“You didn’t have to turn down Dylan,” Jeremy said softly as they walked through the dimly-lit atrium.
“Yes, I did,” Rafael replied as he squeezed Jeremy’s hand. “I don’t want to do it with Dylan or Dante, and especially not with Andy now. You, Jeremy, are the only guy I want to be with tonight. I love you and no one else.”
The boys stopped by the koi pool and gazed at the fish as they slowly swam among the rocks and the plants. Jeremy whispered, “I don’t deserve you, Rafael.”
“Now, stop that!” Rafael ordered as he turned and faced Jeremy. He held the boy’s face in his hands and said, “I love you, Jeremy, because you’re the kindest and most decent guy I’ve ever met anywhere. I love you. Do you understand? I love you and you’re good. You’re a good person, Jeremy. The best. I could have any guy in New York I want. Any, but I fell in love with you. You, Jeremy. And, I will never let you go.”
Tears came into Jeremy’s eyes again and he whispered, “I love you, Rafael.”
Rafael gave the boy a long kiss on the lips before pulling away and softly saying, “Let’s go upstairs.”
He took Jeremy’s hand again and the two walked to the stairs and up to the second floor. They paused at the small bronze of the naked boy with the curly hair and Jeremy tentatively reached out, running a finger over the smooth figure.
“If Geoffrey only met Alistair a few weeks ago at a party, how come Alistair has a statue of him when he was my age?” Jeremy asked.
“Oh, my God!” Rafael exclaimed. “That’s who that is! It’s Geoffrey! I thought he looked familiar, but I couldn’t figure out where I had seen him before!”
Jeremy smiled at the older boy and then back down at the statuette. “He was beautiful. He could almost have been a dancer.”
Rafael nodded and said, “He and I were flirting with each other in the car when he picked us up. He didn’t flirt, though, when we drove out here.”
From behind them, Geoffrey’s voice said, “It was because I knew by then how much the two of you loved each other…and how much Alistair loves you both.”
The boys turned around in surprise and saw Geoffrey approach, once again in his briefs and a tee-shirt. Jeremy couldn’t help glancing down at the slight tent in the young man’s underwear. Rafael kept his eyes on Geoffrey’s as he replied, “If it wasn’t for Jeremy, I’d have moved heaven and earth to get you in bed.”
Geoffrey grinned and said, “I know and it wouldn’t have taken that much.”
He stepped over to the statuette and said, “I was a few weeks away from my thirteenth birthday when my art teacher made this bronze of me. He saved my life. I was suicidal because of the way my family had rejected me over my homosexuality and he became my lover. He quit teaching a few years later and made his living doing bronzes. Alistair still doesn’t know that’s me.”
“Why not?” Jeremy asked.
Geoffrey smiled and Rafael cocked his head as he said, “Because Geoffrey doesn’t want to embarrass Alistair for not recognizing him.”
Geoffrey nodded and Rafael added, “Like everyone else, he’s fallen in love with Alistair.”
Geoffrey looked down and said, “I’m just his houseboy, but if he ever wanted to have a relationship, I’d die for him.”
“I understand,” Rafael replied. He looked down at Jeremy and added, “I would still feel that way if I hadn’t met someone else I’d die for.”
Jeremy looked up at him and smiled.
Geoffrey nodded and said, “Alistair loves you both. You know, someday, you should think about maybe… well… you know…”
“Maybe,” Rafael replied, “but, right now, Jeremy is the only guy I want.”
Geoffrey nodded and said, “I wish I’d have met my own Jeremy—or my own Rafael—when I was younger.”
“It’s not too late,” Rafael replied. “You’re only twenty.”
Geoffrey smiled sadly and said, “Maybe Alistair will decide someday that I could be more than a concubine.”
Rafael smiled as he and Jeremy started down the hallway to their room and said, “You’re a lot more than a concubine.”
“Yeah,” Geoffrey replied as he followed them. “I’m also his driver.”
