The Rhythm of Life: Part Twenty-Two
Feb. 7th, 2013 05:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
antivanrufflesYou know, since it's like written and all, I guess I better get a-postin'!!
“I need break!” Dmitri cried, dropping Maggie’s hand and stepping away. Neven narrowed his eyes and lurched forward from his stool in the corner.
“You only start an hour ago. Did you injure yourself?” he asked, swallowing his annoyance at his brother and fringing concern.
“No, but you both make me uncomfortable.” Dmitri heaved a woeful sigh, shoulders slumping.
“Wot?” Maggie looked affronted, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.
“You. Both. Need.” Dmitri waved his hands wildly, gesturing toward Neven and Maggie, then smashed his hands together. “I cannot take this.”
“What are you talking about?” Neven hissed in Ukrainian.
Dmitri lifted an eyebrow, arms crossed. “It’s rude to talk about Maggie when she won’t understand us.”
“Well if you weren’t being an ass right now, I wouldn’t have to speak in Ukrainian. Now tell me, what are you talking about, you fool?” Neven glared, anger slowly rising.
“I mean that the tension between the pair of you has gone from the heat of a cheery fireplace to a roaring forest fire. It’s distracting!”
Neven stared at his brother, wide eyed, mouth opening and closing but no words would come out.
“I’m going to go get some coffee at the place on the corner. I’ll be back in…fifteen minutes? That should be adequate.” Dmitri nodded, obviously pleased with his decision. Without waiting for reply he turned around, grabbed his wallet from his bag by the door, and left.
“Where’s he goin?” Maggie asked, eyebrow arched.
“He is getting coffee. Said he would be back in fifteen minutes.”
“Oh.” Maggie chewed the inside of her cheek, causing it to dimple slightly, lips pursed.
They stood next to each other for a moment, looking at the door, then Neven caught her eye. The next instant they had their arms wrapped around each other, kissing for dear life, the sound of Neven’s cane clattering to the floor still echoing around the room.
***
Zander was nervous again. Edmond’s words still whirling around his mind. There was no way that Adelaide had anything more than friendly feelings toward him. It was not possible.
First, she had admitted she already fancied someone else. Second, that someone else was a polished man of high society, not some loud, obnoxious Aussie. Third, it just wasn’t probable.
However, none of that stopped him from being a giant ball of anxiety as he waited for the students of the beginners ballroom class to arrive. It was the last of the season, the last he would see of her before Sylvia’s party in three weeks.
“Stop pacing, you wear hole in floor.” Zander whirled around and glared at Dmitri. The Ukrainian was leaning against the door frame, one long leg crossed over the other. He took a sip of coffee, looking rather smug.
“Shut up. What’re you even doing here? Shouldn’t you be practicing?”
“I have coffee.” He held up the paper cup, saluting.
“Neven let you have a coffee break? Shit, he really has gone soft.”
“He not let. I take. He and Maggie need… alone time.” Dmitri’s lips twitched in amusement as he raised the cup for another sip.
“Ew, God!” Zander’s lip curled. “They’re not doing that in the practice room, are they? I have to clean those, you know!?”
“No worry, they are discreet.”
“Neven is about as discreet as a rabid dingo at a baby shower.” Zander shook his head. Dmitri looked confused, but didn’t ask for clarification.
“It will be good.”
“Fine.”
“Your class start soon?” Dmitri pushed away from the door and sauntered into the room. Zander frowned.
“Yeah,” he said slowly.
“Adelaide be here, yes? I have not met her. Perhaps it is time?” He took another sip of his coffee.
“Get the fuck out of my classroom.” Zander pointed toward the door, eyes narrowed.
“Oh!” Dmitri grinned widely, laughing. “Edmond right, you are jealous.”
“I’m not any such thing, I just don’t want you mucking things up. Adelaide is very shy, she doesn’t need to be teased or hit on by the likes of you.”
“If you say so.” Dmitri shrugged, still smiling, and Zander glowered at him.
“I do.”
“I go then.” Dmitri started strolling toward the door just as students started filing in. He stood near the door, cheerfully greeting them as they entered. The tittering gaggle of friends all seemed quite enthralled with the attention, nearly tripping over one another.
Zander rolled his eyes then quickly arranged his face into a pleasant smile as he greeted the students, though he kept the majority of his attention on Dmitri. Oddly -- or perhaps not, given how he’d ended their non-date date the other night -- Adelaide was last to arrive for class.
