A Cute Little Moment: Chapter X: Lexi's Nutcracker Struggles:):):):):):):):):)::):):)

 

Lexi’s Nutcracker struggles (Almost three months after Lexi’s family moved back to Albuquerque😊)

Everything was bright with early Autumn sunlight as I walk into the gym this October morning. Lexi had texted all of us on Friday night telling us that she was about to hear cast news about the Nutcracker and she would fill us all in when she gets to school this morning. I was excited to hear what she got, even if I had to go see her in The Nutcracker as a friend. Instead of bringing her daisies, her favorite flowers, I would settle for pink roses. Instead of going to see her outside of her dressing room, kissing her, telling she was the most stunning dancer I had ever seen, I would tell her that she did a great job in the show and make do with one of Lexi’s hugs. Just a hug. Even if her hugs were some of the best hugs I had ever experienced. I make my way to our corner to find that all of my friends are already there and I can’t help but smile, even if every time I see Lexi, it’s agony. Before I see Lexi, though, I hear stifled sobs and sniffles, and another voice comforting the one who’s crying.

Oh, no. This can’t be a good sign.

“Thaddeus.” Breanna turns to face me, one hand still on Lexi’s shoulder while Gabrielle sits on Lexi’s other side, her arms around Lexi’s shoulders.

“Is everything okay? What happened with the cast list?”

“Um, it’s not exactly the cast list that’s the issue,” Breanna whispers as I sit down in front of Lexi. Everything in my head screams at me to hold Lexi until all of the pain was gone from her eyes because I just couldn’t stand to see her in so much sorrow. I wanted to rough up whoever had made her feel that way. However, because our friendship was a casual one, I would have to take the subtle approach.

“What happened?” I ask hesitantly, reaching out for Lexi’s hand before deciding that was a stupid idea that I should not make a reality. Lexi sniffled and took a deep shuddering breath before trying to answer.

“When I was at this studio before,” she began. “They put in me in a younger level and cast me in things as such. When I came back, I didn’t think that would be a problem again, but I was wrong. This year, the rest of my classmates are snowflakes, but I’m a crystal with the class that’s just below us.”

“What? Why?” I reply. “You auditioned with your class, didn’t you?”

Lexi nods, swiping at fresh tears. “Yeah. I don’t understand!” she exclaims softly, breaking into sobs. “At first, I didn’t really mind. Then on Saturday, they asked the icicles, crystals, and flurries to come watch the snowflakes. The dance just looks like so much fun, I can’t help but wish I was doing it, too. But I’m not. I feel like my whole class walked into a room and just as I was about to walk in, they closed the door in my face.”

“Lex, I’m so sorry,” I whisper.

“It doesn’t matter what dance it is. It’s always me that doesn’t get picked. Everyone else always does.” Lexi mutters, burying her head in her lap while Breanna tightens her arms around Lexi. “I just don’t get it.”

“Is there anything I can do?” I ask her gently. She looks up at me, giving me a sad smile.

“Just be here.” she whispers and I smile back at her.

“I’m not going anywhere.” I whisper back, impulsively reaching out and wrapping her in my arms. Lexi is still weeping, her breathing coming in short, shallow gasps. I hold her tighter, hoping that this might help her through what she’s going through. It’s not fair, where she was cast in the show. She’s the most gorgeous dancer I’ve ever seen and she can tell any story. Not to mention that she auditioned with her class, so she should be dancing with them in everything. As Lexi begins to calm down, I hear someone whistling above my head. I glance up and try my hardest to groan.

“Adam,” I sigh as Lexi looks up.

“What’s wrong, Lexi?” he says, and I don’t if it’s my indifference toward the guy, but he doesn’t sound at all sympathetic.

“The Nutcracker. She’s the only one in her class who wasn’t cast in the snowflake scene.” Breanna explains, sounding just as annoyed as I feel.

“Oh. Well, Lexi, it’s time to suck it up. Pull up those big girl pants,” Adam says, before walking away. I scoff, looking down at Lexi. In her eyes, I could see that she was scared, just before she hides her face in my chest again. I scowl as I pass Lexi into Breanna’s arms and I walk toward where Adam is.

“Hey Adam?” I say as he turns around.

“What?” he replies.

“Oh, nothing. I just have something for you.”

“And what is that?” he asks as I smirk. I’ve never done this before today and the sensation of my knuckles connecting with the bones in his face is an interesting one. When I hear a snap come from the region of his nose, it makes me feel weird. I didn’t realize I had punched that hard. I walk away from him before he can retaliate.

“Thaddeus?” The sound of my name brings to my senses. I look up to Breanna snapping her fingers in my face.

“Yeah?” I say, trying to shake away what I just thought about.

“The bell rang. Time for class,” Breanna tells me as Lexi gives one final sniffle and I stand up and offer her hand.

“Adam had no right to tell you what he did.” I tell her and she nods as she, Breanna, Kaylee and Bridgett, walk down the hallway to their first class of the day.

December

“Hey guys,” I say as Breanna, Gabrielle, Bridgett and Kaylee step through my doorway and gather in my living room. “Thanks for doing this.”

“Duh, she’s my best friend. Why would I not do this?” Breanna replies with a grin as we all sit down with all of the craft supplies that my aunt and I just bought and get to work. Later, we all show up to the theater with cards and signs reading things like, “Crystal Queen”, “The Best Crystal Award goes to Lexi Pieper” and “You go, girl!” I hoped her dance teachers would see them. We find seats at the middle row down in the floor seating with Lexi’s parents and older brother, Conner. Soon, the show began and Lexi was one of the teenagers in the party scene. Then we saw her again as the grandma mouse in Clara’s dream. Finally, there she was in the beautiful blue and white crystals costume and that’s when I realized our signs were not hyperbole. She truly was the best crystal in the whole scene. Our whole row couldn’t take our eyes off of her. After that, we saw her as a gorgeous satin angel and a tango dancer. After finale, we all ran to the dressing room door and waited for Lexi to come out. She eventually did, her face wiped clean, her bun out, wearing lavender sweatpants and a grey hooded sweatshirt that read, “In my Nutcracker Era” and she ran out and hugged us.

“Thank you all for coming!” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “Adam couldn’t make it.”

“That’s his loss.” Gabrielle says sassily. “Do you like our signs?”

Lexi beams at us. “Yes, I love them. You guys are the best!”

I smile back at Lexi, giving her an extra hug. “In case you didn’t know,” I whisper. “You were the best dancer on that stage. Especially in crystals.”

“Thank you. That’s what I worked for.”