Bulletproof

by Melissa Pearl

I looked past Ashlee and spotted her choreographer, her face beaming as she watched her dance come together. I made a mental note to find her later and tell her how impressed I was. I spent hours choreographing stuff as a kid. I dreamed of doing it for a job one day, but that dream died when Mom walked her selfish butt out the door. I became a mother then to a scared little ten-year-old who wouldn’t have coped with my heavy dance schedule. I gave it all up in one fell swoop. The only time I choreographed after that was with Ella and Jody when we goofed around in the summer holidays, pretending we were professional dancers. Those times hurt, but I didn’t want to let my sisters down, so I’d pretended the pain didn’t ricochet through me each time I came up with a good move.

  Squeezing the clipboard to my chest, I stood there until Conway yelled, “Cut!” and snuck away before anyone noticed me just standing there doing nothing.

  *****

  My feet were killing me by lunchtime. I had spent the last two hours running errands, making phone calls, and delivering all manner of things from Gatorade to a box of batteries. I shuffled to the cafeteria, grabbing a tired-looking sandwich off the tray and scoffing it down. I didn’t really feel like it, but I had to keep my energy up; I still had half a day to go.

  Reaching for a bottle of cold water, I spun around to find a seat and smacked into the redhead I wanted to congratulate.

  “Oh, sorry.” I smiled.

  “No problem.” She grinned up at me before stretching out her hand. “Isabella Fontaine.”

  “Hi, I’m Morgan.”

  “Welcome to the crazy house.”

  I chuckled.

  “And good luck.” Her eyebrows rose, sending me a message that was not hard to decode.

  “I can make it.”

  “Let’s hope so.” She shook her head and went to step away, but I stopped her with my arm.

  “I just wanted to compliment you on your amazing choreography for ‘Clarity’. I only saw the first part, but it was brilliant; you really captured the song.”

  “Thank you.” Her sparkling smile reminded me of Jody. “You a dancer too?”

  I opened my mouth to say yes, but settled for a shrug instead. “I did a little when I was a kid.”

  “Why’d you give it up?”

  “Life got in the way.”

  Isabella’s petite nose wrinkled. “I can’t imagine life ever getting in the way of dancing. Life is one big dance.”

  “Yeah.” I had to nod, because I used to believe that with every fiber of my being. “I mean, I still love it. I just...don’t study it anymore.”

  She quietly considered me, obviously trying to decipher my answer. I looked away from her and cleared my throat. “Anyway, I should probably get back.”

  “You know, if you want, you’re welcome to come to our rehearsals in the morning.”

  “Me?” I pointed at my chest.

  “Yeah,” she chuckled. “Some of the spare crew sometimes join in at the back, just for some exercise. You look like you could probably keep up.”

  I grinned. “That could be cool.”

  “Could be?” She pulled a face. “It’s freaking awesome.”

  “Okay then.” I grinned. “Sounds like fun. What time do you start?”

  “Around seven-thirty.”

  I tipped my head with a resigned frown. “I start at seven.”

  “That’s okay. I get here at six. We can do our own little pre-rehearsal before the cast gets here...if you’re up for it.”

  “Okay.” I nodded. “Yeah.”

  Why? Why was I saying yes to this?

  Because I couldn’t stop myself. Because the idea of starting my day with dancing was so damn appealing, refusal wasn’t even an option. Nerves zinged through me as I unscrewed my water bottle. I was insane. I was exhausted after half a day of work, and now I wanted to start an hour earlier with a dance session?

  The phone Lisa had handed me that morning beeped.

  Get your butt back to set. I want a turkey sandwich on rye. Make sure it’s fresh!

  I held my sigh in check as I headed toward the catering area. “I gotta go. It was nice meeting you, Isabella.”

  “You too, and if you can sneak back on set soon, you might be able to catch the rest of ‘Clarity’. They’re doing close-ups after lunch.”

  “I’ll try. If I can sneak away.”

  “Don’t let that jackass boss you around too much. He might be brilliant, but he’s still just a guy.”

