If anyone ever said she, Abigail Armstrong, would ever fall for someone like Samuel Lieberman, she would have laughed in that person's face and cut them with her vicious words. In her opinion, feelings and being nice was overrated and she saw no interest in any of it. But in the end she did fall for him. It happened slow and pretty much against every attempt not to like him. But he sneaked up to her in a way she never experienced. At first, she wanted to kill him in many creative ways. He was not good enough partner for her. Doing pas de deux with him was a nightmare for any dancer who wanted to be someone in the world of classical ballet. After few weeks of dancing together, they were forced to have bonding time. Stupid Sammy got their task wrong, so they spent 24 hours tied together and it made her see him in a different light. First part of the day they spent doing ''her'' things. They danced, she was doing some exercises to get her body strength on a higher level and then she made him do her cardio routine. It was funny to see him stumble and in the end not be able to stand. He just fell on the pavement and tried to catch his breath.
''You are pathetic Lieberman.''
''You are sadist, Armstrong…''
'' Don't be such a sissy…''
''I am not…''
''Yes, you are… You must work on your stamina and technique. You will never be a lead if you don't…''
''Maybe I just want to dance…for pleasure of dancing…''
''No one wants to ''just dance''. There is no such a thing…''
''There is… It's just…something you don't get because you don't see dancing as a pleasure, but task.''
''Get off that floor… Let's go Liberman…''
He got up and followed her to the building. She untied their knots so they could change and shower and then they would meet up in the common room and get tied up again.
''Abigail, I have big family thing tonight…''
''As much as I hate it, we must stay tied…So we can't separate…''
''I know… That is why I am inviting you to come with me…''
''Tied up?''
''Maybe not tied up, but together…''
''When is it?''
''Six…''
''Five in the common room?''
''Sure…''
That gave them about forty minutes to get ready. She put on baby pink dress and her hair was in a perfect bun. Sammy was in a suit and he looked like he will puke any minute.
''Are you nervous?''
''No! Yes… a bit…''
She nodded and they started walking towards the door. In front of their dorm was a very nice car.
''My dad sent Michael to pick us up…''
''Ok…''
Car ride was quiet, but Abigail was watching Sammy carefully. She studied her partner and tried to figure out what was wrong with him. Why he didn't like his family and didn't want to go and see them. They stopped in front of a beautiful mansion. Michael opened the door for them and Sammy showed Abigail the way in. When they entered, they heard voices. House was full. Sammy's grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were already there. They got into the living room and all eyes were on her. Sammy brought a girl home, a very beautiful girl. He felt uncomfortable.
''Everybody, this is Abigail Armstrong… Abigail, this is my family…''
Sammy's mom introduced herself and the entire family to her. She had time to study each and every one of them when they got to the table. His grandparents were not very pleasant people. They didn't like his mother because she was not Jewish and was just a housewife. Sammy's aunts were married to two douche bags who stared at her chest entire time and made inappropriate comments at the table. Sammy's father was a cold man who took each chance he got to humiliate him and make fun of his choice to dance. Abigail knew men like his dad. Her father was the same. Instead of being hot shot doctor, her dad was a lawyer who always had something more important than her and her sister Page. Her mom was an ex dancer who never got over getting pregnant at the age of twenty and never dancing again. So, Sammy's world was something she knew too well. He really had fun with calling him all sorts of names and he enjoyed how family did too. Than he turned towards her.
''And what about you Abigail?''
''What about me?''
''What do you dance? What is your position?''
''I usually do leads…''
''And you are stuck with our Sammy…''
''In a way…''
One of the cousins got into the conversation…
''On scale from one to ten… How much he sucks?''
They all laughed, Sammy was unconfortable and Abigail was a bit shocked how much hostile they were…
''I must say… he is solid seven… There is no ten… there is always space to improve and he is working hard. So I must say that he is a very hard worker and I admire his ability to face his fears…''
''What is his biggest fear?''
