The Beginning (The Butterfly Series Book 2)

by Isabella Redwood

  ‘Let’s make a pinkie promise, that no matter what, we will always stay best friends,’ she stuck her little finger out as we had done as kids and I nodded, reciprocating.

  ‘I promise,’ I proclaimed, lying back on the blanket and listening to the surrounding sounds. JC was moving ahead and then running back, jumping on me and calling me to chase him.

  ‘Momma, Momma,’ he shouted, looking at me and Lexi laughed running to scoop him in her arms and swing him around.

  I closed my eyes, just wanting to drink in the moment and vanquish the nagging doubts I had away, once and for all.

  Lexi – packing

  The trip with Caitlan had been such a blessing, I felt like we had really re-connected and grown even closer, if that were possible. She had spent the past two days constantly at the studio, Madam tweaking her performance step by step until they had everything just as they wanted it.

  I knew how nervous she must have been feeling as I was picking up on her nausea every morning. Mom and Seth had gone to collect some more boxes for me and I was desperately trying to pack all my room with JC constantly climbing into the boxes and throwing things out.

  ‘You are a stinker,’ I grinned, ruffling his hair and getting him a popsicle to try to distract him.

  I had packed up as much as I could and remembered about my secret hiding place that I had discovered years ago under one of the loose floorboards in my bedroom. After switching rooms with Caitlan when we traded places, I had completely forgotten about it and padded across to her room to go collect my things.

  Opening the door, I saw the gifts she had got for Lucas all wrapped up on her desk to go. I was sad that I would not be going with her, but the cost of more flight tickets, on top of the party expenses that I had just finished paying off for JC’s birthday was too much at the moment.

  He had an amazing first birthday party and as ours were so close, we all celebrated together. Looking in the mirror, I could not believe I was eighteen years old with a one-year-old son. Or that in a few days’ time I would be living alone in another city.

  I saw the flowers Lucas had sent for Caitlan’s birthday, the lilies and roses overpowering the room with their delicious fragrance. Nic had sent me a bouquet of flowers too and I was so tempted to hop on the plane with her and meet him.

  We had been writing and talking over the phone secretly for months, him starting it, me reluctant at first. I just did not want to get attached to someone who didn’t appreciate how hard it would be to date a single mom. Along the way I had fallen completely and utterly in love with him, something that had been so difficult to keep secret. But not wanting to take the shine away from Caitlan’s relationship with Lucas I had managed it.

  Picking up my phone to call him, I shuddered with pleasure inside. He was meeting me in New Haven in just a few days’ time and I felt my face flush with all the emotions brimming to the surface.

  Getting his voicemail and leaving a message, I tried to focus on the task at hand.

  Pulling up the floorboard and removing the journals I had hidden there. Opening the book, I saw the many notes I had written about JC’s father and quickly shut it, not wanting to think about him now.

  Hearing the front door opening, I quickly ran to my room and shoved the journals at the bottom of the box underneath an array of scarves.

  ‘Hey, how is the packing going?’ Caitlan collapsed onto my bed, clearly exhausted and I took out the coconut foot massage cream to help relax her leg muscles. I knew only too well, how your legs would smart once the feeling came back after a workout with Madam and I could only imagine how bad she would work Caitlan now.

  ‘Good, I am getting there,’ I confirmed, rubbing the cream into her calves.

  ‘I have a surprise for you,’ she announced, pulling an envelope wrapped with a pink ribbon out of her pocket.

  I watched as her eyes lit up and her smile penetrated my bones with the pure joy she was feeling. Opening the ribbon and envelope, I gasped at the contents. Two tickets for New York.

  ‘You didn’t,’ I scolded, though completely thrilled at the same time.

  ‘I did, but mom and Seth are coming too. She said she could not miss out and as things with dad are coming to a close, he is not going to be coming with me,’ she frowned at the thought. I remembered it was not that long ago, that he would have come running to go to an event with Caitlan before she became me. Being on deployment stopped that, not that she would have wanted him there now, after everything.

