Disclaimer: The characters you recognize from the Twilight Saga belong to S. Meyer, but all the other characters belong to the very talented writer yay4shanghai, and live in the universe she has created. She's just letting me borrow them for a while, to write this story which is part of her wolf-verse.
If you haven't read any of the stories from yay4shanghai's universe, you totally should, they're very well written and will have you hooked in no time! Reading her stories will help you understand this one, since it revolves around two of her characters. Phil, being one of the six wolves to join the pack just before the end battle in BD, and his imprint Tara.
AN: It was so great to read the reactions to the start of this story! Now for the other side of it, Tara's pov, have fun!
A lot gratitude to my beta yay4shanghai, for doing a wonderful job and remaining calm while I tested her patience relentlessly, by asking her an endless amount of questions about her universe and its characters!
A lot gratitude to my beta yay4shanghai, for doing a wonderful job!
Ignition
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POV: Tara
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"And a 5,6,7,8!" I counted down their latest routine, as I watched them move to the music, or at least try.
Most of the girls in this class, were quite young, so with the occasional exception, most were still having difficulties remembering the combinations and listening to the music at the same time. But what was most important to me was that they had fun, nothing created a bigger motivation to do your very best than loving what it was that you were doing.
There were always those few girls that showed natural talent though, no matter how young they were, for example there was Maddox Ateara. Maddox was an seven year old Native girl from the nearest reservation, La Push, she had started dancing with me about one and a half years back, and what a talent she was. How she sparkled when she danced, her whole face lit up, as did mine as I watched her thrive. She was excelling in different areas faster than I could have imagined, she moved with a natural grace that was rare to say the least.
Such a sweet girl at that, her and Chloe, the oldest of my two daughters, struck up a friendship within weeks after Chloe had started joining classes. Which was a few months after Maddox had, now as her mother I'm biased of course, but I think she's quite the aspiring talent. Chloe had yet to turn six and Maddox was seven, but despite the age difference they got along very well, and were quite the duo to watch. Her parents Quil and Claire, were always very interested in what Maddox was doing. You might think it's normal for parents to be interested in what their children do, let me assure you it's not always a given.
The dance studio in Port Angeles was nothing major, it wasn't even the highest paying offer I received but I liked it and the owner Estelle right away. It had a certain ambience to it, I felt at home here, as did my daughters. We had come to Port Angeles when Ava was only a few months old and lived in a small apartment very close to the dancing studio, so for three years this had been our home. Estelle and the other three instructors at the studio made us always feel welcome even my youngest daughter Ava, who at three years old, was still a bit young to start dancing. Estelle spoiled them both, and Adrian the only male instructor at our studio (a very talented hip-hop dancer) doted on my Ava like she was a rock star. No one made a fuss or even thought it was odd when Ava sat in classes on nights that our regular sitter wasn't available.
Even when she got older I would let her make up her own mind about dancing, I hoped she would try it out but I refused to be one of those parents. You know the ones, the 'I couldn't do it myself so you're going to make my dreams come true' ones. I had been there, living my dream, ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a dancer. Maddox's little sister, Harley the Hellion, as we lovingly called her around the studio, had been enrolled in lessons this January and well as you can guess from the name dancing just didn't suit her.
Dancing isn't for everyone, but it was my first true love and I worked at it as much as I could. It's what kept me from acting out, mostly, when my parents divorced. I poured all my anger, frustration and sadness into my movements during training, six days a week.
It was a hard life, but in the end it was worth it, the months of blood sweat and tears were forgotten as soon as opening night arrived. Now that I was teaching, I looked at dancers differently, and could finally see what people had been telling me for years. Dancing, knowing the steps of the choreography perfectly, was only half of it. More was needed to capture your audience, a certain energy, conviction, and expression, something I couldn't explain with words, though I knew exactly how it felt. It was an energy that drew eyes to a dancer and were able to hold them throughout the entire show.
If anybody had ever told me that teaching, would be at least as exhilarating as dancing itself, even if it was an entirely different sort of excitement, I would have become a dance instructor much earlier. Though the thrill of being on stage was absent, the pride of seeing those little ladies perform at the recitals we organized every few months, was absolutely unrivaled. Most of the parents were happy to see their daughters dance, no matter how it looked.
Sometimes I still missed it, I felt like I had only had been able to perform such a short amount of time, like there could have been so much more than the dance company I danced for in Miami. I had worked myself all the way to the top, and especially those years after I graduated high school I was able to enjoy it to the fullest. It wasn't long after my 17th birthday that I had met the father of my daughters, Nicholas. He had been a few years older than me, and that was one of the good things about him if you asked me, not according to my parents though.
