by Payton Hart
I reached my car and looked up to see Luis glaring at me through the window. He seemed really upset. I hoped today wouldn’t ruin our relationship outside of dance, but by looking at him, I couldn’t be too sure.
Chapter 13
I was up bright and early the next morning and ready to go. I was well rested and full of energy. I hadn’t heard form Luis last night, but I kept receiving texts and calls from Elliot, so I had turned off my phone off.
I pulled up at the dance studio at six o’clock on the dot. I wanted to practice alone before I had to deal with Luis. I stood in front of the mirror, took a deep breath, and began. I was determined to get the move right. I decided to slow it down again and take it one step at a time. Once I sped it back up though, I was tripping over myself again. There were just too many moves on the half beats. I wasn’t giving up, though. I wasn’t going to let this one move get the best of me.
I almost had it down completely when Luis came through the door. I had sped up slightly and was now going about medium speed. I was still not able to complete the move full speed yet. He came and watched me intently. He still looked a bit upset from yesterday, and his glare made me nervous. I kept trying though; I was determined to show him that I could do this. I attempted the move and failed. Again.
“Ugh!” I yelled out of frustration.
“Again,” he said walking up to me. I moved myself back into position, took a deep breath and started again. I watched myself in the mirror as I glided through each step completing them perfectly; my heart began to beat faster as the move I had not mastered was approaching. I attempted the move and failed once again.
I was irritated with myself. Why couldn’t I get it right? Luis was showing no emotion whatsoever. I got back in position and began the dance again, starting from the beginning. I had mastered every other move, except this one, and the fact that I couldn’t complete it was driving me insane. After the fifth attempt, I just stopped and put my head in my hands.
“Again,” Luis ordered.
I shook my head. It was evident that I was giving up. “I can’t do it Luis. We’ve been practicing since yesterday and I still haven’t gotten it right.
“Your fear of not completing the move is what is messing you up. You’re thinking too much about completing it. Just do it.” He sat down in front of the mirror to watch me again.
I sighed and got back in position. I was ready to give up. At this point, I was thinking that I would never master this dance. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I began again. This time I didn’t think about the move, I kept my head high and took each step one by one. I completed every other move perfectly, as usual, and went into the most difficult move with confidence. And I did it. I completed the move and I had never felt so proud of myself. All my hard work had paid off.
My joy was short lived though, because when I looked over at Luis, his face was unmoved. I was confused. I had completed the move without falling on my ass this time and he didn’t even look satisfied.
“I’m calling off the dance,” he said at last. I looked at him confused. “You’re not ready.”
“Not ready?” I questioned. “Did you not see me? I completed the move.”
“I said you’re not ready. I’m not about to embarrass myself out there with someone who can’t even complete a simple move like that one. That’s just the first part of the dance, and if you think that was difficult, you definitely won’t be able to complete the others. I’m calling it off, and I’m telling Nancy that she needs to find me another partner.” He said.
I was heated, but I wasn’t going down without a fight. I hadn’t put this much work in to stop now. “I proved to you that I’m willing to put the work in. What else do you suggest I do?” I asked.
He laughed. “Willing to put the work in? You left yesterday because you’re precious feet hurt. How do you think I felt? I had been practicing five hours with someone who couldn’t even get past the first move in the dance. My body hurt as well and my feet were killing me but I didn’t give up on you. You walked out on me and now you want to come back the next day and be proud that you finally completed the move? We are way behind schedule now. I’m calling the dance off. YOU ARE NOT READY!”
No wonder Luis could never find anybody to perform with him. When it came to dancing, he was a narcissistic asshole. I was pissed. I grabbed my bag off of the ground and stormed out of the dance studio. How dare he? Who did he think he was?
Now realizing that Luis wasn’t the perfect man I thought he was, I felt horrible. All I could think about was how badly I had hurt Elliot by leaving him. I definitely let my emotions get the best of me. I couldn’t imagine how much pain he was in right now. I still remember the look on his face when I told him I was leaving, and how he begged me to stay. How could I have been so cruel?
I looked up to see Luis standing in the doorway of the dance studio and instantly my anger took over me again. I started the car and drove off as quickly as possible. At this moment I didn’t want to anything to do with Luis. I wondered what had changed with him. It didn’t make any sense to me. One minute he was all over me showing me nothing but love and affection.
When we danced, it was like nothing else mattered, we would look into each other’s eyes and match each other move for move. Now, we couldn’t be more different, more out of sync than ever. I was starting to rethink Nancy’s judgment. It seemed like she could never be more wrong about her precious dancer.
Chapter 14
“Jenny, its Luis please return my calls.”
“Jenny, I really need to talk to you. Will you please return my call?”
