All Grown Up

dr

aused, thinking back over my time there. "The Global Traveling Dance Academy of Perform

"The Global Academy of Traveling Pants, or whatever it is," she said,

emy of Performing Arts," I corrected. She giggled some more. "I

e that you sent Mom. Hate to say it, but it all just looks li

ne here in Aberdeen would ever understand anything about my life as a dancer. They would

had thought that she and I were more like twins than anything else, despite the three-year age gap between us. But to stay here

t, I wanted to move the world. You couldn't

ome!" Mom called, and suddenly, it was like I was a teenager again. I shook my head.

"Look who's here!" she announced when we were in the hall, and Mom quickly dr

se. I know that was always your favorite. Come on, let's go into the kitchen.

right here at home with her. She had even gone so far as to once tell me that she regretted putting me into those dance lessons when I was a kid because it ha

in the town, she was yet another

bout that. He was tall and broad-shouldered. A former football player, probably. Hometown her

m a charming smile. Treat this like research, I reminde

something from this little break, the

e remembered my love for Chinese food. My former love. The truth was, I hadn't eaten Chinese food for years now. My

frequent occurrence in the Buchanan household. Eating out cost way more

make sure to mention my diet to Mom before the next meal and suggest that I be in cha

ton asked about my return. But after just a little while, I set my fork down. "May

d. "Of course!" she said. "I'm sure Annabel

can take my bed for now," Annabelle t

sister's bed, but Mom nodded as well. "We'll see you

ly behind me, trying not to feel overwhelmed by it all. I laid down on the bed carefu

way out in the kitchen. There was plenty of laughter, and I couldn't help but feel the d

yself not to start crying. I couldn't help thinking about Paris and how much more I wanted to

here, but I didn't k