Well, as I looked back on it, I couldn't blame them, the idea of one of my girls dating a 25 year old guy at the age of 17, didn't exactly appeal to me. I was convinced I knew it better than them though, after all, their relationship hadn't survived either, so who were they to tell me it wasn't smart? When I graduated and I turned eighteen a few months later, I immediately moved in with him. Much to my parents surprise we actually made it work… at first at least.
Now I realize that our relationship exactly run like others did, we saw each other minimally because we both had very busy lives separate from each other and in truth we knew little about the other's goals and dreams. At twenty I felt like the world was opening up to me, there had been inquiries about me from dance company's in New York, London and San Francisco. That's when I started to see just how different our life paths seemed to be leading, because while I was starting out Nick was already established and his career was a priority to him. In fact it wasn't until then that I realized exactly how high of a priority it was, and his world revolved around Miami.
The discussion and tension of a possible split of long distance relationship didn't lasted long though, because weeks later I found out I was pregnant. It had been an almost impossible decision to make, having to choose between becoming a mother or fully exploring the dance career I'd worked so hard for. Though eventually I knew I had made the right choice, my girls were my everything, and I never regret having them, not one single day.
That didn't make it easier though, when I announced my very young retirement and the reason thereof, my fellow dancers those who shared my spot at the top looked at me like I had lost my mind. The other ones, those girls still working their way from the bottom called me and idiot, but were happy for it all the same, when I left there would be room to claw their way up the ranks. Dancing, ballet especially can be ruthless. Why would I put myself through such a horrible body ruining thing like pregnancy? I cried, a lot, until the day my beautiful Chloe was born, I loved the little creature instantly, that day I knew my sacrifice hadn't been in vain, she was more than worth it.
Having a baby changed me and my life so dramatically, and my relationship with Nick underwent a serious transformation. My once so glamorous life had now become one filled with baby noises, milk and dirty diapers, and Nick was often absent for the worst parts. Not that I minded those things entirely, I enjoyed being a mom, but I missed contact with the outside world, having conversations with grownups. Nick mentally checked out when Chloe was still just a baby and contact with ex-colleagues didn't help much either, I was constantly reminded of the life I used to have. I felt lonely and had no idea how to make a shift into the other direction.
When I discovered I was pregnant again, I was over the moon about it, I never liked the idea of having an only child, but at the same time I realized my relationship had come to an end, and I was terrified of being a single mother. Nick lived his life without us, we only existed when he got home, and at times even then he was caught up in paperwork and files. When I told him I thought it would be better if we split up, he reacted very calmly. He treated it like a business deal. We had never married so paperwork didn't need to be filed, he accepted my reasons and did not argue them, in fact he agreed, he had no time to take care of children on his busy schedule.
During the last months of pregnancy I had started preparing, I knew it would be smarter to wait until after the baby was born, I would have to regain my strength after the delivery. I made arrangements and searched for a job, which wasn't hard, since only two years ago I had been a big part of a well known dance company. The idea of making a big change in scenery appealed to me. Miami was beautiful but I wanted my daughters to experience all four seasons as I had in Louisiana, so when a dance studio in Port Angeles, Washington made and offer I accepted instantly.
Nick had no objections whatsoever to us moving to the other side of the country, which stung, still did a little. He packed us up, even helped us find an apartment here, and promised to support us financially. He got weirder as it came time for us to leave, he seemed to be emotionless when it came to us, but at the same time he was too proper to not help out financially. He had kept his promise, his check was in the mail every month, never late which angered me sometimes. The money was appreciated but at points, like moments when little Chloe sang me lullabies, I want to go back and shake him and force him to see how much he was missing.
Though it was hard for me having the girls not knowing their father, it was a good thing that they were too young to remember him, they didn't miss him. Chloe had stopped mentioning him months after we had moved. We had been here for three years, and after I got used to being a single mother, things worked quite well for us.
I watched the young girls, all dressed up like miniature ballerinas, I could tell there were some who already displayed that special energy. I was extremely proud to be able to count my daughter as one of them, as my eyes wandered to the corner where little Ava was desperately trying to keep up, I realized that there was no need to push at all, I had passed along my love for dancing to both of my girls.
I let my eyes drift over each one of them, looking for areas they were still struggling with. There were only minutes left in the class and I wanted to take notes for our next lesson. When I set my clipboard down near the stereo I turned to make encouraging comments but I got sidetracked by a very, very handsome man watching the class. I could see his reflection through the mirror wall, it was the kind you saw at police stations, one side was a mirror the other a window, which allowed parents to look I without their little princesses getting distracted. He stood on the other side looking in intently with stunning hazel green eyes. I don't think he noticed me, which all narcissism aside was a surprise because most men looked at me. I'm still young, and what magazines liked to call exotic because it was a nice way to say not Caucasian. My mother was a proud and educated African American who hailed from the south, a small town in Bernard Parish Louisiana, and my father a second generation Chinese American.
