The Boom

by Glenna Maynard

  Someone sticks a boot in to block the door from shutting and it swings open, banging against the wall, throwing Courtney off balance. “Shit, you okay?” I ask her not realizing who just barged into our room.

  “We need to talk, Amaya.” Keith. Fucking Keith.

  “No, we really don’t,” I say, glaring at him.

  “Why are you doing this Am? You know we had something.”

  “I thought we did too, Keith, until I found out you were cheating on me,” I state.

  “You don’t know how it is, Am. If I didn’t fuck around like I did…the guys in the frat would think I was a pussy, I was just putting on a show.”

  I snort. “Sure, you tell yourself that.”

  “It’s always been you! I swear. You just have to let me back into your life. We’ll get married, I’ll quit the team, and it will just be us, and I’ll follow you around with your dancing. I’ll do anything. Please.” Keith begging twice in one day, this is interesting, but man he looks like a loser.

  “Oh please, Keith, man the fuck up. This is you acting as if you have a damn pussy.” Courtney speaks up.

  I hold a hand up to cut Keith off from speaking to Court. “We’re over. I’m with someone now, someone that isn’t afraid to take me out in public, be seen with me around campus. So no, I’m not doing this with you, and I swear Keith, you need to leave me alone, or I’ll be filing a restraining order.”

  “Fine, if that’s what you want. But just remember, no one will make you come like I could, no one will love you like I did. Eventually, you’ll want me back and it’ll be too late for you.” He walks out of the room slamming the door shut behind him.

  I jerk as it rattles against the frame. He has a few screws loose. Maybe he’s been hit too many times on the field. I should ask Tate what happened to his hand, I’m sure he knows since they’re on the team together. Part of me wonders if Keith and Tate got into another fight.

  “What a sick fuck!” Court declares. “Of course, no one is gonna love you like he did, because you can find someone to love you better. And the making you come part? That was nasty the way he just blurted that out, ya know? But again, he’s wrong about that, because from what you told me, you always faked it.”

  She’s right, I did, but I’m too tired to get into this right now.

  I shrug. “I’m exhausted, going back to bed. Night,” I say to her quietly, as I make my way back to bed.

  “This conversation isn’t over Amaya, but I’ll give you tonight,” she singsongs at my back.

  I’m so tired but can’t get back to sleep. I almost text Tate, but stop myself. I don’t need to involve him anymore than I have already.

  Who in the hell does Keith think he is anyway? He never cared this much about what I was doing when we were together. I thought being away for the summer would’ve made him move on, but I guess not. Eventually, I drift off to sleep thinking of Tate.

  **

  My phone alarm jars me awake from the most amazing dream ever. Now I’m in a bad mood, because in my dream Tate was thrusting into me so hard I was about to come. Stupid alarm. I want to be pissed that I was dreaming about him like that. Asshole wouldn’t even kiss me, and now I am dreaming about screwing him.

  Groaning, I get up and decide to just run a brush through my hair, put on the first outfit I find, and grab my bag for class. I’ll get myself done up when I get home since I’m going to that ballet performance tonight.

  I don’t see Courtney as I head to the door, but I spot a note on the table.

  Am – I headed to class early, got a stupid ass test to study for that I forgot. Don’t even say it, I know you want to but don’t. I was able to get out of my last class today, since it’s been cancelled, so I’ll be nice and ready for tonight. – Court

  I shake my head and crumple up the note and toss it into the trash. She’s always doing that, forgetting about tests and having to cram just before they start.

  Before heading out, I rummage through our little fridge and realize there isn’t much to take with me to class. Checking the time, I see that I have one hour before I need to be there, so I make my way down to Café 84 to get something to eat. I didn’t eat much last night and my stomach feels like it’s got a hole in it from lack of food.

  Walking into the Café, I see it’s practically dead, which is good for me, so I can eat quickly and get to class a couple of minutes early. I need to go over my notes. Now who’s the hypocrite?

  “Hey Amaya, your usual?” The waiter, I believe his name is Paul, asks me when he comes over.