She startled slightly when she walked through the door and Dmitri greeted her with a bow.
“Um.. Hello?” She knitted her brows together, confused, and sent Zander a questioning look.
“You must be Adelaide? I have not had pleasure.” Dmitri grinned.
“I am…” she said slowly. “And you are?”
“Dmitri Veremchuk at your service.” He picked up her hand, bending over it, and kissed the back of it.
“Alright, that’s enough. Go back to practice.” Zander shooed the other man away.
“You are right. Farewell, Adelaide.” He grinned widely and winked. Adelaide giggled, though she appeared more confused than anything.
“Is he always like that?” She whispered to Zander as they watched the Ukrainian leave the room.
“Unfortunately, yes. I’m fairly certain he spikes his coffee with vodka!!” He yelled after Dmitri, earning a barked laugh from the hallway.
“How are you? Are you well?” Adelaide asked softly.
“Yeah, everything is aces!” Zander gave her a bright smile, trying to forget Edmond and Dmitri’s words. She did not like him in that way, he was not jealous. They were friends. “Best to get class started.”
The class itself went well, everyone still attending had come along very well in the last few months, and he was proud of them. Adelaide especially. As they class wound down, he stepped forward the congratulate them all.
“You all have done wonderfully, and I’m very proud. You should all give yourselves a round of applause because you deserve it!” He clapped loudly. “Thank you all for learning with me, it’s been a pleasure to teach you all.” Zander bowed toward the class.
Everyone in the class took the time to shake his hand, thanking him personally for the class. The tittering gaggle of friends asking if there were more classes they could take later.
“We’ll be starting sign-ups for a new intermediate class in about six weeks, if you’d like?” He explained. “There are some competitions and other obligations in the coming weeks for the studio, so we’re postponing it a bit.”
They were said it was so far away, but they would happily be back for that class. He made a mental note that Kam would be teaching that class, come hell or high water. Eventually the classroom emptied until it was just himself and Adelaide.
“Zander?” she asked tentatively.
“Yeah?”
“You’re sure everything is fine? I wasn’t sure after Friday….?”
“Nah, it’s all good. Have you seen your fella again?”
“No, I’ve not.” She shook her head, frowning slightly.
“Well there’s the party, yeah? He said he’d see you there.”
“I suppose he did. And I’ll see you there, correct?” Adelaide stepped a bit closer to him, her hands folded behind her back.
“Sure well.” He nodded. “I should get going, I’ve a tap class soon and I need check the studio messages and things.”
“Right, of course. I’m sorry for keeping you.” She nodded firmly, giving him a tight smile. “I’ll see you at the party then. Thank you for class, it’s been a wonderful learning experience.”
He looked at her for a moment, wishing he could figure her out, but her face was closed, a mask of indifference. Finally he nodded and headed for the door.
“See you around, Miss Adelaide,” he murmured before leaving.
***
Breaking for lunch, Kam opted to stay in the practice room, going over paperwork for the entries to Blackpool, and going over the final sketches for the costume design. He was so focused on the tasks at hand, he wasn’t aware of heeled feet clicking against the wooden floors. Or even the shadow that fell over him.
It wasn’t until Mina crouched down next to him that he realized she was there. “You’re working too hard.”
“If I don’t do it, no one else will.”
“When was the last time you had a day off, Kam?”
“What year is it?”
“Ha, ha.” Mina rolled her eyes and plopped down next to him. “You should eat.”
“I will,” he said absently, making a note on the sketches for Mina’s dress.
“Yes, you will,” Mina said, and started fishing something out of the paper bag at her side. She then carefully took the papers from Kam’s hands, replacing them with a carryout box.
“I thought I was the one who was suppose to worry over your health? I’m the coach, right?”
“You’re also a workaholic, which I can totally understand, but it’s food. Food is good.” Mina grinned and started opening her own carryout, revealing an order of greasy fish and chips. She casually took out the small containers of tartar sauce, dousing the entire thing.
Kam lifted an eyebrow. “Health food, I see.”
“Pfftt! I only dance as much as I do so I can eat as much as I like.” She broke off a piece of the battered fish, stuffing it into her mouth. “Besides, you’ve gotta have a little fun now and again, right?”
“What’s fun?”
