Page 17 of Facing Off
And I despise that, because uncertainty is something I refuse to experience again. I’ve had enough of that when I was a foster kid.
I swore I’d never go back to that.
I need to stay in charge of my life now.
To follow the plan that I’ve set out for myself.
Across the room, Adrian swallows. Then he grins, cocking his eyebrow as if having finally recovered. He’s coming this way, and that’s when I whip around and force myself to leave.
I don’t look back.
I can’t.
Because I’ve workedtoohard to set up what happens next in my life.
For so many years, I’ve fought my way out of the corps de ballet, out of being another nameless ensemble dancer, to finally eking out a soloist contract.
Now, I have to make history. I have to be the first South Asian ballerina promoted to principal, the highest rank a dancer can get.
That’s my dream.
The one that gives me purpose.
For that reason, I’m telling myself to stay away from Hughes, as much as I possibly can. I’ll see Kavi and Quinn separately, but if the hockey captain ever shows up, I won’t be sticking around.
6
SONYA
Months later,I’m cutting across a random park, holding a takeout order from this place with the crispiest fries that’s out of my usual route. I’m looking ahead when my heart kicks hard, catching me off guard.
Fuck, is that who I think it is…?
This is the last place I thought I’d run into him, especially after I’ve been so good at avoiding him for so long. We’ve only seen each other in passing, in that whenever Hughes shows up anywhere, I’m turning around and leaving.
But now? There he is.
Blond hair covered by a cap. His head down as if ashamed. His seated posture on a park bench makes him look absolutely downtrodden.
I blink hard, my body going still for a beat.
I don’t fully understand what I’m looking at.
Because this is Hughes. The most happy-go-lucky hockey player I’ve had the misfortune of meeting. So why does he look…so sad…?
It’s none of my business. He’s annoying.
Yet, I’m staring. The bench he sits on is all I see.
Now I’m thinking I might have a clue about what’s going on. It hasn’t been that long since they lost their game tonight. The Wings have gone from reigning champions to…this losing streak they haven’t been able to shake off. That has got to sting, I’m sure of that, but that’s not my issue. My issue, for the past year, is perfecting my performance.
A big opportunity is coming up. Whispers in the ballet world. There’s been talks of a grand finale for a choreographer—a swan song. It would catapult my career into being principal. The first South Asian to be one. My dream since I was a kid living with my foster guardians.
I should go home and rest up, because it’s going to be another full day of practice tomorrow, so why am I starting to walk towards him? My feet are betraying me. But my mouth doesn’t. “Gross, it’s you.” At least, I can keep my distance from Hughes this way.
“Sonya?”
“That’s my name.”
