~Saturday, May 28th~

Though I know deep down that they couldn't be any more perfect, I fidget with my pointe shoes. Checking that the ribbon won't come untucked, making sure I have enough rosin, and pressing into my demi-pointe to ensure that they're properly broken in. And I also repeatedly check my hair, making sure that not a single strand of hair is out of place.

"Theresa?" The whisper breaks me out of my zone as I stand backstage behind one of the big set pieces, just minutes before the curtain rises for Giselle. I look up towards the sound of the voice to see David standing in the wing with his costume on, also ready for the performance. He opens his arms to me, and I don't hesitate to accept his hug. "You're ready. You just need to trust yourself," he encourages me. I nod as I pull away from the embrace, soaking in his expert advice.

"Have fun," he says before he needs to leave to get to the other side of the stage. I let these two simple words soak in. I've put all the hard work in, my body is in the best shape of my life, I'm the most experienced I've ever been, and I finally get to perform my dream role.

The overture begins and the momentary calm I had felt dissipates as nerves return. This is actually happening, right now.

To settle myself, I think back to the text message I read just ten minutes ago.

"Good luck, TD. You've put so much time and work in these past few months, and now it will finally pay off. I'm so proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself too," Noah wrote.

I take a deep breath and think of him as I hear my cue, and open the set door - a pretend house in the corner of the stage. Stage lights flood onto my skin, and though my entire nervous system is on overdrive, my muscles know what they're supposed to be doing by heart.

And now, I dance.

~~~~~

Approximately one hour and forty five minutes later, I find myself walking onto the stage hand in hand with David in front of the rest of the cast. The clapping and hollering from the audience barely even resonate in my head as David sends me forward to take my own final bow. Though there are tears in my eyes, my smile never falters. Because even though the best performance of my life so far is over now, there's so much more to come in my career.

This isn't the end. No, it's just the beginning.

~~~~~

~Saturday, June 11th~

    I open the back door of my father's car and step out onto the parking lot of the high school, my parents doing the same from the front seats. After closing the door, I fix the light blue gown which rests on my shoulders, straighten the cords around my neck, and brush the tassel out of my eyes.

"We're going to go find some seats," my dad says, squinting in the bright summer sun as he adjusts his sunglasses. I nod and begin to turn towards the entrance of the high school where I am supposed to meet my homeroom teacher, before my mother's voice stops me.

"Oh, I see Olivia! Let's go say hi first, I haven't caught up with Beth in forever!" My mom says, mentioning Olivia's mom. I glance towards where my mom is pointing and find Olivia, her parents and siblings, Cameron, his parents, and finally - Noah, standing in a circle talking.

It's now that I realize that not only have my parents not met Noah... but I've also failed to inform them that he's my boyfriend.

Oops?

Of course they do know that Noah exists, especially after I spent so much time at the hospital when he was hurt, but at the time I just told them he was a friend since I had bigger things to worry about than discussing having a boyfriend with my parents. I consider diverting my parents away to postpone the conversation, but there's no way I could get away with that without seeming suspicious, since Olivia and her family are there.

Hesitantly, I follow my parents towards the group, just wishing that they don't say anything awkward about meeting Noah's parents, or make a big deal about me suddenly revealing that I have a boyfriend.

Beth - Olivia's mom - is the first to notice us, and she excitedly hugs my mom and springs into a conversation about what they've been up to recently. As my dad and her dad also begin to converse, I give Olivia a quick hug.

"Can you believe we're actually graduating today, Liv?" I say, thinking back to my childhood growing up next to Olivia and always dreaming of this achievement with her. We had no clue what it would actually feel like, though.

"Barely," Olivia responds, "I also can't stop shaking, but I'm excited too," she says, referencing to her nerves about giving her valedictorian speech so soon. To be honest, I'm actually glad I'm not valedictorian, I know Olivia will give a much better speech than I ever could. And if anyone deserves it, it's her.

"Oh please, you'll be fine. You didn't take that public speaking class last year for nothing," I remind her and she agrees, though still nervous.

Suddenly I feel arms wrapping around my torso from behind, lifting me up into the air. Though I know exactly who is doing this, I still squeal in surprise and hold onto his arms, scared to fall.

"Noah, put me down!" I say and he laughs in response, though does carefully place me back down on my own feet. I spin around with the intention of scolding him - especially since he could have messed up my hair - but can't stay mad as I see him. I scan over his face, taking in his expression with care.

"What are you looking at," he says with suspicion, though his carefree smile and the brightness in his eyes remain.

"You. You just look really happy right now," I say with my own smile.

"Of course I am. At some points, getting to graduation felt like an impossible task. But not only did I make it here, I also got here with you," his confession melts my heart, and I jut out my bottom lip as I gush at his words. But before I can open my mouth to reply, Beth's voice steals my attention.

"Oh, I'm being so rude!" She says to my mom, "Elizabeth, this is Cameron - Olivia's boyfriend - and his parents Sarah and Jeff," Beth gestures to Cameron and his family, "and this - well, I'm sure you already know Noah," Beth turns her attention to Noah and I, sending me a wink. She obviously has no clue that my parents don't know that Noah and I are dating.

"Noah, this is my mom and dad," I say as my parents focus their attention on us, and the rest of the group begins a separate conversation. "Mom, dad, this is Noah, my... boyfriend." As expected, both of my parents are definitely surprised, but they both try to hide it.

"Mr White," Noah says as he shakes my father's hand, and I watch nervously.

"Call me Brian," my dad says in response, and I take that as a good sign.