Rafael smiled encouragingly as they reached their door and said to the young man, “Have fun tonight.”
“I don’t know,” Geoffrey replied. “I may have to compete with Dylan and Dante and that arrogant little snot Andy.”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” Rafael replied. “Alistair…no. Not a four way with them.”
Geoffrey nodded and said, “Yeah, you’re right. He wouldn’t include Andy Daugherty. He wouldn’t want to give him something to blackmail him with after he kicks Daugherty’s shitty little ass out of Ballet Academy.”
Rafael chuckled and kissed Geoffrey good night before he and Jeremy entered their room and closed the door.
—o-0-o—
Whimpering.
He and Jeremy were lying naked in the garden outside Alistair’s house, the brilliant midday sun shining down on their skin, his a light and glowing olive, Jeremy’s pale, reddish and freckled. He could hear the trickling water of the fountain in the center of the garden and the raucous calling of several seagulls in the air. He felt such a sense of peace and joy holding Jeremy’s hand. The younger boy smiled at him and Rafael knew that all was right with the world.
Except for that damn whimpering. Was someone crying? If so, who, and where were they? He looked around and couldn’t see anyone. He looked down at Jeremy and asked, “Who’s crying?”
“I think it’s me,” Jeremy replied uncertainly.
“It can’t be,” Rafael replied. “You’re right here. You’re not crying.”
Jeremy frowned and replied, “I think I’m over there, on the other side of those bushes.”
Rafael shook his head and asked, “How can you be over there when you’re over here?”
“Rah-fay-el! Go see what’s wrong with me!” Jeremy cried with frustration.
Rafael opened his eyes and looked around the bed. The covers had been pushed back and the space beside him was empty. With a sinking heart he realized, searching through the dark bedroom, that Jeremy had suffered another nightmare. He crawled from the bed, a cool breeze blowing across his skin from the open doors to the balcony. He looked out and saw the first glow of the morning sky. He sighed with frustration and fear as he crept toward the door.
He couldn’t see Jeremy anywhere but heard whimpering to his side. He turned and found the boy curled up and shivering on the concrete as he stared ahead at the balustrade.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Rafael said softly, “sweet Jeremy.”
He bent down and whispered, “Come inside, Jeremy. It’s too chilly out here.”
Jeremy made no sign that he had heard the older boy. He simply sat shivering and whimpering as he stared straight ahead.
“Jeremy,” the teenager repeated, but the boy didn’t respond.
Rafael sighed heavily and returned inside. He pulled a cover off the bed and carried it outside. He draped it around the shivering form of the whimpering boy, pushed it down between Jeremy’s back and the wall, and then sat down beside him, wrapped the blanket around himself, and then wrapped his arms around Jeremy under the blanket.
“Oh, Jeremy,” he whispered in the boy’s ear, “if only I could feel this pain for you. If there was some way I could take it away from you so you never had to hurt again. Oh, God, Jeremy, I love you so much. I love you, Jeremy. I love you.”
—o-0-o—
“There you are!” Alistair exclaimed as he stood up from the breakfast table. Teddy and Jonathan were also there, drinking mimosas and eating scrambled eggs. Conrad came strolling in from the garden. Jeremy and Rafael had emerged from the house and were slowly crossing the veranda, wearing their shorts and tee-shirts.
“I was about to go inside and throw ice water on all you sleepy heads. I can understand Dylan and the others—they were up past midnight making all kinds of disgusting sexual noises, but you two…”
He stopped when he saw the boys were covered with sweat.
“Oh…you’ve been working out!” he exclaimed with surprise.
“Jeremy and I decided to get up early and get the morning workout over with,” Rafael replied. “We may practice some more when the others get up, though.”
Jeremy wouldn’t meet anyone’s eyes as he walked to the buffet. Alistair looked at Rafael, who frowned and pressed his lips together. When Alistair started toward Jeremy, the teenager quickly shook his head and Alistair nodded. Conrad watched Jeremy in frustration as the boy poured a bowl of Total and took a cup of yogurt to the table.
