Danube Adele - Quicksilver Dreams

“Come on in. Cynthia said she’ll be ready in just a few minutes. Can I get you some coffee? Water? Red Bull?” I flashed my can commercial style.

“I’m fine, thanks. I’ll just see if I can get her to hurry.” Without pausing, he headed accurately down the short hall that led to her bedroom. All I could do was stare after him, wondering if there was something wrong with letting him just walk through the apartment like he owned the place. Then I gave an actual shrug. She knows him better than she knows me anyway , sulked my uncharitable thoughts.

Hearing my whiny inner voice was making me cringe (I’m not a morning person on a normal day), and I knew I needed to get out of there. I could feel my insecurities coming to the surface, and they’re not pretty.

“I’m taking off, Cyn,” I called down the hall. “Call me when you can.” I grabbed my keys and gym bag and was already heading down to the courtyard when she came jogging out.

“Tay! Wait!” She looked distressed as she caught up with me. “You weren’t going to say bye?”

“You seemed busy,” I muttered, barely meeting her gaze because I knew I was being stupid but couldn’t seem to stop myself. “I don’t like to get in the way of family.”

She stared into my eyes searchingly for several seconds (really weird) before looking down at the ground with a sigh. “Okay. There’s more going on with Nick than I was letting on, but the truth is, I just can’t think about it right now. I’m not trying to shut you out. I wasn’t expecting to see him yesterday, and now my brother could be missing. My feelings are all over the map, and I don’t have the luxury of time to sort through them, much less share them. Please tell me you understand.”

Her golden eyes were sincere. There was even a shimmer of tears. Without even thinking, I gave her a warm hug. “Of course I understand.”

“You mean a lot to me, Tay, and I don’t ever want you to think otherwise.”

“I’m just a big baby.” I shook my head. Here I was throwing a tantrum, when Cynthia faced possibly losing a brother. “Do what you need to do, and call me when you can.”

“You’re the very best friend I’ve ever had too. There’s never been anyone else I could trust the way I’ve trusted you. Really.”

“Cynthia, we’ve got to go. Now.” Nick’s tone of voice was more commanding than friendly as he came down the stairs with her suitcase. “Make sure you have everything you need.”

“I told you I wasn’t finished packing!” She raised her voice at him, which made my eyes round in shock. Powerful mischief was running amok! I even took a quick look around to see if anyone was witnessing this strange, unusual occurrence, but no one else in the apartment complex seemed to be braving L.A.’s midday summer heat.

“Half your closet is in here already. Whatever you don’t have we’ll buy on the road.” Nick’s tone brooked no argument, and I waited for the counter Cyn explosion to bust out.

It didn’t come, though I could almost hear the mental growl Cynthia was trying to breathe her way through in order to regain her infamous self-control. I wondered if she was going to make it without unloading all over this guy. It also made me wonder what had happened between them. The mystery loomed in my brain, because I’d never seen Cynthia as off-kilter as she’d been the last twenty-four hours. Was this Nick a good guy? Should I worry about her?

And strangely enough, as though he heard my question, Nick paused as he walked by us and gave me a real smile that showed off his absolute gorgeousness. “I’ll take care of her. She’ll be in good hands. I promise.” He did one of those quick two-finger salutes and continued on while Cynthia watched him walk out through the security gate with a wistful expression that sort of told me all. She gave me another hug and ran back up to the apartment with a parting wave.

“We’ll talk soon!”

“Okay! Good luck! Keep me updated.”

I knew there was something weird about all of the exchanges I’d participated in this morning, but with so much going on that was out of the norm, I forgot to think about it.

Besides, the gym called to me, and I arrived in time to take the kickboxing class that always gives me a feeling of empowerment. I wasn’t just getting exercise, I was learning how to kick and punch really effectively. I could, potentially, kick some ass if the need arose, which made me feel large and in charge. Very important when you’ve felt helpless and at the mercy of others your whole life.

At least that’s what Rico says to me every time I show up, that I’m learning how to defend myself. I think he’s got a little crush, so I imagine he’ll say whatever he thinks will get me coming back to his class. It must work though, because there I was, sweating like a pig, huffing and puffing and doing my best to use proper form while doing a roundhouse kick to the heavy bag.

“Back to combinations: left jab, right cross, left hook. Left, right, hook! Left, right, hook! Now add an uppercut! Left jab, right cross, left hook, right uppercut!”

“I can’t do this much longer,” an older lady who was seriously sucking air said from the heavy bag next to mine.

“Hang in there!” I managed to spit out, still taking it out on the innocent bag.

She was someone I recognized by face from the class. Though I never got her name, she was really inspiring to watch and cheer on. She had game.

Of course, now too much time had gone by for me to ask her name without feeling totally stupid.

“I’m trying to hang in there,” she gasped.

“Ten more minutes,” I panted with burning lungs, but our talking brought Rico’s attention to us.

“Keep your gloves up,” he barked at me over the sound of the music, and I tried, really, but my shoulder muscles were burning from the last forty minutes of class. Who knew you needed shoulder muscles to keep your arms working?

“One more addition! Add the backhand! You have to step into it with your left foot! Left jab, right cross, left hook, right uppercut, right backhand! Left, right, hook, uppercut, backhand! Left, right, hook, uppercut, backhand!”

With my last bit of energy, I attacked the bag for the next two minutes, and when the song finally ended and Rico called “Enough!” I was absolutely noodled. I could do little more than rest my hands on my knees in a bent position and concentrate on forcing air into my lungs quickly enough to keep myself from passing out.

“Good work, Taylor. You’ve got heart.” Rico held up his hand, and I just barely managed to high-five it, feeling proud of the compliment. He turned back to the class and called, “Time to cool down!” I found that a little affirmation went a long way as I discovered the energy to do some stomach crunches and stretches with the class to finish things out without actually passing out entirely.

Rico turned off the music and thanked everyone for a good class as they made their ways out. I was feeling quite accomplished and full of bravado, thinking, Just let someone try to accost me on the street and see what I do. I’ll wale on their ass!

I smiled, imagining it from my position on the floor, completely out of energy, which I recognized as being completely ironic. The need for water drove me to stand—that and the fact that people scheduled for the next class were beginning to arrive. I got up and grabbed the water from my bag, where it was tossed alongside the back wall of the room, and downed it in great gulps.

“So what are you up to tonight?” Rico was pulling the strap to his athletic bag over his shoulder as he approached me.

“Work.” I downed more water and capped it, popping it back into my gym bag.