I sat against the far wall with my bag and read from it. Even this one line alone,
In the Dark again
Who’s going to turn on the light?
The switch is just above my height…
If only I could explain how well that described my life. In those few words, this lady captured it. I want happiness and I want love, but it’s always out of reach. This will be my tenth time reading it but I find a new beginning in each sentence.
This silly little paperback makes me feel less alone about what happened with Moses, with all my relationships. I brushed my fingers over the Author’s autograph in front and smiled.
This feels freeing. I’m slowly letting myself release any hope of Moses. Also, the book made me feel unshackled, so I hooked up my phone to the speakers and decided to do less of a sexy dance, more of a from the bones of my soul dance.
The Arena by Lindsey Stirling.
I felt the violin deep in my muscles. My legs carried me to the pole in a swift leap that launched me into a tight spin at the top.
I let myself fall back and held on with my thighs then dropped to only my ankles. The speed made my heart thump and I eased myself down one leg at a time then jumped to the next pole and swung round and round with my legs wide.
I twirled my way to the middle then fanned out with my knee bent around the pole for support. At the bottom, I drew up into a bridge that developed to a forearm stand. With easy cycling of my legs I walked the ceiling in my mind then came down and climbed the next pole.
This dance was intense and powerful. Meant to feel for myself and less for if I had eyes on me. I’m trusting my body to do what it wants to this song. My wrist is still tender at times but it’s good for dancing. My heart is totally open.
As the dance winded down with the song I heard clapping. I looked from the top of the pole where I’d been in mid-spin to see a man. He was hot. To work in a Hollywood reference, I’d say he was a taller Christopher Meloni with fuller lips.
After what happened with Brandon I’m a little weary of men showing up in my classroom, but I made my way down and combed my fingers through my hair to take it off my face.
“You’re…” he began as he came further in, “you’re incredible. That’s raw, uninhibited talent right there.”
I like his voice. It’s deep and slow like he thinks about his words before they come out.
“Thank you.” I took in his casual suit. “Looking for lessons? Your wife or girlfriend?”
He smiled, “no ma’am, I’m here to talk about getting you an audition with the Arts & Hopes tours.”
I froze and felt my eyes grow bigger, “I’m sorry, what?”
“We never met but, I’m the talent scout that guaranteed your spot at the event in July.”
I covered my mouth, “oh my God, you’re Elijah Lane!” I dropped my hands to my stomach, “you’re like the eye and ear of talent. You’ve booked major top dancers!”
He smiled, “thank you, Miss Gianopoulos, I’m an extreme supporter of art, that’s why. I like finding beauty and when I do, I want it shared. I knew when I saw you dance, months back that you needed to be shared.”
The memory of the event and my fall made me want to hide under floorboards. “I’m sorry I didn’t make more of the opportunity you offered. I screwed up at the event. I didn’t finish, or even get to compete.”
He pointed at my hand, “I heard about the wrist injury.”
I held it. “Yeah…I literally ruined my chances.”
Elijah narrowed his eyes at me, “may I use your first name?”
My brows rose. He’s pretty old fashioned for asking, “sure.”
“Chloe, I’m going to tell you what the lead judge told me a week after the event. He said there wasn’t a single performance following yours that met even a percentage of the talent you displayed in two of your three-minute slot. You didn’t even finish your dance, and it couldn’t be met by the other contestants. The girl that would’ve been runner up to you took the prize home.”
I was afraid blinking might make him and all his words disappear. “They liked it?”
“They loved it. Like I said, I’m here in regards to the Arts & Hopes Tours. One of the other judges that were at the event is my boss so to speak. When she found out you were the girl I recommended she told me to hunt you down and bring you in.”
My limbs are shaking, “w-wait, so…so…what is this for? What do I do? They want me to dance?”
He took a pamphlet from his breast pocket and I tried to stand straighter. Was this happening? “Here,” he handed it over, “This isn’t just about an audition to win a prize, Chloe. This is much more than that this time. We want talent but we also want future investments. To be a part of the Tours which are worldwide, we would need you to have a proper knowledge of the arts. You’d become a spokesperson with your dancing. There would be modeling contracts, you’d become a charity icon-.”
I choked out words, “I’m sorry…I’m sorry Mr. Lane, I’m…my head is spinning here, could you break it down slower like I’m four?”
He laughed and his smile made me feel calm. “It’s a lot to take in. I know that. What I’m saying is, if you audition with Art’s & Hopes, and you pass, then you’d be offered a free scholarship to one of the most prominent Arts Schools on the West Coast. You’re what we call ‘raw talent.’ You had instruction but then you cultivated your own skills and self-taught. We don’t want you to change, we want you to be given more tools from education and see what you come up with. It also helps to sand your edges for future work you’d have with the company.”
I can’t get enough air in my lungs, “College?” I gasped. When he nodded I almost cried. I always wanted to go, but I couldn’t. Now to be offered a chance but to learn more about the thing that I’m most passionate about?! “What’s the…” my chest is too tight in this workout gear. “You said, they like to make investments for the future? Like how?”
