by SM Olivier
I smiled despite their envious banter. “Thanks.”
I had started officially training over a week ago. My body was sore from the small break I had taken, but I’d never felt better. I felt most like myself on the dance floor. When I danced, all the stress of the outside world faded away.
I could forget about the chaos that ensued on Saturday night after our discovery in the woods. I could forget about the confrontation between me, Lindsey, and Tori when I found them in my room after spending most of my Sunday with Grandpa, Kyler, Crew, and Zane. We spent more time at the house while the cops, dogs, and other search and rescue units were deployed in our surrounding area.
Grandpa had decided to serve food and drinks to all the people volunteering and helping with the search. I could tell it was an emotionally taxing day on him. He had been withdrawn, and his countenance was grim. I could only assume that it brought back terrible memories of when his own daughter was taken.
We had been there to support him, and the family that never wanted me. Imagine my surprise when I came home to find Lindsey and Tori snooping in my room. Golden and Paxton were in their bedrooms, the children were put to bed, and Mr. Isaacs had already gone to bed.
What followed wasn’t pretty, and if Crew hadn’t been there, I would have completely lost it. As it was, I just packed up some of my stuff and left. Then I locked the doors to my apartment with the keys Mr. Isaacs had provided me with.
I had to leave. Especially after they informed me that they would be staying there until Lindsey found a job. I chose to go, instead of confronting the guys.
If the guys had made that decision, I wish they would have told me. Their passing houseguests didn’t look so temporary right now. I wondered how or when they came to that decision.
Almost every morning on our first break in Dance, I was able to sneak into the locker room and take a look at all the missed texts and calls I had on my phone. I loved seeing all the “good mornings” and other sweet things from the guys−save Mr. Isaacs and Crew. It always warmed my heart to know that they were thinking about me as much as I was thinking about them.
This morning I had refrained from going into the locker room and chose to run down the street for an egg white, spinach, and feta cheese breakfast wrap. I had been hungry, and I knew I needed the energy to get through the rest of the afternoon.
“I think you are more than ready for the competition this weekend.” Anya beamed at me.
Anya was such a busy woman. Other than my first introduction to the school, I saw her maybe two or three times in the actual studio. The rest of the time, her attention was divided between the rest of the classes going on.
Anya had a large competition team. Each one of us was separated according to the skill level and age. We seniors weren’t the only ones practicing during the days. There were children as young as six on her competition team.
“Does that mean she’s taking one of the solo spots?” Bailey asked, barely keeping the whine out of her voice.
Anya was an accomplished instructor and had a fantastic eye on the intricacies of dance. We all respected her and aimed to please her, but we also knew she was demanding, relentless, ruthless, and she abhorred whining, petulance, arrogance, pride, and other childlike behavior in the older classes. She swiftly nipped any of those undesirable characteristics out of any of the girls—even boys, that behaved in that manner.
Anya turned her impassive, dark eyes on Bailey. “She is. It is up to the rest of you to fight to earn the last spot.”
“Thank you, Anya,” I murmured.
Inside, I was jumping up and down, squealing like a little girl. Outwardly, I casually walked over to my water bottle. I had poured my heart and soul into my dance moves as I always did. Anya kept a tight rein on who she allowed to compete. There were only so many spots that each school could take for each category. So far, I was in the group number, and now I got a solo. It was such an honor to be chosen, especially considering the talent surrounding me.
Anya’s school might not be the largest I had ever attended, but the school definitely had a lot of talent. I had recently found out five students had left their previous schools and moved hundreds of miles just to attend Anya’s school. Two of her students lived in an apartment downtown, and another stayed with one of the instructors here while their parents visited on occasion.
“Follow me.” Anya crooked a finger at me. “Carry on, Star,” she called over her shoulder.
I followed her out of the classroom and up the stairs to her office. It was a new building, so you could still smell the paint on the walls. As I heard the music pouring out of the other classrooms and the sounds of teachers instructing their students, I wondered why she wanted to speak to me.
“Close the door,” she bade me as she took a seat behind the desk. “Sit.”
I sat down, crossing one leg over the other.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
“Good,” I answered concisely, knowing she wanted an elaborate answer.
I wasn’t used to any woman caring about me. My mother had tried, but I learned long ago when she asked me questions, it was perfunctory and not because she really wanted to know the answer. Once upon a time, I believed she really did love me, but she was just too busy to care.
Anya arched one perfectly shaped brow. “I heard you had quite the weekend.”
“I think Grandpa is struggling more than I am,” I admitted finally. “It’s hard for him to lose a daughter and now a granddaughter to an abduction.”
She nodded sympathetically. “It was a tough time for him. It made him slow down and realize the important things in his life. I want you to come to me if it gets too…stressful.”
I nodded, not knowing what the appropriate response was. I think I was still processing it all. I almost felt numb. Right now, I was worried about my grandpa. I hadn’t had the luxury of examining my feelings over the disappearance of my half-sister. Part of me wanted to not care, but the other part knew that wasn’t who I was. I had a naturally bleeding heart at times.