“We’re going to have quite a crowd, this evening,” Alistair remarked as he sat back down at the table. “Teddy’s Things are coming as well as a few dancers from the company. I also have a discaire coming in from one of those mysterious clubs that move from warehouse to warehouse on the lower west side so we can dance to some of the better dance music that we never hear on the radio. It should be lots of fun.”
“It sounds like a blast,” Rafael said as he prepared a plate at the buffet. “Jeremy, this will give you a chance to really improvise the way you like to.” He looked at Alistair and said, “You should see Jeremy when he’s improvising. He’s amazing.”
“He’s always amazing,” Conrad replied with a grin.
The boy blushed and made an attempt at smiling at the dancer. Conrad gave him a wink and that did bring a smile in return.
“So, is anyone heading into town today?” Rafael asked.
“Geoffrey’s running a shuttle service between the house and the station,” Alistair replied. “What do you need?”
“Oh, I just want to roam around, check things out.”
“You never had a chance to ride in the Porsche,” Conrad said with a smile and a wink. “I may need to run into town, as well. Why don’t you ride in with me?”
Rafael nodded and said, “Cool. I’d like to experience a little German engineering…and driving.
“Be careful,” Alistair warned. “I’m not bailing anyone out of the Suffolk County Jail.”
“They have to catch me first,” Conrad replied, “and I don’t think the fuzz has anything to match what I have under the hood!”
“Are you referring to the car or yourself?” Alistair asked with a grin.
Conrad simply smiled as Jeremy looked curiously at Rafael. The teenager gave the boy a smug smile and said, “Tiffany’s doesn’t have a store out here, so don’t get any ideas.”
Jeremy blushed and smiled as he looked down at his cereal. Alistair watched the interaction between the two and rose. Looking at his watch, he remarked, “I think I need to throw a bucket of water on the Three Stooges.”
“I need to run to the boys room,” Rafael said as he rose. Alistair gave him a significant look and followed.
Once inside the house, Alistair turned to the teenager and asked, “How did last night go?”
Rafael sighed and said, “He had an awful one. I woke up with him crying on the balcony. We didn’t get much sleep and we finally just went down to the studio at sunrise and danced.”
Alistair exhaled deeply and Rafael added, “This is why he’s always so much quieter and serious in the mornings than he is later in the day. It takes him a while to get over all the trauma of the nightmares.”
“Would you say this is getting worse?”
“I don’t know,” Rafael replied. “Maybe.”
“Will he be able to perform tonight?” Alistair asked with concern.
“Oh, yeah! No problem,” Rafael replied confidently. “You’ve seen him dance. He won’t have any problems.”
“Good. Charles and Julian are coming tonight and I want my ballet masters to be awestruck with how good he is.”
Rafael smiled and asked, “Will Charles be sober enough to notice?”
“Actually, the more important question,” Alistair replied with a grin, “is will Julian see anything other than Jeremy’s sexy body?”
Rafael chuckled and Alistair asked, “Why are you going into town?”
Rafael shrugged and replied, “I just want to get Jeremy some silly little something for his merde tonight.”
Alistair nodded and said, “I thought so.”
As he turned however, Rafael asked him, “Alistair, I’ve never asked anyone this and I’m really curious. Actors always say ‘Break a leg,’ because they think it’s bad luck to say ‘Good luck.’ So why do dancers say, ‘Merde?’ Why ‘merde’ instead of something else?”
Alistair shrugged and said, “I’m not sure. Some people think it originated in Paris when dancers were crossing the street to the Paris Opera House and warned each other about the horse shit in the street. Or, there may be some other reason. You know how we dancers are—we always flaunt convention. Perhaps we need something shocking to say to each other before we perform. Thank God it’s not, ‘Kiss my ass!’”
Rafael grinned and said, “You realize of course that that’s going to be my ‘Merde” from now on!”
Alistair rolled his eyes and smiled as he proceeded on through the atrium.
