Page 79 of The Way We Dance

Ty

It was a Thursday night, exactly three weeks had passed, and there I sat in my car outside of Brisé.

I had skipped my last preseason game but started the regular season off with my team the best I could. I went to practice and talked to the media, but they were not yet aware of what I was dealing with off the field. I pushed on and did the best I could.

Things were easier since I knew Giselle was ok.

Coach had kept tabs and checked in with her, and he relayed back to me what he could. She had been shot in the leg and ultimately, that meant Brisé was closed down. I found myself down there a few times, usually in the mornings pretending I needed donuts, but sitting in the park and watching the door. Nothing ever happened, though. This time, I was trying a later time.

She never showed up.

Neither did Mike.

The cops were still looking and investigating everything but they had pretty much believed what I had told them about my brother being involved. At least I assumed they did. They still poked around and asked questions but since I had nothing to hide, I never shied away from helping them.

According to the detective, Giselle never mentioned my name at all. She told him we had been exercising together, like normal, but I had gone outside to talk to my brother. That was all she remembered.

It was the fact that she refused to talk to me that kept them lurking. He wanted to know why I considered her my girlfriend but she refused to acknowledge it. Was I stalking? Obsessed?

Fuck, I don’t know what they thought but I was sure I was going to get in a ton of trouble if I kept showing up to Brisé. The thing was, this time, the lights were on and people were inside. The blinds were closed but I could see the movement of shadows.

Something in me had finally snapped because I got out of the car and walked up to Brisé, anticipating the door being locked, which it was. I could hear the kids inside and Giselle clapping at them to keep practicing at home.

In a few minutes, that door would be unlocked and the kids would be leaving and in that small window of time, I had a decision to make.

Did I risk pushing her away by going against her wishes? Or did I show up and let her know I was fighting for her?

Just as I heard the door unlatch, I backed away and waited for everyone to leave. Some of the moms recognized me and I nodded with a small smile. As always, Sam and Mrs. Watson were the last to leave and Sam ran to me, hugging me.

It was just the sign I needed.

Ok, maybe I was reaching for a sign, but I was taking it.

“Hey my man. How are you?”

“I’m ok,” he was smiling but shrugged.

“How’re things at school?”

“Ugh, still the same. Mom said I can quit dance after the recital. I have fun here but I don’t want to be picked on anymore.”

My heart broke a little and I squatted down, even though Sam was tall and it wasn't necessary.

“Do you want to dance?” I asked.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to be ‘Sparkly Sam’ for the rest of my life.”

“Dude, dancing is fun and you are so good. Don’t let insults change who you are or what you want to be. Because they’re probably just jealous that you are so talented.”

“I want to be tough like you,” he said. “I’m gonna play football.”

I shook my head and smirked, looking toward the ground before I looked back into his eyes.

“Wanna know why I come here so much?”

“Because Miss Metro?” He asked, smiling at me knowingly.

“Yes, that too,” I nudged him. “But also,” I lowered my voice because I was about to reveal a huge secret and I wanted him to know how much this was impacting me. “Twice a week, I come here and take ballet lessons.”

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