Graceful Ashes (6 page)

Mrs. Vurdo and I said out goodbyes as I reached my building. I rushed up the stairs to my floor and barreled down the hallway like a bat out of hell. Taking only three whole minutes to change into black leggings, a pale pink leotard, and wrap a long sleeve button down shirt around my waist, I then slipped my feet into a pair of running shoes that would get me from point A to point B.

I rounded the corner of the building and pushed through the double glass doors. As expected, the hallway was empty and silence filled the air. My shoes squeaked against the tile floor as I slowed my pace. The studio door was shut and the lights were off, which eased a little bit of my worry. I didn’t want spectators when I ran through the routine.

Once the lights were on, the door shut, and my dance shoes on, I sat up my iPad on the shelf that housed a boom box and hit play. Although we’d run through the routine in class a few times, Mrs. Vurdo had sent out a video on Thursday to help us master the routine. So here I was kicking myself in the ass as I watched video break down of each step, jump, and spin, which made up the first half of our new routine.

A little over thirty minutes had passed when I stopped the video and cued up the music for the routine on music player app. As the music sprang to life I turned toward the large mirrors that stretched the wall at the front of the room. In a way the room reminded me of Graceful Moves, just a darker, yet more mature version. I smiled at the thought of Tegan teaching little dancers how to move their bodies to the music in a graceful way. I had been one of those tiny dancers who graduated to a summer dance instructor there. My heart ached at the thought of home and how much I missed it. But the last thing I needed to do was dwell on not being home when I had less than three hours to get the routine down pat in hopes of scoring a lead role for the year’s main recital.

I shook the thoughts from my head and took a deep, lung-burning breath before tapping the screen on the iPad to replay the song. As the melody danced through the air, I shut out all of the aspects of life that had been clouding my mind. My body moved freely with the elegant flow of the song. I closed my eyes and became the moves of the routine, instead of simply executing them. Like being a singer, dancing demanded to be experienced. Dancing was as much an emotion as crying or laughing, and the way your body expressed the music could either make or break the story being told. My body had a way of telling the story, full emotions and all, which I needed to show in front of Elizabeth Vurdo and the rest of my classmates. I craved to make my mark on Juilliard, to show them who Zoey Fisher was, and to leave little piece of me here so I’d be remembered once I was long gone.

Dancing was my life, my soul. I needed to hold on to that aspect, even when I was drowning in my massive failures. I would no longer take no for an answer.

As the song came to a close my chest heaved and a thin layer of sweat covered my body. A slow clap came from the doorway and I spun to see who had been watching me. I couldn’t believe my eyes so I blinked a couple times, thinking the person against the doorjamb wasn’t real.

“That was amazing.”

Hendrix’s baritone voice filled the room.

To hide my embarrassment at being watched without my knowledge, I swiped the stray hairs plastered to my forehead into the half-assed bun holding my messy locks.

“Thank you.” I smiled then bit my bottom lip when heat crept through my cheeks. “What are you doing here?” I crossed the room to my bag sitting just inside the door, and pulled out a hand towel to dry my damp face.

His signature smirk lifted the corner of his mouth.

“I told you I would find you.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head, willing the butterflies swarming in my gut to flutter their self on to somewhere else. Why couldn’t his remark come across as creepy?

“That you did.” I opened my eyes.

Hendrix hadn’t moved from the doorway, but he sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and his deep navy eyes scanned my torso before slowly connecting with mine again.

“Usually I would say that outfit isn’t very flattering, but you do it justice.” Hendrix pushed off the door and joined me inside the studio, allowing the door to close slowly behind him.

As he moved closer, I walked backwards until I was dead center of the room. My body heated when he touched my bare arms and slowly turned me. My eyes connected with his in the mirror and he stepped closer until his front was flush with my back. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, hoping he didn’t see the slight tremor rolling through me at his close proximity.

“What are you doing?” My voice was thick and hoarse.

One of his hands dropped to my waist and moved across the material of my leotard until it was flat against my lower stomach.

The button down shirt tied around my waist blocked my most intimate area from his touch, and for that I was thankful. Hendrix wasn’t creeping me out or sending any kind of signal that I should run. Instead he was igniting a fire within me that had never burned before. One that would rage into something wild and untamable if I wasn’t careful, but I had no idea how to be careful when it came to him. I dropped my gaze.

“Do you see the contrast between the two of us?”

His words brushed across the shell of my ear.

My gaze connected with his once again. Without distance from the mirror, his eyes appeared dark, almost the same shade of brownish black as my own, but I knew they weren’t.