“I’ve heard rumors,” she said after a few moments of silence as she carefully scrutinized me. “About you.”
I laughed mirthlessly. “I’m sure there are a lot of those circulating.”
“Do you care about my son?” she asked bluntly.
“I do,” I said with no hesitation.
“And Paxton, Golden, Crew…?” she asked with another arched brow.
I swallowed. I didn’t want to lie to her, but I highly doubted she would appreciate my honesty. “They were the only ones to welcome me when I moved to town.” I hedged.
“You know,” she said as she leaned back in her chair, turning it so she could look out her window, affording me a view of her profile. “When I was young, I moved to New York City. I was so young and naïve. It was the first time I was away from my controlling father and my critical mother. It was also the first time I got a taste of freedom.”
I nodded, although I had no clue where this story was going.
“Suddenly, I had the attention of three very successful, handsome men,” she continued. “I was new to love. I dated all three of them, and eventually, I knew I must choose one. I didn’t want to. Each man made me feel loved and unique in their own way. So finally, I chose Zane’s father. There’s not a day that doesn’t go by that I am not thankful for my son. He is my heart. I will be forever grateful for the gift Thao gave me, but I think about those other two all the time.”
I longed to ask her about Thao, Zane’s father, but I didn’t want to push it. Plus, I wanted to hear Zane’s story from him. When he was ready, not when I forced my curiosity.
“I wonder how my life would have been if I hadn’t had to choose or if I would have chosen differently,” Anya continued.
I sat quietly. I didn’t know what to say. Did she know about the strange arrangement I had with the guys? Was she blessing it?
“Don’t rush your decision,” she said, turning back to me. “I
know my son cares deeply for you, and I really like you, too, but don’t live with the regrets I do. Find your path. Discover yourself. If any of them are left, then you will know who had your best intentions at heart.”
I leaned forward touched by the compassion and understanding in her eyes. “What if they aren’t demanding that I choose?” I asked quietly.
She looked stunned for a moment before she started laughing. Her laughter was deep and melodic. After a few minutes, I felt my cheeks redden and began to squirm in my seat. Did she think I was foolish and naïve? Did she think it was as impossible as I did?
She finally wiped her eyes and smiled at me. “Then don’t.” She smiled at me before she sighed wistfully. “I wish I had been given the same choice, but I wasn’t, and I chose wrong. You’re a lucky girl to have the love of four men.”
I didn’t bother to correct her. I wasn’t going to tell her about Kyler and Mr. Isaacs. Kyler was a twenty-two-year-old man, and some people might frown over our age difference. Mr. Isaacs was nearly twenty-three, and he was also my guidance counselor. Our relationship was forbidden, and after his reassurance, I was sure where we stood.
“I think I am,” I commented honestly. “They are good men and treat me well.”
She smiled warmly at me and then leaned forward once more. “Now, how can we convince Zane to partner with you in nine weeks at Elite Vibe?”
My eyes widened. Elite Vibe was an invite-only dance competition. It was one of the most significant dance competitions in the world. Several dance studios applied for the invitations. People from other countries came to compete in it. Colleges, talent scouts, music producers, and several other vital people did all their recruiting there.
“Why?” I blurted still in shock.
I knew Zane had quit competing many years ago. Initially, he’d told me it was because some of the boys from school made fun of him, but I didn’t believe him. I knew it went deeper than that. He wasn’t the type to care if people teased him, and honestly, I didn’t think anyone would be brave enough to. I figured when he was ready to talk about it, he would.
“If you ever saw him dance, Peyton, you’d know why. He is a natural born dancer. He has this…charisma when he is dancing that draws people in. No one can look away. In the group numbers, all eyes were drawn to him. He started competing at three. I don’t think he ever placed under third place. He quit dancing for the wrong reasons. I want to see him dance before he leaves me to throw that ball around for college. I know it’s selfish, but I desire to see him where he belongs for a little while longer, and I know he can take us further.”
I sat for a moment, weaving my hands together. I looked down at them as I formulated my answer. I didn’t know why Zane quit, but there had to be an excellent reason. I didn’t want to push him out of his comfort zone if that was the case, nor if his heart was no longer in dancing and competition.
I knew he was just as talented in football. His graceful movements helped him out on the field. Instinctively, I recognized his desire for his mother to see him play as well. He never said it aloud, but I knew it bothered him. He was the only guy on the team not to have a family member out there, ever.
“If I talk him into it, I have my own favor to ask,” I said decisively.
“A favor?” she asked with a frown.
I knew she had already helped me out in so many ways. She worked around my schedule to accommodate me, but this wasn’t for me. This was for Zane. I would ask her because he never would.
He was self-sacrificing like that. He knew his mother was a very busy woman. He would never dream of pulling her away from the studio where she spent most of her days and nights. She did it to provide for him, but he remained silent, so she never thought he was ungrateful.
“Yes, a favor. If he agrees to dance with me, will you attend just one of his games?” When she opened her mouth, I quickly cut her off. “I know you think football is a barbaric sport and he’s wasting his talent on the field, but he's a fantastic quarterback. When he’s out there, it’s like he is still dancing. He loves it, and I know he’d love for you to see him, even if it’s just once. Next month we have a homecoming game. They're going to be honoring the seniors and their parents. Kyler already planned to take your place, but I know it would mean more to him if you were there.”
