“You got it, boss.” Tuth saluted and turned down the alley. They stopped the car in front of the back door, and I waited for them to get out, come around, and open the door for me. They preferred to do this, to make sure no one could bombard me when I stepped out. I unlocked the door to the building and let myself in.
“I’ll go park.” They closed the door behind me, and I shifted my bag on my shoulder and started up to the dance studio. I reached the fourth floor and went to the dressing rooms. Changing quickly, I put on my newest emerald pointe shoes and stood to go to the dance studio. As I was signing in on the sign up sheet, I heard music coming from the next room.
No. It couldn’t be.
I huffed and shoved the double doors open, rushing inside. The music and bright lights exploded in my face, and I stopped short. There, across the room, stretching on the bar, was Skye.
She turned and nodded slightly before returning to face the mirror on the wall.
The. Audacity.
“This is my time. I signed up for this time.” I stormed over to her. She didn’t falter in her stretches. She changed positions, not acknowledging my presence. “Hey, I’m talking to you.”
This was my happy place. The one place I had to get away from it all. Why was she here?
“Madame said that up to three can sign up for the same time. You don’t own this building.” She stood and snickered.I stepped up to her, my fists clenched. She looked me up and down and laughed. “What do you plan on doing with those, Daisy? You going to hit me? You’ll only alienate yourself further.”
She brushed past me and went to the stereo, turning up the music louder.
“Now, I have to practice. If you want to use the space with me, by all means, but don’t come at me as if you run this place. Prima Ballerina or not, there’s plenty of people that don’t think you’re shit.”
I stood there, mouth open, eyes blinking rapidly. What was going on? She’d never spoken to me like this before.
It’s because no one else is around.
I left the studio, going to retrieve my phone and headphones. I was not going to dance to her music. It was my music choices, but I’d listen to something else tonight. I returned with the earbuds firmly lodged in my ears. I pushed Play, letting Lana Del Rey flood my ears. I closed my eyes and focused on myself, pretending that I was alone, and soon, I was.
I lifted my leg and began to dance. The music whisked me away to a fantasy world far, far away from here. Somewhere where I was still a dancer, but I was free of all the burdens of my current life. I painted a beautifully depressing fantasy with my movements, twirling over and over until I collapsed and threw my arms up.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror above my head on the ceiling. My face was flush, my body was covered in sweat, and my chest rose and fell heavily as I smiled. I loved to dance. It was in my blood. I stared for a long moment, eventually zeroing in on the black ink trailing along my inner arm.
Beautiful Little Flirt
The words mocked me. They were a physical representationof my foolish dreams. I closed my eyes and sat up slowly, ready to go again. I stood and raised my arms in a point, glancing at the tattoo one more time. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Skye watching me from across the room. I snickered and moved again.
She could have my hair, my clothes, my fiancé, but she’d never have my Gatsby, and that knowledge pushed me harder than anything else could have.
Chapter 6
Daisy
Age 18
I shovedthe emergency door open to the back of the theater, ignoring the loud buzzer and flashing red lights, and sprinted through the darkness. My blood raced red hot as I pushed myself to go faster. I had mere minutes to get as far away as I could. Someone would be coming for me, and if I were caught, I’d never get another chance.
Despite having the lungs of an experienced dancer, they screamed for me to stop. I refused, using my motivation for leaving everything behind as a push, stretching my legs to keep on. I paid attention to street signs and made the correct turns to get to where I was safe. Only when I saw the sign lit up in giant neon colors, with the door to the small building open, did I slow.
BUS STATION
A shadowy figure stood in the window. I recognized his frame and relaxed in an instant. I hurried inside and threw myself into his arms.
“You came.” I sighed deeply, my body collapsing against his. He chuckled low.
“Why are you surprised? It’s me who’s shocked.” He wrapped his thick arms around me, enveloping me in warmth. I was the first to move. I stepped back and looked him up and down. I’d only seen him once in person before, almost two years ago.
“You’re so big now!” I exclaimed.
My online pen pal,SadboyGatsby, brushed his blond hair back, and looked at the floor, bashful.