  I grinned. “I knew I liked you for a reason.”

  “Oh we’re gonna be good friends, I can already tell.” She winked at me and for the first time since arriving on set, my smile actually felt genuine.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  SEAN

  I listened to Isabella’s instructions while watching the blonde over her head. Travis was talking her ear off as she handed him a fresh mug of coffee and a wrapped sandwich. She was taking it well, not cowering away from his strong demeanor. If anything, the louder he got, the higher she stood. She was actually taller than him when she pulled her shoulders back and extended her neck. It was damn appealing.

  “Yo, Jax, you listening?”

  “Yeah.” My eyebrows rose in feigned innocence, but Isabella saw straight through it. She glanced over her shoulder, her left dimple appearing as she gazed back at me.

  “Her name’s Morgan. She’s the new runner, and the quicker you get this right, the sooner you can meet her.”

  Morgan. Morgan. I tipped my head, the name conjuring up an image I’d laid to bed eight weeks ago. My karaoke girl.

  I grinned.

  “Would you put those pearls away, you’re about to film a serious scene here.”

  “Sorry.” I cleared my throat and drew my attention back to the petite dancer as Conway stepped toward us.

  “Okay guys, we’re doing close-up shots now, so Sean, when you walk in behind Ashlee as she’s dancing and collect her up, make sure you’re really feeling it.”

  “As the beat builds before the second chorus, it should be flowing through your whole body,” Isabella interjected. “Make sure your frame is really strong when you hold that statue position.”

  “Then she’ll sing her why are you line and you’ll drop her forward, spinning her around so you guys are facing. We’ll pull the camera in around you for those shots, so make sure you’re aware of where it is. We don’t want any collisions.”

  I nodded at Conway.

  “Ashlee, don’t forget to really rotate your hips on those shimmies and spins.” Isabella moved her hips to demonstrate. “Then come back together, pull apart, then the heavy breathing, long stare.”

  Isabella crouched low in the position we’d rehearsed and I copied her movements.

  Conway’s eyes moved down the choreographer’s body. I hid my smirk when he looked back at me. “Now, remember, that resistance needs to be there the whole time. It’s a battle. When you collect her up, it’s because you can’t help yourself. When you drop her down, you’re trying to let her go, but then you pull her back in, because you have to have her.”

  “Yeah, got it.” My eyes flicked back to Morgan. She blew a stray wave of hair off her face as she jotted down Travis’s instructions.

  Isabella grabbed my chin and forced my eyes back to her. Her grin was all-knowing.

  “Shut up.”

  Her laughter was like sprinkles on a cupcake. It was one of the first things I’d noticed about her when we met. She was on the set of Domino Effect, choreographing a pole-dancing scene. She worked pretty closely with Abigail. That’s how I’d gotten to know the petite redhead so well. We hit it off and our friendship had stayed solid despite the mess. It was actually Isabella who’d pitched my name for Superstar. I still hadn’t thanked her properly for that one. I’d have to take her and her husband, Dean, out for dinner one night. She’d been married about a year now and happier than ever.

  “Okay, we good to go?” Conway beckoned us over, and I walked out of the shadows. My eyes were trained on Morgan as I did
so and the pleasure that bloomed over her face when she saw me was almost comical. She swallowed, stepping behind Travis’s chair.

  I grinned at her. Once again, she looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was behind her before she turned back to me. Her smile was pure magic as she met my gaze head on.

  Conway commanded my attention, breaking our little moment. I nodded at him and then Ashlee as he verbally walked us through the last few details.

  I took my place off set and waited for my cue. I had to really concentrate. My eyes kept wanting to shift, to move to the other side of the room and catch another glimpse of magic. With a deep breath, I closed my eyes and forced Harley into my mind. Sean, the actor, took a backseat to the new dance teacher with a passion for music and a burning desire to inspire his students. The only thing hindering his first year in the workforce was the irresistible charms of a southern belle with the heart of an angel and the body of an enchantress. Snapping my eyes open, I gazed at the set, but this time it looked different. There were no cameras, no people, no lights. Ashlee was now Sasha and the only thing I could see was her beautiful body floating over an empty dance floor.

