GENESIS
"Damn, they're so good," Calista mumbled, resting her head on the barre.
Yes, barre. That was a new word I'd learned today, and I was proud of it—even if I can't say it out loud.
We stood there, watching the ballerinas move gracefully across the studio floor until the instructor finally called for a break.
Some of the girls plopped onto the floor, chugging water like they'd just crossed a desert. Another new word I learnt.
Others kept practicing, pointing their toes and stretching their legs like perfection was one pirouette away.
I was watching one girl in particular, completely mesmerized, when Stacy suddenly grabbed my hand.
"Don't look, don't look—but Jaden is coming over here," she whispered urgently.
Calista shot upright like she'd been electrocuted, fussing with her hair.
Was something wrong with her hair?
Jaden strolled over and stood beside us, his gaze flicking between Stacy and Calista.
"How are you girls today?" he asked, smiling.
Calista flushed red—like tomato-sauce red.
"We're fine, Jaden. And you looked great out there," she said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, only for it to end up in her mouth. She coughed and spit it out, face even redder.
"Thank you," he replied, smiling again. There were soft crinkles at the corners of his bright blue eyes. His ruffled hair gave him a casual, just-finished-practice look, and he was tall. Like…Kieran-level tall. Though not as broad.
"And who's this new ballerina?" he asked, turning his attention to me.
Me? Ballerina?
I'd just started today—and someone was already calling me a ballerina?
My face immediately felt hot.
Stacy gave me a gentle nudge at the small of my back, pushing me forward. I looked down at my feet, then back up at him.
I didn't do well with strangers. But I wasn't alone. Nothing would happen. I was safe.
,
"Her name is Genesis," Stacy started to say.
"She can't talk—" Calista blurted out. "She's mute."
Stacy shot her a glare. "Calista."
"What? It's true," Calista mumbled, not unkindly. "I'm not trying to be mean."
Still, I felt the room shrink around me.
Not again.
I didn't like being introduced like that. Like my silence was some freak of nature.
Jaden's smile faltered just slightly, and his eyes softened. I braced myself for that awkward nod or the look of pity I'd seen too many times.
But instead, he simply said, "Well, it's nice to meet you, Genesis."
Then he tilted his head and added, "I've never met a ballerina who couldn't speak, but I guess you don't need words to steal the spotlight."
I blinked up at him.
What did that mean?
Stacy nodded enthusiastically. "Right? She's so pretty. When she walked into class today, we couldn't stop staring."
I wanted to disappear into the floor. My face burned even hotter, and I shifted from one foot to the other.
"So is this your first time doing ballet?" Jaden asked. "Or did you transfer from another studio?"
His eyes were on me, steady and curious.
I wanted to answer—but Stacy had dragged me away before I could grab my notebook and pencil.
So I nodded rapidly.
He smiled again—not awkwardly, not out of politeness—but like he was genuinely happy.
Yes. That was the look.
"And how are you liking ballet, Genesis?"
I bit my lip, thinking. How do I answer this?
Then I remembered a movement Daisy liked to do. I brought my index fingers and thumbs together, placed my middle fingers across each other, and popped my hands open with a smile. My Daisy copied way of saying it was amazing.
When I opened my eyes, Jaden was already laughing—full, real laughter that made him clutch his stomach.
I turned to Stacy, worried.
Was it bad?
I scrubbed my foot nervously over the smooth wooden floor.
"No, no, don't make that face," he said, stepping closer. His hand gently touched my cheek—warm and soft.
I looked up at him, unsure.
"That was so unexpected—and so cute—I couldn't help myself," he said, still grinning.
Oh.
I smiled and gave him a small nod.
"You're not what one would expect," Jaden said, lowering his hand and stepping back with a boyish grin.
Calista let out a dramatic sigh beside me, her earlier embarrassment now replaced with starry-eyed wonder. "Ugh, you're so lucky, Genesis."
Stacy chuckled. "Yeah, you've been here less than a day and already made the golden boy laugh."
Golden boy?
I glanced at Jaden, who now looked slightly flustered. "Okay, guys, that's…"
Before he could finish, three girls appeared beside him. One of them placed a hand on his shoulder, and I recognized her immediately—Melanie. The same girl he'd been dancing with earlier. Her presence seemed to command attention, and the way she moved… so smooth, so graceful. I couldn't help but feel a little awestruck.
"And who might this be?" she asked, her voice lilting like a melody, but laced with something sharp underneath.
"She's—" Stacy started, but Melanie cut her off, waving a manicured hand.
"I'm sure she doesn't need you to talk for her, does she? Left feet," she said with a cruel laugh. The girls flanking her giggled in perfect sync.
I blinked. Did she just…?
I looked at Stacy. Her cheeks had turned red—not the flustered kind, but the kind that comes with embarrassment. She looked down at her feet like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole.
Left feet? That had to be an insult. My heart squeezed. Why would she say something so unnecessary? Stacy had only been kind to me.
Jaden's whole expression changed. He gently removed Melanie's hand from his shoulder and glared at her. "Why would you say that?" His tone wasn't cheerful anymore. It was clipped. Angry.
Melanie rolled her eyes like she was bored. "But it's true. She has two left—"
As she kept talking, I turned back to Stacy. She looked so small, like someone had dimmed the light inside her.
And something inside me snapped.
I didn't care that I barely knew her. I didn't care that Melanie was taller or had that I'm-better-than-you walk. What I cared about was that Stacy looked like I used to look—crushed and quiet.
No one deserved that.
I stomped my foot hard on the floor, loud enough to get everyone's attention. Melanie turned to me, eyebrows raised.
I gave her my best frown, puffed my cheeks out, and blew a loud, unapologetic raspberry in her face.
Her eyes widened like no one had ever dared do that to her before. I didn't give her time to react. I spun around, grabbed Stacy's hand tightly, and yanked her out of there with me.
Behind us, I heard Melanie hiss, "What the hell was that?!"
And then Jaden's voice, cool and sharp like a blade, followed. "She just defended her friend, someone she barely knows. Something you clearly wouldn't understand."
My heart was pounding as we moved down the hallway. Stacy hadn't said a word yet. When I finally slowed down and looked at her, she was staring at me with wide eyes.
She looked like she couldn't believe what had just happened.
Honestly? I couldn't either.
What was that? Who was that version of me? Where had that boldness come from?
But even as my face burned and my heart stammered in my chest, one thing was clear, I wasn't going to just stand by anymore. Not when someone kind was being hurt.
Maybe I couldn't speak.
But I could be loud.