Chapter Text
Gina loves Christmas.
She adores the holiday lights, bright-colored decorations, overplayed songs, deliciously themed sweets, and iconic movies. Gina has been this way since she was a kid. Her dad loved Christmas more than anyone she’d ever met, and even after she left Gina held onto their Christmas memories, even when they were moving from city to city over the years.
Gina’s mom, Terri Porter, is the founder of Power Performing Arts Studios where she’s been establishing different schools across the country for almost two decades now. Gina has grown up in the largest cities in the US, spending her days painting the walls of ballet studios and helping create backstage decorations for different shows. Of course she’s spent all that time on stage performing ballet, hip-hop, and singing as well. However, those studios are where she found her home.
Now, as Gina experiences her first year as a graduate of Julliard’s BFA program for dance majors, she can’t wait to one day represent the company her mom created on the world’s largest stage. Gina is currently dancing with The New York City Ballet for their production of the Nutcracker. She’s dreamed of being one of their ballerinas since she was four years old and her dad took her to see them in New York City—and now Gina is finally there. She’s savoring every moment of this holiday season, even the moments where she’s teaching five year olds how to dance at her mom’s studios so she can afford her city apartment.
Gina’s by no means a teacher, but she feels a special connection to the little girls and boys she gets to teach at Power Studios.
When Gina rolls into her afternoon classes, she’s already tired from her own rehearsals, but she’s excited to see her little kids. There’s about fifteen kids in her Monday afternoon class and it’s probably her favorite class she has.
A boy called Carter is always the first one to show up, roughly ten minutes before the class starts, and over the next ten minutes most of the other boys and girls trickle in—wearing sparkly tutus and tiny ballet flats. However, a boy, roughly her own age, hovering outside of the door to her studio catches Gina’s attention. Gina walks over to the door and leans outside of the frame.
Her eyes land on the boy, he’s wearing jeans and a black t-shirt and a denim jacket, and he’s bent down by a little girl dressed in a ballet outfit. She’s got tears streaming down her face, and he seems to be getting nowhere. The boy doesn’t look old enough to be her dad, but Gina doesn’t think further about that.
“Can I help you?” Gina asks as she grabs the attention of the two of them.
The curly-haired boy looks up at her with a sigh of relief, a slight twinkle in his eye, “yeah, hi. This is Stella and she’s a first-timer, and perhaps a little nervous.” He explains that to Gina as she kneels down next to the little girl.
“Hi, Stella.” Gina smiles brightly and the little girl smiles and wipes her tears, “I’m Miss Gina and I’m gonna be your ballet teacher if you want to come into the studio.”
Her brown eyes glance up at her brother, “you promise to pick me up?”
He nods with a smile on his face, “of course.”
He stands up and so does Gina and Stella. Gina takes Stella’s hand in her own, but she stops abruptly when Stella begins to cry again.
“What if I don’t make any friends?” Her tears pull on Gina’s heartstrings.
Gina makes eye contact with the little girl, “well can’t I be your friend? That way we will both have a friend?”
Gina’s question seemed to do the trick as the little girl wishes the older boy a goodbye and walks into the studio. Gina gathers the rest of the students up into a big circle in the middle of the room, but she doesn’t address the class until she sees the shadow in the doorway disappear.
Gina can’t shake the feeling that he’s going to mean something to her.
~~~
Once Ricky has walked back to the dance studio after getting some grading done at the coffee shop on the corner of the street, he sees Miss Gina working with Stella in the front of the empty room. He was five minutes late, but he wouldn’t have expected the whole class to have been gone by then.
Stella is smiling from ear to ear as her ballet teacher demonstrates a proper plié for her. Stella copies the move and earns a high five from Miss Gina. Ricky takes note of the empty classroom and takes a step into the studio room, getting the attention of the two dancers.
“Hi, Ricky!” Stella waves at him with a big grin on her face, “did you see my plié?” Ricky nods, “was it good?”
“Amazing,” He replies as Stella begins to gather her water bottle and jacket from the corner of the room. “How was your class?”
Stella hands Ricky her water bottle as she runs up to Miss Gina and gives her a hug, “it was the best! Miss Gina is the bestest dancer in the world! She’s in the Nutcracker.”
Ricky’s eyes widen as he looks at the ballerina in front of him. She’s tall, her skin is glowing in the fluorescent light, and her curly hair is pulled back from her face—Ricky thinks she might be the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. “Wow,” that’s about all he can say without sounding like an absolute simp, “congratulations that’s a big deal.”