“Jenny! Will you please answer? You can’t still be mad at me can you?”
“Jenny, I just really want to spend time with you. In a personal way, not as your dance partner. Will you please return my calls so we can talk?”
I hung up the phone and turned it off. I still wasn’t speaking to Luis after what happened this morning. He has been calling all day. I guess he was trying to apologize, but I didn’t want his apology.
I was in the kitchen cooking dinner for Ashley and Joe. I needed something to calm my nerves, and since I couldn’t bring myself to look at another dance floor right now, cooking was the only thing I could think of.
“It smells wonderful in here!” Ashley exclaimed as she came through the door and took a seat at the kitchen table.
“Thank you,” I told her.
“Has Joe come home yet?” Ashley asked me and I shook my head. “So, tell me. How are you and Luis doing? Is he still everything your heart could ever want?”
I was hesitant in my answer and Ashley could sense my despair.
“Come sit down and tell me what happened.” She said patting the table.
I sat down at the table and sighed. “Well I told you how Nancy asked me to perform with him right?” She nodded
“Well, he asked me if I wanted to perform a dance he had choreographed and, of course, I said yes. We started practicing and did for five hours. I couldn’t get this move right and I could tell I was frustrating him. I was really tired and my feet were killing me so I told him that I thought we should call it a day and he got mad,” I continued. “Then this morning after I actually completed the move without falling on my ass, he tells me that I’m not ready to perform, and he’s calling the dance off because he doesn’t want me to embarrass him.”
“What?! Are you serious?” She exclaimed. “What an asshole. So what did you do?”
“I walked out and he’s been calling me ever since, trying to get me to talk to him.” I told her. She shook her head. A few seconds later, Joe walked into the door.
“It smells great in here.” He said. “Ashley, I know that’s not you in there cooking so it has to be Jenny.” He walked into the kitchen and gave his wife a hug and a kiss. The two of them were so cute together. They were a perfect example of what a real relationship should look like. I looked up to see someone standing in the doorway and I instantly got upset.
“What the hell is he doing here?” I hissed.
“Oh, he was outside when I pulled up so I invited him inside for dinner.” Joe said, clueless.
“Please leave.” I told him.
“Not until you talk to me.” He responded.
“Well, I guess you can make yourself comfortable because I won’t be talking to you anytime soon.” I replied. He sat down at the table across from me and stared at me. I stared back.
“Well,” Ashley said getting up from the table. “Let us know when dinner is ready.”
They hurried away from the table and out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with Luis. I rolled my eyes out of irritation, got up from the table, and continued my cooking.
“You don’t have to talk. Just listen.” He ordered. “I would like to apologize for what I said earlier. When it comes to dance, or anything, I’m a little bit of a perfectionist especially when it comes to performing. On top of that, when it comes to my performance, I consider it like business and I don’t like to mix business with pleasure because it can blind your perspective. Anyway, I’m sorry Jen. I know I hurt your feelings and I am deeply apologetic for it.”
I still wasn’t ready to forgive him for being a complete asshole to me earlier. No matter how many times he told me he was sorry.
“Ok, so you’re sorry. Great, but what about the showcase? I don’t want to perform with you if you’re going to act like a narcissistic asshole every time we practice.” I told him.
“I was just frustrated because I knew you could do better than what you were showing me. I knew you could land that move with no problem. It was a simple move. I couldn’t figure out why you were so shaken up. It wasn’t until I went to go talk to Nancy that I knew what was wrong. The reason she asked us to dance together was not because you were just a great dancer, but because you danced greatly with me. When we dance with each other, we are completely in sync, and that was only because of what we felt for each other. When I set aside my personals feeling for you during our lessons, I lost that connection.”
It made sense. As soon as I told Luis that I would perform his dance with him, he turned into a dance coach. I didn’t feel the connection with him that I felt earlier that day when Nancy had asked me to dance with him for showcase. I felt distant.
“I just want to put this behind us. I really care for you Jen,” he admitted. I felt my cheeks get warm again. Something I hadn’t felt since we started practicing for showcase. He got up and walked up behind me, wrapping his hands around my waist. “Can you forgive me, please?”
“I forgive you Luis,” I said, turning around in his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head on his shoulder. I missed being in his arms like this. I was just glad we were back on good terms.
“So, what’s for dinner? I’m starving!” He was smiling now.
I called Ashley and Joe into the kitchen and we all sat around to enjoy dinner together. It was the first time they actually were able to meet Luis and Ashley seemed very impressed. At one point she leaned over and whispered that she liked Luis a lot better than she liked Elliot. All I could do was smile.