She gave them a wicked smile…
''Me… and he faces me every day and spends hours dancing with me…''
''I wouldn't mind facing you every day…''
''Oh, you would… And with your comments, you would often get an elegant kick to the…hm… crown jewels… let's say that…''
Sammy giggled. ''Crown jewels'' was how he referred to his…testicles when she almost kicked him during the rehearsal. The fact he used his words made him laugh…
''So what? You are some sort of a bithc?''
''Jason, watch it! Language!''
''I am… Oh, I am and Sammy will conferm it… Will you Sammy?''
''I… I don't want to interfere in this… Keep me out…''
His father was annoyed…
''Don't be such a sissy boy! State what you think!''
''I think she is just very…dedicated and overworking herself…''
''Come on! She said she would kick me in the balls, that is a bitch comment…''
''And you were inappropriate…''
''Come on! Every normal boy would want to bang her!''
''Stop it!''
''What? Are you gay and disagree with me?''
Sammy's grandmother ended it all.
''Will you behave? Stop this stupid discussion…''
When she noticed that Sammy can't take it anymore, she placed her napkin on the table and smiled at all of them.
''This was delightful meal Mrs. Lieberman but we must leave. We have early hours in the workroom so we must have some rest. Have a nice evening…''
They got back to the car and Michael was taking them back.
''I am sorry for this. You must hate me?''
''No, I don't…''
She looked thugh the winow and saw the beach….''
''Want to take a walk?''
He nodded and they got out of car. She took off her shoes and started walking. She found nice place in the sand and took a seat… He got to her and took a seat.
''Are you OK?''
''I don't see why are they like that? You are a good person Sammy…''
''I sense a compliment there Abigail?''
She smiled…
''Let's not get ahead of ourselves…''
''Oh, sorry…''
She smiled back at him…
''Abigail… Thank you…''
''For what?''
''Making me feel like I don't suck…''
''Oh, but you do… You have weak arms, you are not on point, you don't work as much…''
She saw how he lowered his gaze…He felt bad… and she felt bad for saying all that after all the things family told him…
''But you are hard worker…and you will be better…''
She got of the sand and took his hand...
''Let's go Lieberman, we have work to do…''
''What?''
''Take off your pants and dance with me…''
''Here? Now?''
''No, next week… NOW!''
He got up and took off his clothes. They danced for some time and it was time to go back to the dorm. She got to the stairs and he started walking to his room.
''Lieberman…. Five in the morning… Room seven…''
''Ok. See you…''
They went to bed and morning came too soon. They met in the hallway and walked together to the workroom. She made him starch and explained what they would do that day. Until he was putting on his lenses, she was getting the music ready. They danced for two hours and they had English after that. Sammy, Kat and Tara were joined by the hip out of pas de deux and she didn't get why would anyone want to be their friends. Tara was a little farm girl who believed to be a dance royalty and Kat...her ex best friend… she was a ballet royalty because of her mother and father. Karamakov family was ballet royalty and she was always surrounded by people who wanted to meet her. During lunch, Kat and Tara went to eat with their boyfriends and that left Sammy alone. Kat had new flavor of the month and Tara finally got to date Kat's brother Ethan. Sammy didn't want to be third wheel and he couldn't find Christian either. He saw Abigail sitting in the corner and eating her carrots.
''Can I join you?''
''Oh, your passy left you hanging?''
''No… I…''
She gave him a look…
''I don't want to be a third wheel…''
''So you came to bother me?''
''You are my partner… I am not a bother…''
Abigail rolled her eyes and got back to counting how many calories she put in today. Sammy was not big fan of her diet, but was so afraid of her to make any comments about it. He k new better than to mess with her.
Two weeks later, a new girl named Ariana came. She was an exchange student from Italy and she got her eye on Sammy. She was a good dancer, but she didn't have Abigail's edge and energy. She was very cute. Long blond hair, green eyes and pail skin. She was like puppy dog around him. Kat and Tara found it cute and did all they could so two of them would spend more time together. They noticed how Sammy's eyes would light up when they had pas de deux and how he would smile. Little did they know that new girl had nothing to do with that smile. They were working on Sammy and getting him to admit he likes Ariana.
''Come on Sammy! We know you like her…''
''I do not!''
