Small world

Wednesday

A hiphop class!’ Barty waves jazz hands at Regulus trying to encourage him. Regulus says nothing.

‘The instructors assistant is really fit,’ Barty pleads.

Again Regulus says nothing.

‘It will take your mind off things. I think he’s single.’ Barty waggles his eyebrows mischievously.

Of course Regulus wants to take his mind off things, his relationship of 2 years had ended badly and most things he saw remind him of Leo. They had been madly in-love and until certain circumstances had come to light, Regulus thought they were forever. Certain circumstances meaning his brother Sirius had moved to Regulus and Barty’s town.

He can also tell that Barty was already head over heels for the instructors assistant and he wants to see the poor fucker Barty was apparently wooing amazingly. He also felt sympathetic for Barty as he had had to help him through his life collapsing.

‘Fine.’ Regulus sighs, ‘I know you’re obsessed with this guy so I’m coming for emotional support for when he rejects you.’

‘How dare you!’ Barty clutches a fist to his chest in mock offense. ‘He will be lucky to have me.’

Regulus swipes his bookmark from the side table and places it delicately inside his book.

Barty has been his roommate since they left Hogwarts and has been best friend for longer. He had been there through Reg’s toughest times and they had always shared everything.

Regulus thought he owes Barty at least a couple of hiphop lessons.

Barty being the pro driver he is, drives them to the studio. Regulus has no fucking clue where Barty was driving even though he had the map on his phone. The car starts to cloud full of smoke from the cigarette hanging from Barty’s lips which he then dangles out the window as Regulus took a swipe at it.

Barty narrowly missed 6 traffic cones, 2 lampposts and a small child on a bicycle. Regulus made a mental note to make sure Barty never drives again.

They pull into a small car park outside the studio after Barty flew into a rage because there was a queue and ‘the love of his life’ wouldn’t want to be held up. After battling about the cigarette, Regulus had made his first victory of the day by swiping it and squishing it down into a puddle.

They were a little bit later than he would like but that didn’t stop him from dragging his feet all the way inside.

He was a ballet dancer at heart and that’s the only dancing he enjoyed in his 24 years of living. He prefers the technical side of dancing, to Barty’s favourite, hiphop.

‘It’s just a bunch of flailing around.’ He had mocked Barty many times.

‘You just wiggle your arms and then spin on your head and that’s it.’

Barty whacked him over the head with a pillow five times.

The studio feels warmer than the outside. In the little corridor all the thick paint is slowly creeping down the walls, collecting at the skirting boards.

Frames of awards for productions they had been in were hung in gold upon the wall.

Regulus follows Barty, who mindlessly trails his fingers along the picture frames becoming unbelievably close to knocking them all off.

The thin carpet on their feet turns into a smooth floor as they enter what is the changing area.

It was small but big enough to fit the dozen or so people who seem to be waiting for the next lesson. Regulus had googled all about this place and had checked the hygiene rating. Even though the walls looked as though a wolf had torn the paper down, they still had good recommendations and ratings. Mainly for the politeness of the staff.

A door on the other side of the changing room had a window and Barty was already pressing his face up against the glass.

‘Barty will you stop drooling,’ Regulus hisses, ‘Everyone can see you.’

Barty ignores him and pulls Regulus closer and points through the window at someone. He has to shove Barty’s hair ( a health hazard in his opinion) out of his way to get a proper look.

‘That’s Evan.’ Barty breaths and Reg watches the guy his best friend was obsessing over.

He has blonde hair with wisps of strawberry, which went very well with his broad shoulders and light skin.

‘Didn’t he share a dorm with us at Hogwarts?’ Regulus asks Barty but his answer was barely audible as he was basically sucking the glass.

Evan had been their dorm mate at Hogwarts, their old boarding school. However in the summer before sixth year, he had got pulled out for some unknown reason.

He is very attractive Regulus must admit but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from someone else.