He gently took my arm and led me to where there were foldable chairs lined against the wall by the door. He let me lower myself down then sat with me, “Sorry, but you look like you’re about to pass out.”
“I am,” I said honestly.
He went on, “art of any kind, is a gem to society. Not everyone sees it that way. With some lesser schools taking art classes out of curriculum this means some people aren’t feeding the flames of creativity in children or themselves. Our company isn’t just harvesting talent for this generation, but the next one.”
“Would I have to go worldwide?”
“Not if you don’t want to. There’re plenty of things for you to do here. Your dances are unique and masterful. If you pass the audition and graduate the arts school, you’ll be enrolled in events and shows non-stop. You’ll be offered in-state tours, and if you want a broader audience you could go throughout the states or even international. You’d compete but not often and only for title not prizes. You’ll be making a good living on the events and shows.”
I twirled a lock of my hair around my finger. “I’m twenty-five…I really don’t plan to get married tomorrow and have kids but, life happens. Also, isn’t that old for your standards?”
He was already shaking his head, no, “we encourage our protégés to live a full life. Once you belong to Arts & Hopes, you’ll always have a place in the family team. Let’s say you go to school and got pregnant… we pay for child care, so you can continue your education. If you finish school, dance a few years, then start a family we set up higher teaching positions for you. Like what you do now, but you’ll get paid a lot more and make a much bigger difference.”
I stood because sitting is making me as dizzy as standing. “No matter what I do, I’m assured a job basically?”
“Yes,” he sat forward so his tie dangled between his long legs. “We do this for arts of all kinds, music too.”
“There has to be a catch somewhere,” I set my hands on my hips and walked in a wide circle while I watched him but his eyes were so
honest. “I must have to pay for something or-.”
“There are contracts like with any company. Once you work for us and become a part of our family, we don’t condone ‘job hopping’ so to speak. If you signed a modeling contract, so photography for the arts can be taken of you dancing then we don’t allow you to work for other modeling agencies and your pictures are copyrighted to us. Same with any other endeavors we sign you to. We have charities for schooling programs in Africa, South America, and some parts of Asia. If you become a representation for those contributions you can’t become the face of others we aren’t’ affiliated with.”
That sounded fair. They want to be set apart. “I’d be like a part of your brand?”
“Exactly. You don’t see a Burger King Logo on a Taco Bell. It’s that sort of thing. And I don’t mean to make any of this sound easy Chloe. You know already how hard you have to work to dance, how strong you have to be to maintain your status and your abilities. Skills must always be sharpened. You’d have to study hard, graduate, put in effort for shows, and sweat to acquire titles.”
I bit my lip, “could I quit?”
He tilted his head, “if you go to school on our scholarship, you have to contract with us for up to as many years as you took classes. We have to ensure we didn’t send you for nothing. This is about keeping the spirit of art alive. Which brings me to the last thing. Every year you spend in our company, from school on, we do withhold a percentage of what you make since you’d be working for us even during school. Things like smaller classes for smaller schools.”
I stopped my circling, “I knew it. So there is a catch.”
“We help you build a trust fund for your own children. Were you to start a family while still in our employ, your children would be held a spot at our school. We have schools for kindergarten up.”
I walked away from him to stand and face the dancing poles. I’m terrified of the idea of being a mom. I didn’t have parents and what if something happened to me? They’d have the rough life I did. But this…this was an entire future I was being offered, that was centered around my love. Dancing. So when the time was right, if I ever let myself have happiness with someone, I wouldn’t just have the dream career. I’d have the security for my children’s education. Brianna’s parents did it for her.
I took a deep breath and turned to face him. “Still sounds too easy.”
He stood up and came my way. “Easy? Who said anything about easy?” He was smiling and it unearthed mine, “you still have to pass the audition, or none of this is real. I believe in you though, and I think you have a lot to offer this era with your dance. You have a story to tell.”
I brought my eyes up to meet his gray ones. He’s making my heart beat really fast and I think it’s the news and maybe his handsome face. “I used to be a stripper. That won’t come back to bite me will it?”
He laughed, “no ma’am. Pole dancing is acrobatics but we all know it has its roots in clubs. Stripping as you know, is still dance, it’s still art, and we are the voice of art.”
He certainly had a way with words. “How do you guys afford all this. You offer a hell of a lot.”
“Well, we’re selective of who comes in, and we will make cuts if someone doesn’t show consistent promise. Also, we have very wealthy funders that wish to see art continuing to make its mark in the world.”
I looked at the pamphlet and held it to my chest. “I want to say yes but I’m terrified.”
He nodded, “this is a boat load of info for one night. Tell you what,” he took a card from his other breast pocket. “That’s my card. Call me or email me with any questions, day or night, and we’ll talk it over. Even if you decide to go another way, I’d love to represent you.”
I took his card and looked up at him, “you’re like a fairy god-mother.”
He laughed, “yeah, I kept the wand at home.”
“Did you leave your bravado too?”
“Excuse me?”
I smiled, “I’m pretty sure I caught the beady eyes of interest on your face. Are you going to ask me out or do I have to do it?”