  “Yup! I’m starved so if you could also throw in an extra pile of bacon that would be awesome,” I say smiling at him.

  “Sure thing. Be about ten minutes.”

  I want to text Tate and say thanks for invading my dreams, but I won’t give him the satisfaction. Instead, I pull up Trinity Ballet Company’s website. Oh my gosh! They are holding auditions in a couple of months. Last year, I wasn’t ready, but this time I am. I read through their requirements and guidelines being sure to bookmark everything for later. Even if a scout doesn’t pick me at the fall recital I’ll still have a chance to live my dream.

  I know I promised I would finish school first, but I really want this. I eat my food quickly and dash to my first class unable to contain my excitement over the auditions. I can’t concentrate during clinic at all and it takes me two tries to wrap a wrist properly.

  I keep expecting Keith to pop up at any moment and ruin my day, but thankfully, he is holding true to his word.

  Finishing up with my school day, I head over to the dance hall. Madam said there was no class today but we had to be there to find out what our role is in the recital. Still can’t believe we’re doing Frozen, it just seems so cliché because everyone is doing a Frozen theme for everything lately.

  “Okay everyone, I have the list done up, some of you didn’t make the cut, but that doesn’t mean you can just miss classes. The people that made it, must hand me over your school schedules so I can work extra practice times around them.”

  We file into a single line so each person gets a turn to see the list on the backboard. A few girls walk away looking upset about not getting a part. My heart squeezes when Kendra, one of the top dancers in this program squeals, revealing she must have gotten a good part. Finally, it’s my turn, I go up to the board and see my name at the top of the sheet, I’ll be playing the part of Elsa. Oh my God.

  I run out of the building fast, almost knocking a few people over in the process, and get back to the dorm in record time.

  “Courtney!” I scream as I open our door. “I got the lead role in the recital!” I screech.

  She runs out from the bedroom and squeals pulling me in for a tight hug. “That is so awesome! How’d that wench Kendra take it?”

  “Oh, stop it, Kendra’s actually really nice.”

  “Yeah okay, I’ll give you that, but she usually has the starring role.”

  I shrug. “She still has a major role, she’ll be playing Anna, I’ll be playing Elsa.” I smile.

  Court groans. “Seriously? You guys are doing fucking Frozen?”

  I nod, smiling stupidly at her. I check the clock. “Shit, I’ll start getting ready, we don’t want to be late.”

  **

  “You almost ready?” Courtney shouts.

  “Yes! I’m completely ready.” I really am this time. Before we head out, my phone rings, and I see it’s my dad. Groaning, I answer the phone and tell Courtney I’ll only be five minutes. The show doesn’t go on for another two hours, but the traffic to get there will be a shit show.

  “Hey dad,” I answer.

  “How’s my dancing star?” He asks sarcastically.

  I roll my eyes. “I’m great, actually. I was able to get the lead role in the fall recital this year.”

  “That’s nice. How are your classes?” He asks, changing the subject. Both he and mom wanted me to become a doctor, thinking I was wasting my life away by wanting to dance professionally. At
least they were somewhat happy when I decided to get into sports medicine.

  “It’s going good actually, I dropped a few of the elective classes I don’t need, so I can focus just on the classes needed for my Master’s degree and dance of course.”

  “Are you going to go for your doctoral degree?” He asks, of course he would.

  “Only if I don’t make it big with my dancing, then yes.” He knows this, we’ve had this conversation many times. It’s been the subject of many heated debates. He thinks dancing is a hobby not a career. He’s always supported my interest in dance and paid for all my classes and costumes, but he really wanted me to follow his footsteps. But that’s his dream, not mine.

  “You know I love you Amaya, and I’m proud of you, but I don’t want to see you wasting your life with foolishness.” Here comes the same old speech he’s constantly giving me. “Dancing can’t pay your bills. Once you’re out of school, I won’t continue paying your way. After graduation, you’re on your own.”

