Dream Chaser (18 page)

Later, after my body felt beaten to a pulp, I dragged myself out of the auditorium to the bright
Ex
hall when I spotted Rick.

“Rick, wait up!” I called. He didn’t appear too happy to see me. Everyone on the squad had been avoiding me like the plague.

I hiked the strap of my bag higher on my shoulder and rushed over in case he tried to elude me. I could never seem to corner him or anyone else on cheer.

“We need to talk,” I huffed when I caught up with him.

“Hey, Willow.” His eyes wandered anywhere but at me.

“How’s it going? What have you been up to?” He looked like he’d bolt like a deer in hunting season.

“Not much. I’ve been pretty busy.” His grey eyes examined the trophy case across the hall.

“I know everyone’s avoiding me because I quit cheer, and I’m sorry about that. But I could use some help with Jilly.” I moved and blocked his view. More kids left the auditorium from rehearsal.

Rick turned and leaned his hand against the wall and stared at the high ceiling as if checking for water spots. “You can do whatever you want with your life.” He adjusted his arrogant chin.

“Don’t be this way. Can’t we talk?”

“We are talking.” He shrugged.

Normally, I would refuse to push so hard, but my whole life felt off balance. I needed something concrete. I needed my friends back. The show kids wouldn’t accept me. My grades were in the toilet, and something was seriously wrong with my dog. Oh yeah, the whole Eli situation still sucks.

I moved into the space between him and the wall where his hand rested. “Won’t you please look at me?” I let him hear the pleading part of my voice. “Don’t I at least deserve that?”

He glanced at me, so much in his eyes he wouldn’t reveal. Was it guilt?

“Rick, it’s not your fault I fell and it’s not your fault I quit cheer?” I tried to read his thoughts.

A loud squeal erupted across the hall by the
aud
doors. Rick and I looked over. Mike, from the show, carried McKenna piggyback.

After the group passed, I saw Eli. He stood watching me with
Rick
. To Eli, I’m sure it looked like Rick and I were all cozy.

“You’d rather be with them than us,” Rick said, interrupting my thoughts.

“No, it’s not like that.” And it wasn’t.

He glanced around and then leaned his round face close to my ear. “Listen, I’m really sorry I screwed up your catch, but Jilly is still pissed and there’s nothing I can do about that. I
gotta
go.” He pushed away from the wall.

So there it was. Rejected again.

“I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Sure. Whatever.” He shrugged and ambled away.

I looked up and noticed Eli was gone. The wide hallway now void of people other than the night janitor. And me.

Alone again.

“Cut!” Tyson snapped off the music. “This is not going to work if you two refuse to engage with each other. This has been going on long enough.” He stomped over.
“Would you two stop being so damned polite to each other? You’re either going at each other’s throats or you’re tiptoeing around. Come here.”

I stepped closer, as did Eli, but he did it with a huff. Tyson took us by the arm to center stage and made us face each other standing only four feet apart.

“Look at each other,” Tyson said.

Eli crossed his arms and looked away.

“Eli! Look at her!”

He reluctantly turned to face me.

“You are both gorgeous. Don’t you see it? Eli, she’s got the face of an angel, she smells good and has all those nice girl parts.”

Eli rolled his eyes. I stuck my tongue out at him. Tyson frowned.

“Willow, look at him. He’s
buff,
he’s got that cool hair thing going on, he’s got movie star good looks. What’s not to love?”

Tyson was right. I snuck a quick look and had to agree. Eli was damned hot. We just had so much baggage it was hard to see.

“You guys can keep denying it, but it’s there.
You have a couple other kisses in the show, but this is the money kiss, the one that makes the ladies in the audience weep with joy, and this won’t work until you two get past your crap. You need to get together and get comfortable with each other’s bodies. You’re dancers for
pete
’s
sake, and your bodies are instruments to perform emotion at the highest level. You touch in a lot of your dances, but it’s like you don’t feel. You’re just going through the motions and that’s
gotta
end.” Tyson paced as he lectured us.

“A true artist will put his ego aside and see the beauty of another human being Artists take those moments, trust their partner, and show their vulnerability. You need to get together and relax with each other. Spend some time and check each other out.”

I peeked at Eli. Tyson stopped pacing and faced us.

“I want you to get to know the contours of each other. Eli, get familiar with the small of her back, the curve of her neck, look at the elegance of her hands.
Willow,
touch his shoulders, his arms. They are the
power that lift
you. Look into his eyes. They hold so much untapped emotion. Meet him half way. Open up and really look at each other. Learn to find the trust in each other.”

My eyes met Eli’s. Tyson was right. Eli and I both knew it.

“You’re right,” Eli said.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “We’ve been stuck in the past.”

“We’ll figure this out,” Eli told Tyson.

And we would. I didn’t know how we’d get past the barrier, but I knew Eli was as much of a perfectionist, as am I. We would not fail.