One spot in particular, though, really set off the vacuum. I paused my pass and turned off the machine, looking up to see the name ‘Christian’ written along the locker. He was one of the boys in the corps and on my list as a potential suspect.
I knelt on the floor and gently brushed my hand over the carpet. Once again, a tiny prick of glass found my hand. Just as I was standing up, Christian and Lushian strolled into the locker room, laughing and joking about something from class.
“Hey Lukas! They have you on cleaning duty or something?” Lushian called out to me.
“Something like that,” I said, putting on a smile for them. “Christian, would you mind opening your locker for me?”
Christian shot me the oddest look before shrugging and walking over to his locker. Standing in front of me, he entered the combination and pulled his lock off, then swung the door open.
Watching him open the door, my suspicions eased a bit. He certainly didn’t seem like he had anything to hide. I peeked inside his locker as he stood back and looked over to me.
“Does anything seem out of place?” I asked, watching his reaction as he turned back to his locker.
“Nah, some old stuff. Sorry if a rat died in here,” he joked. His whole demeanor changed, however, when his eyes landed on something on the top shelf. “What’s this?” He asked, reaching for a small container.
I leaned forward as he peeled the lid off the container. Sure enough, inside were tiny bits of glass shards.
“What the hell?” he stammered as his gaze shot towards me. “Lukas, I didn’t do it. I didn’t know this was in here. I had no reason to harm Ivy. I honestly didn’t care about any of this omega stuff.”
“May I?” I asked, closing the container back open and taking it from him. “If you didn’t do it, then who would have stashed this in your locker? Who knows your locker combo?”
“Practically half the corps girls,” he said. “They always hang by my locker.”
“You get around,” Lushian teased. Both Christian and I shot him a disapproving look—nobody was in a joking mode here.
“Who are you seeing currently?” I asked.
Christian pressed his lips together before letting out a large sigh. “Okay, but don’t tell them. I’m seeing both Erika and Tracy. They don’t know about each other.”
“Aren’t they like best friends?” I asked.
“Yeah, what better way to start a harem?” he shrugged in response.
“Except you’re a beta…” I added, shooting him a curious look.
“Betas can be in a harem too!”
“Alright, go back to class and don’t tell either of them you talked to me,” I said. “I need to follow up on this further.”
***
Each day was disappearing quicker and quicker ever since Ivy joined our house. I’d certainly missed seeing her in the studio today—the occasional kiss and cheek rub was enough to keep me going while I ran all over the company building, getting things done.
The moon shone softly through my bedroom window as she sat on my bed, sewing new pointe shoes. After a full day spent investigating Ivy’s attacker, just having her sitting nearby me was enough to relieve my stress.
I stared at my computer, trying to get the look of the program cover just right for next week’s performances—we were using an old picture from last season of Preston and Adrienne posed together. I wondered if I could edit Adrienne out…no, don’t bring a personal grudge onto the front cover. We all agreed to use this photo.
I’d happily set up another photo shoot with Ivy…I guess Preston could join, too. The picture of Ivy in that Carmen costume was framed and hanging up on a wall in my room, the perfect reminder of our first kiss together.
“She looks so good there. What if you add a border around that image?” Ivy suggested, looking over my shoulder.
“Like this? Yeah, that is better,” I said, making a few adjustments as I clicked away with my mouse.
“Glad you like it. I charge fifty bucks an hour, minimum four hours billed. You’ll receive my invoice in the mail soon,” Ivy snarked as she rolled back on the bed, crossing her hands behind her head arrogantly.
I closed my laptop and turned in my chair, facing her. “So expensive! What other services do you provide, may I ask? Seems I have a few hours to use up.”
“Well, I’m pretty good at making an omelet, though Preston won’t let me cook. I give pretty weak massages until my hands get too tired. I can help you stretch really well if you’d like…oh, I’m also pretty good at motivating you to run harder in the gym.”