Gina shrugs off the compliment, “thanks.” Gina turns her attention back to Stella and smiles down at the little girl, “you did a great job today, Stella. I hope I will see you next week?”
Stella nods fervently, and Ricky mirrors her expression. “you will!” She exclaims as she tugs on Ricky’s hand, “I can’t wait to tell Mommy and Daddy about this! Don’t you think they’ll be so excited?”
Ricky laughs lightly at her antics as they make their way out of the studio, “thanks again, Miss Gina. See you next week.”
Stella waves goodbye to her teacher as they walk out. Ricky watches as Miss Gina turns back towards the mirrored walls the moment they are out of the line of sight.
He really can’t wait to see her next week.
••
“Oh come on Ricky!” Carlos yells with an exasperated tone. “You can’t keep moping about your little sister’s ballet teacher. You’ll literally see her when you drop Stella off at the studio in three days.”
Ricky looks over at his roommate with a scowl, “I’ve been searching Instagram for any ballerinas that are named Gina and I cannot find her.” It’s almost hilarious how desperate he is to find her freaking Instagram account.
Carlos quickly grabs Ricky’s phone and tosses it off his bed and onto the floor.
“What the hell, Los?”
“Ricky, you need to get out of this apartment. It’s Friday night, you don’t have any assignments to do since finals are over. You should come to Kourtney’s Christmas party!”
Ricky has known about this party for over a month, and he’s attended it before, but he’s not in the Christmas mood. Kourtney decorates more than anyone else he’s ever seen, and it’s become a bit annoying to Ricky over the years—especially since his best friend Jet started dating her.
“Los, I really don’t want to go.” Ricky sighs as he leans back against the couch cushion.
Carlos rolls his eyes and yanks Ricky off the couch, “you are going. No excuses.” Carlos loves Ricky, but his hatred for Christmastime has become extreme, and he will not be living with a Scrooge. “If you really hate it we can come back here and get high and order pizza.”
Ricky raises a brow, “mean it?”
Carlos laughs, “sure.”
“Thanks, bro,” Ricky replies as he walks back towards his bedroom, picking up his phone on the way. He looks down at the screen and sees the name ‘Gina’ typed in on the search bar, Ricky wishes he could just find her handle already, but he clicks off Instagram and lays his phone down.
Maybe one night out with his friends wouldn’t be so bad after all?
~~~
Gina drops her coat at the door and takes a look around Kourtney’s apartment. There’s at least five Christmas trees she can see from the first glance through the entryway.
“Wow, Kourt, this is amazing,” Gina says as she reaches out to hug her friend.
“Thanks, sis,” Kourtney replies as she makes a gesture towards the bright sparkling lights, “there’s nothing like Christmas.”
Gina completely agrees, “damn right.”
Gina’s known Kourtney for three years now, and they’ve been best friends for nearly that whole time. They first met in Advance Theater Technique class at Juilliard, and from that moment they were inseparable. Kourtney majored in musical theater and just finished her first round of shows on Broadway, working on-stage in a minor role, but back-stage as one of the main wardrobe artists.
Gina doesn’t get to spend as much time with Kourtney as they used to, especially now that she’s beginning tech week for the Nutcracker, but she took the night off to have some time with her friends.
Kourtney’s Christmas parties are historical and Gina can’t wait to see all the festivities.
“How are you doing after everything went down with EJ?” Kourt asks as Gina begins to help her put the finishing touches on the dessert platter.
Gina cringes at the sound of his name, “I’m fine. He’s just an asshole who never truly knows what hard work and effort look like.” When EJ dumped her two months ago after her first full week of Nutcracker rehearsals, Gina knew he was a piece of shit.
They dated for two whole years, and Gina has no idea how she didn’t figure it out before then.
“Okay then,” Kourtney says as she turns towards her best friend, “have you met anyone else?”
Gina scoffs loudly, “as if. I’ve been so busy with my own rehearsals and teaching classes at Power, I’ve barely seen the inside of my apartment.” Her roommate Maddox wasn’t always happy about Gina’s busy schedule, but at least she supported her through it all.
“Speaking of apartments, where is your roommate?” Kourtney asks as she looks around the kitchen area.