Hendrix lifted my arms straight up into the air. I linked my hands and his lean muscular ones clasped my own. The tone of his skin was quite a bit darker than mine, tan where I was pale. But I hadn’t noticed that until he pointed it out. His thick almost jet black curls hung haphazardly, brushing his shoulders, whereas my long straight chocolate colored hair stood out in contrast.

“Yes.” I breathlessly replied.

“Not only are we different in skin, eye, and hair color, but in life altogether. I’m not a good person, Zoey. I ruin lives.”

I turned in his embrace, our noses less than an inch apart. I’d never been brave about expressing my feelings or desires, but with Hendrix I was going to be. “Contrast makes the world blend. What’s the point in living a cookie cutter life? I don’t want that. I want something that makes me feel alive, that evokes a passion so deep within me that I feel like I’ll die if I don’t have it.”

He dropped my arms, and we stood toe-to-toe with our hands hanging loosely at our sides. “Fuck,” he growled.

His hands went deep into my hair, pulling my face closer to his. I didn’t have time to register what was happening before his warm plump lips pressed against mine, and his tongue begged for entrance.

My mouth fell open and Hendrix took advantage. His tongue rolled against mine as I shook the temporary shock away and joined the heart-melting kiss. I gripped a handful of curls with one hand and clawed at his shoulder with the other. Never in my life had I felt the sensations pulsing through me from Hendrix’s lips on mine. The passion in his movements was mind blowing.

I heard a noise. Somehow through my passion-induced fog, I registered someone clearing their throat, but Hendrix didn’t stop his assault on my lips until I pushed at his chest. Once we broke apart, my gaze connected with the person who’d intruded on our private moment. I took a giant step away from Hendrix. The man standing in the doorway had disgust written across his face.

“This room isn’t open for people to have a rendezvous in,” the campus security guard said.

I glanced at Hendrix who balled his fists as he turned to face the man. At the murderous look on Hendrix’s face, I knew I needed to step up and say something first.

“Sorry about that.” I smiled sweetly. “I’m practicing my routine for my class this afternoon. He’s just here to watch.” I stepped in front of Hendrix to keep him from acting on his anger.

“I was told the building would be empty so I’m going to have to ask the two of you to leave.”

I dropped my head back against my neck. Was I confident about the routine? Didn’t matter. I had to pack up my things and leave the building until Mrs. Vurdo arrived.

“Yes, sir.” I nodded then collected my things.

When I went to toss my bag onto my shoulder Hendrix grabbed it and slid it onto his own.

“I’ve got it.”

His deep voice sent chills across my skin.

“It’s the least I can do after getting you kicked out of here.”

I gave him a small smile as we slipped past the security guard and left the building without making a fuss.

Chapter Six

“Where you headed?” Hendrix stopped just outside the glass doors.

I continued walking in the direction of my building. “Home,” I said without a backwards glance.

“How about we go grab lunch instead?”

I halted.
A meal with Hendrix?
I whipped around to face him. “Seriously?”

Hendrix laughed. “Seriously.”

“I don’t know…I don’t even know your last name…” I diverted my eyes to my feet and realized I still wore my dance shoes. “Son of a…”

“Whoa there.” Hendrix held up his hands. “I didn’t mean to rattle the bear.”

“It’s not you.” I plopped down in the grass and motioned for him to come closer.

“What are you doing?” His eyebrow arched but he didn’t budge.

“I need my tennis shoes,” I huffed. “I didn’t realize I was still wearing my dance shoes.” I lifted a leg and wiggled my foot at him. “The last thing I need is to ruin them. Now please, come on over and give me my bag.”

“Sure thing, my lady.” Hendrix bowed and dropped the bag by my side. “It’s Vano by the way.”

“What?” I looked up at him.

“My last name, it’s Vano.”

After I switched my shoes, Hendrix’s hand appeared in my line of sight. I looked up and our eyes connected as a wide smile spread across my face. “Thank you.” I slipped my hand into his and he gently pulled me to my feet.

“So, lunch it is?” he asked.

I dusted off my backside. “Sure, why not. I have some time before I have to be back here anyway.”

“Don’t let me put you out or anything.”

Confusion hit me hard at his response. “What?”

He bent down and tossed my bag back onto his shoulder. “You have an attitude about me asking you to lunch. If it’s a big deal don’t worry about it. I just thought it would be the least I could do after what happened back there.”

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry.” I wrapped my hand around his bicep. “I didn’t mean to give you attitude, I’m just stressed out about this routine that I haven’t practiced.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “The life of a college kid. I’m glad I skipped out on that.” He linked his hand with mine.

A silent sigh passed my lips from his touch. “Do I get a choice on where we eat?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.” He chuckled.