—o-0-o—
“Here,” Conrad said as he tossed the keys to his Porsche to Rafael. The two walked from the patio to the garage late that morning after another practice with Jeremy performing ‘Dance of the Friends.’ The teenager caught them, but looked at Conrad as if he were crazy.
“Conrad, I can’t drive,” he exclaimed. “I’m only fifteen.”
“So what?” the man replied. “Surely you’ve practiced behind the wheel, snuck your mom’s car out at night, something?”
Rafael shook his head and said, “When would I have a chance to drive? I live in Manhattan. Teddy doesn’t have a car. Besides, I get home maybe twice a year and Mom would have a shit-fit if I ever even looked at her precious Cadillac.”
“Well, then, I won’t have you destroy my clutch and grind my gears,” Conrad replied as they walked through the garage to the driveway. “After all, I paid seven thousand dollars for this thing.”
“Seven thousand?” Rafael exclaimed. “Damn, these things are expensive!”
“What did you expect?” Conrad replied as he jumped into the car. “It’s one of the finest cars on the road.”
Rafael jumped into the car, though more carefully than Conrad as the man added, “It’s a shame you can’t drive. Teenage boys always get the most amazing erections when they drive this.”
“Oh, I’ll get hard, all right,” Rafael said. “You just show me what you can do and I’ll pop a serious hard-on for you!”
Conrad chuckled as he started the engine and revved it up.
“Oh, yeah,” Rafael moaned, causing Conrad to laugh.
The man sped around the circular driveway and then out through the woods to the road, causing Rafael to whoop loudly. Conrad grinned as they sped along the narrow winding road through the woods. When they finally came to the intersection with Highway 27, Rafael grinned broadly and said, “Man, I need to get me one of these when I get out of training!”
Conrad chuckled as they turned onto Highway 27 and headed west toward East Hampton and said, “You might want to consider a driver’s license first.”
“Man, where am I going to take driver’s ed?”
“Next August, during hiatus, you’ll just have to find some private driver’s ed school, unless you want to go to Europe with Jeremy and me.”
Rafael looked at the man with shock. “Wait. You’re in love with Jeremy,” he said.
Conrad nodded and said, “I know how much the two of you love each other. Where are you doing your summer training next year?”
“Alistair’s talking about Paris.”
“Cool. I’m sure Jeremy will stay in New York, but we can meet you there when he’s finished and then go on to Milan to visit some friends of mine and then find some nice beach somewhere to relax for a week or so before we return to the insanity.”
Rafael looked at the man with amazement and replied, “That…would be great, but…why? Why me?”
Conrad shrugged and said, “I like you. You’re intelligent and decent. You haven’t once hit on me since we got here. You’re a lot different from your image.”
Rafael smiled and asked, “Would you have turned me down if I had?”
Conrad chuckled and replied, “I honestly don’t know.”
With a smug grin, Rafael replied, “We still have a few days.”
“I wouldn’t have respected you as much if you had,” the man replied.
“Damn. Now I can’t put the moves on you. I have to wait for you to make the first move!”
Conrad laughed and said, “You have Jeremy and I think he’s quite enough for one person.” He paused and added, “He certainly would be for me.”
Rafael nodded and said, “He is for me.”
Rafael looked out the side at the passing scenery of trees, wide lawns, and old houses. After a long moment, he said, “You know, I really don’t want to be with anyone except Jeremy. I’ve never felt this way before. Of course, we’ve only been together a week, but still… Everything is different now. I love him.”
“I know,” Conrad replied with a smile.
“You know,” Rafael said as he looked at the man, “you’re a lot different from your image, too. You’re really a nice guy. You’re not like Spock at all.”
Conrad laughed and said, “I’ve never seen Star Trek, but I understand what you mean. Yeah, I suppose the Ice Man warmeth.”
—o-0-o—
“Merde.”
