Love's Dance by Marianna Roberg Page A

shoulders. "Okay, I was asleep, but I've been up for about twenty minutes..."
    Cheerfully, her sister said, "Oh, well, 10 is late enough!"
    Feeling guilty for her reluctance to talk to her sister, Jaina said, "But that's great news."
    Oblivious to Jaina's struggle, Emily said, "Thanks. So what's new with you?"
    "I'm... learning to ride a bike."
    "Really?" Emily was shocked. "Who's teaching you? Jasa knows better."
    It was then that Jaina realized why she was so uncomfortable. She didn't want Emily finding out about her feelings for Colin, and making fun of her. "His name's Colin."
    "Colin?! As in guy-you're-obsessed-with Colin?"
    "I'm not obsessed!" she responded automatically, wondering if Emily already knew.
    "Um, sweetie, do I need to remind you about your theme on your computer? Or the little Hedridan teddy bear?"
    Mentally smacking herself, Jaina said, "Well, okay, but he hasn't seen it."
    "Or the giant poster?" Emily continued. Jaina didn't mention that the only reason Colin hadn't seen that was because it was on the back of her door. "Sure. For your sake I hope he doesn't."
    "The issue here is NOT my supposed obsession," Jaina said defensively.
    "What is the issue?" Emily asked.
    "I'm learning something."
    "Learning? Learning what?"
    Jaina rolled her eyes and prompted, "Bike."
    "So what's the issue?"
    Sometimes, Jaina hated how much Emily remembered. She could remember anything .
    "Jaya..." Emily was speaking slowly. "He's gay, sweetie."
    Jaina closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the wall. Yes, Emily knew. "That's not proven."
    "Go have fun with the Hedridan shaped dildo instead of pining."
    Jaina's mouth dropped open. She was too shocked to reply.
    "There is no reason to believe otherwise," Emily continued.
    She finally got her tongue free from paralysis. "Except for the fact that I've been hanging out with him for over a month, and I've never heard him mention a boyfriend."
    "He's a private person, I don't think he'd divulge all of his life secrets in a month," her sister said reasonably, voice sounding tiny through the phone.
    Jaina was suddenly very aware of just how far away her little sister was. "And I've never seen any sign of someone else there when I visit his house."
    Emily spoke as if explaining something to a child. "So, not everyone lives with their significant others."
    Stubbornly, Jaina said, "Well ... that's true, but... You'd think I'd maybe have met someone if they existed. I give Colin cooking lessons three nights a week, and we go biking twice a week..."
    "Five days?"
    "Um. Yes."
    "You spend five days a week with this guy plus you work with him? No wonder you fell for him!"
    Jaina counted to ten, resisting the urge to reach through the phone and strangle her sibling.
    "Sweetie, what you need is to get laid," Emily went on. "Go out clubbing, surround yourself with handsome guys."
    "What I need is for Jasa to quit looking at Colin like he's going to jump on him or something," Jaina said belligerently.
    Emily sighed. "He's in overprotective mode? Dude, he needs help. The man is gay . Tell Jasa to freak off."
    Laughing, her sister replied, "No, Jason looks like Colin is going to jump on him ."
    Em giggled in disbelief. Then she started cackling. "Jasa isn't even cute! Lame-ass. Seriously... Try some happy fun time with Hedridan-dildo, it could just be a physical thing."
    "I think that's enough sisterly input from you," Jaina said.
    The doorbell rang. Immensely relieved, Jaina said cheerfully, "Plus, Colin just got here, I've gotta go."
    "No, it's never enough," Emily was saying. "Fine, run to Gay Boy. Get me an autograph!"
    "Hypocrite," Jaina chided playfully.
    "Yes. But it's cool when I do it."
    Jaina spotted Teniel coming down the stairs. "Gotta go. Here, talk to Teniel."
    "OK, bye!"
    Jaina handed the phone to Teniel and dashed out the door.
    Teniel watched with bemusement, as Emily, on the other end, said, "Teniel, her gay-dar is so off, isn't it?"
    "It seems that way," h er sister-in-law