CHAPTER 2
How had it come to this?
I was a stalker, a Facebook stalker.
I’d been snooping around my Aunt’s page, as well as Jamal’s and Jenny’s.
Uncle David had sworn he would never get sucked into the minding-other-people’s-business that he thought was Facebook, he was holding firm still.
No Facebook account for him, if he had one I’d be stalking him too.
I sighed and logged off my account, at least they hadn’t blocked me.
“Move your ass, Madi.” Dante yelled as he walked into our office.
“We’ve opened the side entrance doors to the Auditorium and the show starts in less than an hour and you haven’t even started getting ready. The seamstress is waiting for you to check your first costume fits. Did you pancake our ballet shoes for tonight? I hope you did.”
“They’re done.” I confirmed with a sigh and uncurled myself from the chair.
“Have people started arriving as yet, D?”
“Yes, the older students are doing well in their role of ushers tonight.”
“What about Janey? How is she holding up? It’s a big night and she’s only ten. Maybe we shouldn’t have cast her as the young version of the princess.” I chewed my lower lip as Dante physically dragged me out the office.
“She’s fine. Her mom is in the dressing rooms with her. If you don’t start walking faster, I swear I’ll throw you over my shoulder.” Dante warned.
I quickened my steps.
The first stirrings of excitement bubbled in the pit of my stomach.
Opening night.
My jitters hadn’t started yet, they would come right before I went on stage.
“Madi.” Gloria shouted as Dante frogmarched me down the hallways.
I spun around to see her legs hurrying towards us.
Her upper body was hidden behind a massive bouquet of flowers.
“Wow.” I muttered.
“These just came for you.” she said, trying to look at us around the bouquet.
I spotted a card and plucked it out as Gloria handed over the flowers to an impatient Dante before racing back down the hallway.
‘Thinking of you. Good luck tonight, poppet.’ It read.
I fingered the card, grinning like a fool.
I missed Matt terribly.
He had only flown to Russia yesterday.
“Stop daydreaming and move.” Dante yelled into my ear.
I made a kissy face at him then moved my ass.
It was opening night!
Everything became a blur and before I knew it, I was all costumed up, make-up flawless, and Brazilian blow-dried hair glittering with sparkly dust.
I peeked out from behind the corner of the stage’s curtains.
Oh God.
It was packed, and there was a group of people I knew were the media.
Damn it.
My suspicions they had been buying up tickets were justified.
Ah well, publicity was publicity.
Although, it still irked me they were only interested because of my public relationship with Matt, not due to the skills of my dancers.
Tonight we would show them.
“Five minutes people.” our artistic director called out.
I turned and crouched down, bringing my face eye level with Janey’s.
“You are going to be brilliant, sweetie. Just remember what Dante and I taught you.”
“Madi, I’m scared.” she whispered.
I smooth down the edge of her costume’s bodice and rested my forehead against hers.
“We’ll be on stage with you. Fifteen minutes, that’s how long you’ll be up there for. Then you come on again at the end to take a bow.”
“What if I make a mistake?” she asked, eyes wide and already shimmering with tears.
God.
Was it too much pressure?
What sort of a teacher was I?
How could I put this little girl up on stage when she was so scared?
“Then you make one, Janey. Mistakes aren’t all that bad. If people didn’t make mistakes then we’d never learn a thing,” I winked at her as I straightened up.
“But you won’t make one. I know you won’t. You’ve done this so many times you could do it with your eyes closed.”
I started leading her out on stage.
The curtains were still down.
Dante was grinning at me.
He looked amazing in his King’s costume.
I squeezed Janey’s hand and smiled as Dante took her hand from me.
“You’ll be brilliant, sweetie. I promise.” I winked once more and scuttled back off the stage to await my cue.
Opening freaking night!
“Madi,” Bri slid up behind me, her hands landed on my hips.
“Are you ready?”
“Are you?” I asked back.
We were the two main characters.
This was a story of a stepmother’s resentment for a child that wasn’t her own.
Forced to care for the princess after the King’s death.
