Chapter 34 Tabitha #2
“You don’t want me to talk? Then what’s the point of going?”
“Being there is the point. I want these women to see you as a lovely young lady.”
“Well, Camila and Yvette won’t be there, so I’ll probably have no compulsion to open my mouth.”
“Oh, yes. The Andersens think they’re too good to organize an event. They just like to show up and be seen. And the Garcias. Oof. That’s some drama.”
I wave it off. “I don’t want to talk about them.”
Mom smiles at me. “Good call.”
Mom drops me off in front of the studio. She wishes me luck, only after making a snarky remark about not all the tuition fees going to waste. Sheesh. And she calls me the brat.
Once out on the sidewalk, it takes all my willpower to actually go inside. I’ve never walked into the dance studio without following directly behind Camila.
“I’m glad you’ve returned,” Miss Taylor welcomes me as I enter. “Your friends didn’t decide to join you?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m solo.”
Miss Taylor smiles. “Not anymore. You have an entire class of friends waiting.”
Okay, that was super sappy, but I appreciate the sentiment.
Miss Taylor shows me where to take my position, and ahead of me is Camila’s step-sister, Penelope.
Penelope brushes back a loose strand that has fallen out of her soft blonde ponytail and smiles at me. “Hi.”
I wave, feeling like I’m fraternizing with the enemy. “Hi.”
“Is Camila here?” Penelope asks.
“Ah, no.” When will it get through my head that Camila is the enemy? “She’s not coming back.”
Penelope sighs, looking down at the shiny timber floor. “That’s a shame.”
“You wanted to see her?”
She looks up, nodding. “I never get to see her. It would be nice if we could get along.”
I suck in a breath, gritting my teeth.
Her shoulders slump. “That’s never going to happen, is it?”
I raise my palms in a shrug. “Never say never.”
“I know Dad wishes we were closer.”
“Dad?” I question. “You don’t mean Cammy’s dad?”
Penelope blushes and gives a slight nod.
“You call him Dad?” Whoa. No wonder Camila’s pissed.
Penelope fidgets awkwardly. “Yeah, he wants me to. It’s nice to finally have a dad.”
At that, it’s like a knife has plunged into my heart. I can’t imagine longing for a dad. Mine might be tough, but he’s a provider and I know he loves me.
“Are you happy?” I ask Penelope.
She brightens but answers warily, expecting an attack. “Yeah, I am.”
I smile at her. “That’s amazing. I’m glad.”
“Thanks. Oh, and I hear you and your mother are attending the planning committee for the upcoming garden party.”
“We are.”
Excitement changes Penelope’s entire demeanor. “My mom and I are too. Dad wants us to integrate more into the Victoria Falls community. I’m still scared of transferring schools. He’s really pushing for me to do it soon.”
“Are you holding back because of Camila?”
“It would be easier if we were friends first.” She sighs. “I keep dreaming she’ll become my sister.”
Maybe in some alternate reality she already has. “Camila was hurting for a long time. But her dad has been seeing her more often. Maybe things will turn out for the best sooner than you think?”
Penelope crosses her fingers. “I sure hope so.”
As class begins, I can’t help thinking about how much Camila would hate the fact I’m talking to her step-sister. Vile words float inside my head. I easily imagine Camila using them to describe the sweet and dainty girl, dancing in front of me.
Camila’s wrong. Penelope isn’t the enemy, and neither is her dad. Her parents fell out of love. I’m sure all the games Camila’s mom plays didn’t help the situation.
I shake out of my thoughts, disabling Camila from ruining my dance class experience.
This time, when I step together and then behind, I don’t trip myself up.
Clear-headed, I focus on Miss Taylor’s instructions and concentrate on my footing.
With tension melting off my back, my body loosens up, and I let the beat of the music guide me through the steps.
When Miss Taylor calls out the final combination for this part of the dance, I find myself smiling. She cuts the music, and like a giddy fool, I clap. Penelope turns to me, mirroring my smile, clapping with me.
“Thank you, Tabitha,” Miss Taylor calls out. “You’ve brought fantastic energy tonight. Everyone is feeling the music, right?”
A few girls send me winks, smiles, and waves.
With relief, my shoulders roll back, and my hips loosen.
Miss Taylor walks us through the next combination, and I take it in with a newly lit passion. Last time I was in the studio, I was distracted by Yvette’s incessant gossiping, and terrified to receive a verbal beat down from Camila.
Right now, there’s no hostility in the room. Ah, can this class last forever?
The only good thing about the dance class ending is seeing Kai. He texted me during class, offering to drive me home. As if I’d ever say no to that.
At the end of class, Miss Taylor thanks me again for coming back. “And I’ll see you next week?”
“Yes, hopefully.” Dang it. Something tugged inside me, stopping me from one-hundred percent committing.
Miss Taylor nods. “I hope so too.”
I leave the studio and find Kai waiting on the pavement.
“How’d it go?” Kai asks, excited.
“I think I might’ve cured my two left feet,” I say, half-kidding.
Kai loops an arm around me. “You must’ve had fun. You’re wearing a huge smile.”
“I feel way more confident,” I admit. “I actually concentrated on learning the steps. It’s like everything else melted away.”
“That’s what it’s like at soccer practice. I knew you could do it.”
“I don’t think I realized how scared I’ve been. I told you, I’m not good at anything. But really, I’m always in my head, wondering who’s talking smack about me. Ah, and that only led me to go on the attack to save myself.”
He leans in and presses a kiss to my forehead. “You don’t have to feel that way anymore. You’re safe.”
I pull an arm around him and sigh. “This class felt so good. I didn’t focus on pointing out our teacher’s flaws or making cracks about Camila’s step-sister. Who, by the way, is actually really nice.”
“You talked to her?”
“Mm-hmm.” The dance studio door opens behind me. I turn around to see Penelope leaving and wave to her. “Bye. See you next time.”
“Bye-bye. It was good to see you again,” Penelope says, waving and leaving the opposite direction.
“That’s her?” Kai asks.
“Yep. It’s so sad. She wishes she and Camila were friends.”
Kai snorts. “Did you tell her she’s better off not knowing her?”
I snigger. “Almost.”
Kai’s arm rests along my shoulders, and he walks me toward the strip mall. “Do you want a peppermint mocha before I drive you home?”
“That sounds perfect. Will you try one this time?”
“Yeah, I’m game.” He smiles down at me. “You know, with your newfound confidence, you could give that dance arcade game another try.”
I send him a wink. “I think I’d like that.”