“I forgot just how nice you are, Hendrix.” I gave him a sideways look and grinned.

“Well, if you’re going to be around me much you better get used to it.”

A deep belly laugh escaped me as we headed to the parking lot just outside of the building. I had no idea where he was taking me, let alone how we were going to get there.

“How far is this place we shall be eating at?”

“It’s a little ways away.”

“Okay.” I scratched my head. “Are we walking or taking the train? Because if we’re taking the train I’d rather drop my bag at my apartment.” I nibbled on my bottom lip as I awaited his response.

“Neither actually.” Hendrix let go of my hand and I instantly missed its warmth.

“What do you mean?” I halted in the nearly empty parking lot and watched him approach a sleek black motorcycle parked beneath a shade tree.

Oh, hell no.

Hendrix unhooked the lone helmet on the back of his bike and held it out. “Here. Put this on.”

I shook my head.

“Zoey, I’m not playing. Put this on.” He shook the helmet at me.

“Hell to the no, Hendrix.” I kept shaking my head as I pointed at the contraption under the tree.

“Live a little, Zoey.”

The corner of his lips tipped up in a smirk, teasing me to take the leap and get on the motorcycle with him. A long annoying breath passed my lips. “Why not.” I spoke out loud, but more for myself as I approached Hendrix who perched against the motorcycle.

He extended the helmet, and I paused, debating if I was making the right move.

Hendrix eyes narrowed just before he placed the helmet on my head and buckled the strap beneath my chin. I stood complete shock, not saying a word while he straddled the bike.

“Stop being such a pain in the ass and get on.” He held out my backpack.

I slipped it on and hooked my leg over the bike. I had no clue what to do with my hands until Hendrix reached pulled them securely around his waist. He gave them a little pat before the bike roared to life.

“Ready?” He grinned as he slid sunglasses over his eyes.

My stomach flopped like a fish out of water. “Yes.” The rumble beneath me roared and we took off. I squeezed my eyes shut as I fisted Hendrix’s shirt. I’d never been on anything other than a four wheeler, and that was a long as time ago. After I had a horrible wreck Talon put an end to that. If he caught wind of me being on a motorcycle, even if I was well over the age of eighteen, he would probably bust my ass for it.

“You okay back there?” Hendrix called out.

I took a moment to steady my heart and catch my breath. My eyes slowly opened and connected with his sunglasses covered ones in the side mirror and I nodded.

Was it a lie if I nodded and didn’t actually speak the words?

My heart thundered at an erratic pace while my entire body shook from the nerves pulsing through me. Why I had talked myself into getting on the damn bike was beyond me, but apparently I was my own worst enemy with all of the dumb shit I kept talking myself into.

The bike slowed and took a turn left into a smaller parking lot that was surrounded by bushes and a few trees. My head whipped to the side as I took in a retro looking building with Skip’s Diner in neon lights across the front—a diner like the ones in abundance back in the fifties, but you didn’t see them often these days. It was as if we had stepped back in time, and I absolutely loved it.

Hendrix planted his booted feet on the ground and I quickly took off the helmet and slipped off the bike. My hands shook from the anxiety over my first motorcycle ride, but the rest of my body had calmed.

He slid his sunglasses up onto his head. “You good?” One of his eyebrows rose.

“For the most part.” I clasped my hands together.

A full blown smile lit up his face. “Your first time?”

The teasing tone of his voice, along with his question, caused my cheeks to heat. “Excuse me?” I flinched like I’d been slapped.

He lowered the kickstand then got off the motorcycle. “On a motorcycle.” His eyebrows dipped low in the middle. “Was it your first time on one?”

“Uh…” I wanted to slap myself upside the head and hide in the corner for all eternity for thinking he’d meant sexually. “Yeah, it, umm, was.”

Hendrix chuckled under his breath as he positioned his hand on my lower back and we walked toward the front entrance of the diner. A bell chimed above the door as we went inside. Just like the outside, the interior was as if we had stepped back quite a few decades. Black and white checked tiles decorated the floor with leather red bar stools at the front of the place. Red leather booths lined the opposite wall of large windows. My mouth hung open as I took in the waitresses. Yes, they were all women. Women decked out in poodle skirts with ponytails most cheerleaders would envy and perfectly winged eyeliner with vibrant red stained lips. If I hadn’t known better I would’ve swore that Hendrix had taken me into the past via his motorcycle time machine.

“This place is amazing!” I glanced around as we slid into the first empty booth, opposite of one another.

“Yeah, I’m partial to this place.”

I cocked my head and grinned. “I had no idea it existed.”

