Status: new chapter june 8

The Ballerina and the Rocker

Chapter 8

Quinn

“What have I gotten myself into?” Quinn mumbled to herself as she looked in the mirror and worked her long hair up into a tight bun.

Tonight was the night of The Nutcracker performance. And while she had rehearsed endlessly and knew she was going to be just fine at the performance, she couldn’t help but have butterflies fluttering about in her stomach.

Almost on cue, Jackson, who was already dressed in his white tights and red soldier jacket Nutcracker Prince costume, came up behind Quinn and squeezed her shoulders reassuringly.

“Relax,” he said with his charming smile. “You’re going to be great. You wouldn’t have been given the role if no one thought you could it.” Quinn mustered up a smile and gave a thankful nod. Jackson left to take his place at the start of the ballet and Quinn continued getting ready.

Zacky

Zacky felt out of place as he entered the auditorium. He had never been to a ballet before and wasn’t entirely sure he would like it. But Quinn had faced the unknown to come to one of his shows, so it only seemed right to return the favor.

His mother had made sure Zacky didn’t leave the house in jeans, but instead insisted he dress in slacks and a button down shirt (“fine,” Zacky had complied, “but I’m not wearing a tie”).

The house lights flickered and Zacky sat down in his seat just in time for the ballet to start. The curtains opened and on the stage was a giant Christmas tree.

Quinn

Luckily, Quinn wasn’t in the ballet until after intermission so she didn’t have to rush getting ready. Plus, she could really use that extra hour to calm down and stretch a bit more.

When the applause erupted over the sound system backstage, signaling the start to the fifteen minute intermission, Quinn took the opportunity to see if she could catch Zacky. She threw an oversized sweater on over her leotard and ventured out into the lobby where the line to women’s restroom had already grown an alarming rate. She briskly walked down the hallway and scanned the crowd to see if he was there.

“Hey,” Zacky’s voice rang from behind her. She turned around and stood face to face with the boy.

“Hey,” she said. “I was looking for you.”

“I thought you said you were in this ballet?”

“Shut up, I am!” Zacky laughed. “I warned you though.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s my own fault.”

“You didn’t have to come, you know… but I’m glad you did.” Zacky smiled and Quinn was thankful she was wearing blush. “Anyway,” she continued. “I should go finish getting ready.”

“You mean for the ballet that you’re not in?” Zacky joked.

“Well if I’m not in it, then joke’s on you for sitting through two hours of this,” Quinn proudly shot back. She poked her tongue out at a laughing Zacky and bounced back to the dressing rooms.

Zacky

Thanks to Fantasia, he at least recognized some of the songs even if he didn’t really understand everything that was happening.

Dancing coffee? A bunch of kids running out of a giant skirt?

Quinn

It was almost time to go onstage. Quinn took one last look in the mirror to make sure everything was in place, and as she scrutinized her appearance she started to choke up. Seeing herself dressed as one of the most iconic characters in all of ballet made her stop and realize just how much her heart and soul were invested in dancing. If she couldn’t do this for the rest of her life, she didn’t know what else she would do.

Zacky

Yet another series of dances came to an end, this time it was a bunch of girls covered in pink and flowers. Zacky applauded along with the other audience members and prepared himself for another vignette, only this time when the music started his attention perked up.

Walking on to the stage was Quinn.

She wore a light pink tutu that seemed to be draped in purple and white lace. On top of her head was a small, sparkly tiara. She took the hand of a male dancer and struck a pose where her left hand was extended upward and her right foot was pointed at the floor directly in front of her. A big smile was painted on her face.

She looked statuesque and fragile. Then she began to dance, and looked strong.

She spun and posed and jumped from one dancer to another, in perfect time with the music. There were several times where she would be lifted by a dancer and extend her limbs so it looked like she was flying.

All the while Zacky couldn’t help but wonder why Quinn always seemed to put herself down when she talked about herself and ballet; she clearly loved it, and she was clearly great at it.

Quinn

A three-turn supported pirouette leading into a lifted arabesque ended the first part of Quinn’s dance. She had a mere two minutes to compose herself off-stage before starting her daunting solo.

Zacky

Quinn left while her male counterpart did a pretty impressive dance himself. Then she reappeared, striking the same pose she had on her first entrance except this time both her arms were reaching high above her head.

The music that began playing sounded like water droplets, and Quinn’s feet matched the staccato.

Quinn

Four petits battement, Quinn thought to herself as she executed the appropriate footing. Balancé right, balancé left, four petits battement…

Zacky

It was like watching a completely different person up on stage.

Quinn

Relevé… passé into arabesque allongeé…

Zacky

She made it look so easy. The way her long legs stayed straight and her feet on point, with her arms following a constant flow… she didn’t miss a beat. She was gliding.

Then she was spinning… and spinning, and spinning.

