Disastrously Delicious

I had worked up quite a sweat during practice, so when we started walking to the dining room for lunch, I stole Joey’s glass of water. He did not seem to mind it. Actually, he was so starstruck by my dancing that he might not have even noticed it at all.

He followed me closely like a loyal puppy who is hoping to be given treats and kept asking me all kinds of questions. “Since when have you been doing ballet?”

I thought about it while sipping from my glass. “I think formally since I was 12, but I tried different styles before that. I tried jazz ballet, salsa dancing and street dancing before I eventually landed on ballet. I just like the structure of this style. You have to be extremely precise in your movements and the productions follow a clear story which you express with your actions.”

“Have you danced in other ballet productions before?” He immediately asked after I had given my answer.

“I have, but this is the first major role I’ve ever played. I have played in The Swan Lake before and in some original productions as a background character,” I explained to him.

“How come this is your first big role? You are amazing!” He complimented me with a giddy gleam in his eyes.

I laughed weakly and started to get flustered by Joey’s genuine interest in me. “I’m not that good,” I muttered while we walked to the kitchen to get some food. “You should see the other dancers. They’re amazing!”

“I will,” Joey promised with a gentle smile. “I want to see you on the big stage. That is, if you still want me to come.”

“Of course!” I immediately replied. “I’d be honoured if you could come to watch the show.”

I added with a blush on my cheeks: “And, thank you for helping me overcome my anxiety during practice today. I could have easily hurt or embarrassed myself if you hadn’t stopped me.”

“Don’t worry about it. You just need to have more faith in yourself,” he proclaimed as if it was a matter of fact. “I may not be an expert on ballet, but you clearly have talent and you’re working hard to develop that talent. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

He looked like he was about to say more, but then he got distracted by the massive fridge that took up a chunk of the kitchen. He took a peek at its contents and then asked me with a crooked smile: “Do you think they’ll notice if we steal a tub of ice cream for lunch?”

I burst out into laughter. “Joey, you are a disaster when it comes to food.”

He shrugged and answered with a wink: “I won’t deny that, but it’s not my fault the food here is disastrously delicious.”