AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just watch and listen.”
The choreographer spoke directly to his lead female dancer. He seemed frustrated with her and showed her the moves again. The girl sighed as she brushed dark hair off her forehead and nodded.
The choreographer looked at Tori. Suddenly the music started to play—my music. It was more drawn out, the tempo was faster; it was exciting and sexy, especially with the accompaniments to it, but it was still mine. The slamming of the keys signaled the dance, as the push and pull between the notes begun. The female threw herself forward as she danced.
“Your job would be to help create this,” Theo whispered beside me.
I focused on the girl. She was off. She wasn’t feeling the music right.
“Stop.” The choreographer groaned. He rubbed the pads of his fingers against his temple before looking at the girl again. “Violet, are you tired?”
“No, sorry. I’ll get it,” she said.
“Let’s take a ten-minute break,” he decided anyway.
“Tori,” Theo said. “Play the whole thing. I want her to hear it.”
By the time she pressed play again, I had already stepped out of my flats and was off. It had been so long since I’d been able to dance like this, and everything within me screamed for me to continue. To do this again.
Theo
I had only looked away for one second to speak to Tori when she leaped into the center of the hall. Leaped like Violet—one of the best ballet dancers in the country, who had only signed with us two months ago—should have done.
“Holy hell,” Tori whispered as she stood up and watched Felicity spinning perfectly on the balls of her feet over and over again, then leaping high, her legs perfectly spread and landing just as gracefully. She performed Walter’s choreography with ease, like she had seen it a million times, practiced every night of her life. Walter was so amazed he forgot himself and joined her. They were perfectly in sync.
Even when the music changed completely, he just took her hand, and they made it up as they went. Stepping right and left, jumping on the same beat and landing together. She had never heard the song in this form, yet when there was a dramatic pause, they both froze on the balls of their feet, one leg up like cranes facing each other before the music continued, and they were dancing again.
“Where did you find this girl?” Tori asked, not the least bit fazed by the woman who was dancing with her husband, my younger brother.
“You’d never believe me,” I replied because even I didn’t believe it.
Felicity Harper was an enigma. I couldn’t understand her even a little. I had made a living out of understanding people, being able to read what they wanted or needed, how to make them better, where their faults were, but with Felicity I was at a loss. Worse, the more I tried to figure her out, the more I wanted her.
Watching her like this, the way her body moved, the smile that spread her lips, I wanted her. I had already had her only hours ago, yet I still wanted more.
“Bravo!” Walter clapped, along with the rest of the dancers and Tori, when the music ended. She stood in the center of the room, taking deep breaths.
“It was nice. Who’s your instructor?” Violet stepped forward, her arms wrapped around herself.
Felicity glanced at her. “I don’t have one.”
“What?” Walter had the same expression I’d had when she told me she had composed the music by herself. “You don’t train with anyone?”
She shook her head then nodded thanks to the person who handed her a bottle of water.
“I was in dance school when I was younger, but I just dance around in my apartment every once in a while. Right now it feels like my bones are on fire,” she joked, but it seemed like she was in pain. I was already walking toward her.
“Walter, the gala is in four weeks. I really hope this will all appear much better next time I come to watch.” I glimpsed at Felicity. “Let’s go. We still need to talk about whether you will join us.”
“You’re joining the dance department?” Walter asked excitedly.
“Music,” I said to him.
“Neither.” Felicity stood up straighter. “Thanks for letting me join in, but this was a one-time thing. Please enjoy your session.”
She didn’t wait before she walked off, grabbing her shoes as she went.
The one thing I knew for sure about Felicity Harper was that she was a runner. I had never thought of myself as a follower, but here I was, always one step behind her.
