“Yeah, everything’s great.” Turning toward him, I smiled widely. “My thing I was going to got canceled. That’s all.” I tried to keep the disappointment out of my voice, but didn’t think I’d been that successful. Danny, however, didn’t seem to notice.
“Sweet! So you’ll go with me? I’ve always wanted to do a couple’s costume, but didn’t ever have anyone to do it with.”
“I find that hard to believe.” I laughed, taking in his muscular form and handsome face. Even his hair looked fantastic, despite having barely been through more than an hour of warm ups.
“The ballet kid? Really? They wouldn’t even let me try out for the football team because I knew what the word arabesque means.” Grinning, he shrugged, running a hand through his brown locks. “Everyone who didn’t think I was gay didn’t think I was cool enough.”
“How awful,” I laughed, in spite of the sad nature of the confession. “You’re cool enough for me, though. I’d love to go.”
“Awesome! I’ll stop by your room before corps rehearsal. Sound good?”
“Perfect.” Smiling, I watched as he walked away, a huge grin on his face. I liked Danny. He was a somewhat dorky guy, but that was a quality I could appreciate. Life wasn’t much without laughter to go along with it. It was strange how fast my crush on him had died out once Sir entered the picture, but I didn’t think too much about it. I didn’t think too much about anything, to be honest. Sir had told me to trust my body and I was listening, no matter how confusing it made things.
“What does he look so happy about?” Meg asked, finally joining me.
“I could say the same about you,” I replied, raising an eyebrow as I turned my attention to her. “Plans with Colt for later?”
“Not yet.” She shook her head, sitting down and taking off her shoes. “He has an early flight tomorrow, so he doesn’t know if he can stay at his party all that long. I figured I’d talk to him during practice.”
“How’s that going to work, by the way? Isn’t he the one teaching you guys the lead choreography for the big showcase ballet?”
“He is.” She nodded, stretching her toes out for a second before sliding into her socks. “He’ll be coming back a few times on his long weekends to make sure everything is right—he worked with the choreographer who did the show when Mom was in it, you know that—but in the meantime he’s taught it to one of the other company dancers. They’ll be our teacher until he comes back from filming in January.”
Putting my own tennis shoes on, I fell silent for a moment, thinking over my schedule for the rest of the day.
“So, you never told me what Danny was so happy about,” she prodded me again, putting her ballet flats on.
“We’re going to the party together tonight in a couple’s costume. I guess he’s always wanted to and never could before. It’s only as friends, though.”
“Fun! Wait, what about your lesson?” Letting her hair out of its bun as she spoke, she almost missed the note as I handed it out to her. “He canceled?”
“He did. Meg, I think it’s because of what happened last night.” Biting my lip, I looked around at all the people here.
“What happened?” Her eyebrows rose higher than I’d ever seen before, an eager look to her face.
“Not here,” I stated, standing. “Come with me. I’ll tell you somewhere more private.”
“You look ridiculous.” Meg rolled her eyes as she looked at me, her eyeshadow brush in one hand and a sucker in the other. “I don’t even understand why Danny needed a girl to wear that with him. A guy could have done it just as easily.”
“Give him a break.” I chuckled, adjusting the shirt on my costume. “At least he’s the butt.”
“Yeah, the butt of everyone’s jokes.” She laughed loudly, pleased with her own wit. “Man, that was good. But yeah, at least you’re the head of the horse. That’s not important, though. Let’s keep talking about this almost kiss between you and Sir last night. How fantastic was it again?”
“Are you making fun of me?” Eyes narrowing, I looked at her in her cute angel costume.
“No! Maybe a little. I don’t know! You make it sound like you were struck by lightning when he touched you. How can that even be possible? You have no idea who he is or where he comes from. So he dances really well. Is that honestly enough to get you to kiss him?” She went back to applying her makeup as she spoke, moving artfully across her skin.
“It wasn’t only the dancing,” I sighed, not knowing how to make her understand. “It was like . . . when you told me to trust my sixth sense. Somehow, I know that we’re supposed to be together on some level, even if it’s simply student and teacher. But if it were only that, why would it feel like more?” Tying my hair into a high pony, I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, not sure I’d conveyed what I’d wanted to. These feelings were new to me, arriving so suddenly that I hadn’t had time to really think them through. One day he made me nervous and worried, the next he made me crazy with wanting him. I was sure the fire he made me feel had a hand in it, slowly changing from revolting to loving. How had I not noticed until now?
“You said yourself that you don’t have a sixth sense. But, I digress. Obviously, the two of you are having super vibes. What if he turns out to be, oh, I don’t know, fifty or something?”
“I don’t think he’s much older than we are,” I confessed. “He doesn’t act like an older man. Or move or feel like one.”
“Because you know what older men feel like?” She snickered. “Sorry, I can’t help it. You’re walking right into all of these jabs!”
“You are in a particularly good mood,” I conceded, changing the subject.
“Colt said to save him a few dances,” she said as nonchalantly as possible. “You were right, Scar. I didn’t have anything to worry about. He’s super easy to talk to . . . and I think he might kind of like me. We work really well together in class. I’m just sad that he’s leaving to the other side of the country in the morning.”