Another man, standing over in the corner, sipping on his water bottle. He has messy brown hair, tanned skin which complement his toned arms too.

Regulus is ripped out of daydreaming about him when Barty snaps his fingers in his face, ‘Close your mouth bro.’

Regulus glares at him and steps away from the door. He subtly glances around the room to make sure nobody was watching him, but they were all too busy tying their shoelaces.

He grabs Barty away from the door, just intime before the new love of Reg’s life opens the door for everyone.

Once inside, Regulus can tell where all the money in this place has gone to. The floor is smooth but not too much, and the wall are all painted perfectly. There’s a few benches at the sides of the room and at the other side in a massive stereo. A stage stood next to the stereo. This must be where the instructor teaches.
Evan is leaning upon the stereo and surveying the class.
Some of the people were here last year but quite a few were new today.

‘Morning Crouch,’ Evan had caught sight of Barty. Maybe he was the only face he recognises.

Barty nods in response but Regulus knew on the inside he was dying.

He could tell by the way his friend turns around that his heart was launching itself around his rib cage.

When everyone had put their stuff down, the instructor claps his hand together to get everyone’s attention.

Once all eyes were on him, he gestures that everyone come sit on the floor.

‘I don’t want to start with too much dancing right away as you are all a new class so let’s just talk.’

The instructor sounds very excited and a bit like an old man even though he is only a year older than Regulus and Barty.

They all perch upon the ground and Reg rests his chin upon his hand, watching the instructor. He looks eerily familiar.

‘For those of you that don’t know, this is Evan.’ The instructor gestures proudly at Evan who was leaning back against the stage. He lifts his hand and waves a little.

Barty made a quiet sound that only Regulus could hear. Sounds a bit like a dying animal.

‘And I’m James.’

Click

Regulus recognises the name and straightens his back. Lots of people are called James.
But James.

James.

The name really suits him. He’s definitely a James.

James explains a few things about doing beginners work first and then they are told to spread out.

Reg instantly stands at the back and scowls at Barty when he tries to drag him forward.

‘I’m not going near the front. Be happy I’m even here at all.’ Regulus slaps Barty’s hand off him.

‘Don’t lie, I know you’re enjoying the view,’ he eyes slide to where James is stretching out his arms.

‘I don’t like what you’re insinuating.’ Regulus folds his arms and takes a mini step back.

His eyes seem to be subconsciously flicking in James’ direction.

Barty groans quietly to himself and then stands next to Reg at the back.

The warmup part of a hiphop class is straight forward. It’s a lot of stretching arms and legs and shoulders and necks.

This is the bit Regulus knows is easy.

But when the actual dancing occurs. Boy, oh boy was he not prepared.

It looked simple when James did it. Of course he did. His body could move in ways Regulus didn’t think was possible. He was just amazing at it all.

Regulus didn’t really know how to do it: he’s a ballet dancer for crying out loud. He doesn’t have that loose upper body that Evan and Barty have. And he sure as hell does not have whatever magic James has.

It becomes frustrating when Barty has stopped messing about and is actually trying to do the moves, because now he has no distractions.

Surely God would be kind for once and suck him out of the earth.

Just really quickly.

This once.

You don’t even have to return him.

Surely it’s not that hard.

Regulus’ face twists in concentration but evidently he must look like he would never get it, because before he realises it, James is striding towards him.

James. Gorgeous James.

His cheeks instantly heat up as James stood directly in front of him.

‘Do you need some help?’ He whispered, thankfully keeping his voice low so no one notices.

Evan was now leading the class with immense confidence, one would have thought he did this a lot.

Regulus’ brain didn’t even register that James was talking to him, but his head nods in response.

James walks closer and held out his hand, ‘May I?’

‘Yes.’ Regulus chokes out and holds James’ hand.

Then James moves Regulus so he was in the right position. ‘Okay so basically, step-by-step. You do this… then this..one and two.. and then that.’ He looks up at Regulus, ‘Got it?’

