༺ ELEVEN ༻
There's a five foot ten, slim boy in front of me.
Dark blonde hair that's swept across his forehead, parted lips, and blue eyes that have bags under them.
I think Aris slept just as bad as me.
Yet, I smile, my excitement to dance still not fading as I shake his hand. "Hi! My name's Rosalind, but you can call me Rose."
His smile seems awkward, but nice enough. "Aris," he speaks with a quiet, soft voice.
I appreciate boys who don't always feel the need to attract unnecessary attention to them and their fake charming acts.
I don't mean Thomas. He deserves attention and his acts aren't fake or anything... I mentally groan at my words. If I really want to explain how I feel about the way Thomas attracts attention to people like guests at Mamma Mia, I might as well write a whole book.
"Nice to meet you, Aris," I say. To break the ice, I add, "You know Thomas too, right?"
Aris nods. "A friend."
My smile brightens. "Awesome. Well, I hope we're gonna rock this play."
His gaze softens. I watch his face get more comfortable while he nods. "I'm sure we will."
"Alright!" Janson claps in his hands after our greet. Beside him, there's another male who I guess is Aris' ballet teacher.
After a few moves we do to get used to each other, which all goes smoothly, Aris is told to lift me up as I do a split.
Fine. Will be fine, I assure myself, yet the fear is bawling up in my stomach. A few seconds later, I'm in the air, resting my hands on Aris's shoulders as he holds my hips so I can do the split.
It happens in a second. A grunt leaves his mouth before I'm back down again, and I think my face is betraying exactly how I feel about the fact he groaned.
"Twisted my ankle a week ago," he explains. "The doctor says it'll be healed tomorrow, but I sometimes got flashes of pain, especially when lifting weigh."
I wish I could believe him. I want to, but my mind won't allow me. It's saying that it's me. That I'm just too heavy to lift up.
I give Janson and the other teacher a hopeful look. Apparently, his name is Henry. "There's some needed adjustments," Janson calls, "but it was fine."
Panic swells. Gives me a feeling as if I need to cry. "What can I do better?"
Fine is not perfect.
"You know what it is." His words hit me like a knife, and the look on his face twists the sharp metal. "But you two will dance amazingly at the play."
I try not to shrink in my skin for the rest of the class, just like I attempt to be as lightweight as possible and hold my stomach in so no one will complain.
When at the end, after both of our teachers called for us, the questions flies off my lips in a whisper, "You have to give me tips. I can't seem to lose weight."
"Just eat healthy. Don't overwhelm it," Janson says, shrugging a bit. "I can see a difference already."
My face lits up. "Really?" But my smile fades three seconds later. "Eating healthy doesn't work. I've done it all week. Well, except for a few times."
"Physical activity," Janson recommends.
I straighten my back again. "I went jogging here. Do you think it helps?"
"For sure," he assures, lying his arm on my shoulder for a second. Then, he looks at the duo beside us. "Hey, Aris and Rose... I think y'all are gonna be my new stars."
I relax myself the best I can. He can see a difference. He doesn't mind. He believes I can be his new star. "Really?" My face is dripping with hope as Aris's eyebrows shoot in the air.
"Really," Janson promises. "I didn't know what to do after Teresa quit, but you're awesome, Rose. And Aris, I haven't seen you dance in a while, but it's looking good."
I have to stop myself from jumping around again. "We're gonna be stars?"
"I can already see it. Tours and interviews and so much fun lessons," Janson says, his eyes indeed a bit dreamy. "That's why I suggest that tonight, we, Rose, Aris, Henry, and I, go watch the video tape of ten years ago, where we can see how the tour looked there."
"Sure," are my first words. I can't even hold them back or think about how late I'm going to be home.
The other two agree, too. So there I go, in the car with Janson, Henry, and Aris. Three strangers but also not strangers. I don't know... it feels fine. There's no weird vibe and I honestly feel safe enough with Aris around, though I barely know him either.
Janson didn't lie, so that also proves a lot. All we do is sit on his couch. He soon has the video tape playing on the TV.
"Can I provide y'all of a drink?"
I look up. "Water, please."
"Anything fresh," Henry requests. Aris shakes his head politely.
Once we've received the drinks, Janson sits down too and I was a younger-looking him speak to a boy and a girl. I can't understand what they're saying, but they're all smiling.
The next clip flashes to the couple dancing, and it's beautiful. Their movements are smooth like oil. I fail to find mistakes. His hands fit perfectly around her tiny waist before she gets lifted into the air and swirled around so beautifully it's almost like she's a real swan.
I watch with a half open mouth, eyes wide. Man, they dance so good. And her body... I clear my throat. "Am I really going to be doing that someday?"
"If you believe in yourself and don't give up," Henry replies, running a hand through his brown curls.
"You'll get millions of people watching you from both home and the theater," Janson adds. "Money flying around you like it's worth nothing and brands that will all want you as a cover."
I nod. I think my face is glowing right now. My eyes, at least. I wipe a hand over my mouth to make sure there's no drool.
I'm ridiculous.
When the video tape is over, I'm not sure if that French school is my biggest dream or that. Both. First, French school to become a professional, then into the real world.
I glare at the clock.
Oh, shit.
