It was the second week of summer break, and ballet class had become the trio’s latest adventure. Jessica, Big Jim, and Hannah had made it their summer routine, meeting up at the community center every other day for lessons. Jessica was still working on her coordination (though honestly, she was more of a disaster than a dancer), and Big Jim, much to everyone’s surprise, was proving himself with decent rhythm. But it was Hannah who was truly shining.
The instructor, Mrs. Daley, had been impressed from the start. Her natural posture, long legs, and graceful movements caught the instructor’s eye immediately. What Hannah hadn’t expected was how quickly she adapted to ballet, as if her body had been waiting for the right time to come alive with grace. Every move she made was fluid, deliberate—a fairy in motion.
As Hannah went through a series of plies and pirouettes at the barre, Jessica and Big Jim exchanged glances from across the room. They watched, both speechless for a moment, completely awestruck by how effortlessly she moved.
“She’s like… a damn ballerina already,” Jessica muttered, staring at her best friend’s smooth, elegant form.
Big Jim, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, let out a low whistle. “I didn’t know you could do all that.” His eyes followed Hannah’s every movement, taking in the way her long brown hair swished behind her with each twirl. “She’s got it all, doesn’t she?”
Jessica chuckled, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, she’s a natural. Meanwhile, I’m over here tripping over my own feet.”
“She’s lucky,” Big Jim continued, his tone a little more serious now. “Graceful, talented… Jeremy’s one lucky guy. I mean, seriously, how does a guy like him get a girl like her?”
Jessica shot him a quick glance, noticing the hint of sincerity in his voice, but before she could comment, she smirked. “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? You were just saying how you can’t dance either.” She teased, nudging him with her elbow. “Maybe you’re just jealous.”
Big Jim raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. “Jealous? Me? Nah, I just know what I’m talking about when I see it.”
Jessica’s eyes flickered back to Hannah, who was moving through the steps with the fluidity of someone who had been doing this for years. “She makes it look so easy,” Jessica said softly, her voice a little wistful. “I feel like I’m not getting any better, and she’s already a pro.”
Big Jim shifted his weight, glancing at Jessica before focusing back on Hannah. “You’re getting there, Jess. You just gotta keep practicing.”
Jessica shook her head with a small laugh. “Yeah, but when I see Hannah… I don’t know. It’s like she’s been born to do this stuff.”
Big Jim watched Hannah as she finished a series of spins, her long hair whipping around her as she landed gracefully, standing tall and poised. For a moment, he couldn’t help but admire how effortless and confident she was. His expression softened for a moment, but he quickly pulled himself back.
“Yeah,” he said, turning to Jessica. “But you’re right. It’s like she was born for it.”
There was a pause before Jessica spoke again, her voice quieter now. “Do you think… I mean, do you think she even notices? How… how good she is?”
Big Jim glanced at her, noticing the subtle shift in Jessica’s tone. He looked at Hannah once more, his expression changing as he saw her laughing with the instructor. His gaze softened, but his smile stayed playful.
“She knows,” he said with a grin. “But honestly, she doesn’t seem to care much. She’s not out here trying to be all fancy. She’s just… doing her thing. You don’t have to notice everything to know you’re good at it.”
Jessica nodded, but the way her eyes lingered on Hannah hinted at something deeper. “I guess that’s true. She really doesn’t try to be anything she’s not.”
Big Jim’s smile grew a little more mischievous. “And you,” he nudged her gently, “You’re a good dancer too. Just takes time.”
Jessica raised an eyebrow, eyeing Big Jim with suspicion. “What’s with the compliments all of a sudden?”
Big Jim shrugged nonchalantly, a teasing grin playing at the corners of his lips. “I’m just saying, someone like you has gotta hear it every once in a while.”
Jessica gave him a sideways glance but didn’t press further. She couldn’t help but feel a slight flush at his words, but before she could respond, Hannah turned and caught their gaze from across the room, her face lighting up with a grin.