Quinn

Ok, the grand finale… pirouette, piqué turn, repeat repeat repeat…

She spun her body around in small circles while mapping out a larger circle across the stage until finally reaching her starting point. And then she was finished.

Arms outstretched and feet shoulder width apart, Quinn finished strong and took a deep breath as she listened to the applause celebrate the end of her dance.

“See,” Jackson said to her once the ballet had come to an end, “told you you could do it.”

“Thanks, Jackson,” she replied with a smile. “I was freaking out about it this whole time, but I’m really glad I got to do this.”

After a few more backstage congratulatory comments, Quinn headed out into the lobby in search of her parents and Zacky.

Zacky

Zacky leaned against a wall in the lobby as it began to clear out, his head still reeling from how awesome Quinn was. He was hoping to catch her before she went home, but the lobby was too crowded Zacky decided to just head home and talk to her later.

“How was it, honey?” his mother asked as Zacky walked through the front door.

“Long,” he answered as he headed straight for the stairs. “But Quinn was really good.” Once in his room, Zacky threw on Mr. Bungle’s latest album California, changed into sweatpants and an Anaheim Angels tee, and collapsed onto his bed. Not more than ten minutes later there was a rapping at his window.

Zacky opened his eyes and saw Quinn outside. He quickly shot up, walked over, and opened the window, revealing Quinn crouching on a branch of the tree that separated their rooms.

“What are you doing?” Zacky asked amused.

“Can I come in?” Quinn said as she grasped onto the tree. “I didn’t really think this through.” Zacky laughed and extended a hand to Quinn as she stepped off of the tree and onto the dark blue carpeted floor. “Thanks.”

“Yeah, of course.” Zacky pulled out his desk chair and motioned for Quinn to sit, which she obliged. Zacky sat opposite her on the foot of his bed. “So what’s up, Tarzan?” Quinn laughed and tucked some loose hair from her bun behind her ear.

“I just wanted to thank you again for coming. I was hoping to see you after, but my parents kind of monopolized me.”

“Not a big deal,” Zacky waved his hand. “I liked it.” Quinn raised an eyebrow. “...what?”

“Be honest.”

“I did.”

“Mmhm.”

“Fine… I didn’t really understand some of it, and it could have easily been an hour shorter, but I really did like it,” Zacky confessed. “Especially when you danced.” He noticed Quinn cross her arms and hunch her shoulders over in her typical flattered shyness style.

“Thank you.”

“Seriously, Quinn- you were crazy good. I had no idea. I can’t even begin to understand how you do all that.”

“Here,” she said as she stood up. “I’ll teach you.”

“What?”

“You’ve brought me into your world, now let me bring you into mine.” She took a step forward and stretched her arms out to Zacky. “Come on.”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“I’ll start you off easy. And I won’t tell any of the guys, I promise.” Zacky smirked and sighed as he grabbed Quinn’s hands and stood up. “Ok,” she continued. “All you have to do is hold my waist and I’m going to spin, ok?”

“I thought you were supposed to teach me how to do a dance move.”

“I thought you didn’t want to?” Zacky paused and looked at Quinn’s raised eyebrow.

“Ok, fine.” Doing as he was told, Zacky tentatively placed his hands on Quinn’s hips, which she immediately moved just a hair above.

“Got me?” Quinn asked. Without realizing what he was doing, Zacky rested his cheek against the top of her head, liking the feeling of holding her this close. “Zacky?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah,” he said, quickly snapping out of his daze.

“Ok, ready…?” As he held her waist, Quinn took a tiny step forward and did two small turns. She seemed like she was attempting a third but her foot caught on Zacky’s own and she stumbled into him. He wrapped his arms around her as he caught her fall and looked into her piercing blue eyes.

“I thought you were good at this?” He joked with a quiet voice. Quinn looked up at him with wide eyes.

Quinn

Her heart began racing as Zacky held her close to his chest.

“I am,” she replied, her voice just as quiet. “You just suck.” A soft chuckled escaped from Zacky’s lips… his smooth, light pink lips…

Before she could even think of what to do next, she felt those same lips on hers.

The kiss was almost ethereal. He didn’t press his lips forcefully against hers, but rather touched them lightly as if to ask if it was ok.

Quinn froze. Zacky pulled away.

“Quinn,” he said with a look on his face that looked just as shocked as Quinn felt. “I’m sorry, I didn’t… I mean -”

“I… I should go…”

“Quinn.”

“Good night Zacky, um, thanks again for coming tonight… I’ll, uh, I’ll see you later…”

Before Zacky could say her name a third time, Quinn hastily climbed out of his window onto the tree, and then in through her bedroom window, which she promptly closed.

Her stomach had butterflies fluttering more ferociously than during the ballet.

Zacky

Zacky sat down on his bed and ran his fingers through his jet back hair.

"Smooth move, Baker."
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Thank you to all who are reading this story (and a special shout out to those leaving comments and subscribing). I'm hoping to crank out updates more often, but you know how life is.

xo