‘Yeah I think so.’ Regulus stumbles through the moves with the grace of the ballet dance he was.

‘You need to loosen your hips up.’ James points out.

Sorry what?

James did a little dance, ‘Like this.’

Regulus swallows. How in Salazar’s name did James make his body do that.

‘Here lemme help,’ James put his hands on Reg’s waist and moves him around a bit. ‘Now try.’

Regulus tries the dance that James did, but with James pushing on his waist at the right bits to get his hips looser.

It works. Maybe it was because James was a good teacher, or maybe it was because Regulus had practically gone limp from James’ touch, but it did work.

James stepped back to watch Reg do the combination again and smiled.

Such a sweet smile.

Regulus’ heart and stomach whirl like they were on a ferris wheel

Regulus’ first hiphop lesson was over. If Sirius could see him now, he'd die of shock.

He goes over the his water bottle and Barty. He clapped the latter on the back and they go striding out the door after everyone. Not before Regulus gets a final glance at James.

‘You were great Reg,’ Barty smiles, swinging an arm over his friend.

Regulus offers a small smile back.

Once they had got to the car park Barty lowers his voice,’ I wish I had thought of doing that.’

He then laughs at Regulus, ‘I think that you don’t have your eye on the instructors assistant.’

Regulus glares at Barty, ’I don’t have my eye on anyone, and besides if I did, it’d none of your fucking business.’

‘Woah calm it, Kermit, I was just joking. I know the only person you have your eye on right now is Harry Styles.’ Barty laughs.

‘Who is Harry Styles?’ Regulus widens his eyes.

‘Salazar’s cape on a pole,’ Barty slaps his forehead.

‘Who is he?’

They were both sat in the car now.

‘Is he a stripper?’

‘Oh for fucks sake.’ Barty pauses for a second, ’In a way.’

‘What!’ Regulus’ eyes widen again.

‘I’m sorry I’m sorry, that was a horrible joke.’ Barty threw his hands up defence.

‘Isn’t he the Prime minister?’

‘Mate just no.’

James’ hand wavers above where he is packing his stuff away. Helping the dark-haired guy dance, being in close proximity to him, feeling the way their bodies were basically made for each other; it’s all just too much.

That man’s gorgeous curls framing his face, his story eyes and just the air about him in general, is an image James is willing to bet is tattooed on his eyelids forever.

‘What was all that about?’ Evan chuckles, picking up on his friends flushed face.

‘Nothiiing,’ James drags out the vowels, trying to control his emotions. He has always been someone who feels too much and is too big about them feelings.

He doesn’t even know the guy’s name and he’s feeling too much for him.

Evan shoots him an amused glance, but doesn’t press any further.

James is both grateful and disappointed.

He flings his navy rucksack over one and shoulder and nods to Evan.

But before he leaves, Evan speaks again, ‘You know you can tell me anything James?’

James nods solemnly, ‘Thank you.’

Evan smiles and James turns on his heels out of the door.

Frigid breeze assaults James’ hot skin. It’s been a long time since he was back in Tenerife.

His parents were both brought up, and still live on the island, but had sent James off to a prestigious boarding school in England. Being away from his parents was hard enough (he was an only child after all) but being in a a different country…distance was a bitch.

Every summer James still goes and visits Effie and Monty, with Sirius and even though it was only a few months since he saw them last, the cold air of London still makes him miss the baking sun and the calming sea.

Closing his hand around his car handle, he takes a melancholy sigh, maybe he should go surprise Sirius, or Pete or Remus.

Another sigh escapes his lips, the sexual tension between Sirius and Remus is getting hard to bare.

How sometimes James wishes he was back at Hogwarts and could just lock his ex-dorm mates in a broom closet.

He thinks now they have matured, they could sort things out like adults, instead of arguing like they did at school. One can hope.

He gets in and flicks the radio and hums mindlessly to the song he doesn’t know, I need you now but idk you yet.