Ch. 3

Exploring

Once we had all the introductions said and done, Esme led me up to my room. When I went in there the walls were painted light purple, like the clouds surrounding a sunset. There was a big queen size bed on the wall next to the balcony doors. It had a very soft looking, dark purple comforter with a canopy hanging over it. On the opposite wall was an antique, dark wood wardrobe and vanity with a mirror. The windows and balcony doors also had very light purple curtains in front of them. I loved it to say the least.

While Esme left me to get settled, I went and looked outside the window to see the foggy sky. A sunny sky would have been good, but a cloudy sky works just as well. I started to think about how my life had lead me to so many foster homes I wondered if this one would lead me in a new direction. Maybe this will be good for me.

After pondering my thoughts about living here and how life has taken its turns, I couldn't stand to be in the room any longer. I decided I needed to explore my new surroundings a little more. I kept thinking to myself hopefully I won't get lost in such a huge house. As I started to move along the halls I could hear the boys were back at their video game, the girls were in one of the bedrooms probably talking about fashion magazines.

As I started to continue walking down the halls, I stopped midstride and peered into a room that I hadn't seen before. It was a dance studio, mirrors on the walls and a balance bar. When I looked in there my heart started racing. I ran quietly to my room and dug through my suitcase. Buried underneath all my clothes were my pointe shoes. I hadn't had anywhere to really practice my dancing. I ran through the hall, trying my best to keep quiet, hopefully nobody noticed.

I sat down on the floor of the studio tying the ribbons of my pointe shoes onto my ankles to secure them. As I was securing them I started to remember my first ballet lessons, when my mom bought me my first pair of pointe shoes. I stood up and started dancing to my own music in my head. As I made to into the arabesque position I started to feel at ease. Despite not practicing for a while my limbs felt so loose. I began to twirl and twirl, and that's when I hear a creak in the doorway.

I suddenly stopped and turned to see, whom I believe his name was, Edward gaping at me.

"Hey," he said awkwardly.

"Hey," I was kind of nervous. Did he see all that?

"Did you see-?"

"You're a really good dancer. How long have you been dancing?"

"About 12 years."

"Wow, you've been dancing for that long?"

I nodded. I can't believe he was really this impressed. Besides I'm not the best dancer in the world.

"You must really like to dance."

I nodded. "It's my passion."

"I don't watch that much ballet, but it seemed like you were putting in a lot of emotion. I'm glad we found a use for this room."

"Nobody here uses it?"

"No it was here when we moved in. I'm pretty sure my other siblings forgot about."

"Yeah, it can be easy to forget a room full of mirrors if nobody's ever in it."

He chuckled. "I'm sorry if I intruded. It's just I couldn't look away."

"Okay, how many times have you used that line?"

His face was full of mock hurt, "Well, I never."

Then we both just started laughing. Then I finally caught my breath.

"So what extracurricular activity do you do, besides sneaking around the house?"

He chuckled again. What is with him and that chuckle? It was annoying but slightly cute at the same time.

"I happen to play the piano."

"How long?"

"I'm 17 now so about 12 years."

"Cool, maybe you play for me sometime?"

"If you promise to dance for me again."

"Okay, deal."

So Edward and I are going to entertain each other. Why did that sound so wrong? Yet, I was glad I finally had somebody to talk to. It gets lonely when you don't have anybody to talk to.

"Edward."

He turned around as I called out to him; a look of curiousness s was on his face. I'm sure I had that same look on my face.

"Do you mind not telling anybody about this whole dance in the studio thing, it's something I'd like to do without other people knowing?"

"Sure and I think that would make us even."

Now I was just plain confused.

"Okay you lost me there. What do you mean 'were even'?"

"I don't like to play my piano in front of people. You see, to me when I play it's personal to me. Do you feel that way about your dancing?"

Oh, that's what he meant.

"Yeah I definitely get that."

Then we both jumped at the sound of Esme calling us down for dinner.

"How good of a cook is Esme?" I asked. I was curious to see if I would be able to eat anything in this house.

He chuckled again. "Don't worry, she's a decent cook."

"Should I be afraid?"

"Only if you don't like spaghetti and meatballs."

Well I couldn't argue with him there. I did love spaghetti and meatballs.

"Great, that's my favorite."

"Wait till you see my brothers they should be-"

He wasn't able to finish what he was about to say, because 4 other teenagers, that live in this house, stampeded through the halls. And we were right in the middle. Before I could react, Edward was able to push me against the wall so I wouldn't be trampled.

"Woo, that was close."

"Yeah."

Then I just realized he had both of his arms on either side of me against the wall. He then realized it too, and removed his hands immediately allowing me freedom to move again.

"Uh, so, we should get to dinner," he said, feeling quite awkward after the wall thing.

"Uh, yeah." I replied, still awkward. I've always been a blusher so I was pretty sure I was blushing like crazy.

We then tried to forget about the whole hallway thing and walked downstairs to dinner together.