Aris
August 28
Dimitris Makris. That’s his name. The forbidden guy.
Maybe I shouldn’t be thinking about him two days after seeing him only once. Even less should I be reserving a page in my diary to talk about him. But maybe, in the ever-so-orderly rhythm of my life, this might be the most daring thing I reveal here: the recklessness of thinking about someone I shouldn’t approach.
I left the dorm without Lizzie that day, planning to meet her for lunch at a small restaurant close to where I wanted to go. I parked the car in front of the dance school, debating whether I should actually try it. I needed advice and knew exactly who to turn to.
I took out my phone and made a call, answered on the third ring.
“Hi, Aunt Tati!” I said before she could say anything.
“Hi, Little Fairy!” she greeted me with the nickname both she and my dad had used since I was a child. “How’s everything going over there?”
Even though I called her “aunt,” Tatiana was actually my stepmother. She had started dating my dad right when I discovered my heart condition and began spending more time in hospitals than in my own homes.
Yes, homes. Plural. My parents were best friends and agreed to a marriage of convenience to adopt me. So, I always had two homes, though in the end, they were all one big family.
“I think I need some advice from you, Aunt,” I declared, not answering her question.
I loved Tati as if she were also my mother, with the added advantage that she was considerably more flexible than my parents. That’s why she also occupied the role of an older best friend in my life.
“Why the worried tone, Little Fairy? Did something happen?”
“How much would my parents freak out if I got a job?”
“You don’t really need a job.”
I knew I didn’t. I had a family that was not only large but also financially generous, to say the least.
“I don’t need it. But I’m eighteen now, and since I’ve moved out, it would be nice to have some financial independence.”
“I see. But wouldn’t it interfere with your studies?”
“I don’t think the workload would be too demanding.”
“If it won’t interfere with your studies or your health, I don’t think they’ll freak out. You know it shouldn’t be something that takes up enough of your time to make you neglect maintaining a good diet, at the right times, as well as physical activity and everything else.”
“Physical activity... I think that’s exactly the issue.”
“How so, Aris? What job are we talking about, anyway?”
“It’s not definite yet, but... I saw an ad for a dance teacher at a children’s dance school.”
She was silent for a few seconds, which was a bad sign. Aunt Tati wasn’t as frantic as my parents, but she still had her share of maternal instinct towards me.
“You used to do ballet here in Athens with professional supervision. I thought that when you moved, your daily physical activity would be moderate morning walks.”
“I love dancing, Aunt. I miss it. I know I won’t have a professional to supervise and monitor me directly here, but I’m well aware of my body’s limits. Besides, it’s not like I’ll be doing extreme training for a competition. I’ll be teaching little kids. Or maybe not, I’m not sure yet…”
“Why aren’t you sure?”
“Because I’m currently standing in front of the dance school, looking at the ad and wondering whether I should try or not.”
“Have you been completely honest with me?”
“About what?”
“About being safe. Knowing your limits and that it doesn’t pose any risk to you.”
“Of course I am, Aunt. You know me.”
“I do. So I understand that your main concern is likely with how your parents would react, isn’t it?”
“I’ve caused them so much worry, Aunt. I’ve seen them reach their emotional limits out of fear of losing me. It’s something I never want to put them through again.”
“Let’s do this then. Think only about yourself for a moment. If this is what you want to do, go there and try for the position. If you get it, let me know, and I’ll handle the outbursts from the folks here.”
“Thank you, Aunt.”
“Just don’t lie to me, okay? I’m trusting that you won’t get involved in anything that could somehow harm you. I helped convince your dad to accept the idea of you going to college far from home. So promise me you won’t get into trouble.”
Trouble...
I remembered that Lizzie had used the same word to refer to the guy we had seen days before, right there, parked in the same spot where I was now.
I shook my head. There was no reason to think about him again.
“You can trust me, Aunt Tati. And thank you once again.”
“You’re welcome. And good luck. Let me know if you get the job.”
“If I get the job.”
“There’s nothing you want that you won’t get, Fadinha. Love you.”
“Love you too, Aunt.”
We ended the call, and I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. Then, I got out of the car and walked to the building where the dance school was located.
A notice next to the door said I could come in, so I opened it, finding a waiting room. Behind the counter, a friendly-looking boy who seemed younger than me smiled at me.
“Good morning! How can I help you?”
“I came about the dance teacher ad.”
“Oh... sure... Just a minute, I’ll call my grandmother, who owns the place.”
I nodded and waited. The way his gaze shifted to one of pity as soon as I mentioned the reason for my visit worried me.
He went through one of the three doors surrounding the small reception area and returned shortly after.
“You can come in, my grandmother will see you.”