“Always. I will call you back. I’m heading into the building now. I’m already late after leaving that café.”
Alyse laughed. “Let me find out you’re a gamer girl now. Call me later,” she said before she hung up.
I was happy for my girl Alyse. She found a man who made her happy. A man who was into her and only her. Although he was part of a biker crew, he didn’t let that overshadow the girl he wanted. It reminded me of Papi. He was fine, he was paid, but his attention went far beyond me. The nigga was a fuck boy, but because of his father’s status, he felt like he could do whatever he wanted when he wanted, so I had to walk away.
After hanging up with Alyse, I saw a familiar face who had just gotten off the bus.What were the odds that we ran into each other again?I thought to myself. I knew I should have gone straight into rehearsals, but the look in his eyes said he could use a friend. I walked over toward him and noticed his battered face.
“Damn, what happened to you?” I asked to get his attention.
He glanced at me in surprise, then shrugged. “Life.”
“I get that,” I muttered.
He shook his head, “Nah, rich girl, you don’t. I don’t think anyone would understand.”
It was the assumption that I wouldn’t understand. It was so easy for people to use money as a weapon because they didn’t know what it was like to have it, but there were downsides to being what I called well taken care of. The thing was, I’ve dealt with my share of hood niggas, so me being around Scooter wasn’t new. Slaying hood niggas was my hidden power. “Try me,” I muttered.
He stood there and stared at me as if he wanted to say something. I knew in his mind, he probably felt like anything he said wouldn’t be understood. I was going to tame this lone wolf. I didn’t know if I was trying to prove a point or if it was his energy that drew me in. Either way, Scooter now had a new friend.
I grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the building. “Come with me. Have you ever watched Flex dance?”
He wiped his nose. “Yeah, shaking her ass in the clubs.”
I snapped my hand on my hip. “Wait, so the rumors were true. She was a stripper. Honestly, it makes sense why she was so good at what she did. Now you get to see what she taught me.”
He pulled away. “Rich Girl, I don’t have time for that shit.”
I snatched at his shirt. “I promise it’s not bad, it might make your day.” I winked.
PRESS PLAY
Reluctantly, he followed me into the building. I glanced at him, noticing his eyes were surprised by all the Black ballet dancers blessing the stage, both men and women. “I told you. Now you’ve got to see us in action.”
He leaned toward my ear, “I’m not about to watch no niggas prance their ass around stage in tights.”
I giggled. “Then just keep your eyes on me,” I said as I hurried down the aisle.
The instructor turned, snarling at me before clapping. “Morgan, you're late!”
I hurried onto the stage as the music started. I quickly put on my shoes and fell right into the count. I could see him sitting three rows back from the stage as he sat back and watched me. I made sure to add extra to my moves. My arms floated up and down as I glided across the stage on my toes. I flawlessly went into different movements. My hand landed on my pelvis, and I swirled sexily in a circle. I extended both arms, spread my hands like spirit fingers, pumped my chest, rolled my body onto my toes, and then smoothly transitioned into first position. I tried to keep count in my head as my eyes landed on him.
One, two, three, four.His head leaned to the side as his eyes narrowed in on me.
Five, six, seven, eight.He placed his hand over his mouth as his eyes devoured me.
Back to one.Was he smiling?
A grin eased on my face asI rolled my body until I reached my partner. He spun me, leaned me back, and then we sprinted off, doing a jeté together. I got lost in the song as everyone seemed to disappear from the room, but Scooter and me. My body moved to the music that had me captured.
I imagined myself as the princess of Stone Castle, overlooking Loch Ness Forest. She longed to be free, even if only for a few hours. One day, she escaped and wandered into the forest. She became so lost that she couldn’t find her way back home. Until she came across a creature that was said to be evil.She used her dance magic to try to lure him because she didn’t believe the myth.
That’s when the claps from the instructor brought me out of my trance. I stopped and noticed everyone staring at me awkwardly. “Now that you're done with a solo we didn’t ask for. Let’s start again, from the top! Remember, we have two more rehearsals before the holiday break. When we get back, we’re going to four-day rehearsals.”
After going through the routine a few more times. I removed my shoes, grabbed my bag, and hurried down the stage. When I reached Scooter, he started to clap. “I see you, Rich Girl. Flex taught you how to move like that?”
I nodded, “She did. Well, some of it I learned over the years. What do you have planned?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Shit.”