“You’re so funny!” She stuck out her tongue. “Now eat.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They ate and passed the time amicably, Kam found himself drawn more and more to the outgoing young woman. A part of him tried to rationalize what a horrible idea that was: he was her coach; it wasn’t appropriate. She was also eleven years his junior, a child.
Despite that voice though, he enjoyed talking to her, they had more in common than he would have thought, and under the bubbly, outgoing surface, was a very dedicated and intelligent young woman.
Anton returned a while later to find them still huddled together on the floor in the corner of the room.
“Well, aren’t you two cozy?” he sneered.
“Just having lunch.” Mina stuffed the empty food containers back into the bag and stood up.
“I hope the grease won’t make you tired,” Anton said, wrinkling his nose in disgust at the carryout bag.
“It’ll be fine.” Mina curled her lip in annoyance. “Foxtrot for the afternoon?”
“Fine by me.” They moved to starting position, flowing into the routine.
“Kam?”
“Yeah?”
“Monty Python marathon on channel four tonight,” she said conversationally as she and Anton danced.
“Is that so?” He smothered a smile.
“Yes, I think we should watch it together. It’ll be fun.”
“Are you flirting with Kameron?” Anton cut in. “Has he decided to start dating children?”
“First, I am not a child. Second, you are only a year older than I am so you have no room to talk. Third, even if I was, it’s hardly any of your business.”
“Oh, but I think it is. I can’t have your silly little crush mucking up my chances at winning.” Anton spoke in such a haughty tone, Kam couldn’t keep from rolling his eyes.
“Ah, yes, because I’m just a silly little girl not a professional. Why don’t you get down off your high horse, hm? We all know I work twice as hard as you do.”
“Alright, that’s enough!” Kam clapped his hands, feeling like a referee. “I will not have any petty arguments in my studio.”
“Fine.” Anton huffed.
“Works for me.”
“Good.” Kam nodded.
The day finished out quietly, neither Anton or Mina spoke much for the rest of the afternoon, and Kam was rather glad for that. They did well with their practice though, and in the end he was pleased.
Before they all left for the night, though, he caught Mina by the elbow and, for his own perverse amusement, made sure Anton could hear him.
“Your place or mine tonight?” Mina beamed at him, looking so happy, that he didn’t even take notice of Anton’s reaction.
“I need break!” Dmitri cried, dropping Maggie’s hand and stepping away. Neven narrowed his eyes and lurched forward from his stool in the corner.
“You only start an hour ago. Did you injure yourself?” he asked, swallowing his annoyance at his brother and fringing concern.
“No, but you both make me uncomfortable.” Dmitri heaved a woeful sigh, shoulders slumping.
“Wot?” Maggie looked affronted, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.
“You. Both. Need.” Dmitri waved his hands wildly, gesturing toward Neven and Maggie, then smashed his hands together. “I cannot take this.”
“What are you talking about?” Neven hissed in Ukrainian.
Dmitri lifted an eyebrow, arms crossed. “It’s rude to talk about Maggie when she won’t understand us.”
“Well if you weren’t being an ass right now, I wouldn’t have to speak in Ukrainian. Now tell me, what are you talking about, you fool?” Neven glared, anger slowly rising.
“I mean that the tension between the pair of you has gone from the heat of a cheery fireplace to a roaring forest fire. It’s distracting!”
Neven stared at his brother, wide eyed, mouth opening and closing but no words would come out.
“I’m going to go get some coffee at the place on the corner. I’ll be back in…fifteen minutes? That should be adequate.” Dmitri nodded, obviously pleased with his decision. Without waiting for reply he turned around, grabbed his wallet from his bag by the door, and left.
“Where’s he goin?” Maggie asked, eyebrow arched.
“He is getting coffee. Said he would be back in fifteen minutes.”
“Oh.” Maggie chewed the inside of her cheek, causing it to dimple slightly, lips pursed.
They stood next to each other for a moment, looking at the door, then Neven caught her eye. The next instant they had their arms wrapped around each other, kissing for dear life, the sound of Neven’s cane clattering to the floor still echoing around the room.
***
Zander was nervous again. Edmond’s words still whirling around his mind. There was no way that Adelaide had anything more than friendly feelings toward him. It was not possible.
First, she had admitted she already fancied someone else. Second, that someone else was a polished man of high society, not some loud, obnoxious Aussie. Third, it just wasn’t probable.
