Page 72 of If It's You

“Fine,” she said, turning around. “We’ll start with some ballet.”

She put her feet together and told him to plie.

Christian phlid. Instead of going out, his knees went to the front.

“Keep your back straight,” she told him. “Lift your heels slightly.”

First position was followed by multiple other ridiculous positions. How on earth were these awkward squats considered dancing?

Maizie’s small fingers grazed his shoulders, and he shivered beneath her touch. “You have terrible posture. Straighten your back.”

“I’m trying,” he said. He straightened his back but then fell off balance.

“Okay, let’s try a spin.”

“I can do this one,” Christian said. He spun on one foot and smiled big at her as he landed on two feet.

“That was. . . a spin. Next time try spotting.”

“What now?”

“Focus on one thing in front of you, and try to follow it all the way around.” Maizie demonstrated.

Christian barely saw the difference, but he tried. His eyes found Maizie’s before and after he spun.

“Nailed it.”

Maizie shook her head. “You are way too cocky.”

“This is easy.” He stuck his hands in his pockets. “Give me the hard stuff.”

“Okay.” She played with something on her phone and music blared through the thin wooden walls.

“Watch closely,” she said.

Christian took a few steps back.

Maizie stood in the center of the floor. The beat dropped, and Maizie came to life. Her body flew through the air in hands-free cartwheels and acrobatic jumps. She threw her legs so high into the air she appeared to double in size. She spun forever, then gracefully fell to the floor with her legs in two opposite directions.

Ouch.

She stood up, her eyes glowing knowing that she had just bested him.

“Your turn.”

Christian knew he couldn’t achieve such a captivating dance, that wasn’t the point of this lesson. Maizie wanted to prove that dancing was hard, but he could prove that it wasn’t.

He kicked his leg then dropped into a plie. He spun once then did his own version of a cartwheel. He kicked again, and pain ripped through the back of his leg. He fell to the floor, very ungracefully.

“That was the most hilarious thing I’ve ever seen.” Maizie clutched her stomach and bent over her knees.

He tried to get up but fell back again. “Yeah, um, when you’re done laughing, could you help me up?”

“Are you okay?”

“I think I pulled my hamstring,” he groaned.

“Hmm. . .” She tapped her finger against her chin. It was both annoying and adorable at the same time. “You probably should have stretched better.”