I couldn't quite pinpoint the man's features, he had a tan and slightly defined cheekbones but his eyes were stunningly clear and his hair held an almost sandy quality. The fact that he was so attractive didn't negate the fact that he was watching a class of very young girls, mostly 6 through 9. His obvious interest was a bit disconcerting to say the least, I would keep a close watch on all of my girls when they would be picked up later, as a mother I was ferociously protective of my students, the world is a cold place and it was not easy to trust.
When I dismissed my students I watched them closely, watching each parent as they greeted their girls. My eyes stayed on the tall and extremely handsome man, but his eyes were all for Maddox. I stopped her.
"Maddie, come back for a second." As a mother I would want anyone who was responsible for their care to call me if someone else tried to pick up my girls, so I gave Claire the same courtesy. As I made the call he came forward, making my heart accelerate. His eyes, when he looked at me it made my stomach clench, he was honestly the most gorgeous man I'd ever seen, but that didn't mean he couldn't be a pedophile.
When Maddox's mother Claire gave me the okay, I apologized, feeling increasingly more stupid with each word that passed my lips. He waved it off and even his hands were perfect.
"Mommy, can Maddox come with us tonight, she could stay over?" Chloe ran to my side and the look on his face told me everything. I'm still young, but dating, even if I wanted to was pretty much impossible because what guy wanted a girl with two beautiful little girls as baggage?
I promised Chloe we could call Claire in the morning and set up a play date in the morning, saying our goodbyes to Maddox and Phil, though my whole body screamed to keep him close.
Looking at his broad back while he walked away, I gawked. I had been able to hide the impact he had on me during our brief meeting, but now my mask had dissolved. Who was this Phil Lynch, and why did I react so strongly to a man I had just met, it made no sense to me at all. I felt… tingly, that was the best way to describe it.
Throughout the rest of the evening his image invaded my thoughts, especially those eyes, I'd never seen eyes like his, and the intensity of them was insane. The way he had been looking at me, just remembering it, gave me goose bumps.
Chloe held me to my promise the next morning, she wanted Maddox to come over, and dialed the number expertly a soon as I said it was an appropriate time to call. It was probably a good idea for her to come here, she'd be bored out of her mind, cooped up with her sick brother and sister all day. After she'd finished her conversation with Maddox, she handed me the phone, so I could make arrangements with Claire.
"Tara, do you mind if I came along with Maddie? I've been dealing with my sick young ones the entire week, and Quil's taking over so I could use an afternoon off," Claire and I were developing a friendship gradually, we got along really well; that combined with our daughters growing bonds, made me think that we'd be very close friends one day.
"Of course I don't mind Claire, you're more than welcome. I could use some company," I said honestly. It would be nice to have a good friend. Besides the people I knew from the dance studio, I didn't have many real friends, and despite getting along with the teachers great, it was different somehow.
"Thanks, what do you say, about one o 'clock this afternoon?" It was ten in the morning now, so that gave us plenty time to get ready.
"One's fine, see you then!" After hanging up, I ate breakfast with the girls, so we could shower and get dressed later.
During the weekends our days started slow, the girls got up pretty early and I wasn't one to sleep a whole in the day either. But we'd hang around in our pj's until quite late, being silly and watching cartoons, until hunger drove us to enjoy a breakfast that almost counted as lunch. Not today though, today we'd sped up our regular Saturday routine, making sure to be ready on time.
The girls were practically bouncing of the walls, awaiting the arrival of Maddox impatiently. When she did arrive with Claire, I was barely able to restrain Chloe and Ava from running out the door. They rushed towards Chloe's room, pulling Maddie with them, almost instantly after she'd stepped over the threshold.
You could say all you want about the insignificance of a child's friendship, but I thought it was absolute nonsense to believe what they shared, to be unimportant. To me it was very gratifying to see them so happy about spending time with the other, Harley was quite a prominent member of their little group, and I was sure all of them felt sad that she wasn't here today, Lee herself most of all.
When Claire walked in after her daughter, I was truly happy to see her, she was a lot of fun to hang out with. I was reluctant about admitting it, but a small part of why I was looking forward to spending the afternoon with her, was because she knew Phil. This meant I was actually stooping to the level of trying to satiate my curiosity through her, and I felt guilty about it. Not that I could do anything about the way Phil occupied my mind, and the sudden fascination that came with meeting him.
It was so not like me at all, to get infatuated with a guy so easily, not a single man had caught my interest since I'd split up with Nicholas, sure I was able to appreciate nature's gift from time to time, but always from a distance. This was different, I was sure he'd felt the igniting of a flickering flame, the moment his hand touched mine. This was something all together different.
