the boy’s changing room as Alexandra walked downstairs. “You coming for sushi?”
“Oh, yeah,” she said, surprised. “I said I was going to, didn’t I?”
“Um, yeah, right,” said Tristan. “Me and Jules will be out in a sec.”
As they left the academy, Taylor kept up a running commentary. “I really liked class today, didn’t you? I just love Mr. Moretti’s classes. Oh, are we not going in there? You’re right. The other place has much better sushi doesn’t it? Omigod, I am such a dumb blond. I totally forgot to bring my school stuff out of my locker. It’s okay, though, I never do my homework anyway.” The other three kept silent, with their own thoughts to occupy them. Taylor eventually ran out of steam and walked silently, watching them nervously.
“Is Russian hard?” Julian asked suddenly, turning to Tristan.
“Oh, no. I mean, it’s really tiring, but you’ll be fine.”
Relieved, Julian quickened his pace. Tristan and Alexandra drew abreast of him and matched it. Taylor was forced to walk behind them as there was no more room beside them.
“Mr. Moretti is really hard in rehearsal, though,” Alexandra said. “I mean, that’s good, but if you’re not used to it, it can be pretty tough. Like, he gets really mad if you don’t remember every correction and apply it the second he says it.”
“Yeah. And once he threw the CD player at somebody who kept messing up,” Tristan snickered. “And then he kicked them out of the show.” Taylor fell back a little more — that was her.
“But you’re a boy, so they won’t kick you out,” Alexandra reassured him, patting his shoulder. “They totally need you.”
They’d arrived at the sushi restaurant.
“Do we have time to eat there?” Alexandra asked.
Tristan checked his cell. “Yup. Come on. This place is awesome.”
As they went in, Julian stopped suddenly. “This is the same song Keiko was playing last night!”
Tristan rolled his eyes. “Keiko is Japanese,” he said as if explaining something to a three-year-old. “So is this restaurant. So they have the same music.”
“Hey, it’s still cool,” Julian blushed. “They don’t really have very good Japanese restaurants on the Island or in Toronto.”
Once they sat down, Alexandra kept tapping her nails on the table.
“’Sup?” asked Tristan.
“I’m really nervous for rehearsal tonight,” she admitted. “Mr. Moretti totally hates me.”
Tristan didn’t disagree.
“Hey, but you’re really good!” Julian said, confused. “I saw you on YouTube … I mean, I looked because you got bronze, right? So I thought you might have something up. And you were awesome, and you are in class, too. Why do you think he doesn’t like you?”
“He just doesn’t.” Alexandra kicked the table leg lightly and repeatedly while trying not to cry. Tristan nodded. The waiter came over, and they began to order, relieved for the interruption. Tristan and Alexandra decided to split a sushi combo and ordered a boat combo with tempura for Julian.
“So you can decide what you like,” said Alexandra.
“And because we want to steal the apple slices that come with it,” added Tristan.
“And what do you want, dear?” asked the waitress, smiling at Taylor.
“Um, can I have the same as him?” She pointed at Julian. “I like tempura,” she added with an apologetic giggle as Tristan and Alexandra looked at her in disgust. “I don’t like the apple slices, though, you guys can have them if you want.”
“As if you’re going to be able to finish that,” said Alexandra.
“I like the boat, it’s pretty,” Taylor said more confidently.
“Whatever,” Alexandra said, exchanging a Do you believe her? look with Tristan. Meanwhile, the waitress had come over with tea, and Julian was smelling it excitedly.
“This is so cool!” he said. “It smells like rice.”
“Have you not even ever had green tea before?” Alexandra asked in disbelief.
“Not this kind!”
“You are so weird,” laughed Tristan.
“Yeah, you totally fit in here,” Alexandra said, laughing. Taylor went to the washroom while they waited for the sushi.
“Hey, pass that,” Tristan said to Alexandra, pointing at Taylor’s glass of water. Alexandra laughed and passed it.
“What are you doing?” Julian asked.
“Wait and see,” Tristan said gleefully, opening a packet of salt and pouring it in the glass.
“You can do at least three more before you can see the salt,” Alexandra said, watching the salt sink into the water.
“Guys, seriously,” Julian protested. “Isn’t that a little mean? And elementary school?”
“Nope,” Tristan said, quickly sliding the glass back into its place and stuffing the salt wrappers in his bag.
“Besides, she’s annoying,” Alexandra added. Taylor came back with a big smile.
“Guess what?” she said. “The waitress lady gave me a free Coke! Isn’t that cool? She said I looked cute!”
Julian kicked Tristan. “Karma,” he whispered.
The waitress came over with the food, and Julian took his boat in surprise. “When they say boat, they really mean it, eh?” Tristan and Alexandra laughed. Taylor smiled at him while rearranging her food on the table.
“I know, right?” she said. “When I first had this, I was like ‘What the F?’ Actually I wasn’t, because I was like three, but I would’ve. I was really upset, though, because they don’t let you take them home.”
“I should think not,” Julian said, looking his over with amazement. “It’s all wood, and the carvings are really cool. I am so showing my family this place when they come to get me at Christmas.”
When they left the restaurant, Taylor went home because she didn’t have rehearsal.
“Bye,” Julian said absently as they left.
“Bye,” she said, her face dropping as Tristan and Alexandra ignored her.
As they walked down the street, they heard someone call “Hey! Faaattiiiiies!”
They turned around. “Oh, it’s Grace … and Aiko and Anna,” said Alexandra. “Fatties yourselves!” she called back across the street. Laughing, both groups headed back to the academy.