“Stop staring at me like that, I’m not that good!” Hannah called over, breathless from her workout.
Big Jim laughed and raised his hands in mock surrender. “We can’t help it! You’re a natural.”
Hannah rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile. She approached them, her cheeks flushed with exertion, her hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders.
“You guys are impossible,” she teased, brushing her hair out of her face.
Jessica grinned. “We’re just amazed. Don’t mind us.”
Big Jim gave a sly wink. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you have the spotlight for now. But hey, I’m getting better at this too.”
Hannah laughed, shaking her head as she adjusted her ballet slippers. “Uh-huh, sure you are.”
“You’ll see,” Big Jim said, his voice suddenly a bit more serious as he watched her with a playful yet genuine look. “Next time, I’ll be showing off some moves too. Just wait.”
Jessica rolled her eyes. “We’ll see about that.”
They all shared a laugh before Hannah took her place at the barre again, ready to continue her practice. Big Jim and Jessica, as always, watched her with admiration, but this time, their attention wasn’t solely on Hannah’s dance skills.
There was a warmth in the air, the beginnings of a comfortable, easy friendship forming between the three. It was the kind of summer that promised a lot of laughter, growth, and the quiet moments where everything seemed just right.
And as they continued to watch Hannah glide across the floor, Big Jim leaned in to Jessica, his voice low but teasing. “She really is something else, huh?”
Jessica smiled, her eyes not on Hannah this time, but on Big Jim, the connection between them growing clearer.
“Yeah,” she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “But maybe you’re something else too.”
****
HANNAH
I walked through the front door, my ballet bag slung over my shoulder, my muscles sore but pleasantly tired. It had been a long, rewarding day, but I was in a good mood. Ballet had become something I looked forward to, a moment where I could just lose myself in the rhythm and grace of it all. For a while, I didn’t have to think about anything else.
As I kicked off my shoes, I noticed my mom sitting at the kitchen table, her eyes darting to the clock, then back to me. I could tell she wasn’t really focused on anything, her mind somewhere else.
“Ballet was great today,” I said, trying to keep my voice upbeat, despite the nagging thought in the back of my mind.
My mom, who had been quietly stirring a cup of tea, didn’t say much in response. She smiled, but her eyes still lingered on me. I could tell she was trying not to ask, but the question was written all over her face.
“You know, it’s been a while since I saw Jeremy around here,” she said casually, but I knew better. The question wasn’t about just Jeremy, it was about where he had been, and why I hadn’t mentioned him lately.
I shrugged, trying to hide the slight pang of discomfort I felt. “He’s probably just busy, Mom. He has his own stuff going on.”
She nodded, but the look in her eyes made it clear she wasn’t convinced. She seemed to want to ask more, but thankfully, she didn’t.
“I’ll go shower and get changed,” I mumbled, escaping to my room before she could press further.
Once I was alone, I changed into something more comfortable and flopped onto my bed. The warmth from the ballet practice had faded, leaving me feeling drained. I didn’t even bother setting an alarm—just closed my eyes for a second, thinking I’d maybe check my phone or do something productive before I fell asleep. But exhaustion took over, and before I knew it, I drifted off into a deep, dreamless slumber.
I was jolted awake by a soft noise, a sense of someone’s presence in the room. My eyes snapped open, and I froze.
Jeremy.
I blinked, unsure if I was still dreaming. There he was, lying beside me on my bed, his face only a few inches away from mine. His dark blue eyes were fixed on me, unblinking, like he’d been watching me for a while. He was still in his usual hoodie and jeans, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
My heart skipped a beat. I could barely process what was happening, my thoughts scrambled.
“Jeremy?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he just stared at me, almost as if he was trying to read my expression. There was something in his gaze—something intense—that I couldn’t quite figure out. The room felt suddenly smaller, the air thick with tension.
I tried to move, but I couldn’t. The shock of waking up and finding him so close left me completely paralyzed, my mind racing.
And then, before I could say anything else, the world around me seemed to blur, the silence stretching on.
****