  I cut him off mid speech. “Thanks dad, I love you, okay, but right now I’m on my way out with Courtney, and we’re going to see Swan Lake. I will call you and mom this weekend. Love you, bye.” I hang up before he can reply and put my phone down on my bed, leaving it behind in case someone else tries calling me. I don’t want distractions tonight.

  “Same talk?” Court asks as we go down to my car.

  “Yup. As usual. I know my parents love the hell out of me, and support me with whatever, but the lectures that comes with everything drives me batty.” I start the car up and we take off. “Did you know that mom wanted to move here so I could live with her? I swear, she’s nuts.”

  Courtney laughs. “She’s the most horrid helicopter mom I’ve ever met. I’m surprised she only offered to move here to live with you, I’m surprised she didn’t ask for a surgery to attach you guys together.”

  I groan. “Oh god, don’t even suggest that near her, she probably would.”

  Courtney entertains me on the drive by bitching about Keith interrupting her beauty sleep.

  “That dude seriously needs to get a grip. It’s been forever since you have dated. You just wait, he’s going to cause a shit storm with Tate.”

  “Tate isn’t my boyfriend,” I remind her. “We’re friends.” At least I think we are. After our date that wasn’t really a date, I’m not sure.

  “Mhmm, I hear you.” She smirks turning up the radio, and sings until I threaten to put her out on the freeway.

  After paying for parking, Courtney and I head inside to find our seats. This isn’t really her thing but she soldiers through it for me. The lights go down and the curtain opens. The orchestra plays softly from the pit and I am in awe. This is what I want to do for the rest of my life. When I’m dancing, nothing else exists. I don’t have to think about anything. I just let my body take the lead.

  The performers on stage blur out of sight as my fantasy of dancing with a company takes center stage.

  **

  Sitting across from Courtney at some swanky restaurant near the theater she starts in. I’m buying since my parents pay my way right now. Might as well reap the benefits while I can. I know if I tell my dad about the audition, he will flip his shit.

  “Dish about King. You haven’t been telling me much.” She sticks her fork into her salad and takes a giant bite.

  “Not much to tell really, you already know about the dancing and about how he helped me with Keith.” Her eyes narrow and I surrender. “Okay, so we’ve gotten food together, and I like him,” I divulge quickly.

  “Wait, what? You like him?” Of course, she would catch onto that slight admission.

  I sigh. “Yes okay, and I know I shouldn’t but ugh, I don’t know. I do. It’s weird, right?”

  She grins. “This is perfect, I love this. And he obviously likes you, right?”

  I fill her in on what he said to me last night and she stares at me in shock. “Yeah, he totally likes you. Woot!” She screeches. “My bestie has the hottest guy on campus wanting her bad!”

  “Shh!” I scold her. People are staring.

  “Uh uh, no way. I’m basking in this awesome moment! I love this! And I love this for you.”

  “He’s just so not what I expected at all. He is so thoughtful and caring. I was expecting him to be all jerkfaced and feeling entitled to the world. Tate’s so different from any guy I’ve ever dated, hell, any guy I’ve ever known.”

  Courtney is wearing a disgustingly cheesy smile on her face as she takes another bite.

  “Just don’t let him see you eat, like really eat.” She snorts as I wipe dressing from my shirt. “You should just bring a bib next time,” she teases.

  I throw a baby tomato at her and it goes down her shirt.

  I dab at my shirt. “Yeah, when we got food the other day, I only got one plate, and I even gave him the rest, pretending I was stuffed.”

  Court laughs. “That’s probably why I could hear your stomach growling all night.”

  I throw my napkin at her laughing.

  Today has been the best day I could have asked for.

  Chapter 11

  Tate

  The guys and I decide to head over to Chili’s for burgers. The hostess smirks at me, almost knowingly. “Do I know you?” I ask her.

  She smiles, huge. “You should. Considering you’ve been helping out my bestie with her ex-boyfriend problem.” She quickly looks down to her seating charts and the grin coming off her is radiating. “Follow me boys.” Now I remember, she’s the girl that dragged me to the bathroom to kick Keith’s ass.