Jeremy grinned as Rafael handed him a special sack with a bow. They stood on the balcony outside their bedroom as the late afternoon sun shone down on them and Jeremy grinned as he replied, “It’s not very heavy.”
“Well, I can take it back,” Rafael teased as he pretended to grab the sack away from Jeremy.
“No way!” the younger boy cried as he spun around. “This is mine!”
Rafael laughed and said, “I know it’s a little early, but we might not get any private time again until after the performance. The other guests are already arriving. Charles Hadley and Julian Portman are here. They’re two of Alistair’s ballet masters. A couple of Alistair’s friends from outside the ballet world are here. The Things should be here soon, too. We’ll have to get dressed soon, so before it all starts…Sweetheart, I just wanted to have some private time with the guy I love more than anything on earth.”
Jeremy smiled up at the teenager and said, “You’re the most wonderful guy in the world for dealing with how crazy I am and for rescuing me and for inspiring me to become a dancer and…and…”
They kissed deeply and then, as they pulled away, Rafael grinned and softly said, “Open it.”
Jeremy smiled and tore the sack open. With a laugh, he cried, “It’s Dancing Bear, from Captain Kangaroo!”
Rafael grinned and asked, “Do you like it?”
“I love him!” Jeremy cried as he hugged him. “He’s the perfect merde!”
Rafael laughed and said, “I’m glad.”
They hugged again and Jeremy kissed Rafael’s throat. “Can we cuddle with Dancing Bear for a while?”
Rafael smiled and nodded as he replied, “I think we may have time.”
—o-0-o—
“Rafael!”
All three Things shrieked as the teenager appeared on the veranda. They had been standing near the pool drinking Pink Pussies when he appeared, but they each cried out and ran toward him as the other guests watched with amusement.
“We absolutely thought you had died!”
“We did not! We thought you’d been kidnapped by some ruthless Duke or Earl and then spirited away to his castle where you’d been locked up in his tower and forced to perform all kinds of deliciously degrading acts!”
Rafael laughed as the three slim, effeminate young men gushed over him. “Well, I did perform some depraved and degrading acts…”
“Oh, do tell!”
“And, one of the trainees with me was a Viscount who took me home to see Mummy and Daddy one Sunday.”
“Oh, tell us every filthy detail!”
Rafael laughed and said, “Well, I don’t think the Countess was at all happy to see me, but the Earl was quite friendly and gracious.”
“Oh, of course he was! He was remembering those cold winter nights at Eton or Harrow and committing all those wonderful sins with the other boys!”
“Of course! He wanted to steal you away from Sonny Boy!”
“How was London?”
“How was the Royal Ballet?”
“How was the Queen?”
Rafael grinned and said, “Which one?”
The Things twittered at his response and one declared, “Oh, Rafi! We’ve so missed your charming banter!”
“And, your beauty!”
“And, your big dick!”
“Oh, come on!” Rafael chided. “You’ve never had my big dick!”
“Oh, but we have!”
“A thousand times!”
“In our dreams!”
“Well, I must say…”
“Oh, my God! It’s him!”
“It is!”
“It’s Jeremy!”
Rafael had maneuvered the Things toward the patio as they gushed about him, but when Jeremy appeared, they immediately ran and surrounded the younger boy. He looked at them with wide-eyed horror, at first, which quickly morphed into amusement as they touched and caressed him and squealed.
“Oh, my God! Jeremy! You are beautiful!”
“You are drop-dead gorgeous!”
“You’re a walking sex-god!”
Jeremy raised an eyebrow and said, “I’m twelve.”
“Oooh, look at that hair! Feel how thick and soft and silky it is! Oh, my God! What I could do with that hair! Jeremy, you have to let me do you!”
“And, that body! He’d be perfect to model my boys spring line! Such nasty innocence in that face! Those freckles! Those eyes! Those lips just scream, “Fuck me!”
“Oh, Jeremy, I could take pictures of you that would make the dead cum! You must let me shoot you!”
