Page 13 of The Way We Dance

"Ok, wow," she huffed a small laugh that was actually genuine and a little bashful. "Time flies when I talk about body positions."

"I enjoy talking about body positions, too," I smirked, making it obvious that I was not talking about ballet.

She fought an eye roll and turned around but I did see a hint of a smile trying to creep on her face. I was a little more excited about that half-smile than I thought I would be. Who knew she was even capable of a real smile?

"We are done for the night." Her back was still to me and she was throwing some things in a bag. "I can follow you out."

I went to get my shoes and started toeing them on and by the time I did that and got my keys and wallet from the reception area, she was standing by the door waiting to lock up. She looked nervous, all of a sudden, and she didn't bother changing from her tights and small skirt. It was exactly how she left when I saw her leave Tuesday but I thought maybe she had been in a hurry since she ran. Her clothes didn't seem suited for the sidewalks.

"You gonna change?" I asked, her face morphing back into annoyance. I guess I did sound a little judgmental but I seriously didn't think she should be walking home in that, especially this late. Since I knew she lived in the same building as Coach, I knew she lived across the park and most likely didn't drive. I also knew that was where she must have been running on Tuesday.

"No time," she quipped. "I have to hurry home."

I dipped my chin and accepted her answer. Not my place, not my problem. I walked toward the door and gave her a curt nod goodbye. She left right behind me and locked the door quickly. As I walked to my car, I noticed her walking fast and looking around. As much as I was keeping an eye on her, she was keeping an eye on me.

I got to the point where I was going behind a building and she was continuing through the park so I lifted my hand in a lazy wave, acknowledging that I saw her and was bidding her goodbye. She did the same right before I disappeared behind the building.

Something made me stop, though. I worked my way back the six steps past the building that I had taken and peeked around to look toward the park. Sure enough, Giselle was sprinting down the sidewalk and looking over her shoulders to make sure no one was following her.

She definitely had to hurry home, but she was scared. This was a fairly safe part of town but I guess walking alone and late was daunting. Especially for a woman and especially one wearing as little as she was.

Once again, I had to repeat in my head that it wasn't my problem. I barely even liked the woman so I definitely didn't need to concern myself with whatever spooked her.

The thing was, I wasn't a cold-hearted jerk, despite what most women believed of me. If Giselle was spooked, then who was I to not believe she had a legit reason to be.

With that being said, I walked the long route to my car, jogging a little to catch up to where I could keep an eye on Giselle until she got to her building. Then I would double back around to my car. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep an eye on her every night, and I knew it wasn’t my job to do so, but just this one time, I was going to be sure.

Once I saw her open the glass doors to her building, I started backing away and heading back toward my car. I grabbed my phone and started thumbing through it, ready to call Coach and tell him I was not going to be his fucking ballerina for weeks on end.

Just as I hit call, I ran into someone and I dropped my phone to the ground.

"What the—" but I stopped, realizing I was looking at my brother in the fucking face.

"Hey little bro," he laughed.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"You mean here on this street?" he looked and pointed around aimlessly.

"No, I mean here in Atlanta. Didn't I kick you out?"

"Just because you told us to leave your apartment, doesn't mean you get to decide where we do business."

I cringed at his words because I knew what his business was and I didn't want any part of it. I didn't even want to know what he was up to. "You better have left my fucking apartment."

I told them to fucking leave before I got back from camp, they should have been long gone. Staying in Atlanta wasn’t part of the plan. Not my plan and Atlanta was my city now. I didn't want my name or family attached to any bullshit on the streets here.

In Atlanta, I was a God. I wasn’t going to do anything or risk anything to screw that up. Not deal with my brother. Not get caught taking ballet lessons. Not sticking my nose where it didn't belong.

"We got a couple weeks," my brother goaded, almost looking for a fight. The crazy thing is, I loved my brother. We didn't have a bad relationship, at least not when he did his bullshit somewhere else. He and I had an awesome summer hanging out and clubbing.

"Please don't do your shit here in Atlanta," I begged. I even took the liberty of weakening my voice to plead. He knew how much I loved it here, why couldn't he leave my area alone?

"No can do, money is flowing here, LB. Me and the boys claimed these streets and there is no going back. You aren't the only Black that loves A.T.L."

I ran a hand over my face and shook my head. I picked up my phone, not even bothering to look at it, and started walking toward my car again. There was nothing I could tell Mike. He would do whatever he wanted to do. My only hope was he got ran off, got caught, or got bored before something major happened.

"Ty… Ty…. hello…." I heard my name being repeated, faintly, almost as if I imagined it. I looked around but didn't see anyone else. Only my brother thumbing on his phone and leaning against the wall where we had been standing.

I looked down at my phone to see if he was messaging me. That is when I realized I fucked up. I connected the call with Coach and dropped my phone. He stayed on the line and heard the whole conversation I had just had with Mike.

Coach knew the deal with Mike, he knew he was bad news. I had promised him a million times that I had nothing to do with Mike. Now he most likely knew Mike was not only in town, but he had been staying with me. He also knew Mike was getting himself into some bullshit here in Atlanta.

He was going to think I was getting reeled back into that life and I had to do everything I could to prove to him that I wasn’t nor would I. I wasn’t going to risk my throne in this town and on this team for anyone.

I pulled the phone up to my ear and decided to act like nothing had happened. There was a chance Coach didn't hear anything and I wasn't going to incriminate myself.

"Hey Coach, sorry. I hit call and got distracted," I cringed at my lie that wasn’t a lie. "Just wanted to tell you how good…." That was as far as I made it.

"What the fuck are you doing with your brother?" Coach yelled, cutting off my words.

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