Kat was still pushing…
''Look at her… She is so cute and hot… What's wrong with her?''
Sammy looked at the new girl. Honestly, she was beautiful. She looked like porcelain doll, but Sammy realized she had too pail skin, too bright eyes and too bright hair… When they danced, she was polite and patient. She was giving him advices what to improve and helped him with it when they were paired up. So, she was perfect in a way…but it was not enough… SHE WAS NOT ABIGAIL ARMSTRONG! Sammy was shocked when he realized who he liked. She was the worst possible choice, and he was mad about her. She somehow grew on him. He could feel her and feel there was much more to her than she let others see. She was mystery to him and he had to solve her. He had to know all there is about Abigail Armstrong.
Kat and Tara were on a mission to hook him and Ariana up and they were not giving up. So they organized group of people to go to the movies. By some miracle, there were couples and him and Ariana. They were in the common room getting ready when Abigail came in with her bowl of fruit. She gave them all a look and got to the sofa.
''We have big exam in a few days and you are all going out?''
''Yes, Abigail… Some of us have a life…''
''Some of us don't have parents who can get them as far as they want to go…''
Before Kat could respond to that, Sammy spoke…
''You can come with us….If you want…''
Tara, Kat and all the others gave him a look... No one really liked Abigail… When she saw the look on Tara's and Kat's face she smiled at Sammy…
''Sure, give me five minutes…''
She went to the room and put on jeans and her new black cardigan. She put on some makeup and got down. They were all ready to go now. Sammy sat with her on the bus and made sure she is included into all the conversations. He really tried, but Abigail was being Abigail. Even when some things she said were true, she was harsh in saying them. They got the tickets and went to eat something. Boys went to get food and girls found the table. Kat and Ariana talked like crazy, Tara was texting her boyfriend and Abigail just stared at one place trying to get herself not to feel hungry and crave all the crap they are all going to eat. Boys got bunch of greasy food and sodas and Abigail flinched when she realized how many calories they are going to have. Ariana looked around and there was no Sammy…
''Where is Sammy?''
''No idea… He will be here in the minute.''
Few minutes later, Sammy came with two fruit salads and water. All of them gave him a weird look. Kat stared at the tray in disbelief…
''What on Earth is that?''
''Fruit salad and lemon flavored water… Real lemon squeezed…''
He saw Abigail smile a bit… He placed the salad and water in front of them and offered her hand sanitizer and a fork.
''You are eating salad? Look at all this food!''
''She doesn't do carbs after three and I am keeping her company… After all, she didn't get to have her fruit salad because of me. I invited her to the movies…. So, it's my duty to make it up to her…''
Kat rolled her eyes and ate her burger. During the movie, Sammy sat between Christian and Abigail, as far as he could from Ariana. She felt bad because she really wanted to sit with him. Abigail enjoyed how Sammy was avoiding the girl in very clumsy ways. He was trying to be nice, but it was not working, girl wasn't getting it. After the movies, Sammy made sure to be close to Abigail because that meant that Ariana and all the others would leave him alone. They walked behind the others and Abigail was very silent.
''Did you invite me so she would leave you alone?''
''No, I wanted you to go…''
''Why?''
''You are my partner Abigail…''
''Sammy, be honest…You want that girl off your back and you invited me because you want to make sure no one comes close to you. No one likes me and you are safe as long as you are with me…''
''No, I like spending time with you and I don't care what they say…''
She just rolled her eyes and continued walking. In next few days, Abigail ate less and less and felt a bit weak. But she had to keep dancing. She had to keep working. On the day of the exam, she felt sick, but gave her best to cover it. She was so hungry that she believed some of the people are food. She and Sammy started dancing and she missed few steps. He tried to lift her but instead she fell on the floor and didn't move. Mrs. Raine got off her chair and ran to Abigail. Sammy got her off the floor and carried her to the doctor's office. Dr. Cooper said that she should go to the hospital and when Abigail's mother came, she took her to the hospital for the checkup. Sammy spent entire day waiting for the news. He felt bad and guilty. He knew she was not eating well. He should have said something. He hated waiting.