Forced to watch her blossom into a kind, gentle beauty that threatened the Queen’s very self-worth.
Yes, I was the evil Queen, the bitch step-mom.
But love was a funny thing, it could take you by surprise.
“I’ve got the jitters.” Bri admitted as she rested her chin on my shoulder.
“Me too.” I confessed in solidarity.
The curtains were going up.
This was it.
The music started.
“Do you think they’ll like it, Madi? The ending?”
I bit my lower lip then stopped, not wanting to smear the lipstick.
“I hope so. Everyone deserves a chance at redemption, but Queenie still buys it in the end and you get the throne. Stop talking now, Bri. I’m on soon.”
Bri tucked a stray wisp of my hair back and grinned at me.
“See you on stage, Mummy.”
“Shush.” I hissed, while sneaking looks at the full auditorium.
All eyes were on Dante and Janey.
The King and his little princess.
The other dancers were in the wings like me, waiting for our moment to take to the stage.
I looked down at my hands, they were shaking.
Jitters.
I inhaled deeply as the music changed and caught the eye of the artistic director.
With my game face on, I exhaled slowly, releasing all fears in that breath and glided out into the lights.
I was a ballerina; the stage was my canvas, my body the brush.
I was going to paint my masterpiece tonight…
…
Breathe.
“Too tight?” Bianca, the seamstress, asked with a frown on her features.
I nodded quickly.
It was my third costume change.
I was due on the stage in under a minute and the bodice was having emergency repair work done to it.
“Hurry.” I commanded, trying not to bounce on my feet.
Frantic energy was flowing through me.
Nerves and excitement battled for victory through every fibre of my being.
If the nerves won, mistakes would be made.
I inhaled deeply to temper the overwhelming emotions that always came with doing a production on stage.
“Hurry.” I repeated.
Fifteen seconds.
I had fifteen seconds top.
“Go, go, go!” Bianca stepped back and I glided on to the stage.
The lights were bright, it was hot under the lights.
Liam stalked me gracefully.
His movements were controlled, brilliant and perfect.
I danced around him, skirting out of his reach with little jumps.
Gerrard grabbed my wrist from behind, pulling me into his body before we spun together.
I could feel the excitement of the crowd, like a living thing, building, just building.
Dante was in the wings ready to come on in his other role.
The mask he wore obscured his face but I could see the gleam in his brown eyes, delight at watching our baby come to fruition.
Our temporary dancers rushed the stage in a flurry of moves, some dainty and delicate, others forceful and frightening.
The whole auditorium quivered.
I could feel it, could practically taste it as we danced with abandon and flair.
I lived for this.
Dante sashayed on stage, catching my gaze.
We lived for this.
A grand jeté was executed by me.
Liam had just completed the Arabesque lift with Bri.
I twirled into the waiting arms of Eddie and we began our pas de deux .
Dante, my sweet Dante was fearsome.
His depiction of warrior man, protector of the Princess was exquisite.
Pas de deux completed, Liam gracefully stalked me again, capturing me up in a lift.
I let Liam’s arms carry me along then noticed one of our temporary dancers was out of place.
A low hiss of displeasure came from me and he either heard it, or saw my face, I don’t know; but when Liam lowered me to the ground the man was where he should be.
I lived for this.
It was the only time I felt alive, felt free.
Dance was in my soul and a two hour show was not enough time, it was never enough time for me.
The seconds flew by, the minutes raced and with a bittersweet heart my time was drawing to a close.
The toll of the second hour was upon me, upon us all.
And we danced with fierce joy, with desperation; for we all felt it, the yearning to continue.
But the story we told with our bodies, our movements, was almost over.
The auditorium was silent as Bri danced her ascension to the throne, graceful as a swan and just as beautiful.
Then the spotlight fell on me.
My last costume change found me in the sheerest of bodices, white skirt billowing wildly like my now loosened hair.
Dante, in matching white had returned to his role as King, or I should say the spirit of the King.
The Queen’s demise had been portrayed in a violent and raw manner.