However, none of that stopped him from being a giant ball of anxiety as he waited for the students of the beginners ballroom class to arrive. It was the last of the season, the last he would see of her before Sylvia’s party in three weeks.
“Stop pacing, you wear hole in floor.” Zander whirled around and glared at Dmitri. The Ukrainian was leaning against the door frame, one long leg crossed over the other. He took a sip of coffee, looking rather smug.
“Shut up. What’re you even doing here? Shouldn’t you be practicing?”
“I have coffee.” He held up the paper cup, saluting.
“Neven let you have a coffee break? Shit, he really has gone soft.”
“He not let. I take. He and Maggie need… alone time.” Dmitri’s lips twitched in amusement as he raised the cup for another sip.
“Ew, God!” Zander’s lip curled. “They’re not doing that in the practice room, are they? I have to clean those, you know!?”
“No worry, they are discreet.”
“Neven is about as discreet as a rabid dingo at a baby shower.” Zander shook his head. Dmitri looked confused, but didn’t ask for clarification.
“It will be good.”
“Fine.”
“Your class start soon?” Dmitri pushed away from the door and sauntered into the room. Zander frowned.
“Yeah,” he said slowly.
“Adelaide be here, yes? I have not met her. Perhaps it is time?” He took another sip of his coffee.
“Get the fuck out of my classroom.” Zander pointed toward the door, eyes narrowed.
“Oh!” Dmitri grinned widely, laughing. “Edmond right, you are jealous.”
“I’m not any such thing, I just don’t want you mucking things up. Adelaide is very shy, she doesn’t need to be teased or hit on by the likes of you.”
“If you say so.” Dmitri shrugged, still smiling, and Zander glowered at him.
“I do.”
“I go then.” Dmitri started strolling toward the door just as students started filing in. He stood near the door, cheerfully greeting them as they entered. The tittering gaggle of friends all seemed quite enthralled with the attention, nearly tripping over one another.
Zander rolled his eyes then quickly arranged his face into a pleasant smile as he greeted the students, though he kept the majority of his attention on Dmitri. Oddly -- or perhaps not, given how he’d ended their non-date date the other night -- Adelaide was last to arrive for class.
She startled slightly when she walked through the door and Dmitri greeted her with a bow.
“Um.. Hello?” She knitted her brows together, confused, and sent Zander a questioning look.
“You must be Adelaide? I have not had pleasure.” Dmitri grinned.
“I am…” she said slowly. “And you are?”
“Dmitri Veremchuk at your service.” He picked up her hand, bending over it, and kissed the back of it.
“Alright, that’s enough. Go back to practice.” Zander shooed the other man away.
“You are right. Farewell, Adelaide.” He grinned widely and winked. Adelaide giggled, though she appeared more confused than anything.
“Is he always like that?” She whispered to Zander as they watched the Ukrainian leave the room.
“Unfortunately, yes. I’m fairly certain he spikes his coffee with vodka!!” He yelled after Dmitri, earning a barked laugh from the hallway.
“How are you? Are you well?” Adelaide asked softly.
“Yeah, everything is aces!” Zander gave her a bright smile, trying to forget Edmond and Dmitri’s words. She did not like him in that way, he was not jealous. They were friends. “Best to get class started.”
The class itself went well, everyone still attending had come along very well in the last few months, and he was proud of them. Adelaide especially. As they class wound down, he stepped forward the congratulate them all.
“You all have done wonderfully, and I’m very proud. You should all give yourselves a round of applause because you deserve it!” He clapped loudly. “Thank you all for learning with me, it’s been a pleasure to teach you all.” Zander bowed toward the class.
Everyone in the class took the time to shake his hand, thanking him personally for the class. The tittering gaggle of friends asking if there were more classes they could take later.
“We’ll be starting sign-ups for a new intermediate class in about six weeks, if you’d like?” He explained. “There are some competitions and other obligations in the coming weeks for the studio, so we’re postponing it a bit.”
They were said it was so far away, but they would happily be back for that class. He made a mental note that Kam would be teaching that class, come hell or high water. Eventually the classroom emptied until it was just himself and Adelaide.
“Zander?” she asked tentatively.
“Yeah?”
“You’re sure everything is fine? I wasn’t sure after Friday….?”
“Nah, it’s all good. Have you seen your fella again?”
“No, I’ve not.” She shook her head, frowning slightly.