Gina shrugs lightly, “I think Maddox and Jet are picking up the liquor.” She vaguely remembers a text from Maddox saying that she was going to pick up wine with Jet.
Kourtney nods in understanding as she hands Gina the final tray of food to lay out on the table.
“Maybe you’ll meet someone tonight.” Kourtney muses as Gina places the final dish on the table.
Gina rolls her eyes and tucks a stray curl behind her ear, “jeez, Kourt. How many people did you invite?”
Kourtney just smiles at her friend, “you’ll see.”
~~~
Turns out, Gina did see. Two hours into the party and Kourtney’s apartment is full of people she knows and a bunch of people she doesn’t. Everyone is talking loudly, music is blaring, and Gina’s head is pounding. There’s a reason she doesn’t go to many parties, even around Christmas.
Gina doesn’t like to admit it, but being around lots of people she’s unfamiliar with in a room she feels like she’s drowning in, she gets anxious. Not just the kind of anxious that can be settled with a deep breath, the kind that needs to take a walk out in the cold and truly feel the air on her skin.
Gina’s about to leave the party when she feels someone tap her on the shoulder. She swiftly turns around to see the curly-haired boy she met a couple days prior at her mom’s dance studio.
“Hey,” he says with a hint of surprise in his voice.
Gina pulls her coat around her shoulders tightly, “hi.”
“What a coincidence?” He grins with a little more joy than what she’d consider normal, “I’ve been looking for you Instagram.”
Gina raises an eyebrow. If he’s trying to flirt, he’s doing an absolutely shit job. “Well you kinda need a name for that.”
He nods and extends his hand, “Ricky Bowen. Music teacher and big brother to Stella who thinks she’s now going to be a dancer in the Nutcracker like her dance teacher.”
Gina’s flattered, she really is.
“Gina, uh, Porter,” She reaches for the door handle to leave but Ricky stops her.
“Are you okay?” This time his face has all smugness wiped off and he looks genuinely concerned.
Gina shakes her head, “yeah I’m fine. I’m just gonna get some fresh air.” It’s not entirely a lie. She just neglected to mention the part about not being able to breath.
Ricky drops his gaze to her shaking hands, “maybe I could join you? I’m not really one for big parties.”
Gina doesn’t know why, but she can’t turn him away. She’s interested in why he’s like this. Why does he care so much about someone he doesn’t even know?
“Yeah sure.”
Ricky follows Gina out of the door and they walk down the cold stairwell into the balmy New York City streets. Snow is softly falling from the dark sky above them, and the streets are quiet.
“So how long have you been teaching music?” Gina asks Ricky. She hates silence—and loud noise, it’s quite a combo if you ask her.
Ricky looks over at her, “two years officially, though I’m currently in my last year of my master’s program in music education.” His brown eyes glisten from the passing street lights, “I’ve been teaching elementary schoolers ever since I graduated.”
Gina nods along. He looks young to be a teacher, but after seeing how he was with his sister, she’s not surprised he’s teaching little kids. “Nice. I just teach ballet on the side. My mom owns the studio.”
Ricky’s eyes widened, “Wait, your mom owns Power Studios?” He’s heard all about the woman who’s established all these performing arts schools from his step-mom.
“Yep,” Gina replies. “She’s established ten different schools over the last twenty years.” Gina feels incredibly blessed to have grown up in the industry, even when it took away parts of what everyone else had as a child.
“Damn,” Ricky sighs, “that must’ve been a lot as a kid.” He knows firsthand what it’s like to live in the shadow of a successful parent. “What’s your dad do for a living?”
Gina stops abruptly at the mention of her father. For so long people have tiptoed around her when it comes to that subject, no one ever outright asks her about him—unless they know no better.
“Oh I didn’t mean to…” Ricky trails as he meets Gina’s eyes with a thorough gaze.
“No, no, it’s fine,” she replies as she picks up walking again, this time in the direction of Kourtney’s apartment. “He died when I was a kid. My brother moved out after that, so it’s just been my mom and I for a while now.”
Ricky’s heart softens. Sometimes he hates himself for thinking his family is complicated. He has three parents who love him and a sister. Some people like Gina only have one parent.
“I’m sorry,” Ricky says as he brushes the hair away from his face.
Gina shrugs, “there’s nothing to feel sorry about. I have everything I want in life, it’s all good, Ricky. I’m all good.”