“All right, girls!” Rafael declared as he walked up to rescue the boy, “let the poor kid breathe. And, Tommy, get your filthy hands off his butt!”
“But, it’s so firm and soft and cute…”
“For God’s sake,” Rafael declared as he pulled Jeremy away from them. “Get a hold of yourselves!”
“I’d rather get a hold of Jeremy!”
“Or you!”
“Or both of you!”
“Together!”
Rafael shook his head as the other guests watched with amusement. He stepped to the side and asked Jeremy, “Are you okay?”
“I…guess,” Jeremy replied.
“Okay. Now, this is where we start learning one of the important parts of being dancers. We’re meeting some of Alistair’s guests and you need the experience of socializing with people. Are you up for this?”
“Yes, of course,” Jeremy replied confidently. “I used to meet people at the receptions after performances back home and Mom and Dad always used me as a waiter at their parties. I can talk to anyone.”
“Well, just in case, remember what they say about fighting stage fright. Just think of everyone naked.”
Jeremy giggled and Rafael added, “And, if it helps, by midnight, about half these people will be naked!”
Jeremy giggled again and Rafael led him out into the crowd.
“Charles, it’s good to see you again!” Rafael declared to a portly man with a red nose and thinning hair.
“Rafael,” the man slurred, “I hear you wowed them in London.”
“It was a tremendous experience. I learned so much there,” the teenager replied. “May I introduce Jeremy Fenwick? He’ll be joining Ballet Academy this fall. He trained with my teacher back home, Anna Pulchova.”
As the two shook hands, Alistair turned to the boy and said, “Jeremy, this is Charles Hadley, our Senior Ballet Master.”
“Jeremy!” the older man exclaimed, his breath smelling of strong drink. “I’ve heard Alistair singing your virtues!”
“It’s an honor to meet you, sir,” Jeremy replied formally with a nod of his head.
“You’re certainly a polite boy!” Charles declared, “and good-looking, too! You look like a young Alistair. In fact, I remember Alistair when he was your age and you could easily pass for him.”
“Thank you,” Jeremy replied with a blush, “but I don’t think I’m that handsome!”
Charles leaned forward and said confidentially, “Take every compliment you get, boy, and run with it! Besides, in your case, they’ll probably be right!”
Jeremy smiled and said, “Rafael’s already given me the speech about how there’s no room for humility in ballet.”
“He’s right, and he’s a perfect example of one who practices that philosophy!” Charles replied with a chuckle.
Rafael pretended to be offended and then pretended to bat his eyes flirtatiously at the man before he led Jeremy on to the next guest.
—o-0-o—
“Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.”
“You’re not nervous?”
Jeremy rolled his eyes as he and Rafael stood behind the stage on Alistair’s patio, shaking their arms and legs to keep them loose and waiting for their cue to appear on stage. Both wore their gray tights and white leotards. Jeremy had made certain his hair was perfectly combed. Rafael had made certain his curls were properly gelled and shiny. Both were breathing deeply to give their muscles as much as they could get of the precious oxygen they would need later. When Rafael asked his questions, Jeremy grinned and said, “I’m fine, Rafael. You know I’ve performed before twelve hundred people four times. I think I can handle ten or fifteen at a garden party.”
Rafael grinned and said, “I have total confidence in you Jeremy and I want you to know how proud I am of you. Just think what you were doing a week ago tonight.”
“We were practicing in your basement.”
Rafael nodded and said, “I love you, Jeremy.”
“I love you, Rafael.”
Alistair appeared around the corner and asked, “Ready?”
Both boys nodded as they continued to shake their legs and arms.
“Jeremy, I’m so proud of how professional you are. You’re a credit to Anna Pulchova and her training.
“Thank you, Alistair,” the boy replied sincerely, “and thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
Alistair winked and said, “Merde!”
“Merde!” the two boys replied in unison.
Alistair grinned and stepped around the corner. The boys stood at the corner and breathed deeply as they prepared themselves for their performance.