  As the beat grew to a crescendo, the male voices in the background building, I scooped Ashlee into my arms and lifted her high. Her tight frame held her position as she sung her line, and then our bodies turned from stone to water as we flowed around each other, the battle of will against logic building with force. The final hiss sounded as we stared at each other, an invisible force locking us together. Slowly, as if coming to, I broke it, rising from my position.

  “Sasha, we can’t. I’m sorry.” I was still out of breath, my puffing adding to the broken words.

  Her dark gaze grew stormy as she fought the tears before covering her mouth and running from the room. I placed my hands on my hips and dropped my head, the lights fading to black.

  “And cut! Okay good, let’s run that again.”

  The lights came back up, and we shuffled into our start positions. I looked for Morgan as I moved to my spot, but she was gone.

  *****

  I rubbed my aching shoulder as I walked back toward my dressing room. Ashlee was light and all, but lifting her over my head for that many takes was exhausting. I couldn’t wait for a hot bath. Scrubbing my hand over my face, I realized that was still hours away. Travis decided he wasn’t happy with the lighting for the close-ups, so he wanted to run them again...and I had my meeting with Rhonda.

  “Nice work, Mr. Jaxon.” My hand dropped to my side, and I spun back to face Morgan.

  Her pale brown eyes were still enchanting, and I moved toward them as if pulled by a magnet.

  “Karaoke girl.” I grinned. “How are you?”

  “I’m good.” She nodded.

  “I see you have a job now.”

  “Yep.” Her cringe made me laugh.

  “Well, you may not like it, but I’m kinda glad.”

  Her cheeks warmed with a slight blush.

  “I know Travis can be...forceful, but he’s really talented, and there are great people on this set.”

  “Yeah, I’ve met most of them. The crew is so nice and...” She tipped her head. “The cast isn’t bad either.”

  There was that cheeky smirk of hers again. Damn. She’d undo me in a second.

  “So, um, I feel like I owe you a beer and a congratulations.”

  “For what?” I pushed up my shirtsleeve.

  “For being brave...for stepping up.” She winked.

  “Thank you.” I wanted to tell her I wouldn’t have done it if she hadn’t told me to, but I felt like it would kill our light flirting session, and I didn’t want to do that. There’d be plenty of time for thank-yous later.

  “Well, I guess I’ll see you around then.” Her face lit with a smile, which I tried to match but never could.

  I watched her walk away, not even worried if she turned to see me doing it. She didn’t turn back, so I let my eyes wander down her sleek body and wondered what the curve of her hip would feel like under my hand.

  “You ready?” Rhonda’s sharp voice jumped me out of my reverie.

  I spun to face her. “Yep.”

  “Who’s that?” She lifted her chin after Morgan and I shrugged.

  “Just the new runner. No one special.”

  I didn’t know why I said that. She was special. I could feel it in my core, and maybe that was why I wanted to protect it...protect her. I glanced over my shoulder one last time, catching a final glimpse of her long legs as they walked away from me.

  A thrill ran through me at the idea of seeing her again and the fact I’d be able to before the day was out. I clicked my tongue and couldn’t resist a goofy smile as I headed after Rhonda. I loved my job before, but hot damn, if I didn’t love it even more now.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  MORGAN

  I dragged my ass out of bed at five-thirty and made it to the studios by six-fifteen. Thank the stars I’d canceled my date with the grocery store guy. By the time I got home at eleven, I was so shattered, I could barely make it up to my room. Ella had been texting me all day, wondering how I was getting on. I’d managed to reply to her twice. I’d sent her a final message at eleven-thirty and fallen asleep with the phone still in my hand. I woke up in my rumpled clothing, scrambled my way through a shower, and left the house before Dad was even up. I fought off the living dead feeling the whole way to work, buying a double espresso on the way.