“A lot of people don’t realize it’s here. But the food is awesome.” Hendrix took two menus from their resting place in a little metal holder against the window and handed me one of them.

After scanning the pages a couple times I knew my eyes were bigger than my belly. “It all looks so good.”

“That’s because all of it
is
good,” said a waitress with a southern twang and a genuine smile on her ruby red lips. “I’m Jean. What can I get—Hendrix I didn’t even notice it was you!” She squeezed his shoulder.

“Hey, Jean.” He smiled back at her. “I thought I’d show my friend Zoey here what good food is.” Hendrix nodded in my direction and I playfully slapped his forearm resting on the table.

“You’re such a mess, Hendrix.” Jean turned her attention to me. “Very nice to meet you Zoey, but you have to ignore this guy. He knows how to give ya a hard time.” She gave me a wink and pulled an ink pen from her hair.

“Oh, I know exactly what you mean.”

Hendrix sat back in the seat and stretched his arms across the back of the cushion. “I’ll take a sweet tea, Jean.”

“Well, I already knew that.”

I loved sweet tea, but I hadn’t found any decent iced tea in New York, so I settled on water instead.

Jean’s smiling self said she would return shortly with our drinks as she left us.

I leaned across the table, placing my arms on the cool speckled top. “Is the sweet tea good here?” I whispered, hoping only Hendrix would hear me.

A belly laugh escaped him and I shushed him to stop bringing attention to us.

“Are you serious?”

His amused grin only seemed to grow wider and I nodded.

“Does a bear shit in the woods?”

I scrunched my eyebrows as I sat back in the booth and pulled my arms into my lap.  “Yes I’m serious. I haven’t had a good glass of sweet tea since I moved here.” I spotted Jean heading our way with our drinks.

“Well that’s about to change,” Hendrix said.

“Here you two go.” Jean was still smiling brightly as she sat our drinks on the table. “I’ll give y’all a few more minutes before I come back to take your order, ‘kay?”

“That’ll be great,” Hendrix said with a smile.

All of the smiling going on was something I hadn’t seen much since I’d planted my happy self in New York, I’d missed it.

Hendrix pushed his glass across the table. “Try it.”

Instead of drinking from the straw, I placed the rim of the glass to my lips and took a teeny tiny sip. The tea was good, absolutely delicious actually. I took a large gulp. “This is the best sweet tea in the state of New York.” My voice was close to shouting. “I’m declaring it.”

“Told you,” he said.

His amused smirk on his perfectly shaped lips mesmerized me.

“You can keep that glass. I’ll have Jean get me another.” He winked.

My heart flopped from its usual resting spot within my ribcage to my stomach, awakening the butterflies that fluttered rapidly within my gut. Hendrix knew exactly how to make a girl swoon for him, and I was his current victim of choice.

A willing victim at that.

“So tell me a little about yourself.” I said, hoping like hell he would.

“Not much to tell.” His gaze dropped to the table.

“I’m calling bullshit.” I teased, hoping to see his smile once again.

His eyes lifted and connected with mine. The intensity in their depths caused me to swallow.

“I’ve lived in New York my entire life.”

“Go on.” I urged.

“Like I said, there isn’t much to tell except that I’ve been on my own for years now.”

I wanted to dig deeper into that, but since he wasn’t offering the information upfront, it was most likely a bad idea. So I changed the subject. “So how do you know this place?”

Hendrix took a long pull from his straw. “It’s kind of a family thing.” He shrugged.

Obviously he didn’t want to talk about
the family thing
, but I was dying to know. “Oh come on. Don’t be shy,” I said, poking the proverbial bear. “You’re usually the one that is pulling things out of me, not the other way around.”

Hendrix’s eyes narrowed a fraction, but I noticed. And his close-mouthed grin faltered.

“My mother used to bring me here a long time ago.”

His words “a long time ago” grabbed my attention. They were the same words I used when someone asked about my parents. My heart ached at the thought of him enduring a life without his parents. Even though I wanted to push for more information I knew firsthand how much it sucked when people wanted you talk about situations you didn’t feel comfortable talking about…loss being one of those.

“That’s nice.” My reply was short as Jean sat our food on the table.

“If you need anything just give me a holler, I’ll be around.” Her sweet southern voice lessened the tension between us before she headed back toward the bar.

I knew that choosing something big and greasy wouldn’t be the best idea with a practice session this afternoon, so I’d settled on a grilled chicken salad with extra dressing. Dumping both containers of dressing onto the salad I noticed that Hendrix was watching me instead of eating. I paused and gave him my full attention. “Something I can help you with?”

“Do you want some lettuce to go with that blob of dressing?”