“May all your dreams come true tonight.” I laughed, waving my hand over her head. “The horse magic makes it so!”
“Knock knock!” Danny’s voice called from the front door in the other room, reminding us of the time. “Are you ready, Scar?”
“Yeah,” I called back, picking up the head of the costume from the counter. “I’ll see you at the party, Meg.”
She winked at me, her face almost completely done, and flashed a smile. “I’ll be with the handsome devil.”
“Every devil needs and angel,” I agreed.
Smiling, I walked into the living room, laughing as Danny came into view. His suspenders held up the bottom half of our costume, which had a tail and everything.
“Howdy Neeeeeeeighbor!” He laughed, apparently in as good a mood as Meg was. “Ready to go?”
“Let me get my hooves on real quick.” I couldn’t seem to stop laughing, the conversation sounded so funny. “Alright. Let’s get this show on the road!”
Chapter Ten
Music pumped through several speakers, blaring out into the courtyard that was packed with people. Bodies pressed together, plastic cups held in their hands, feet moving to the beat, an array of colored costumes assaulting the eyes of anyone who looked. The trees had been decorated with lights and streamers, a paper ghost hanging here and there. I hadn’t seen anything so fantastic for a very long time.
Danny and I had walked into the party “together,” the costume snapped into one piece for the full effect. It was an immediate success, and we danced the first three dances as a complete horse before we separated and went in search of drinks.
“Here,” he yelled, squeezing through a crowd to bring me a cup. “Drink up!”
“What is it?” I shouted back, taking it from him.
“Water. Vodka, maybe. I’m not exactly sure. Is that okay?” He smiled crookedly, taking a healthy gulp from his own cup. “Oh, that is not water or vodka. I don’t know what that is.”
“Fine b
y me!” Laughing, I took a sip, making a face at the sour taste.
“A drinker, huh?” Laughing, he motioned for me to come closer, miming that he couldn’t hear me.
“I’ve had some before,” I confessed. “But not much. Since it’s illegal, you know.”
“How daring of you. I went through a phase where I drank a lot in high school. Because, you know, all the girls thought I was gay.” Chuckling, he took another gulp of the mystery drink, shuddering as he finished.
“Hey, there’s Meg!” Pointing to the far side of the party, we saw the blonde beauty runway walking onto the scene.
Raising his hand, Danny called out for her, but she didn’t hear him. Instead, she stopped for a moment, looking around. Before she could see us, though, Colt Erikson suddenly appeared out of the crowd and was at her side, taking her hand. He was indeed dressed like the devil, complete with a horned headband.
“Oh man. Steve is going to blow his brains out having to listen about that.” Danny laughed loudly, nodding his head toward the dance floor. “Wanna go another round?”
“Sure!” Setting my cup down, I put the head of the costume back on and followed him out onto the floor, dancing as two halves this time around.
“Scar!”
I barely heard the scream, but turned around all the same, pulling my headpiece off. Meg was pushing her way through the crowd, an impressive feat since Colt was coming with her. Everyone kept trying to talk to him as he politely passed by, shaking hands and giving hugs.
“You look great,” I shouted at her when she finally reached us.
“Colt and I are going to leave and go walk in the parade. Want to come?” Her smile was infectious, the air coming off her that of pure joy.
“What do you think?” Turning to Danny, who was still dancing exuberantly, I laughed at his face.
“Think about what?” he asked, pumping his fists in the air.
“The parade,” I yelled in his ear, explaining what we were being invited to.
“We have to leave now if we’re going to make it in time,” Meg shouted back to me.
“Will there be food?” Danny asked seriously.
“Sounds good to me,” Colt chimed in, having finally made it through the press of people.
“Then let’s do it!” Still dancing, Danny started pushing through the crowd, swinging his tail around like helicopter blades as he did so, clearing a narrow path for us to escape on.
Laughing together as a group, we ran out of the party, hailing the first cab we saw and piling inside.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone from UD throw a party like that.” Colt chuckled, taking his headband off. “It’s always stuffy things, like the masked ball they require everyone to attend at Christmas.”
“I liked it,” Meg piped up. “I like the masked ball, too.”
“I’ve never been to a UD party before, so I don’t have an opinion.” Sighing, I slumped down into the seat, my horse head in my lap.
“Where is this parade we’re going to?” Danny, who was smashed between me and the door, stretched out by resting one arm across my shoulders.
“In The Village,” Meg answered. “They do it every year. All you have to do to be in it is make sure you’re lined up on Canal Street before they start. I’ve been a couple times before. It’s a lot of fun. I wasn’t going to go this year because of Colt’s party, but then he said he’d like to go.”
“Yeah, all that was a bit overwhelming.” Colt chuckled. “You’d think I was going off to war, the way people are acting. It’s only two months, not two years!”
“I’m Danny, by the way,” Danny said, reaching over me to shake his hand. “I don’t think we’ve ever actually met.”
“I don’t think so.” Shaking hands, Colt nodded to me. “I’ve never actually met Scarlet either, except for when we stood next to each other during warm up that one time.”
“I remember.” Smiling wide, I pretended not to notice when he took Meg’s hand in his. “I thought you were flirting with me.”