  Once I pulled into the lot, I started to perk up. Maybe it was the idea of doing a little early morning dancing that energized my limbs. Whatever it was, I ran up the stairs to find Isabella in the rehearsal studio, her long, auburn hair splashed over the floor. She was folded in half perfectly, stretching out her muscles. My bag slid from my shoulder, and I quietly walked toward her.

  “Morning,” she chirped. “How you feeling?”

  I groaned. “I think I clocked up sixteen hours yesterday. Is it going to be like that all the time?”

  “Be prepared. Some days are worse.” She drew up from her stretch and grinned when she noticed my expression. “Let me guess: your feet are killing you, you feel sleep-deprived, frazzled, and in desperate need of strong coffee.”

  “The coffee’s been taken care of.”

  “Perfect, let’s work on the frazzled part then.” She skipped over to her stereo and a thick beat pulsed through the room.

  “Don’t Stop The Music” by Rihanna.

  A smile bloomed over my face as I ran to Isabella’s side and copied her stance. I felt the beat move through me as I bent my knees and started tapping out the rhythm with my heel. Her hips swiveled and I followed, my arms and legs taking over as I let the music fill me.

  Bella was a sharp mover, and I felt rusty as I tried to keep up with her, but the more my limbs moved, the looser they got. I was soon following each of her steps with relative ease.

  Man, it felt good. The frazzle slipped off me as I lost myself in the song, the rhythm releasing all the tension in my muscles.

  The dam inside me wanted to break, the place where I stored it all up, kept myself safe. This happened to me every time I danced, and every time I wanted to let go, but I couldn’t. Things changed eight years ago, and I didn’t think I’d ever be able to dance like I used to.

  “Beautiful arabesque, Morgan.” My dance teacher applauded. “Nice extension.”

  I grinned as I lowered my leg and spun into a double pirouette, feeling an explosion of energy run through me. My arms spread wide on my finishing position, breaths punching past my smile.

  I felt like I had wings and could soar right off the stage.

  Ms. Finnermore’s voice brought me back to reality.

  “Morgan, you are a delight. I can’t believe you choreographed that whole piece on your own. You will do just fine at your exam on Saturday.”

  “Thank you.” I tucked a curl behind my ear, biting my lip.

  “Don’t be nervous. There’s something about the way you dance that moves people. It’
s like you let every emotion you feel flow out of you in a burst of energy. You’re only thirteen. Imagine what you’ll do as an adult.”

  I smiled, basking in her praise.

  “I know it’s still early days, but you should start thinking about where you want to study dance after high school...or if you’re open to it, we could look into some performing arts high schools.”

  My stomach danced a crazy jig, excitement making me lightheaded.

  “I’ll talk to my parents.”

  Ms. Finnermore patted me on the shoulder. “Tell them they can call me to chat at any time.”

  I skipped home that day...actually, I think I flew.

  But the week before my fourteenth birthday, my wings were clipped, those school applications were forgotten, and I’d built that dam as fast I could.

  I blinked against the memory, focusing back on Isabella’s beaming smile as she finished the song with a series of chaînés.

  I stood back and watched her, clapping loudly as Rihanna’s voice faded away.

  “Nice.”

  “You like it?”

  “Definitely. Great moves,” I puffed.

  “I’m gonna finish with a canon.”

  “Oh, so this is a piece for the show?”

  “Uh-huh.” She nodded, running over to the stereo to pause the music blasting over our conversation. “It’s our big, final number for this week’s episode.”

  “Cool.” I grinned. “I really like your style; it’s an edgy blend of hip hop, contemporary...classical. I feel like it’s got a taste of everything. Did you start with ballet?”

  “When I was three years old.” She chuckled. “My grandmother used to own a dance studio. I’d spend so much time there. She bought me my first pair of slippers for my third birthday, and I was the happiest kid on the planet.” Her sparkling smile faded. “She passed away a few years ago and man, I just wanted to give up. She’d been my inspiration for everything I tried. She was the one who encouraged me to study a whole bunch of different styles. I just couldn’t imagine dancing without her there to watch, but my husband, Dean, told me if I quit, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.” She shrugged. “He was right.”