The gripping choreography had the on-looking audience transfixed in their seats as they watched our story unfold.
A story of hate, jealousy, betrayal and love; and a step-mother’s realization that the young woman she despised was the same little girl who once looked to her with child-like awe and trust.
The Ice Queen’s heart had been melted, she had been redeemed by her sacrifice to save the one who now sat on her beloved throne.
I danced into Dante’s arms and my vision swam with tears.
It was a beautiful story, and if Dr Brown was here she would surely spout some psychobabble and draw reference to my life.
We danced and I felt free, but as they say: nothing lasts forever.
The final strains of music floated through the air as Dante and I slowed our movements.
Our spirits were at peace, together at last, watching over her.
The new Queen, our little one, all grown up and ruler of the land.
Then the lights dimmed and the curtains fell.
It was over.
I blinked at Dante, he blinked back as we held our breaths and listened.
There was silence on the other side of the heavy stage curtains.
Shit .
“Do you think-” I began to whisper then stopped as the sound of thunderous applause filled the auditorium.
Dante grinned widely and spun me around.
“We did good, sweet cheeks.”
All the dancers on stage started running over to us and we hugged each other.
Smiling and whispering as the applause got louder.
“We are the dog’s bollocks!” Eddie pumped his fist in the air triumphantly as the cheers went on.
The artistic director strode into our midst, reminding us the curtains would soon be raised for our unified bows.
“Where’s Janey?” I yelled.
Bri and Lisa were jumping up and down with glee.
I pulled away from Dante and ran to the wings, looking for my little star of a pupil.
She was fast asleep on her mom’s lap.
I smiled and crouched down.
“Janey, sweetie, wake up.” I called.
“Madi?” She opened sleepy eyes and peered at me.
“Is it over?”
I nodded, helping her sit up.
“Do you hear that, Janey? They loved it, they loved us.”
She grinned.
“Is it time for our bow?”
“Yep, come on little princess.” I smiled at her mom and took her hand before leading her onto the stage.
We all lined up and waited for the curtains to rise.
Opening night rocked.
My only regret was the fact Matt wasn’t out there in the audience.
That would have made the night perfect.
An hour later I was changed and still buzzing, laughing at any and everything as the patrons left.
I was in such a good mood I had even spoken to the press people who had attended tonight’s show.
Of course, they asked about my relationship with Matt and why he wasn’t here tonight, but I fielded those questions like a pro as I subtly pointed out the exits to them.
See?
Matt was rubbing off on me.
“Beautiful.” A Scottish voice said from behind me.
“You’re beautiful when ye dance, my wee lass.”
I spun around, eyes wide with shock, and encountered the grinning face of Dougal McGregor.
“Dougie.” I said much louder than I planned to.
His grin widened and he held a bouquet of flowers out to me, leaning down to press a kiss to my cheek.
The sudden flash of lights escaped my notice as I peered at the Scotsman and took the sweet smelling roses.
“What on earth are you doing here?” I asked, still flabbergasted to see him.
“Och, did ye think I would forget? Ye couldnae stop talking about this show of yours when we went to lunch that day.” he teased.
Then he got stern with me.
“Ye’ve not been answering my calls. Do ye not want to speak to me, lass? Are ye avoiding me?”
I blushed under my dark skin and stuck my face into the soft petals of my bouquet.
“Three missed calls isn’t avoiding you. I’ve been busy. These are lovely, by the way. Thank you. Did you enjoy our performance?”
“Aye.” he confirmed with a nod, reaching out to grasp my arm gently.
This time I noticed the flash of lights.
Darn it.
I thought the reporters had all left.
“What did you like most?” I asked, stepping back slightly so he had to let go off my arm.
He regarded me for a second then flashed me his cheeky grin.
“I’m not yet sure, Madi. Good thing I’ve got tickets for every night your show is on. I’ll let ye know on the final night.”
My mouth parted in surprise and Dougie fiddled with his cufflinks.
He wore a simple black suit with a white shirt, no tie, and the first few buttons of his shirt weren’t done up.