“Well there’s the party, yeah? He said he’d see you there.”
“I suppose he did. And I’ll see you there, correct?” Adelaide stepped a bit closer to him, her hands folded behind her back.
“Sure well.” He nodded. “I should get going, I’ve a tap class soon and I need check the studio messages and things.”
“Right, of course. I’m sorry for keeping you.” She nodded firmly, giving him a tight smile. “I’ll see you at the party then. Thank you for class, it’s been a wonderful learning experience.”
He looked at her for a moment, wishing he could figure her out, but her face was closed, a mask of indifference. Finally he nodded and headed for the door.
“See you around, Miss Adelaide,” he murmured before leaving.
***
Breaking for lunch, Kam opted to stay in the practice room, going over paperwork for the entries to Blackpool, and going over the final sketches for the costume design. He was so focused on the tasks at hand, he wasn’t aware of heeled feet clicking against the wooden floors. Or even the shadow that fell over him.
It wasn’t until Mina crouched down next to him that he realized she was there. “You’re working too hard.”
“If I don’t do it, no one else will.”
“When was the last time you had a day off, Kam?”
“What year is it?”
“Ha, ha.” Mina rolled her eyes and plopped down next to him. “You should eat.”
“I will,” he said absently, making a note on the sketches for Mina’s dress.
“Yes, you will,” Mina said, and started fishing something out of the paper bag at her side. She then carefully took the papers from Kam’s hands, replacing them with a carryout box.
“I thought I was the one who was suppose to worry over your health? I’m the coach, right?”
“You’re also a workaholic, which I can totally understand, but it’s food. Food is good.” Mina grinned and started opening her own carryout, revealing an order of greasy fish and chips. She casually took out the small containers of tartar sauce, dousing the entire thing.
Kam lifted an eyebrow. “Health food, I see.”
“Pfftt! I only dance as much as I do so I can eat as much as I like.” She broke off a piece of the battered fish, stuffing it into her mouth. “Besides, you’ve gotta have a little fun now and again, right?”
“What’s fun?”
“You’re so funny!” She stuck out her tongue. “Now eat.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They ate and passed the time amicably, Kam found himself drawn more and more to the outgoing young woman. A part of him tried to rationalize what a horrible idea that was: he was her coach; it wasn’t appropriate. She was also eleven years his junior, a child.
Despite that voice though, he enjoyed talking to her, they had more in common than he would have thought, and under the bubbly, outgoing surface, was a very dedicated and intelligent young woman.
Anton returned a while later to find them still huddled together on the floor in the corner of the room.
“Well, aren’t you two cozy?” he sneered.
“Just having lunch.” Mina stuffed the empty food containers back into the bag and stood up.
“I hope the grease won’t make you tired,” Anton said, wrinkling his nose in disgust at the carryout bag.
“It’ll be fine.” Mina curled her lip in annoyance. “Foxtrot for the afternoon?”
“Fine by me.” They moved to starting position, flowing into the routine.
“Kam?”
“Yeah?”
“Monty Python marathon on channel four tonight,” she said conversationally as she and Anton danced.
“Is that so?” He smothered a smile.
“Yes, I think we should watch it together. It’ll be fun.”
“Are you flirting with Kameron?” Anton cut in. “Has he decided to start dating children?”
“First, I am not a child. Second, you are only a year older than I am so you have no room to talk. Third, even if I was, it’s hardly any of your business.”
“Oh, but I think it is. I can’t have your silly little crush mucking up my chances at winning.” Anton spoke in such a haughty tone, Kam couldn’t keep from rolling his eyes.
“Ah, yes, because I’m just a silly little girl not a professional. Why don’t you get down off your high horse, hm? We all know I work twice as hard as you do.”
“Alright, that’s enough!” Kam clapped his hands, feeling like a referee. “I will not have any petty arguments in my studio.”
“Fine.” Anton huffed.
“Works for me.”
“Good.” Kam nodded.
The day finished out quietly, neither Anton or Mina spoke much for the rest of the afternoon, and Kam was rather glad for that. They did well with their practice though, and in the end he was pleased.
Before they all left for the night, though, he caught Mina by the elbow and, for his own perverse amusement, made sure Anton could hear him.
“Your place or mine tonight?” Mina beamed at him, looking so happy, that he didn’t even take notice of Anton’s reaction.