Later that night, Luis took me to his place and we made passionate love. It was even better than the first night we had sex. His explanation was that he had to make up for the hurt he caused me earlier that day. I had to admit, he did a great job of doing so. Now we were lying under the covers naked. I was lying on his chiseled chest listening to the sound of his heartbeat. At this point in time, I couldn’t see myself wanting to be any place else but right here next to him.
I began thinking about our relationship. Luis showed me a different side of him today that I wasn’t too sure that I liked. It was funny when I thought about it though, Luis was so perfect to me. He had a face that was almost angelic, and a body to match. Not to mention that we had so many things in common, yet I almost turned away from him because he took his job too seriously. We were almost wrong for each other, yet I looked past all of his flaws because I loved him. Luis kissed me on my forehead and held me tightly against his body.
“What is on your mind my beautiful lady?” he asked me.
“Nothing really,” I lied but he knew better.
“You can tell me sweetheart.”
Instead of telling him what was on my mind, I decided to bring up another subject. Something I had been wanting to ask him since the day I left Elliot. I shifted my position so I could see his face.
“Have you ever thought about starting a family?” I asked him.
“To be completely honest, I have always wanted to start a family but I could never found the right woman to do so with. Now, I’m not too concerned about it. If it happens then it happens. If not, then oh well.” He explained.
“What about me?” I questioned. He shifted his position so he could look me in my eyes.
“If I had the chance to make you my wife. I would jump on that in a heartbeat, a beautiful woman like you deserves to be given the world and any man that can’t see that is a damn fool.” He replied.
Chapter 15
“Places everyone, places!” Shouted Nancy. The dance hall was buzzing with activities. Dancers were running right and left getting dressed, putting on make-up, and doing some last minute practicing. I was extremely nervous and was already starting to sweat. Luis and I performed his choreographed dance in front of Nancy and she approved it, so we were about to perform it in the showcase tonight. Luis and I had been practicing day in and day out. For hours on end trying to make sure there were no faults in the routine. Now I just had to make sure that I didn’t mess up and embarrass us both.
“You look beautiful, Jen,” Luis complimented me as he kissed me on the cheek. “You’re going to do great tonight. Just make sure you keep your focus on me.”
“Luis and Jenny, you’re on in ten!” Nancy exclaimed. I sat on the ground and began putting my shoes on. Luis reached down to help me and made sure my laces were tied really tight. Once finished he leaned in and gently kissed my lips. All signs of nervousness left my body as my mind was completely filled with thoughts of Luis. He grabbed my hand and helped me off of the floor; we went to take our places on the stage.
I focused on Luis, at this point nothing else mattered. As long as I remained focused on Luis I knew nothing could go wrong. Nancy introduced us, and Luis and I took our places on the stage. Out of curiosity I looked out into the crowd, it was one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
In the crowd, sitting front row next to Ashley and Joe, was Elliot. Ashley caught my stare and mouthed the words ‘sorry’. I looked over at Luis who hadn’t even noticed what was going on. I tried to regain my composure and push the sight of Elliot out of my head.
The music began and I closed my eyes allowing the beat to move me. I met the eyes of Luis who could automatically see something was wrong. He began searching the crowd for an answer. Once he saw Elliot he tensed up.
“Focus on me,” he said, quietly.
“But why is he here?”
“Don’t worry about it Jen, clear your thoughts of him. You have to stay focused.”
He held me firmly, and we began moving to the beat. Our moves were perfectly in sync, we were meeting each other step for step. Move for move. We went through turn after turn mastering each step. All of my focus was completely on him as we danced together as one. I had never felt so alive, and I could see the enjoyment on Luis’ face as well. With one final spin and the ending pose, the dance was over and it was performed perfectly. Luis picked me up and twirled me around as the crowd awarded us with a standing ovation. I looked over at Nancy who was applauding as well. She was obviously very pleased with our performance. I think I even caught her smiling. Luis and I exited the stage and retreated back to the dressing rooms.
“Jenny, you were amazing!” Luis exclaimed picking me up and twirling me in the air again. “All that work surely paid off.”
“You did great also Luis, you know I couldn’t have done this without you,” I told
him. “You’re an amazing teacher.”
“We’re an amazing team.” He corrected as he laid a gentle kiss on my lips.
“That’s enough of that you too.” Nancy remarked. I was almost nervous to hear what Nancy had to say. “I am very much pleased with your performance. Jen, you did a great job out there tonight. You really showed a lot of improvement. I look forward to seeing many more dances from the two of you. You really are the best match.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Hard-ass Nancy was actually proud of me. I ran up and wrapped my arms around Nancy giving her a hug, taking her by surprise. She tensed up. I and awkwardly patted me on the back which only made me want to hug her more. Once I let go, she took a minute to regain her composure.