“You bought tickets for every night?” I asked in disbelief.
He nodded with a pleased look on his face.
His brown hair had grown since the last time I saw him.
Thinking back to our lunch reminded me of the Skype tiff with Matt.
Oh crap.
Matt did not want me fraternizing with Dougie.
Hence my ignoring the Scotsman’s calls.
I hadn’t told Matt about the calls.
I simply didn’t want to deal with the drama.
“Madi!” Dante was waving me over to where he stood with a bunch of people.
I held a hand up, signalling 5 minutes, then turned my attention back to Dougie.
“I hope you didn’t feel obligated to come.”
He flashed me a charming smile and shrugged.
“I wanted to see ye dance. Congratulations by the way. I read about your engagement to Bradley.”
I couldn’t stop my mouth from curling up at the mention of my engagement to Matt.
“Thank you.”
Dougie glanced at my bare left hand and tsked.
“Dinnae tell me he’s too cheap to buy ye a ring.”
I shook my head at him, stifling a laugh.
He really was an amusing character.
And I still loved his accent.
“I’ll have you know he has bought me a ring. I’m sure there was a picture accompanying the article you read.”
He flashed white teeth at me, wearing that ‘aw shucks’ look on his face.
“Aye, there was.” Then he changed the topic with a perplexed, “I prefer ye with those wild curls. What have ye done to your hair?”
Dougie brushed the hair off my shoulders before I could react.
The hell?
What was it with these men and my hair?
Touching a black woman’s hair…
I’m not a freaking doll.
I shook my head again.
“I have to go mingle now, Dougie. I’m glad you enjoyed the show.”
“I’ll see ye tomorrow night then.” he said.
I clutched my roses.
“Thank you for these. Enjoy the rest of your night.”
“Until tomorrow.” he repeated and winked before walking away.
I blinked quickly.
That was weird.
Why did he make it sound like a date?
I sniffed my roses and hurried over to Dante’s group.
“And here is my partner in crime.”
Dante flung an arm across my shoulder when I stood by his side.
He made the introductions and I grinned at everyone while accepting their praises for how well we had done.
This socializing I could deal with.
Not some stuffy function where I couldn’t laugh madly or fool around without fear of reprisal.
“Your pas de deux was exceptional.” A soft spoken female voice said from behind me.
I turned around quickly to voice my thanks and encountered a young black woman with chunky braids and shy eyes.
“Thanks. Did you enjoy the show?”
She nodded quickly and tugged at the collar of her coat.
“I just wanted to say you were great on stage. You don’t really see many black people doing what you do.”
My gaze searched her features.
Now that I assessed her properly, she looked around my age, maybe a bit older.
I gave her a friendly smile.
“Well, hopefully that will change in the future.”
She fidgeted then started backing away.
“You were great.”
Before I could thank her again she spun around and fled towards the exits.
Okay then.
Fingers cross my quota of strange interactions had been filled tonight.
It was gone 1am when we finally left.
I drove home quickly, wanting to be in bed before my buzz fizzled out.
Today was a new day and we would have to do it all over again this evening.
I freaking loved my career.
After a shower I donned my p.
js and risked a call to my knight.
Russia was 3hours behind, he just might still be awake.
“Hello? Matt?” The connection was scratchy.
“Poppet? Is that you?”
“Yes. Can you hear me? The line’s all funny.”
“Hold on a moment…there, any better?”
I could hear him clearly now.
I snuggled under the duvet and smiled to myself.
“Tell me,” he ordered in his deep voice.
“How was opening night?”
“It was great, hon, everything was perfect.” I gushed.
“I’m glad to hear it. I wish I could’ve been there.” The regret he felt was obvious.
My heart tugged at the tone of his voice.
“I know, Matt. How are things with you? Is it very cold over there?”
He let out a snort.
“Freezing, but the hotel is pleasant enough. Adam returned to his room not too long before you called. We spent most of the day going through reports.”
I made a sympathetic sound then decided to bite the bullet before cowardice won out.
“Umm, I have something to tell you, but you must promise not to act crazy.”