Amaya
K
eith approaches me cautiously. His hand is wrapped and bandaged in gauze. What the fuck happened to his hand? He’s smoking a cigarette with the other.
Gross.
“I just wanted to apologize for the club. I’ve not been myself lately, but I’m sorting my shit out. I need you, Am.” I feel kinda bad for him but that doesn’t excuse his actions. His hair is disheveled, black circles ring under his eyes. He looks tired and hungover.
“Keith, I’d like to say I’m happy you’re getting your shit together and that I’ll be your friend, but I can’t do that. I hope you move on with your life and do well for yourself. But it won’t be with me.”
“There’s no life for me without you in it. We were good together. We can get that again.” He flicks his cigarette to the ground and snuffs it out.
“No, Keith, we can’t. I don’t love you. I don’t want to be with you, not now and not ever. I’ve moved on, you need to do the same.”
“You don’t get it. My parents, you know how much pressure they put on me.” He tries grabbing my hand with his good one, but I step back out of his reach. “I still haven’t told my parents we split up, I just said you were away over the summer, they would be beyond pissed if they knew. You know how much they adore you. They’ll be coming to the first game, say you’ll be there, pretend for them—that we’re still together, please.”
“That’s not my problem. I will be going to the first game, but it won’t be for you, I’ll be going for Tate,” I lie. “So, you should probably tell them we’re over. I have to go. I have plans.” I start walking away.
“Wait,” he calls out, and I stop even though I should just keep walking. “The Halloween auction is coming up. I hope you win my bid.”
I sigh and start to say something about my hating him but think better of it. What’s wrong with him? Why can’t he just take a hint?
“At least let me take you to dinner to make up for being such an ass.” He offers to take me to my favorite seafood place. Ugh.
“Not gonna happen,” Tate says from behind me. “I told you before, Amaya is with me now. You need to accept it and move on. You gotta quit harassing my girl, or I’m gonna have a talk with Coach.”
I don’t need Tate fighting my battles but think better of mentioning it right now with
Keith present. I want him to think I’m with Tate so he’ll back off. It doesn’t matter what Keith thinks. I’ll know the truth, but the more time I spend with Tate the line is beginning to blur. Tate wraps his arms around me.
Keith looks sad and walks away slowly, defeated. As much as I hate him, I don’t like hurting him on purpose.
Tate squeezes me into a hug. “What’d he want this time?”
“You know if you keep this up, people are going to talk.” I change the subject.
“So, let them talk. They already do. What we do is none of their business. It’s between me and you. No one else.”
“That might not bother you, because you’re used to the attention. I like just being me. I don’t need people trying to come at me to get to you. Tate, you don’t need to save me all the time.”
Tate doesn’t say much more. “Oh shit, Coach is gonna kill me, I’ll chat with you later, Amaya.” He runs trying to make it to practice without being late.
I’ve gotta get going myself. I start jogging and pray I can still make it on time. Getting into the dance hall, I’m exactly on time, everyone is just now walking into class. Thank god.
“Class, get into position. Now, as you all know, our late fall production happens in November. This year we will be doing a theme based on the popular children’s movie Frozen.” She pauses waiting to see if anyone will say anything. When no one does she carries on. “Class today will be about me watching each and every one of you, to see which role you are getting. Instead of people auditioning for certain parts, I will just pick who gets what at the end of this session.” She claps her hands together and turns on the music.
We skip barre warmups. Moving straight to arch presses and warming up our arms and necks.
Madam Webster divides us in groups of five to observe us.
The rest of us watch too while waiting for our turn to shine. Some people wrap their shoes while others do a few more stretches.
Finally, it’s my turn and I can only hope my leaps and turn outs are strong. I go through the set feeling confident. I end with reverence and can only hope she took notice of my improved form.
“That’s it for class today everyone. I will be thinking over the parts tonight and will reveal who gets what part in class tomorrow.”
I pick up my bag and head out of the dance hall. I did my best, maybe it wasn’t good enough, but I hope I at least get something. This could be my big break. Scouts always come to the fall recital and it will be my chance for them to see me.