He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. “No, ma’am not yet.” He came closer just a tad and my body heated. “I won’t ask you out unless you promise to audition.”
I bit my lip again. I thought about where I’m headed from here versus where I’d be headed if I at least tried, “Okay.”
He crossed his arms and straightened which made him way taller and I was in my platforms. “Next Friday night? Six?”
“Sounds good. Where should I meet you?”
“I’d rather come pick you up.”
“Oh my, you are old fashioned.”
Chapter Twenty
MOSES
At some point during the dancing at the club, Jenzy went to the bathroom and didn’t come back for a long time. Something happened back there because when she returned she looked pale and tugged my blazer so I’d bend and hear her.
“Would it be okay if we went home?” She asked.
I looked down at her and rubbed a circle into her lower back, “everything okay?”
She looked over her shoulder then back, “I’m just not feeling that well.”
I nodded and took her hand to lead her out. She’d had a dramatic difference from when I brought her to now.
I got her back in my car and a little realization hit when we pulled out and I saw her ex-husband’s car parked. I didn’t ask but I had a strong feeling they’d spoken or something more.
“Should I take you back to Todd and Mandy’s?” I asked.
She looked distracted but sucked her lower lip and nodded. I pulled up in front of their townhouse and unbuckled to get out and open her door but she grabbed my arm so I waited and listened.
“I’m sorry.” She said meekly. “I said I was ready, and I was but-.”
I leaned into her seat and kissed her on the lips. I lingered then pulled back a tad, “I’m not going anywhere remember.”
She grasped my collar and kept me close, “but this wasn’t how I wanted this night to go. I feel like I teased you.”
I shook my head, “I don’t think that.”
She kissed my lips then pulled back. After dropping her off I felt an ache. I had high hopes for tonight and I wanted Jenzy but now that it didn’t happen I felt oddly okay about it.
As I drove I called Chloe. I don’t know why but I did. She answered like always, in a way that made me laugh, “Chloe’s Bra Shop! We fix flats, how may I service you?”
I laughed and took a turn, “nice one.”
“I try. What’s up? I thought you’d be exploring Jenzy’s cave of wonders tonight.”
“Oh God, Chloe. Really?”
We laughed but something about her knowing what tonight was bothered me. “Did you need assistance?” She teased, “I don’t do threesomes but I can instruct you step by step over the phone.”
I laughed until I was red. “No, I’m good on what to do, but she had to go home early and I was wondering if I could come over.”
“Well, I’m flattered Moses, really I am, but you already made clear you don’t think of me that way.”
I sighed dramatically and played along, “well, it was either you or Brianna and she says if she can’t see it she flees it.”
She was laughing so hard she went breathless and though we’ve never teased like this I’m glad she’s okay after what we talked about.
Chloe reined in the laughs. “If you don’t say my name and pull my hair all deals are off.”
“You can’t handle what’s coming Baby Girl. You’ll be saying my name.”
She moaned my name sensually to be funny but my grip tightened on the wheel. I’d never heard her say my name the way I could make her say my name if we were intimate. The sound was echoing in my head and making me wonder.
So I changed this dangerous topic. “We could watch a movie.”
“You never stay over when you’re dating. Is everything okay?”
�
��Yeah,” I swallowed, “yeah, I just miss you.”
She was silent a long time, then, “come on over, I have big news anyway.”
We hung up and I made my way to her place. When I let myself in I found her curled in a ball on her bed, cuddled with Goliath. She’s asleep since Jenzy’s place is farther from here.
I went around her bed to get a movie off her shelf but stopped to look at her. My eyes are really seeing her, and it’s weird. I’m seeing the silken gold hair, the softness of her browned skin, the pink in her lips. I’m taking in her form under the thin sheet and the sight is doing something…I overuse the word in my head but weird is so accurate.
Goliath got up and walked away to sleep on his dog bed and she shifted to her back in her sleep. Still out cold, her new position is making the feelings worse.
Her sweater is thin and pale pink so now that she’s on her back and the sheet is down, I can see her nipples through the fabric. Instead of looking away my eyes traveled down the length of her. The sweater had hiked up her side to expose her tatts and her panties were gray boy shorts. She had gray warmers on her legs and wow her legs are shapely.
I made myself look away and read movie titles but then I heard her voice in my head, the night she told me she had feelings. Does she still have feelings? Was she flirting on the phone? What would happen if I went down on that bed and kissed her? Do I want to kiss her?
I looked back down and watched her chest rise and fall with her breathing. She kicked the covers down further in her sleep and I felt jumpy from watching her.
She let one leg lay open to the side and I imagined with clarity, moving down between her legs and tugging the top of her panties down. I almost debated the consequences. What would happen if I put my face between her legs while she’s sleeping, and she woke up? What about her mouth? She has pink lips, but could they fit over my cock and if so would the suction make them pinker?
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Moses?” When she said my name I jumped. I’d been looking at her legs! Fuck!
The Friend Zone (The Relationship Quo Series Book 2) Page 17