The guests were all seated before the stage on pool and patio furniture and applauded politely—for the most part—though the Things hooped and howled lustily to the amusement of most. Alistair posed provocatively for them, provoking laughter all around, before he smiled and said, “Gentlemen and…everyone else…Welcome to my home and to our August Soiree! We have a special treat tonight. Whenever I have a gathering of the brethren and sisters”—he held his hands toward the Things at that point—“I like to showcase some of our best talent at Ballet Academy and this evening, we are most fortunate. Every year, Ballet Academy of America attracts the finest young talent from across the United States and around the world and this year is no exception. You all know Rafael Colón, our gifted and beautiful dancer from Greensburg…”
The party erupted into cheers and applause.
“…and I would like to announce that our September Spotlight will be highlighted by Rafael performing the world premiere of my newest dance, The Gazelle, with superb music by Jonathan Durham. It is quite an achievement for a fifteen-year-old trainee at any ballet school to perform a world premiere dance, but Rafael has more than earned this honor.”
More applause and cheers.
“And, this evening, Rafael will be joined on stage by a new trainee, a truly amazing young man whom Ballet Academy is honored to train, who also studied, as did Rafael before he came to us, with the renowned Anna Pulchova! Jeremy David Fenwick!”
More applause and cheers—perhaps more enthusiastic than before.
“And, so, gentlemen and…ladies…with me as, of course, as The Queen…”
Cheers and laughter.
“Rafael Colón as Prince Andrei, and Jeremy Fenwick as Sasha…from Dmitri Koronov’s masterpiece, The Ice Prince,…’The Dance of the Friends!’”
Rafael met Jeremy’s eyes and they both whispered, “I love you.” Together they walked around the corner of the screen and onto the stage. They did not acknowledge the applause, but took their places, Prince Andrei in the center of the stage assuming a stance of regal rebellion, Alistair—in slacks and sport shirt—standing to his side with the haughty air of a Queen unaccustomed to being disobeyed, and Jeremy at the side of the stage, head down, simply standing in wait. At the piano, Jonathan waited for the applause and cheers to die down and when quiet had been achieved, he allowed a pregnant pause to build for several more seconds before he began to play.
The Queen looked at Prince Andrei with exaggerated outrage as Teddy said in a stage whisper, “Well, that was type casting.” Amidst chuckles from the others in the audience, the Queen stormed off the stage as Prince Andrei crossed his arms imperiously and looked around, his head held high as he pondered his victory over his mother.
Suddenly, there were chuckles from around the audience as Jeremy came to life, crouched, and now becoming Sasha, began to creep stealthily out onto the stage, silently giggling behind his hand, broke the fourth wall and nodded to the audience before pointing to Prince Andrei. He knew that his choice to portray Sasha in this way was a success and he was energized as he crept forward.
Teddy was sitting to the side with Dylan next to him. Behind Charles and Julian, the Ballet Masters sitting in the front row, were Andy Daugherty and Dante Robinson. At first, Andy snorted derisively, but as he watched Jeremy’s performance, he became quiet and began to watch with increasing interest.
Sasha crept up to Andrei’s left side and silently giggled again at the audience before be tapped on his shoulder and then leapt behind him with a spin to Andrei’s right. The Prince looked to his left, but when he saw no one, he frowned and, following Jeremy’s lead, looked at the audience with a arrogant lifting of his left eyebrow before he shrugged and resumed his thoughtfully regally stance.
The audience was enjoying the manner the boys were portraying their characters and the two dancers were both encouraged by laughter. Sasha repeated his earlier teasing, though in the opposite direction. Once again, Andrei could see no one to his side and gave the audience a perturbed, though still noble and monarchical, sigh and shrug before, once again, resuming his thoughtful pose. It was on the third try, however, as Sasha leapt behind Andrei to his right one more time, that Andrei turned to the right and caught his mischievous friend. Sasha looked frightened at first and then gave his friend an impish grin before the prince silently laughed and the two gave each other exaggerated hugs before they began to dance in a circle, holding hands.
