the yelp, hurried over. "What's going on here?"
The young man stared at him. "She keeps stepping on my foot!"
"I'm not doing it on purpose, Dorkface!"
"Watch your language, Adora," Jace said and shook his head slightly. "Please be more careful, all right?"
"I can't dance with this big ox, Uncle Jace!"
"Adora, Tedius is the best dancer here, so that's why I had you partner up with him. Why can't you just try better? Look at Eve. See how gracefully she moves?"
Adora's eyes seemed to glow for a moment and her nostrils flared out angrily. "Because I'm not Eve, and I don't care if Dorkface is the best dancer here! I won't dance with him! I'm out of here!" She turned around and stormed from the studio.
"Adora! You come back here! Do you hear me, young lady?"
Adora heard Jace, but she ignored him. She ran from the studio, not stopping until she was inside her house. Gabrielle looked up in surprise when the teen stormed inside the house. "Adora, honey, what's wrong? What are you doing home?" she asked, rising to her feet.
Adora ran to her, crying. "Oh Mom! I can't dance! I hate it! I don't want to go to that dance after all!"
Gabrielle held her as she cried. "It's okay, Dorie. Come on, let's have a talk."
She took Adora over to the table and they sat down. She gave her a drink and Adora took it. "Mom, I know I should be over in dance class, but I just can't dance like that."
"Honey, dancing isn't everything."
"Papa and Uncle Jace think it is."
"No they don't. Well, maybe Jace does."
Adora giggled at that. "Mom, what am I going to do?"
"I don't know, Dorie. Your father really wants you to learn how to dance."
"I can dance - just not Uncle Jace's way."
Joxer entered the house and saw the two of them talking. "Dorie…"
Adora pulled back her hair to have something to do before she answered him. "Uncle Jace partnered me with dork…uh, Tedius! Papa, he's so much bigger than me! I couldn't dance with him because I couldn't keep up with the way he moved! I kept stepping on his foot! I felt so stupid and clumsy…"
Joxer went over to his daughter and gently put his hands on her shoulders. "Jace told me to tell he's sorry for mismatching you and asked me to ask you if you would come back."
Adora stared at her father. "You're not mad at me?"
"No, Adora. I'm not mad. But if you're going to a dance someday - not Saturday - you really should learn to dance."
Adora hugged her father. "I love you, Papa! Okay, I'll go back." Adora ran from the house but stopped for a moment and glanced back inside. "Mom, I love you too." She then continued running over to the dance studio.
Gabrielle smiled in response and then she looked at Joxer. "Thanks."
"What for?"
"Not jumping on Adora."
"Why would I? I'm not the world's best dancer either," Joxer said, taking Gabrielle into his arms and kissing her gently.
"That's true when it comes to fast dancing, but when you slow dance…" Gabrielle purred into Joxer's ear. "You've got all the right moves."
Joxer blushed slightly and smiled at his wife. "I'll see you later, huh?" His dark eyes began twinkling as he withdrew from her. "Maybe I'll see something new that I can show you later."
Gabrielle returned the smile. "I'd like that." She smiled as she watched Joxer leave before she turned around and sat down at the table, where she picked up her quill and began writing.
Adora returned to the dance studio, her father walking inside the studio a few minutes later. Jace smiled at her and took her over to Ioannes. "I think he may be a better dance partner for you."
Adora smiled at Ioannes and he took her hand. Joxer sat down, picked up his lute, and the music began. As they danced, Adora whispered in Ioannes' ear, "I didn't know that you took lessons here."
Ioannes whispered back, "I just started today. Eve told me it might be the only way I'll get to dance with you for a while."
Adora smiled as she pressed her head against his chest.
Two hours later, Jace bustled around his students. "It's time to go, everybody. I'm seeing improvement from all of you, but I still want all of you to practice hard before next week's class."
Eve walked over to the door. "You coming, Adora?" she asked, moving to one side to allow the other students to pass by so they could go home.
Adora nodded. "In a sec, Evie. I want Papa to meet Ioannes."
"Uh Dorie, Ioannes is in his class too," Eve pointed out.
Adora shook her head. "I want him to meet him not as a student, but as a real good friend of mine."
Eve nodded in agreement. "Okay. See you later."
Adora watched her friend leave then took Ioannes over to her father, who was talking to Jace.
"So... What's bugging you, Jace?"
"Joxer, I have no idea what you are talking about."
Joxer crossed his arms over his chest. "When I said that's what brothers are for, you gave me a look."
Jace's eyes widened innocently. "What look?"
Joxer placed his hand on Jace's shoulder and sighed. "Jett did something, didn't he?"
Jace turned away. "Yes. He and that... man... Autolycus... tossed me into the town fountain!"
Adora and Ioannes waited patiently in silence until Joxer turned towards them. "Adora, you head for home. I'll be there in a while. Ioannes can walk you home."
"Okay, Pa..." Adora glanced at Ioannes and quickly corrected herself. "...Dad."
Joxer smiled at that. He leaned over and kissed Adora on top of the head. "You look after my daughter, Ioannes."
"I will, sir."
After the two left, Joxer turned back to Jace. "Come on, Jace. We need to go find Jett and Auto and have a talk. I'm pretty sure that they wouldn't have dumped you in the fountain unless you did or said something to provoke them in the first place. Am I right?" Joxer's eyebrows rose questioningly.
Jace's cheeks turned red as he glared at Joxer. "That's not the point and you know it!" Jace exclaimed sulkily, his rubbery lips twisting into a pout as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I'll talk to Jett, but not to that thief!" he mumbled, turning his head away from Joxer.
Joxer's eyebrows disappeared underneath his bangs. "Auto is a good friend. Why do you hate him so?"
"Hate him? I don't hate him. I'm above hate. I merely despise the man."
Joxer shook his head and sighed loudly. "Why? What do you have against him in the first place?"
Jace raised his head and stared at Joxer haughtily. "He's a thief! Do I need any other reason? Now let's go find Jett. He needs to apologize to me!"
It sounds like BOTH of you need to apologize to each other, Joxer thought to himself, rolling his eyes as he followed Jace outside. Once they reached Jett and Melody's home, Joxer noticed a candle in the window. "Jace, stop!" he exclaimed softly.
Jace turned and looked at him. "I know. I saw the candle. But tomorrow, Jett and I will talk."
