A slow character because next time is going to bring the big showcase.

"You're going to give yourself a heart attack one of these days,"

"I'm fine,"

"I'm telling you it's not healthy,"

"Would they have something not healthy on the menu?"

"Yeah! It's pretty much the whole menu. But that is a heart condition in a cup,"

Ray and Sara were arguing as they walked back to the couches their friends had claimed, the last set of their orders in hands.

"I thought you stopped her from ordering it," Amaya groaned.

"I tried!" Ray exclaimed.

"Let her be," Zari said.

"Thank you Z," Sara grinned.

"When she dies from her heart exploding I become the captain of the Legends," Zari finished.

"Ha, ha," Sara deadpanned, kicking Zari as she moved past. She dropped down in the empty spot next to Kara, "Amaya is in charge in my absence, obviously,"

"What are you talking about?" Ava asked.

"So you know there's a drink that's coffee with an espresso shot in it," Nate explained, "There's a version called a dead-eye that's triple expresso shot with coffee," He points accusatorially to the cup in Sara's hands, "That's a double dead eye in her hands,"

"We've been trying to get her off it for months now," Ray said.

"Sara that's really not healthy for you," Alex said.

"You're the one who introduced me to it,"

"Yeah, because we met up after I'd written three essays in 36 hours without any sleep. That should not be anyone's regular drink,"

Sara just shrugged, "Its good. You all are just being dramatic,"

"Isn't that bitter? I thought you liked your coffee with a lot of sugar?" Ava asked.

The Legends whipped their attention to Ava, surprised that Ava knew that fact about Sara. Sara on the other hand, just carried on with the conversation, not at all phased.

"It's so bitter it gets sweet. And I still put sugar in it. It's not about the bitterness, more about how intense the flavour is,"

"If you want sweet order one of the drinks that had a cup of sugar in them," Amaya held up her own frozen drink, "At least those will kill you slowly,"

"It hasn't killed me yet," Sara said, pointedly taking a long drink. Kara, Jax and Barry all pulled disgusted expressions. Nate and Amaya rolled their eyes while Zari just snorted. Ray looked worried, nervously glancing between the cup and Sara's face. Alex just shook her head.

"Ava," Kara leaned forward, turning so she was angled towards her, "Sara already told us you play classical, but is that the only thing you play?"

Ava nodded, but before she could say anything more Sara spoke.

"Sharpe here surprised me by pulling out a cover of Smooth Criminal off the cuff,"

"Seriously?" Jax asked, surprised but pleased, "You're lucky Wally isn't here. He'd beg you to hear that,"

"The way to Wally's heart is some MJ," Nate said.

"MJ, or Frank Ocean," Barry said.

"Or Haley Kiyoko, Years and Years, Kehlani," Ray added, ticking off each on his fingers, "Wally has many ways into his heart,"

"Are doing something modern for the showcase, or a classical piece?"

Ava shrunk back on herself, very conscious that the Legends all turned to her at that moment. She really didn't want to go through this line of question again.

"I'm not performing for the showcase,"

Kara and Barry were both in the process of asking the obvious follow-up question when Sara cut across before either could speak.

"She saw our choreography and knew she could never compete. So, she made the wise decision to leave the stage to us this time. If you two were wise, you'd do the same,"

Barry scoffed and Kara shoved Sara's shoulder.

"Rude,"

"Someone's full of herself," Alex chuckled.

Sara shrugged, "I mean, yeah,"

"What's so great about your dance?" Barry asked.

Sara looked to Nate and Ray. Their eyes were lit up, positively buzzing at the opportunity to talk about the cerography. They both took off, speaking over one another at first. Amaya had to remind them to slow down before they went at a more coherent pace. As they talked about their struggles and triumphs with the dance, Barry supplemented the story with his own for Wally. How, when it was his weekend visit a few weekends ago, he performed the then incomplete dance for Iris and him.

"That standing flip was giving him trouble back then. How he's doing with now?"

"He's nailing almost every time," Ray said, "And the few times he doesn't, he stumbles. It's not a complete whip out like he used to,"

"That kid picks up any dance move, like that," Zari said, snapping her fingers, "I'm a little jealous. I wonder why he and Sara want the rest of us up there with them,"

"Where would I be without my team?" Sara said, laughing.