“Oh no!” Grinning, he shook his head, looking out the window. “I’m sorry. I’ve been told my friendliness comes off like that sometimes.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“How long is this parade and where are we eating after it’s done?” Danny’s stomach growled as he spoke, causing more laughter to erupt from among us. The cab driver breathed heavily through his nose, obviously annoyed with our loudness.
“I’m game for anything,” Colt answered, shrugging. “How about pizza? Real New York City pizza before I leave The Big Apple. That won’t mess with your diets too much, will it? I know they’re really strict about making sure you’re eating healthy and working out when you’re in the program.”
“I literally eat pizza all the time. We work it off in class anyway.” Smiling, Danny adjusted himself again, trying to relieve the squished position he was in.
We arrived at Canal Street shortly after that, barely in time to walk in the parade. The costumes all around us were fantastic, most of them water themed it looked like.
“They post a theme on their website for people who want to follow it,” Meg explained. “But you don’t have to.”
We were quickly underway, with an array of people dressed in varying levels of costume. Some had gone all out and looked terrific, while others had a few stitches painted on their face and that was it.
“All right, Scar. Full horse! Let’s do this!” Danny seemed the most enthusiastic of all of us, despite being faced with literally being the butt all night. We hooked together all the same, walking down the parade route to cheers and music with Colt and Meg.
Because we barely made the lineup, we finally crossed the finish line of the route around eleven, tired, amped up, and ready for food.
“Let’s catch a cab and go somewhere that’s not here to eat,” Colt suggested, looking at the massive amount of people who were still around.
“Won’t it be about the same wait with the drive?” I didn’t really care where we ate, only that we did.
“Probably, but we’ll be able to sit down somewhere else.”
That revelation won us all over and we walked a few blocks and hailed another taxi, asking them to take us back to the UD area.
“Do you think the party there is still going on?” I asked.
“Most definitely,” Meg piped up. “Especially since they postponed class in the morning. Everyone will be taking full advantage of that.”
“The teachers wanted to use the time to cast the winter ballet. They’re going to be asking students to join the company in it this year.”
“Really?” Sitting up some, my interest peaked, I motioned for him to go on.
“They want it to be larger than life. It’s The Nutcracker, so definitely well-known and done a lot during the holiday. They want an edge on the competition.”
“The corps de ballet will be huge with students in it,” Meg added. “I bet it will look incredible.”
“That’s the plan.”
“What do you think, Danny?” Turning to my date, I stifled a laugh—he had fallen asleep with his mouth open. “I guess all that dancing finally got to him.”
“Yeah, he looked like he was having the time of his life.” Colt snickered, wrapping an arm around Meg.
“Of course,” she said. “He finally got to wear his couple’s costume.”
“You’re late.”
Tripping over my own feet, I tied the blindfold over my eyes without looking around the room, knowing that I was about to get chewed out. “I’m sorry! I slept in this morning and it’s throwing my entire schedule off. And they cast the winter musical today and they want me in the corps! And—”
“None of that excuses the fact that you are late, which I told you to never be again.” Sir didn’t sound happy at all. In fact, there was a level of anger to his voice I’d never heard before, causing me to slow in my motions and try to test the energy in the room with all my available senses.
> “I understand, and I apologize,” I said comfortably. “I will do my best to not let it happen again.”
“Did you enjoy your night off?” he cut in sharply. “Have fun at the party? Make an ass of yourself?”
The last question made me laugh so hard my eyes teared up. “Actually, we were a horse. It was a lot of fun, believe it or not.”
“And the boy you were with?”
“Danny? What about him?” Setting my bag on the floor, I tightened the blindfold some, making sure I couldn’t see anything.
“You were on a . . . date?” He sounded unsure and completely furious at the same time.
What the hell?
“Yes, we were on a date,” I answered carefully. “Why?”
I could hear him moving across the floor toward me, much quicker than he normally did.
“So, the night after you were here, asking me to hold you and kiss you, you were out with another man. What does that say about you?”
“Wait,” I stated, surprised by the turn in the conversation. I’d thought for sure that he was going to act like nothing had happened between us and I was going to have to pull it out of him. “You’re upset that I went out with someone else after you didn’t do anything but kiss my forehead?”
“Damn right I am,” he yelled, grabbing my wrist painfully. “And we did well more than just share a kiss on the forehead, Scarlet! You said it yourself; you felt something you’ve never felt before!”
“You’re hurting me,” I hissed at him, yanking my wrist away. “And yes, I know I said that! I’ve done nothing but feel that since you left! It’s driven me mad, making me want to be with you again! But you left so suddenly and then you canceled our class. I thought you were pushing me away.”
“So you decided to get back at me by going out with someone else? Real mature, Scarlet.” He was fuming, pacing in front of me and rubbing his hands together it sounded like.
“Would you calm down for one minute?” I sighed, my own anger and frustration growing. “I went to that party with Danny as friends. He wanted to wear a two person costume—which you obviously saw—and asked if I would help him out. It wasn’t an actual date. We were hanging out as friends.”
Watching Over Me: A Dreams Novel Page 7
