Page 87 of Forbidden Dance
When he moves, we follow.
“Are you done?” Mom asks, checking her watch as other students file past.
“No, we’re moving to a room down the hall,” I say. “Just fifty minutes to go!”
“Okay, let me know if you need a snack. I have some in my bag.”
“I’m good,” I say, my heart sinking a little as I realize I’m about to hurt her. She really did try to be a good mom through all this. She forgave things that seemed unforgivable. She has been a role model despite the adversity.
Impulsively, I reach down and hug her.
“Well, okay!” she says, a little taken aback. “Write a good essay!”
I’m afraid of saying anything else. I might give myself away. I head down the hall quickly, catching up with the other students.
As soon as we turn the corner away from Mom, I run.
Chapter 30
Bennett’s car is outside. He told me the driver would be there the entire four hours of the test, waiting for the moment I could escape. I’m relieved to see it, flinging open the back door of the black Mercedes and diving in.
“Good day, Miss,” the driver says. “Glad you got away all right.”
I feel like a criminal on the run. I resist the urge to say, “Step on it.”
Mom won’t notice I’m gone until the essay is over, almost an hour from now. But I will have disappeared. Hopefully they will find my note quickly, before calling the police. I might call home, just to ward all that off. I’m so glad they don’t know anything about Blitz and can’t involve him.
When we arrive at the airport, I stare out at the jumble of terminals and parking lots. I’ve never flown. But considering the rest of what I’m risking today, traveling by air seems insignificant.
The driver takes us out on a flat space where smaller planes sit waiting near a huge outbuilding. We’re stopped by a security man next to a tiny station, then waved through.
I clutch my backpack to me. I’m so far out of my element now. I’ve walked away from my entire life for someone I’ve known six weeks. I tug my phone out of a side pocket and power it on. I had to turn it completely off for the test.
There are a few early morning texts from Blitz, the last one warning me he’ll be in rehearsals all day for the finale. He still hasn’t mentioned the extra episodes.
I still haven’t mentioned I’m coming.
The driver opens my door and I fairly fly out of the car. I only get a few steps away when I realize I have no idea where I’m going.
“The Claremonts are waiting for you on the plane,” the driver says. “This way.”
The wind whips my hair. It’s warm again, and we’re headed to Southern California, so I haven’t brought a coat. The sky is bright white, gleaming off the airplanes. We head toward a long stealthy-looking one. A set of steps has been rolled up to the door.
I ascend carefully, holding the rail. Inside, Bennett and his wife Juliet are seated in leather chairs. Bennett stands up. “You must be Livia,” he says. “We’ve been in the same room before, but I don’t believe we’ve actually met.”
I shake his hand automatically, feeling anxious and unsure. I’m going to ride with two strangers to a place I’ve never been to stop one of the most famous people on television from wrecking his career.
“I remember you from some of the classes,” Juliet says. “Come sit.”
She leads me to a cushioned bench opposite their chairs. My hands are trembling.
“Poor girl, she’s scared to death,” she says to Bennett. “Go get her some tea.”
Bennett heads to the back of the plane.
She sits next to me. “I’ve done some pretty crazy things in my career, but this one is right up there,” she says. “It’s no wonder you’re anxious.”
Bennett returns, followed by a young woman in a crisp khaki skirt and white shirt. “Excuse me, Miss Juliet,” she says, and reaches between us to press a button. A tray slides out, and the woman turns it down and out to make a small table. She sets a mug with a tea bag on it. “Let me know if you would like something else.”