Knowing that this was the part of the performance for which all audiences waited, Jeremy and Rafael began their competition, energetically and vigorously dancing about the stage in an increasingly frenetic mix of ballet moves that left the gathering before them amazed and literally sitting on the edge of the seats.
The two dancers were passing each other as they crossed the stage in a series of petit jeté. Teddy watched in joyful awe, his hands clasped together as Dylan grinned and even the Things watched in breathless astonishment.
Dante gazed at the dancers with his lips parted in amazement as he watched Jeremy’s incredible performance and Andy shook his head in grudging admiration.
“Wicked,” he muttered slightly louder than he realized he should have. “Fucking wicked!”
Jeremy was in mid-leap as he heard the word, “Wicked.” He landed roughly and stopped cold. Rafael’s back was to him as he continued three more petit jeté before starting chaînés tournes toward the center of the stage. With a sudden icy stab of shock, he saw Jeremy standing motionless on the stage, staring at a confused Andy Daugherty. As he had been trained to do, Rafael continued the performance as if nothing were amiss until a look of pain came over Jeremy’s face and the boy, still looking at Andy, loudly exclaimed, “I’m not wicked, Mommy. Why would you say that?”
Jonathan watched in alarm, but continued to play. Rafael reached the center of the stage as Jeremy looked at Dante and said, “Daddy, tell her I’m not wicked! Please! Can’t you see? I’m good! I’m good!”
The gathering looked at each other in alarmed confusion as Rafael quickly stepped over to Jeremy and wrapped his arms around him.
“Jeremy! Jeremy! Look at me!”
The boy continued to stare at Dante and Andy.
“Mommy! I’m good! I’m not wicked!” the boy wailed. “I’ve tried my best! I really have! I can’t try any harder! Please Mommy! Please say I’m a good boy!”
“Jeremy! It’s okay!” Rafael said soothingly as Alistair rushed over. He, too, embraced the boy and as Jeremy struggled, he cried, “Tell her, Daddy! Tell her! I’m good! Everyone here says so! I’m good, Daddy! I’m good!”
“Yes, Jeremy! You’re good!” Alistair said as he pulled the struggling boy off stage.
“I’m a good boy!” Jeremy screamed. “I’m good! I’m a great dancer, Daddy! Madame says so! Alistair says I’m great! I am, Daddy! Daddy!”
As Teddy rushed forward to assist, Alistair and Rafael dragged the screaming, crying boy through the kitchen door and held him tightly as he sobbed. Rafael kissed his face repeatedly as he said, “You’re a wonderful dancer, Jeremy. Everyone knows it and everyone knows you’re a good boy, Jeremy. You are. You’re sweet and loving and good, Jeremy. We love you, Jeremy.”
Alistair kissed his forehead and said, “You are, Jeremy! You’re a wonderful boy and an exceptional dancer. You’re the best, Jeremy. You are!”
Suddenly, the boy looked up at the three, his eyes meeting Teddy’s and then Rafael’s before a look of absolute horror came over his face, a look that couldn’t have revealed more shock and agony if he had actually witnessed his parents fatal accident. “Oh, my God!” he said softly. “What have I done?”
He shook himself free of Rafael and the two men, backing up in awful realization of what had just happened. “Oh, my God! Oh, my God!” he repeated over and over as he backed away from them. “What have I done?”
“It’s okay, Jeremy,” Alistair replied soothingly. “You’ll have a glass of water and…”
“No! No! It’s not okay!” Jeremy cried as he backed into a closet door. He looked around him in horror and dismay. “I’ve ruined everything. Oh, my God, I’ve ruined everything! Everything!”
He turned and ran out of the kitchen.
“Jeremy!” Rafael shouted as he took off in chase. “Jeremy!”
Alistair followed quickly and Teddy clasped his hands helplessly for several seconds until, tears flowing down his own cheeks, he followed.
He stopped in terror when he heard a scream from deep within the house.