  She gets us to a booth and right across from me is Amaya, sitting all by herself, stuffing her face.

  I’ve been avoiding her for a few days. And it killed me to do so. But I needed just one day away from her to get my head on straight, and even avoided going to class yesterday so I wouldn’t have to see her.

  “Holy shit, she can eat all that? She’s so damn tiny,” Big Tex says, sounding shocked.

  She has no idea people are staring at her, she has two of the biggest burgers I’ve ever seen, a plate of fries, some chicken dish, and a salad in front of her, and she takes a bite of every single thing. I just stare, dumbfounded. How the hell? The other night when we ate together she sure as hell didn’t eat near that much, and even gave me the last bit of food off her plate.

  “Let me out,” I tell Adams.

  I stand over Amaya, she doesn’t even know I’m there, until I slide in on the other side of the booth as she’s still stuffing her face.

  “Uh hi?” She says, appearing slightly embarrassed at being caught with so much food.

  “How on earth do you fit that into you?”

  She stares at me angrily. “How do you fit the knowledge you learn into your tiny brain?”

  I chuckle. “You’re not one of those chicks that eats a bunch then pukes it up later, are you?”

  She rolls her eyes. “I have a really high metabolism and I enjoy food. You got a problem with that?”

  I hold my palms up. “No, just curious. Damn girl. I like to eat too. You just surprise me is all.”

  Today she looks nothing like her prissy little dancer self. Her hair is down, and shit its long. I’d like to run my fingers through it. She looks over at me through her long lashes wearing a curious grin. She’s still standoffish, but I can tell I’m wearing her down. She’ll be mine soon. I’ve got a plan.

  “Now that you know my food secret, I guess I should let you know that the other night? I was still starving when I gave you my food, I just didn’t want you to think I was a freak or something.”

  I grin. “Now that I know your food secret, I’ll make sure next time to order you double of what I’m getting, and I promise not to touch your food.”

  We share a small laugh.

  “Mhmm.” Her soft pink lips curve into a pout that I want to claim.

  “Mhmm what?” I run my hand through my hair.

  “Just trying to figure you out, King.” She
shakes her head, looking away again.

  I just watch her as she takes a drink from her soda and wonder if her lips taste as sweet as they look.

  “Yo, T-dog, you done flirting or are we gonna order?” Bucky hollers.

  “T-dog?” Amaya bursts out laughing.

  I ignore her dig at my other nickname. “I think Amaya here has enough for all of us.”

  “Fuck that, I don’t share my food,” she scoffs.

  A girl who can eat like that and has a mouth on her, I might be in love. I reach for a fry and she smacks my fingers.

  “Seriously?” I ask affronted. I know I promised I wouldn’t take her food, but come on, she can spare a fry until my food comes, can’t she?

  “For real, dude. Nobody gets between me and my food.” She takes the fry I dropped and waves it in front of my face. She sticks half of it in her mouth moaning. She doesn’t know what to do when I lean forward and take a bite almost touching my mouth to hers.

  “Well goddamn. That was kinda sexy in a food porn kinda way,” Tex shouts.

  Amaya looks down at her food. Her lips are quirked into a half grin. She likes me, but doesn’t want to show it.

  “Want me to do it again,” I tease, but I’m not kidding. I’m serious.

  “You’re trouble,” she observes shoving another fry in her mouth, totally smiling.

  She has it wrong, all wrong. She’s the one who is trouble. I could just sit here and watch her eat and be happy, because we’re sitting here together. I’m a goner and there’s no coming back. I want to go all in for this chick.

  Chapter 12

  Amaya

  I almost say yes, but I stop myself. His friends all decided to ditch their booth and share mine. Of course, there was some bickering once his friend Adams sat next to me. He’s easy on the eyes but totally not my type. He has blond wavy hair, a nice golden tan, and hazy brown eyes. He looks like a surfer dude. Tate made him switch places. His friend Bucky had to pull up a chair at the end of the table. He’s all skinny. I probably weigh more than he does. His hair is kinda like Tate’s but has streaks of gold from being in the sun.