"Bloody hell!" I curse and a yelp leaves my mouth as I jump up. "It's thirty past eight?!"
Crap.
I was supposed to be at work two and a half hours ago.
Thomas would pick me up fifteen minutes after ballet ended.
Shit.
"I— I have to go." I grab my bag as fast as I can. "I forgot I had to work and Thomas was waiting for me but I was forgot— sorry, I just really got to go."
And then I remember I'm on foot.
Yay!
The day can't get better.
I look around, panicked. Everything is so casual in this house yet everything is going wrong. I knock over a glass of water as I pack my stuff, curse again, then sink to my knees with my head buried in my head.
I hate being too late. But what I hate even more, is leaving people hanging and I left Thomas hanging for two and a half hours. Obviously, he's no longer waiting for me but he's still at work right now, without me.
Luca might freaking fire me.
And as I overthink all of that, I realize I'm still in Janson's house and suddenly I feel a little less safe with just men that I don't even know sitting around me and staring at me trying not to burst out crying.
I met two of them today and I know nothing about Janson but the fact that he's a teacher.
I barely paid attention when we drove here so I'm not sure if I can jog my way back in the dark.
Mom and Dad are going to be pissed and Thomas for sure will tell this story to Newt, so he'll be pissed, too.
Thomas must already be pissed. Especially if he hears the reason I didn't show up.
Oh yeah, I was just watching a DVD at Janson's house. No big deal!
"Rose, try to calm your breathing, alright?" Janson follows Aris's example of sitting down on his knees next to me. "You're alright."
I wipe my eyes. No tears came, but I'm sure my pillow will be soaked tonight, when I'm left alone and don't have anyone to share all these thoughts with.
"I think I wanna go home," I say, followed by a cough as I get up. "Sorry for reacting like that."
I just want to sit on the couch in Mommy's arms with either hot chocolate or tea and a thick blanket wrapped around my body as I cry over The Titanic.
"Do you want me to give you a ride?"
I know I should agree, but I shake my head. I don't want to be alone with any of these people here right now. For some reason, I feel safer in the dark streets than in such a tight car where I feel like I can't breathe... in moments like these, at least.
"I'll see you guys Wednesday. Sorry, again. For dropping the glass. And this absurd situation," I mutter, already by the exit door as I say it. "See ya." I try to sound cheerful, but fail.
"Get home safe. See you Wednesday." Janson smiles. Just a small smile and it already makes me feel slightly better because I know he's not angry.
"I think I should come with you," Aris suggests. "Newt is going to kill me if—"
"I'll be okay," I promise. I think it's for the first time in my life that I close the door before other people have finished speaking, but I don't want them to see me in this state.
With my head lowered, I walk through the streets. There's multiple open bars and cars driving around and other people walking, so beside the lonely feeling I have, I'm not alone.
I soon realize where I am and start walking faster when a car comes up from behind and even slows their drive.
"Yo, dancer." It's a voice I've heard before, but I can't place it just yet. "Watcha doin' all alone through the depressing darkness?"
I turn around. My eyes squint, then I see it. Minho has his the car window open and he's staring at me with raised eyebrows.
"Do I need to give you a ride?" He asks.
I hesitate. Yes, this is Thomas's friend. But I don't know him either.
Ha, I do go to Thomas' "enemy's" house, but I don't want to hop in his friend's car.
"Come on, Newt will kill me if he finds out I left his poor little sister on the streets." Minho pouts dramatically. "And Thomas might, too."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?" I mumble while sitting down on the front seat. "Newt's not going to kill anyone."
"Girl, I know that boy for three weeks and I can already tell he will kill anyone in his way if something happens to ya or that other sister." Minho chuckles under his breath. "Now, what happened? You look like you saw a naked Winston. I'd look like that too, though. Don't worry."
I manage a small smile, but it vanishes fast. "I hung out with some people after ballet and realized I forgot I had to work and also left Thomas hanging."
He whistles. "Didn't know the golden family contained less innocent ones."
I gasp. "Just because this happened doesn't mean I'm not innocent."
"Take a joke, Frenzy." Minho runs a hand down his face. "Man, you're gonna be in bad trouble."
My panic starts swelling again. "My parents will probably ground me forever and Newt's definitely gonna agree and—"
"Thomas will grind on you, sure." He gives me a glare, smirk on his face until he sees mine. "Kidding! Thomas won't grind on ya. Also, the bad trouble was a joke too. Learn to take the jokes. Man, you really are frenzy."
I groan. "I can't take jokes right now."
"What do you mean? There's always time for jokes." He shrugs. "Frenzy, don't take life too serious. And yes I'm calling you that from now."
When I realize we've arrived, I think I might want to crawl into the trunk and only come out when I'm all rotten bones.
"I'm going to die."
"Then lie about where you were or something."
"I can't lie."
"Say you saw this hot guy and that you couldn't help yourself but drive around for who knows how many hours with him."
"Who's the hot guy?"
"Me." He scoffs. "Whatever, just don't mention my name because I don't want to get killed too."
"You're not helping."
Minho holds up his hands. "Your problem, not mine."
"You suck." I hit my forehead against the headboard in a lazy movement. "But fine. Here I go. Wish me luck."
"I'll meditate for ya, Frenzy."