Forbidden Dance
m, lifting it to her face a moment later to inspect the dust that has settled on the tip of her perfect finger. She makes a face, shootin
mmate isn't here yet, thank God, and I'm hoping she won't show
her her along faster. "It just need
e said or done something stupid, which is almost always. "Your father and I aren't
is funding this excursion, which is even worse because Sadie got to choose which college I enrolled in, and the only one I actually wanted, far away from her and far away from Seattl
ght? Yeah, I
ly, I'm free, eighteen, and in college ... and I still can't get rid of her. Even now, sitting in my new dorm room, I've been forced to dress in what Sadie refers to as appropriate clothing. A kne
ng his balls to speak up. It's rare, but it has hap
head in, flashing the three of us an awkward smile as she pulls a suitcase full of luggage in after her. I
sk. "I'm Faith. It'
ercing. This girl is the last sort of influence Sadie would have picked for my roommate, and that fact alone has me silently gloating. "Nice to meet you, too," she says, and i
n again. He's bored, I can tell, and I don't blame him. "L
fore she wheels on me again, hands poised on her hips like she's
lose my eyes and recite what she wants to hear. If I don't, I'll nev
as the words leave my mouth. From the corner of my eye, I see Tara's ja
nto mine. As I meet her gaze again, my jaw locks,
my gaze to the floor. I'm weak. I
economics at this school, and I refuse to sit by and watch you throw it
ra thinks of me now. With my luck, she'll have reque
oom to give me a quick kiss on the che
, ri
e, D
me goodbye as she follows my father to the
nds like she's heard nothing as she leaves the
, I can
k at Tara, embarrassed she'd heard the lecture. But she d
the not-so-cozy bed. I don't care that it's not expensive or fancy. I'd s
ly tight clip in my hair to undo it, letting my golden
ys with a laugh. "The hate is real. Sh
even a little. Sadie is beyond a
continues, her bold brown eyes scanning me, sizi
bloodsucking demon from the outside, but on the inside, she's
g. I watch her for a moment, smitten with this girl already. She's unabashedly her, and
ervative garments Sadie had bought and packed for me. More long skirts, more leggings to go under said skirts, and too many sweaters
?" she asks. "Sweater
pull out the remainder of my clothes, the ones that had been safely hidden beneath Sadie's mess of crap. A glittery, spaghetti strap top with the word Dance scrolled across the front, as well as a pair of f
aybe you're not the lost
own with disgust at my current outfit. "This is all
feeling I've made my
bout you throw that spicy little number
r one last thing; a small bag of hidden makeup that Sadie never
of our dorm room and toward the quad, where new freshmen orientation is taking place. Strangely enough, the vile weather seems to have vanished ri
reath of the bitter air. "I love when the rain w
one single thing as we walk through the quad, glancing between the booths showing off their organized activiti
r; she's got that hood rat kind of vibe going on, but only in the best
hat was my first pick
me, her silver nose ring catchin
o ridiculous and far-fetched no
don't laugh, she stops smirking, plastering an apologetic look on her f
awa
u're a
l. It's easier that way. "I used to be," I sa
alking, giving me a moment to compose myself as
s, but something in her tone of voice assur
getting into Julliard had always probably been nothing but
op music pulls my attention from the sidewalk, and I look over my shoulder, turning in the direction of the music. Out on the damp lawn, a team o
ich I can only describe as a fascinating concoction of hip-hop, jazz, and dancing dirty. Three men and two women shake their asses to the beat. It's ent
small whistle. "Hopefully
was a nervous tick, and as I watched the dancers on the lawn, my nerves felt sky-high, though I wasn't sure why. Envy, maybe. Apprehensi
lawn, Tara glances at me with raised eyebrows. "Check it," she says, nu
Tara has me by the arm and is dragging me towards their little booth, right in the direction of the kid-or should I say, man-handing
akes me cower. His gaze flickers over the scrawl on my shirt, and I want to kick myself for putting it on befo
here but here. "I used to," I say. Next to me, a scoff of irrita
ate, Faith," she
authority, and I can almost tell just by the way that he holds himself that he must be the team leader of this little troupe. As my hand touches him, a shock of electricity pulses down my arm, and I yank away, growing mo
aybe still
lame him. I'm not exactly offering enthralling conversation topics. "We're always looking for backup dancer
lding the sheet in half to shove it into my back
on focuses on me again, and his dar
es
rts his attention back to me and smiles for the first time since saying hello. "We'r
, I k
aking over my body as if trying to d
nny has vanished with his team. All I can think about as he drills me for information is what Sadie will think when she catches wind of my litt
under her breath. "Ar
rd
really don't have time for this. I'm not suppose
at your mommy told you?" He's teasing, but a shard of ice
say. "And good luck with findi
es out, taking me by the arm and pulling me to a stop. I'm so surprised by this that I don't f
, but there's something about you that ma
n't t
the auditorium," he continues, cutting me off. "T
at,
u think you'd like to kick ass this semester, t
down on me before the semester has even begun. But since it doesn't seem like Danny is keen to let me go until I acknowledge this, I nod my head, just once, and then pull my arm out of his grip before turni
ing to catch up with me. "Tha
m f
e walk, insisting I tell her the trut
Tara is my roommate now, and unless I plan on lying t
" I tell her. "It's
toxic and probably abusive." She must notice the tears in my eyes because she draws me in for a hug. For a second I resist, but then I let it happen. It's been a long time since anyone has hugged me
ut
If by tomorrow you think you're ready to escape that witch's