Forbidden Dance

ing into class dressed in a sleek pair of black leggings that accentuate my butt and a hip sweater than hangs off one shoulder. I’ve don

allowance went to clothes and makeup. Eventually, I’ll have to come up with

ght. I had been certain they wouldn’t even consider me, so I

me off. As of right now, she and my father were funding my college experi

n’t hav

nd Psychology, where Tara spotted me and whistl

ays. “You’re looki

ot used to the attention. For years I’ve been scolded for attracting any sort of attention, especially from men.

nt, that’s

oes for a bowl of soup before we make our way to an empty table in the back of the hall. I’m loving sc

ter?” Tara asks, right on cu

is what I want to major in, and she has no idea we went shopping for normal people’s clothes.” I tak

eminds me—have you hea

can, someone slides unabashedly into the e

nd my heart flutters unnat

k hair looks, doubled with the icy blue of his eyes. He’s a natural charme

a

t Tara, who is staring at him with

ig

the team.” His words are straight and abrupt,

,” I say.

ing his hands together onc

night—I have to

a, and a flush of heat c

ickly, and she chuck

?” she asks. I shake my head n

es

N

t me as she gets up and leaves us alone

. I swallow my intimidation and focus on my salad, wis

u on the team. We need you on the team. And we can’t afford to wait for your answer, because we have a competition coming up in three weeks.” His dark brows knit together, hand still lingering on my leg. I’m having a hard time catching my

inally. “I—I’ll

face, and I silently curse. As if he cou

er for thi

ht, and the breath leaves my body once again. “Thank you,” he murmurs,

e simply stare at each other. I feel like I’m in a different world, a different universe. And finally, jus

he pocket of his jeans. “I really like you, Fa

tha

ke to go on a

y. A date. With

e. She’d kill me first,

ze again and smil

es tingle. “So, I’ll see you tonight at practice?

you t

t afternoon unscathed. Tara is nowhere to be found, probably still in class, so I jump in the shower to try and ease away the anxiety of the day. Hot water pours over me and I close my eyes, lifting my face to the shower head, trying to gather the ne

hy, and that’s all I need to focus on right now. My time with Danny will—hopefully—come later. And while I’m not trying to impress anybody yet with anything but dan

e. I expect to see Tara there already; she’d danced well enough. Better than me, probably, but

bag next to my feet and setting my wa

ting on the stage with his legs over the side, swinging them back and forth like he’s

. “My watch runs a

it upon himself to greet and hug me, just like he’d done in the dining hall. I feel awkward suddenly like I’m being scrutinized by the other two, but

ear, just before he pulls away. “S

finding it difficult to meet either Theo’s or Mark’s gaze. Mark is

with the

o see Tara walk through the door just then. There were

me a moment to tear my gaze away from his amber hair and

uare my shoulders and raise my chin to confront them. I won’t be seen as weak, no

already. “Your friend Tara and the others are on the school’s team. We w

io,” ad

with a chuckle. I swallow my

y m

ing for his water bottle to take a sip. “

Theo mutters, but

, snapping his fingers. “Let’

you want

e and takes my hand, gently pulling me

I ca

ining like a delicate ballet solo. This is my first practice with these three, the men who exude confidence and swagger, completely immersed in the world of hip-hop. And here

icism lingers, like an invisible barrier standing between us. I feel the weight of their doubt pr

rberates through the room. Mark, Danny, and Theo begin to dance with an effortless grace, their bodies interpreting the rhythm with precision and power. Each s

iliar ballet scores. The beat feels foreign, like a language I've yet to fully comprehend. But I'm here to learn, to imme

ness of hip-hop. My body feels like an instrument, ready to be tuned to this new melody. My ball

owing like silk, defying the conventional boundaries they expected of me. I dance with fire in my veins, determination in every muscle fiber, an

it to guide me. Every movement becomes a declaration, a testament to my resilience and the power of the human spirit. Sw

een so

the doubts. I am a dancer, capable of embracing any rhythm that challenges me. I am Faith, a ballerina,

h, newfound understanding glimmers in Mark and Theo’s eyes. Althoug

with unreadable expressions. “Listen,” Danny says, taking another sip of his water. He wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead and lo

ays sarcastica

ree,

ack on the other two. “Again,” he

d Danny and the others goodbye. We danced well, all of us, but Theo and Mark are still jacka

ing me out. I nod, feeling once more the in

y. “I might as well be frie

ore, especially not with someone so freaking cute, but I can’t help but worry still that maybe I’ve made the wrong decision in being here. And then

nationals, maybe I can finally break f