Page 3 of Forbidden Dance
Benjamin nods at me. “It’s been most enjoyable meeting you. Perhaps if I hang around a bit, we’ll cross paths again.” He takes my hand, and before I realize what he’s doing, he’s kissed my knuckle.
“Oh!” I exclaim. I’m completely overwhelmed by this gesture. Who is this guy? Can he be for real?
He releases my hand and I immediately clutch it against my chest as though my own fingers are a prized possession.
Then he’s gone.
I turn back to the mirror and look at myself. It’s still plain old me. Pink leotard, a little worn, and the pale pink sheer skirt. My threadbare ballet slippers, dirty at the toes. I clasp my hands to my cheeks. What just happened?
Aurora dashes in.
“Holy cow, Livia, did Blitz Craven just kiss your hand?”
I turn to her. Her face is bright red. She’s the toddler teacher, petite and adorable in her sunny yellow leotard.
“He said his name was Benjamin.”
“Oh my God.” She turns in a circle, hands on her head. “You really don’t know who that was!”
I want to calm her down. She looks like she’s ready to explode.
“He didn’t introduce himself as Blitz anybody. But he does look like a dancer.”
“Livia!” Aurora puts her hands on my shoulders. “That’s THE Blitz Craven. The host ofDance Blitz! The reality TV show!”
“I don’t watch TV, remember?” I say. “And my dad thinks the Internet is evil.”
I’ve never had a cell phone or a computer. If we need to know something, Dad gets a book about it at the library.
Aurora lets go of me. “Well, he’s huge. Like, bigger than huge.” Her eyes go wide. “And he’s here. That means Danika let him in!” She turns in a circle. “This is so crazy! Blitz Craven at Dreamcatcher!”
I grab her arm so she’ll stand still and explain things. “Why is this such a big deal?”
“This academy is going to be famous!” she says. “Blitz is going to help out around here! We could end up on his show.” She gets thoughtful. “Well, I wouldn’t. I have Samuel. But you could! And Suze! And all the single dancers!”
“Why does it matter if we’re single?”
“It’s like theBachelor, Livia. Blitz has been looking for the perfect dance partner for two years and hasn’t found her.” She frowns. “Though I can’t believe Danika let him in here after the scandal.”
I have no idea what theBacheloris and can’t imagine what sort of scandal that old-fashioned romantic boy could get into. But it’s all pointless for me.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say. “And PLEASE don’t tell anybody he kissed my hand. If my father found out, I couldn’t come here anymore.”
Aurora’s eyes get sad, an expression I’m used to when people realize my situation. “Livia, you’re nineteen. Can’t you just try to get out of that house? Live your life?”
I’ve heard this too. “I will,” I say. “I just have to figure things out.” I head to the corner and pick up my bag. If this Blitz guy is going to be here, I should probably avoid the academy except when I’m in class. My dance is important to me, and the last thing I need is some reality TV Romeo jeopardizing it.
Even if he is the most thrilling thing that’s happened to me in a long time.
Chapter 2
I’m a frazzled mess of nerves as I wait in Studio 3 the next morning for the little dancers to arrive. I pray nobody has talked about me or Blitz. I want all that to go away.
I lift my ankle to the barre and lean into a stretch. I don’t really need to warm up for this class. The girls require a lot of help, and I do more encouragement than dance. But it passes the time.
The first dance student arrives, Marissa, a six-year-old with a riotous head of honey-blond curls. Her mother wheels her in, smiling to see me.
Marissa sits up a little straighter, but I can see by the strain in her smile that she’s had a rough night. She’s weaker than usual, listing against one side of the wheelchair. She has cerebral palsy, and some days are tougher than others.
