Page 13 of Dare
Dare’sapartment is quiet when I climb into bed, and I strain to hear whether he’shome. Disappointed at the silence I’m greeted with, I turn on my tablet andload one of my podcasts. I actually have a few new ones since I haven’tlistened in a while. With Dare to chat with until I fall asleep, I haven’tneeded the voices to chase away the dark thoughts and loneliness. It’s nearlythree in the morning when my brain gives up the fight and I fall asleep.
* * * *
It’sa rainy day and I spend it catching up on work. I designed a book cover for anindependent author last month and apparently she’s been raving about my work,because I have eight more requests waiting in my inbox. After finishing a fewads for a local candle store, I work on book covers until it’s late enough togo to the dance studio.
Lightschase each other across the ceiling of the expansive studio when I flip aswitch, illuminating the empty space, made larger by a mirrored wall. It makesme long for the classes I took when I was young, before we became socompetitive, when it was just a bunch of girls having fun doing what we loved.Those days hold some of my best memories.
Theroutine I’m working on now has turned out better than I hoped, and I can’t waitto show it to Sadie. Just as I finish and collapse to the floor to catch mybreath, a voice makes me jump.
“Thatwas amazing.”
Lisaapproaches me. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. I came back because I forgotmy phone.” She waves a purple phone. “How long have you been working on that?”
“Amonth or so.” I shrug, not thrilled about being watched when I didn’t know it.
“Wehave a competition coming up and that routine would be perfect for one of mystudents. Would you mind?”
“Ofcourse not,” I reply, thrilled someone will get to see my work even if I’m notthe one performing it. “I’ve recorded it a few times to watch for my mistakes.You’re welcome to it.”
Lisafollows me back to the dressing rooms. “I know you said you’re not interestedin teaching, but hear me out. I have a twelve year old male student named Ryan,who is struggling. He recently came out to his classmates and it didn’t gowell. They were already giving him shit for dancing, as you can imagine.”
“Kidsthat age aren’t known for their compassion,” I agree.
“TakeMe to Church would be the perfect song for him to perform with. I’m sure he canrelate and the passion he’ll bring will knock the judges out of their seats. Ilove what you’ve done with it and it’ll fit perfectly in the contemporary dancecategory.”
Iknow what’s coming next.
“Butit would be much better if you could teach it to him, correct him where heneeds it, instead of learning from a video.”
Damn.“I really don’t think…”
“Hecould come in on the slow hours, between our scheduled classes if that makesyou more comfortable. I swear, he’s the sweetest kid.”
DoubleDamn. How can I say no? “I’ll come in and meet him if you want, see if he wantsme to teach him.”
“Areyou kidding? He’s going to love this routine! Thank you. I’ll call his dadtonight and see when he can bring him in.”
“Hisdad brings him to class?” I ask, surprised.
“Yeah,single dad. His mom ran off a few years ago.”
“Poorkid.”
“He’sgot a fire in him, though. You’ll see.”
Sheaccompanies me out to the parking lot once I get dressed, and I give her mycell number. “I’ll let you know when he can be here,” she assures me, rushingoff with a smile on her face.
Iregret agreeing before I even make it home. It’s not that I don’t want to workwith the kid, but I dread returning to the dance world—even in such a limitedway—after being out of it for so long. Chances are I won’t even see anyone Iused to know. It’s been six years since I was attacked and though it madeheadlines, I doubt most people would remember, even with the effects clear onmy face.
It’safter midnight when I get home, and a light rain is starting to fall. Thestreet light is out, so I almost miss the massive figure slumped on the stepsleading to Dare’s place. Shit. It’s him. What the hell is he doing sitting inthe cold rain? He doesn’t move, and part of me wants to keep going and hope hedoesn’t notice me, until I hear him snore. He’s passed out. I can’t just leavehim there.
“Dare?”His eyes fly open and his hand wraps around my wrist when I shake him.
Ittakes him a second to focus, then a goofy smile stretches across his face. Heloosens his grip on my wrist, and I pull it back. “What are doing out here?”
“Beautifulnight,” he slurs, closing one eye as he looks up at me. Even rimmed with red,his eyes are gorgeous. Pale blue that appears silver in the glare of thestreetlight.
“It’sfreezing, you idiot. You need to go inside.”