  ‘I’m so excited,’ I replied, jumping to pack a different bag with items we would need for the New York trip. The thought of Nic, suddenly making me blush and Caitlan caught it immediately.

  ‘I could ask Lucas to bring him,’ she mused, her voice raising an octave, as though she had not already been planning the whole thing in her head.

  ‘No, way,’ I yelled. ‘This is your day with Lucas,’ turning quickly so she could not see my eyes. The lying had to end soon and I couldn’t wait to tell her all about my relationship with Nic.

  ‘Anyone for ice cream sundaes?’ My mom questioned, popping her head around the door and holding up a bag filled with everything that was devilishly full of calories, but so desired.

  ‘Me,’ we both piped up in unison and I picked JC up, carrying him downstairs to have yet another bath after eating the gigantic sundae Seth was going to make for him.

  We sat down on the sofa together for movie night with our ice cream sundaes; JC playing with his toys as Seth picked a Disney movie, he claimed was for JC. At the age where he did not want to seem like a kid on the surface.

  I watched as everyone was giggling and chatting amongst themselves, JC playing happily with his blocks.

  This time next week we would be all alone, it terrified me and thrilled me at the same time. Sitting down on the floor with him, I hugged him close. The stark realisation that everything was about to change and the fear of the unknown so scary.

  I hugged my son close and just hoped we would make it alone.

  Caitlan – audition

  I had woken up at four am and not been able to fall back to sleep again. After tossing and turning until five, I decided to just get up and eat breakfast. Placing some bacon on the grill and mixing strawberry pancakes, I pulled up a chair and set my breakfast down, opening up yesterday’s newspaper, skim reading.

  I heard someone in the hallway and turning around, Lexi was all smiles.

  ‘Good morning, ballerina,’ she announced, clutching JC in her arms and handing him off to grab some coffee.

  ‘Morning,’ I yawned and kissed JC, giving him a piece of pancake to start on. ‘Hope I didn’t wake you,’ I continued, feeling guilty for getting up so early when we had a long day of travel ahead.

  ‘No, silly. I was too excited to sleep. How are you feeling?’ she questioned, visibly glowing, clutching a mug of coffee close.

  ‘I feel okay I guess. I have practised as much as any human possibly can. But to be honest, all I can think about is seeing Lucas,’ I confessed, flushing bright red. I was not as nervous as I thought I would be, just deeply excited and every part of me was twinkling in anticipation.

  ‘I am so excited for you. Okay, so the fake tan is a little more tropical than I anticipated, but you are certainly glowing. How do you want me to do your hair,’ she mused, pulling gently at the black messy bun on top of my head. I had been covered in fake tan by the hands of my sister last night as well as two boxes of hair dye. I wanted to connect with the black swan, dying my blonde hair black. I peeked at myself in the mirror, I looked so different and for the first time in eighteen years, looking at Lexi, we were different. You could tell we were sisters, but twin sisters, not so much. Lexi frowned at me.

  ‘What it is?’ I asked, gently taking her hand.

  ‘You just look so different. Not in a bad way at all, just different from me. I feel like you are going to move away from me more and more, but I know everything is going to be perfect for you. I cannot wait,’ she proclaimed
, bouncing in her chair. I loved seeing her so enthusiastic, reminded me of old Lexi, before she became me and I reciprocated, jumping with joy for seeing Lucas in literally hours.

  We checked our luggage in and mom and Seth went to get snacks for the plane. JC was climbing over the chairs in the departure lounge, pointing at every plane that was landing and taking off, desperately trying to say the word look, coming out more like uuk. I kissed and hugged him close, trying to distract him from pulling my hair out of the ballerina styled bun I had been contorted into by Lexi before we left.

  With the gallon of hair spray she applied, I could go stand by Air Force One as it was taking off and not a strand would fall out of place.

  ‘Hey, I got you a magazine and some gum,’ Lexi advised, handing me the goodies as she scooped up JC who was deftly trying to run across the lounge at full speed. He had suddenly become so mobile and was certainly keeping us exercised chasing him.

