a good kid.â
Alexandra ran to get her purse and coat, and then followed Justin to his car, getting in the passenger seat beside him. She wanted to say thanks, but it didnât seem appropriate, so instead she said, âWhy do you have to date Anna?â
Justin whistled, annoyed. âI canât wait until you turn into a normal human being and start liking boys. I like Anna because sheâs cool, and funny, and hot.â He reached out and turned on the radio, adjusting it to the Peak and beginning to sing along to the latest Mumford and Sons track.
Alexandra frowned. Justin could actually sing, and play the guitar, and she thought it was one of the coolest things about him. Actually, she thought her brother in general was pretty cool, so why did he have to be so stupid? âBut why do you have to date someone from my school?â she demanded. âLike, are there not enough girls at UBC? Besides, donât you feel like a pedo?â
âNot particularly, no,â Justin said dryly. âLook, Iâm sorry, but youâre overreacting. And sheâs only two years younger than me. Not even, a year and a half.â
Alexandra leaned back in her chair, the better to sulk.
Justin sighed. âLook, Alexandra, just give it up, please? Could you once, just once, act like the world doesnât revolve around you? I really like her, okay? I donât want you being dramatic and difficult to ruin this.â He looked over at her, giving her his best guilt-inducing expression.
Alexandra sighed. âOkay. Fine. But it wonât last, sheâs horrible.â They drove the rest of the way listening to the music and not talking.
Alexandra hopped out of the car and ran to the house, knocking on the door. âHi, Mr. Yu,â she said as he answered the door.
He stared down at her, confused. âWhat you want?â
âIs Julian here?â
âJulian!â Mr. Yu shouted back into the house. Julian hurried out. âLexi wants you.â Mr. Yu crossed his arms, waiting to hear what Alexandra wanted.
âUh, Iâm going to go over to her house for dinner,â Julian explained awkwardly. âOkay?â
âOkay? Mrs. Yu has already made dinner. You no eat here, okay, but you tell us!â
âSorry, Mr. Yu,â Alexandra said. âThatâs my fault, I invited him late.â
âYour fault? Okay, okay.â Julian quickly put on his shoes and followed Alexandra out to Justinâs car. Alexandra could feel Mr. Yu watching them curiously from the doorway.
Julian got in the back, and as soon as they had started to drive, he turned to Justin. âWhatâs this about you dating Anna?â
âI am,â Justin said firmly.
âOh, cool.â Julian relaxed back in his seat. âLove this radio station.â
âMe, too,â Justin agreed. They drove back to the Dunstan home.
As soon as they entered the house, Justin ditched them to go get changed, and Alexandra and Julian were left awkwardly looking at each other. âUh â want to come up to my room?â
âSure.â Julian shrugged. They walked up the stairs and Alexandra pushed open the door of her room. âHoly frickinâ crap!â Julian stepped into her room and began to turn around, trying to absorb what he saw.
âWhat?â asked Alexandra, worried by his shock.
âI have never seen so many ballet posters in my life!â Julian stepped up onto her bed without asking in order to get a better look at the posters. âGeez. Polina Semionova, Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev (I really like this one!), Bridgett Zehr, Irina Dvorovenko?â
Alexandra nodded. âYup.â
âDaniil Simkin, Tetsuya Kumakawa, Alina Cojocaru â¦â Julian fell to the bed, giving up. âToo many.â
âSince when do you know names of famous ballet dancers?â Alexandra asked, surprised. âYou never seemed to know who anyone was