"Dancing on a bigger stage than the one at the centre," Nate said.

Sara waved her dismissively, "Nah. Besides, those kinds of stages are cold by yourself. I'd rather be dancing with you,"

"Aw," Ray smiled, "Thanks captain,"

"Yeah, you all make me look better,"

Nate, Zari and Amaya pelted Sara with napkins and rolled up pastry bags. Sara laughingly ducked behind Kara, earning an indigent cry from the girl. "Hey!" Kara pushed her out into the open, "Yes, get her!" Kara egged them on.

Ava watched all of this happen with a deep pit of longing forming in her stomach. She couldn't think of anyone she felt as comfortable with, as all the people in front of her seemed to be with one another.

They hung out until Kara and Alex had to leave, needing to catch their train back home. Ava was surprised to learn they lived in National City.

"Wait, isn't the train an hour and a half,"

Alex shook her head, "The express rail is only forty minutes,"

"That's still forty minutes out of your way,"

Kara smiled, "The company is worth it," She said, nudging Barry and Ray's shoulders.

"Stop it," Barry laughed, "You're going to make me blush,"

Everyone said their goodbyes, heading in their respective ways home, Zari and Amaya heading one way, Nate, Ray and Barry going another. Barry still had time before his train so he was hanging out with the boys a little longer. Ava found herself heading to the nearest subway with Sara walking next to her.

"Are you not going home?" Ava caught herself asking. She instantly regretted with Sara looked at her, interest and shock showing in her eyes.

"You know the direction I live in?"

Ava blushed, "I saw the direction you go in when you leave the centre, that's all. I just assumed…"

"I'm not going home," Sara admitted, "Yet," she added after a beat.

"Then, what are you doing?"

"Hanging out with you," Sara smirked.

The blush on her cheeks deepened, but she rolled her eyes, "Yeah, sure," She drawled.

Sara chuckled, "I'm going to my sister's place. It's in this direction,"

"The sister who got you into ballet,"

"The only one I got,"

"Does she come around the centre?"

"If I'm performing. But her own performing days ended when she gave up ballet. She's the good sister who aces every test and got into pre-law early. I'm the troublemaker to balance her out," Sara said with a small laugh.

"Law, that's impressive," Ava said with a whistle.

"Laurel's always been impressive,"

"You're impressive on the stage," Ava said.

Sara snorted, "Sure. And I'm a mess everywhere else,"

"I didn't mean it like that,"

"Its fine,"

"But…"

"I said its fine, Ava,"

Ava didn't respond. She didn't really feel like she had the right to. She didn't know Sara well enough to make a counter statement. Because of her choices, Ava reminded herself. The silence persisted, with this tension Ava hated. They got to the subway entrance and they both stopped. Ava hesitated for a second, saying a quick bye before starting down the stairs.

"Do you mind me asking, where you performed before?"

"Ah," Ava was taken back the question, halfway down the steps. She hadn't been expecting and wasn't really sure where Sara was going with this. Looking back up at Sara, Ava gave a little shrug, "Nowhere too fancy, if that's what you're thinking. Some recitals with the performance school my old tutor was with. A few charity and business functions put on by my parent's firms. Sometimes they'd organise a mini-concert at the house with their friends and family,"

"By 'they' you mean your folks?"

Ava nodded.

"When'd you stop enjoying performing?"

Ava glanced down. That was a loaded question. One she didn't have a proper answer to. She shrugged again, "I don't know. Who knows if I ever enjoyed it,"

Sara descended the stairs, stopping on the one right in front of Ava, "You enjoyed it. At one point,"

"You don't know that,"

"I've seen you play, Ava. You don't get as good as you unless you love what you're doing,"

"Or unless you've done it since you were a child,"

Sara shook her head, not convinced.

"I hope you find your reason to perform again Sharpe. I'd like to see it," She took a step back, "See you around," And she headed back up, waving back at Ava from the top of the steps.

"...Oh no," Ava exhaled, watching as Sara left, "I might be in trouble,"

Nardragon~ until the next page.