  ‘Sweetheart, you are going to pass with flying colours,’ my mother assured, patting me on the shoulder as she attempted to play Seth’s game with him, computer games not her thing usually, but she was making the effort.

  I wondered if the looming divorce papers arriving at dad’s door was making her more aware of Seth’s mood, as she had virtually been turning herself inside out to please him just lately.

  I wanted to say, we love you just as you are and you do not need to try so hard, but I think it was bringing her comfort being so immersed with us all, that I just kept quiet.

  The flight crew announcing our seat numbers had us all scuttling forward, locating our seats and preparing for take-off.

  I watched as we lifted off the ground, waving to Seattle, figuratively speaking, goodbye. I would be staying in New York for a few weeks and then travelling to Colorado to help mom settle Seth in before school started. Leaving our house this morning, I wondered if we would ever come back here, knowing after the divorce papers, my father would probably sell it.

  ‘Don’t worry, everything is going to be perfect,’ Lexi reassured as I bit my lip anxiously.

  This was it, now or never and I sat back in my seat, closing my eyes to plan once more each step of my routine.

  We landed in New York and as the aircraft opened, the chill penetrated my bones. Snow had been forecast and as I zipped up my coat, I could not help but feel an ominous haze flowing over me. Turning to Lexi, I watched her snuggle JC inside her coat and wave to the cabin crew as we left to board the coach that would take us to the terminal.

  ‘It is freezing here,’ Seth complained, snuggling up to me on the bus as I held him close.

  Before I knew it, the time had come for me to say goodbye to my family and head to the New York Ballet Company site. They were going sightseeing and shopping and I would meet them later at the restaurant for a late lunch.

  ‘Okay, now remember, you are a star. No matter what happens, we love you and are so proud of you,’ my mom confirmed, hugging me in a death grip and wiping the tears off her cheeks.

  ‘Thanks, Mom. I will make you proud, I promise,’ wiping my own tears and turning to Lexi.

  ‘Go get them, sis, you are going to rock it,’ she proclaimed leaning in to kiss my cheek and putting her lucky stone in my coat pocket. ‘For luck, though you don’t need it,’ she whispered as I pulled her into my arms and kissed JC.

  ‘Say hi to the stature of liberty for me,’ I reached for Seth, and he stood on tiptoes to kiss me goodbye.

  Turning one last time to look at my family, I climbed into the taxi and watched as they waved their arms off until I could not see them any longer.

  The building was so beautiful, opening the main entrance door; I turned around admiring the chandeliers and ornamental features that were leading the way.

  ‘Fill this out and take a number. Warm up and then wait to be called,’ a nasally robotic voice advised, as though they had done this a thousand times.

  I watched as the women and men practised. Their faces so composed and lost in the zone, only dancers could understand and relate to.

  Slipping off my leggings and adjusting my leotard, I kissed my ballet slippers for luck and secured the ribbons around my calves. Clutching the lucky stone my sister gave me in my hand, I warmed up and waited as one by one we were called in.

  There must have been another exit as none of them came back through, so we had no idea whether they were jumping for joy or in floods of tears. I was starting to feel more nervous by the second and reached to read the last message Lucas had sent me once more.

  Imagine me, in the audience, cheering you on and being so proud that you are my girl. I know you will leave them speechless and unable to stand. I will be feeling the exact same way when I hold you in my arms in a few hours’ time.

  God, I love you.

  Your Lucas.

  I instantly felt comforted and placing my phone back into my bag, I heard my number being called. I followed the booming voice through and for the first time caught a glimpse of the judging panel.

  Three women and two men looked me up and down before returning to their papers and flipped through what I could only assume was my application. I nervously moved forward and positioned myself into first position awaiting the music to begin.

