~**Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Center Stage except memorabilia.**~
Cooper's Realization
"And I hear you got yourself a Principal dancer..." Cooper Neilson turned around
quickly as he say Jody Sawyer emerging from the building, "Are you with me?" he asked
her anticipation in his voice. "I'm with you..." she grinned, and his heart soared. He
swung her around, and looked deep into her penetrating blue eyes... one of the many
attractive features she had to offer. "You're not gonna regret this..." Cooper leaned
forward and caressed her cheek before kissing her. But before he could, she pulled
away,"Cooper... you're an amazing dancer, and a great choreographer but..." her voice
trailed off, "As a boyfriend... you kinda suck." It was then she ran off to meet with
Charlie Simms, and Cooper began to slowly realize that his chance was lost. Charlie
stroked Jody's face in a warm and gentle kiss, and behind them a sigh was heard. Cooper
felt a sudden let down, as if his heart and soul had been completely sucked from his
body. He hadn't fully realized the danger of his situation. After being hurt before, he
didn't see an Ace in his deck of cards. But quite to his surprise, it was the Queen
of Hearts that snuck up on him. Jody was that special woman he had been waiting for,
and he knew it deep down the minute he saw her leaving with someone else. What a idiot
he had been! At one time, it was he that cradled her in his arms, and he who held her
heart in the palm of his hand. Cooper turned a full circle round, and walked away from
the celebration. His head hung low, chest aching with stabbing pain. Thinking back to
the night at his loft, he remembered taking her innocence away, and then the evening
of the Stars and Stripes performance was when he betrayed her. The agonizing stabbing
feeling soon gave way to wave after wave of incredible remorse. Why had he been so
cruel and heartless in the first place? It was because of Kathleen, the woman he had
loved more than anything... she had ran off and married Jonathon, after they had been
having a long affair. How could he ever trust again? Could his heart mend enough to let
love in once more? He hadn't thought so. Salty tears began to slide down his cheeks,
and mixed in with the rain that had steadily began to fall. His emotions distorted every
feature on his face, and Cooper tried his damnedest to keep from being seen in such a
vulnerable state. What he wouldn't give to be able to pull her away, and say all that
was on his mind, in his heart. But Jody had moved on, she was now with Charlie, and
there was no way in hell that he'd have a chance to ever tell her how he felt. For
Charlie was the type of guy that knew what a good thing was. By the time he reached
ABA, it was past dark. He looked up into one of the dorm windows, the drapes were pulled
shut... but he knew who lived there. "I love you Jody..." he whispered blowing a kiss to the
window, "I hope he makes you happy..." Then stuffing his hands into his pockets, he walked
away. Cooper Neilson was a scorned lover yes, but he was also a foolish man... a man who
had thrown away the best thing that could have happened to him. And what for? To fuel his
damaged pride, giving him a sense of control. But in the end, any control he had was
completely lost. How could he go on now? Day to day, looking at the woman he loved
knowing he couldn't have her. To dance with her, to touch her and remember she was with
another... that could practically kill him. Breathing a deep sigh, Cooper stared at his Harley
before getting on and going home. To the place filled with sad memories, the remembrances of
that evening; the wine they drank, the music he played... his bed, where he had made love to
her. It all hit him like a thousand knives being thrust into his body. He lay down that night,
and cried himself into a tortured, dreamless sleep... and all the while calling out Jody's
name. Would he ever find his resolution? Would he finally be at peace? All these questions
were to be answered in the future...
Cooper's Realization
"And I hear you got yourself a Principal dancer..." Cooper Neilson turned around
quickly as he say Jody Sawyer emerging from the building, "Are you with me?" he asked
her anticipation in his voice. "I'm with you..." she grinned, and his heart soared. He
swung her around, and looked deep into her penetrating blue eyes... one of the many
attractive features she had to offer. "You're not gonna regret this..." Cooper leaned
forward and caressed her cheek before kissing her. But before he could, she pulled
away,"Cooper... you're an amazing dancer, and a great choreographer but..." her voice
trailed off, "As a boyfriend... you kinda suck." It was then she ran off to meet with
Charlie Simms, and Cooper began to slowly realize that his chance was lost. Charlie
stroked Jody's face in a warm and gentle kiss, and behind them a sigh was heard. Cooper
felt a sudden let down, as if his heart and soul had been completely sucked from his
body. He hadn't fully realized the danger of his situation. After being hurt before, he
didn't see an Ace in his deck of cards. But quite to his surprise, it was the Queen
of Hearts that snuck up on him. Jody was that special woman he had been waiting for,
and he knew it deep down the minute he saw her leaving with someone else. What a idiot
he had been! At one time, it was he that cradled her in his arms, and he who held her
heart in the palm of his hand. Cooper turned a full circle round, and walked away from
the celebration. His head hung low, chest aching with stabbing pain. Thinking back to
the night at his loft, he remembered taking her innocence away, and then the evening
of the Stars and Stripes performance was when he betrayed her. The agonizing stabbing
feeling soon gave way to wave after wave of incredible remorse. Why had he been so
cruel and heartless in the first place? It was because of Kathleen, the woman he had
loved more than anything... she had ran off and married Jonathon, after they had been
having a long affair. How could he ever trust again? Could his heart mend enough to let
love in once more? He hadn't thought so. Salty tears began to slide down his cheeks,
and mixed in with the rain that had steadily began to fall. His emotions distorted every
feature on his face, and Cooper tried his damnedest to keep from being seen in such a
vulnerable state. What he wouldn't give to be able to pull her away, and say all that
was on his mind, in his heart. But Jody had moved on, she was now with Charlie, and
there was no way in hell that he'd have a chance to ever tell her how he felt. For
Charlie was the type of guy that knew what a good thing was. By the time he reached
ABA, it was past dark. He looked up into one of the dorm windows, the drapes were pulled
shut... but he knew who lived there. "I love you Jody..." he whispered blowing a kiss to the
window, "I hope he makes you happy..." Then stuffing his hands into his pockets, he walked
away. Cooper Neilson was a scorned lover yes, but he was also a foolish man... a man who
had thrown away the best thing that could have happened to him. And what for? To fuel his
damaged pride, giving him a sense of control. But in the end, any control he had was
completely lost. How could he go on now? Day to day, looking at the woman he loved
knowing he couldn't have her. To dance with her, to touch her and remember she was with
another... that could practically kill him. Breathing a deep sigh, Cooper stared at his Harley
before getting on and going home. To the place filled with sad memories, the remembrances of
that evening; the wine they drank, the music he played... his bed, where he had made love to
her. It all hit him like a thousand knives being thrust into his body. He lay down that night,
and cried himself into a tortured, dreamless sleep... and all the while calling out Jody's
name. Would he ever find his resolution? Would he finally be at peace? All these questions
were to be answered in the future...