Her eyes narrowed on me. “Very well.” She finally nodded, although I could tell she was reluctant to. “If he’s in the studio by Wednesday night with you, I’ll come.”
I smiled, feeling tears enter my eyes. “Great, thank you!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, go back to practice,” she grumbled.
I smiled once more before hopping up. “Yes, ma’am,” I said cheekily as I left the room.
●
It was days like today that I wished I didn’t have to go to school. I was tired, and my mind was fried. I had skipped my last break, so I had to run and grab a small snack before I made my way to school. Luckily the coffee shop was on my way, so I could purchase a coffee as well.
I was in such a hurry to get to school, I nearly ran headlong into Officer Swift as I left the studio. He grabbed my upper arms and gave me a slow smile.
“What’s the hurry?” he asked.
I didn’t miss the slow perusal of my body, just like he had done during the search party. I was dressed in a navy-blue and white striped T-shirt dress and a pair of tan faux-leather knee-high boots. I had added a sheer navy blue infinity scarf as an accessory and a few of my Alex and Ani bracelets.
“I need to go to school,” I explained as I tried to sidestep him. He was a good looking guy, but I didn’t like the interest he seemed to have in me.
“We’ve been trying to get ahold of your parents all day and were unable to reach them. We would really like to talk to them about some of the things we found next to your house. We also have a few more things we would like to question you about.” He moved in front of me once more.
I stiffened for a moment. My parents were MIA. No one knew where they were. In less than six days, I was officially eighteen. I closed my eyes. It would be my luck that I was so close to being considered an adult only to get caught up in an abduction investigation.
“My parents aren’t around,” I informed him bluntly. “If I need an adult, I can call my grandpa.”
“I’m her father,” I heard a voice say from behind me. “I’ll accompany her.”
I turned in surprise to see David standing a few feet behind me. He looked tired. Dark circles encircled his eyes. He looked more haggard then he had last night. Even his clothing looked wrinkled and disheveled. I guess the disappearance of his daughter had caused him to finally take notice.
“Not on paper,” I blurted without thought. It was uncalled for and mean spirited, and I shouldn’t have said it.
I could see Officer Swift’s eyes swing back and forth between us. I’m sure he had already heard about my unique situation, and just like every other inhabitant of this town, he was just as inquisitive and entertained by my predicament.
David sighed severely, rubbing his eyes. “That is true, but we both know the truth,” he sounded slightly irritated. “I’ll give you a ride to the station. I was on my way to come to talk to you myself.”
My eyebrows rose, but I nodded as I started to follow him. He might be the ultimate douche, but I had to sympathize with him. After all, his daughter was missing. It had been nearly eleven years since the abduction of his sister, too.
“We’ll meet you at the station, Officer Swift,” I said.
“Eddie,” Officer Swift smiled at me. “Call me Eddie.”
“Okay, Eddie,” I said without returning his smile. Unbelievable! Was he flirting with me?
I heard my phone ring and saw that it was Grandpa. I answered it as I slid into David’s Lincoln. I was confused about why he was calling; he never called during the day.
“Hello,” I murmured as I buckled my seatbelt.
“Are you on the way to the station?” he asked directly
.
“Yes,” I answered, puzzled by his quick and abrupt tone. He never spoke to me in that tone.
“Are you with David?” he inquired.
“Yes.”
“Put him on.”
“Okay,” I said, frowning down at my phone before handing it to David. “It’s for you.”
He sighed but took it before pulling onto the road. “Yes, Dad,” he said. He was silent for a moment. “Well, since you continue to insist she’s my daughter, my lawyer and manager believed it was the best course of action,” he said waspishly.
I stiffened, not liking his tone of voice. What was the best course of action? What was going on now?
“Yes, Dad, okay. Fine.” He abruptly handed my phone back to me.
“Hello,” I said once more.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Grandpa sighed deeply. “David is going to ask you something, and although his intentions are entirely selfish and self-serving, I would really like to do it as well.”
I looked over at David. “Why are you really here?” I asked him with narrowed eyes. I kept Grandpa on the line.
“As part of the family, we want you to join us at the press conference tonight,” David clipped out.
I laughed incredulously for a few seconds. “How very sweet of you to finally admit that. No,” I deadpanned.
I watched as he clenched and unclenched the steering wheel. His jaw ticked in frustration.
“Please, Peyton,” Grandpa stated softly. “I’m going to be there as well, and I want you by my side.”
It was my turn to sigh. I couldn’t deny Grandpa’s request just because I despised my father. I didn’t know his angle, but I knew I wouldn’t like it. There was an ulterior motive for his appeal. It wasn’t in my nature to blindly agree to something without knowing the full details.
“Okay, Grandpa,” I said through gritted teeth before hanging up on him.
I replayed the words David had said. He had mentioned a lawyer and a manager. What kind of manager? Then I remembered the gossip Freddie had told me.