  A whirlwind of emotions captured me in its clutches and I pictured Lucas on stage with me, my partner in dance as well as life. Timing each step to the beat Madam had always laboriously worked me to. I hit every position with all my body, heart and soul could muster. Floating on the stage, dejected and broken, I reached my crescendo, to finish.

  The music ended, and I stood, gazing over to the faces that were staring back at me. There was no emotion for what seemed like hours and then one of them started to clap. They rose one by one and nodded to each other, excitedly.

  My heart was beating so hard I could barely hear anything else when a hand touched my shoulder.

  ‘Welcome to the, New York Ballet Company,’ the lady who had been robotic earlier, suddenly springing to life, handing me an acceptance letter and ushering me off the stage for the next performance.

  I got dressed so quickly, I tripped over my tights and laughed hysterically as I shoved them back into my bag.

  I had done it; I was going to be a principal ballerina one day, dancing here in this very theatre. The red velvet curtains opening to reveal me to the world, plain old me.

  Flowers, a cry for an encore. This would be my life, with Lucas at my side. Thinking of him, I felt the colour raise to my face and my body shiver in anticipation. We had been dreaming of this moment for the last two years and now it would be happening in three hours’ time.

  Reaching for my cell phone, I had forgotten to turn the internet off and my battery was virtually dead. Turning it off and then on, a trick Lexi had showed me, I hoped would revive it as I shuddered in the freezing temperatures that were awaiting me on exiting the building.

  It had been snowing during the audition and a few inches of snow were freezing my feet through my boots as I tried to navigate getting a cab. The audition had gone on longer than I expected and I was late to meet my family.

  I could not find a taxi anywhere so decided to start walking. Remembering the route from google maps the night before, I began the journey to the restaurant mom, Lexi, Seth and JC would be at.

  After eating lunch, well early dinner with them, I would leave to meet Lucas at the Empire State Building and I could not have been more excited. Reaching into my pocket, I tried to dial my mother’s number, but the signal was patchy and I did not want to waste the little battery I had left, putting it away until I had gotten closer.

  Walking was taking longer than I expected and I was freezing. Starting to pick up speed, I was longing to see my family and let them know I had been accepted. Distracted I did not see the raised pot hole and fell flat on my stomach, my knees hitting a gravel spot head on.

  Wincing at the stabbing pain, I surveyed the damage and plodded on, each step causing me to hate the weather that had suddenly de
cided to thwart me even more. I tried to pick up pace again and stopped to grab a coffee, the air so frigid, my lips were turning blue. The coffee sent warm healing vibes down my throat and I pushed on to share the amazing news.

  lexi - revelations

  We had been wandering around New York City for hours and my feet had long since gone numb. Wrapping up JC in his stroller I followed Seth and mom around each tourist site he had marked on the guide map and finally ended up in FAO Swartz.

  JC was in his element playing with all the toys and I sat down to warm up snuggled next to one of the life size lions.

  ‘Having a good time, sweetie?’ my mom questioned, eyeing me suspiciously. My mood had deflated as the day went on.

  ‘Yes, just thinking about the next couple of weeks,’ I sighed, the emotional baggage trying to drown me under a sea of torrid pain. Goodbyes were the worst and I would have to be saying more than I ever wanted to in the next few days.

  ‘I know, darling, but remember how much being at Yale will secure yours and JC’s future,’ mom replied, the voice of reason as always.

  ‘I know, Mom. We have just not ever been parted for more than a few days, anyone of us,’ I continued, my voice breaking with the raw emotions fuelling the pain forward.

  ‘You will be home for break before you know it and I will have a new house for you all to come back to. I promise, this will be the best decision you could possibly make,’ my mom assured, reaching to pull me into her arms as JC grabbed the nearest display of dinosaurs.

  ‘Oops, I better go put them back,’ I confirmed, seeing the expression on the nearby store assistant as he put one of them into his mouth.

  We were about to leave for the restaurant and I kept checking my phone thinking Caitlan should have called us by now. The signal had been patchy so assuming that was the reason I hailed a taxi for us all, the snow starting to gently fall as we entered the restaurant.