"And what were you doing in the rain?" Damien was invested in the story as she explained the odd event that led her to Cane. "I don't remember that day in particular. I was in a horrible headspace for weeks. I separated from my boyfriend after I saw his true colors. But every day I saw bits and pieces of him, and every time I saw those pieces, I could remember how he treated me. I remember opening up to him, and all I got was full-on rejection. He wanted me to stay as his idealized version".  She looked down into her drink and pondered, "I thought I would be fine afterward, but that reminder made me feel like I didn't deserve a connection with others.  I then spiraled, I retracted, and no matter how much I ate, I still felt hungry. I just felt numb, and I just began to walk. I don't even remember how long I walked. That park where I met Cane is not even near my home. But then I met him. To a person who felt that they didn't deserve anything, he helped me out of the rain. I had never met anyone so nice. I'm...happy to have met him". She smiled as she reminisced about the memory.

     Damien was a little taken aback. As he looked at her face, he could see signs of stress and even abuse. She had a bruise on her forehead that had not completely healed, her hands had tiny scars and cuts, and her eyes looked like they held a twinge of exhaustion. He recognized those eyes because they hit a little too close to home for him. Damien wanted to ask more, but didn't know what to do if his assumption was right, so he decided to change the atmosphere. "Well, I'm happy for you, let's toast to new and better encounters. And thank you for being Cane's dance partner". He laughed as he clinked his glass on hers, Yvette matching his laugh. 

     Cane watched as Damien and Yvette talked and laughed. It didn't sit well with him. He then saw that Estelle also made her way to the table and immediately swooped into the conversation, eliciting more laughter from Yvette. His eye began to twitch. 

     He didn't understand why he felt so irritable, but he didn't want to see her like that with anyone. He made his way to the table and saw her expression as Yvette turned to him. Her eyes lit up, her smile wide, and her face a little shy as she waved to him. Her expression moved in slow motion as he absorbed it. He had never seen that expression before, and it was directed at him. He didn't know he was scowling until his features softened. Why did he feel so warm?

     Yvette and Estelle were sitting closer now, the men conversing among themselves. Estelle began to talk about herself at the behest of Yvette, " Yeah, I fell in love with dancing when I was about five, and then I worked my ass off trying to dance professionally. I succeeded in getting into a big-time dance company overseas, but I never felt the sense of happiness I desired. As I performed, I felt like all the looks I got were gutting me or undressing me. During that time, I also met Damien. We became close friends even though I hated his guts at the start. I felt that sense of happiness come back when we danced, but he soon left.  I didn't know he was dealing with issues of his own at the time, honestly, I wish he had told me," Estelle pondered as she thought back. " After that, I fell into alcohol and was kicked out of the company for hitting an instructor. But, if you ask me, he was getting a bit too touchy-feely with the younger girl and boys, so he deserved every stitch he got.  Then my mid-twenties rolled in, I was dancing at nightclubs and began a bit of a drug addiction. Those were dark times for me, but then I saw a light. Damien reached out and asked me to be a dance instructor in a studio he purchased. We used our old social media platforms to boost our studio, and here we are now, 7 years later. Honestly, who would have guessed he was doing all this when we came back overseas?". Estelle looked up as Yvette stared in amazement. She noticed the sparkle in her eye as she listened. 

     Yvette had never met a person like this. Estelle talked about her tragedies and accomplishments as if they were something you did every other week. She danced for a famous company, stayed vigilant when things became difficult, and even felt grateful for the people who helped her. She did not brag, didn't want to be seen as the victim. " If it were me, I feel I would have given up a long time ago." She thought as he listened more, grabbing at each word. Could it be possible to be like her?

     "Estelle, do you feel happier now that you teach instead of perform?" Yvette asked 

     "You could say that. When I first started, I felt like a bird".

     "Like, you felt free or like you were flying?".

     "I guess you could say it was a sense of freedom. I felt like I could cut through the air and go wherever I pleased. I danced for me and performed for me. But that feeling slowly faded when my movements were picked apart by those who knew nothing of my performance. Then, the feeling came back with Damien, then left with him. I guess I had fun when I was with him. Then that feeling came back when I started teaching".

     " Amazing, must be like a dream doing what you love".

     "It feels good being here at this point. It feels right. The only problem now is that people think Damien and I are dating".

     As those last words escaped her mouth, she felt like there would be an annoying shift due to this revelation, but it never came. Yvette was surprised but didn't question it, " Oh, I thought you were a couple. But it would be normal to be so close to a friend, I guess that's why people see it that way". Estelle looked surprised. At this point, she would expect to be bombarded by questions concerning Damien or someone trying to set her and Damien up. Never grasping her words or wants. But she felt Yvette would trust her words, never prying and accepting things as they were. Estelle couldn't help but smile as she looked at Yvette.

     The time crept up on them, and Yvette was the first to say her goodbyes. Cane followed to walk her to her car. Estelle exchanged numbers with her before she left and was left with Damien.

     "So, is she nice?", Damien asked as his smile weakened.

     "To be honest, she looks like an optimist, very polite and honest", she said as she laughed.

     " I'm glad. He also wants to get close to her. I don't know what's gotten into him as of late. He looks more sociable, right?" he looked at Estelle for confirmation.

     Estelle only nodded as she began to pack her things. "Come on, don't leave so soon.  I want to celebrate with my friend for my friend. To be honest, I was a little afraid to do this, since I thought you had a thing for Cane". Estelle made a perplexed face, " Never". 

     Damien laughed, " Then it was my mistake. You kept looking at him at the weirdest moments, glancing, and just being kinda awkward". Estelle waved the idea off, "Honestly, it's all in your head. Cane was right, you have to extend your breaks, your brain is turning into mush". They both laughed, but Estelle felt a bit guilty. She didn't have the heart to tell Damien she was creeped out by Cane at times, staring at him to reaffirm her feelings. But now those feelings were slowly changing thanks to Yvette, and those feelings of guilt faded as well. 

     Maybe there was a possibility of friendship in the future, but she didn't want to overstep. She felt like it was best to let it happen naturally. If friendship happens, then it happens; if there is no bloom, then it wasn't meant to be.

     

     With one final goodbye, they each headed in different directions. Estelle was happy at the thought of making a new friend. 

     Estelle was always pushed to make more friends by Damien, but whoever she talked to never seemed to click.  She usually told them the story to scare them away or to see if they were only interested in Damien. Usual reactions would include the person trying to relate to her, telling a story with no similarities, people treating her like glass, or trying to talk more about Damien. But Yvette just listened and asked questions about her experience. She felt like Yvette would accept you with open arms. It was nice. She hoped to talk with her more in the future.