"Elizabeth," my mom introduces herself as she exchanges Noah's outstretched hand for a hug instead - definitely a good sign.

"It's very nice to meet you both," Noah says confidently. Both my parents give Noah pleasant expressions, though my mom's eyes flick to me a few times - and I know we're going to talk about this later.

"It's nice to meet you too, Noah. Are your parents nearby?" My mom asks. Yikes, just what I was hoping wouldn't come up. I hold onto Noah's arm by his elbow, instinctively wanting to comfort him in case this question makes him uncomfortable or upset. Noah speaks before I can even think of a good response.

"No, but my aunt is walking over from the car now, and I know she'd love to meet you," he says with no hesitation.

"Oh, sure," my mom replies, obviously a little confused about Noah's parents' absence, but - luckily - not pressing the subject further.

"Miss Teresina!" My favorite little voice exclaims, and I turn toward the sound just in time for Melody to run towards me.

"Hi Melody," I say as I pick her up and sit her on my hip. "I love your dress," I say, admiring the pink sundress and white sandals she's wearing for the special occasion.

"Thank you, I like your dress too" she says before eyeing the two strangers before her - my parents.

"This is my little sister, Melody," Noah tells my parents, then turns to her. "Mel, these are Miss Teresina's parents, can you say hi to them?" She waves to them shyly, and I watch as my mom melts at her cuteness - how could you not? Ann joins our group of people, having been walking from the car when Melody saw me and ran ahead. "This is my aunt, Anne," Noah says to my parents again, politely introducing her. "Anne, these are Teresina's parents, Elizabeth and Brian, he gestures to them.

"Oh, it's so nice to finally meet you, Teresina is such a wonderful young woman," Anne says as she hugs my mom, then surprises my dad by hugging him as well. Not long later it is time for all of the graduates to meet in the high school, and all of the family members to find seats on the bleachers.

~~~~~

After the ceremony finishes the graduates and their families all head towards their cars, graduation parties waiting at houses. I follow Noah to his car after promising my parents that I'll be back home in a little bit.

"Olivia's speech was just... amazing. I knew it would be, but wow - she really did perfectly. Not a single stutter or anything! I guess that public speaking class really did pay off for her," I ramble to Noah as we get into his car. He nods along as I talk, though doesn't offer any comments of his own.

    "What's wrong?" I say after pausing for a moment, creating a silence that Noah doesn't fill. Instead, he nervously taps his fingers on the steering wheel as his eyebrows furrow together on his forehead, and I worry that there's something bothering him.

"Nothing, I just..." Noah starts, but trails off before he finishes, glancing at me for a moment before looking away again.

"What is it? You can tell me," I say softly, though letting my curiosity encourage him.

"Could we stop somewhere on the way back home? It'll be quick I just... want to do something. But if it makes you uncomfortable I can go later, alone," he says, not making any more sense.

"Where?" I ask, and Noah pauses for another moment, only increasing my anticipation exponentially.

"My father's grave," He says. I pause for a short moment as his words settle in, but it doesn't take me long to answer.

"Of course we can stop there, as long as you're sure you want me to be there. Or I could wait in the car, anything is fine," I begin to ramble, not wanting to assume that he wants me to walk up to the grave with him, but wanting him to know that if he wants me to, I will.

"Yeah, I want you there," he says, finally maintaining eye contact for more than just a fleeting moment.

"Then of course," I say, certain that if Noah wants me there when he visits his dad, that I will be there to support him. Though I don't know the feeling of losing a parent - and essentially losing two - I do still know what loss feels like, and I know that having someone you trust nearby when you're grieving makes a big difference in how you are able to cope.

The ride to the cemetery is short and quiet, and I can tell that Noah is nervous. I wonder to myself how often Noah visits his father's grave, and if he's ever brought someone new with him. I assume that he probably doesn't bring people often, and feel pretty special that he does want me there with him.

After arriving and exiting the car, Noah leads me through the graveyard.

"Dad, I brought someone I want you to meet," Noah says once we reach his father's grave. "This is my girlfriend, Teresina," he says as he pulls me into his side. I look up at him as he stares down at the grave, a small smile on his face. "She means a lot to me, so I wanted you guys to meet." Noah pauses, and I decide to sit down in front of the headstone, signalling for Noah to sit with me. Once he does, I lean my head against his shoulder. I take a deep breath, and begin to speak.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr Thompson," I begin, keeping my voice steady though emotions rush through me. "I'm really lucky to have your son, sir. I'm sure you know how good of a person he is."

"I'm also sure you know all the amazing things he's been doing, but I'll tell you now just in case," I continue. "He's doing such a great job at raising Melody, she's the kindest little girl in the world. He's a great friend, and a great student, and he's going to help the world become a better place as a lawyer. He cares about others so much, and is willing to put himself in danger to protect others," I pause and break my gaze from the gravestone to look up at Noah, who now has tears in his eyes as he stares at his father's name written in stone, "even when that means conquering his biggest fears. He's trustworthy and responsible and compassionate and loving."

"I know you're so, so proud of him. Just like I am." Noah wraps his arms around me and cries, trusting me to comfort him. I allow the strongest person I know to break in my arms, knowing that he has to have his weak points in order to build himself back up again, and knowing that I will support him in every moment as he continues to be the extraordinary person that he is.

Because we're a team now.

"I love you," I say for the first time. I don't want to take advantage of his weak moment, but I know being vulnerable for him will help him feel loved, as he should. He holds onto me impossibly tighter, though I don't mind in the slightest.

"I love you too, TD."

~The End~

~~~~~

Written 6/2/2020, Published 6/2/2020