Ricky senses that she’s almost trying to convince herself of that and not him. “You sure because back in the apartment your hands were shaking.”
Gina curses herself for letting him come on this walk with her. “I have anxiety around big groups of people, it’s not that bad.” She knows it’s bad. She just doesn’t want to admit it.
“Do you have meds for it?” Ricky asks.
Gina shakes her head, “it’s not clinical or anything. Just pops up sometimes.” Like when she stares into large crowds of people when she’s performing, or when she’s standing in the subway, or at her best friend’s Christmas party.
Ricky doesn’t make eye contact with her as he says, “I used to have really bad depression, but then I started taking antidepressants and I’m doing way better now. There’s no shame in seeing a therapist either.” Truthfully, without his therapist, Ricky would have probably gone crazy by now.
Gina looks up at Ricky. He’s only a few inches taller than her, but it makes all the difference in the dark night sky. “Genevieve Porter,” Gina sighs, “on Instagram.”
Ricky raises an eyebrow, looking down at her, “that’s your handle? I thought your name was Gina?”
“That’s what everyone calls me,” she replies, “but my full name is what I have my account under—because I think you were looking for it earlier.” She smirks slyly at him as they near the entrance to Kourtney’s apartment building and can begin to hear the loud music blaring.
“Okay, Genevieve, maybe I will follow you,” Ricky replies with a slight chuckle, “just in case you ever need a walking buddy.”
Gina turns back towards him after opening the building’s entrance door, “thanks.”
Ricky smiles softly as he opens the door to the stairwell for her, “anytime, Miss Gina the ballerina.”
Gina scoffs, “for someone who teaches children, you certainly talk a lot like one.” She jokes as they make their way up the staircase.
“I do not,” He replies offensively. “I just happen to like giving cute ballerina girls cute nicknames.”
Gina looks back down at him as he climbs the stairs, “you think I’m cute?”
Ricky blushes slightly at his confession, “maybe. Or maybe it’s just the god-awful eggnog going to my head?”
Gina rolls her eyes, “it’s definitely not the eggnog,” She muses with a grin.
Ricky shrugs his shoulders as they make their way down the hall towards Kourtney’s unit. Truthfully, he has no idea how the building is letting her throw this big and loud of a party. “Christmas sucks, and eggnog is definitely the worst of it.”
Gina stops dead in her tracks, Ricky nearly trips over her. “What did you just say?”
“Christmas sucks?” Ricky repeats.
Gina throws one hand over her forehead and the other on her chest, “oh my god. I think I’ve been killed. I think Scrooge McRicky just killed me!” She is dramatic and she knows it.
Ricky is impressed by her ability to genuinely make him want to recoil his statement. “Please tell me you aren’t one of those people who just loves Christmas? Like the ones who get all their friends matching pajamas, or make their pets dress up in Christmas sweaters?”
Gina shakes her head, “pajamas are only for family, and I don’t have any pets,” she replies, “but I do love Christmas.” She’s very surprised he didn’t pick up on that vibe when she told him she’s literally in the Nutcracker ballet.
There’s one thing Ricky doesn’t do, and that’s Christmas. He’ll let his family drag him to church on the night before, he’ll let his sisters squeal as loudly as she wants while opening gifts, but when it comes to anything more than low key family things, he’s completely out.
“Why do you hate Christmas?” Gina asks.
Ricky and Gina hover outside of the apartment door for a moment while Gina waits for Ricky to answer her question. “That’s too long of a story for tonight, ballerina.”
Gina seems fine with that answer as she opens up the door to the apartment and steps into the loud room, feeling way more rejuvenated than before.
“I’m gonna go get something to drink,” Gina yells back at Ricky as she slips into the crowd. Ricky smiles back at her and waves.
He takes his phone out of his pocket and types in her full name on the Instagram search bar. He sees her account pop up with a little check mark by it, and not only that, but she has nearly 100k followers. Her bio is simple.
>>Gina Porter<<
dancer
actress
power studios nyc
www.newyorkcityballet/nutcracker
He hits the follow button without a second thought. And damn has Ricky really been changed tonight. When Carlos hears about this, he’s not going to believe it.
Ricky can’t really believe it either.
How the actual fuck did his sister end up with a famous ballerina as her dance teacher? How did he end up at the same party as her? And how did he end up getting to hear her life story as they walked along the streets of New York City together?
He hates to think it really could be the magic of Christmastime, but maybe it could be?