*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. THank-you all so much.
Later that evening before Chelsea's pre-school classes were coming for their ballet lessons followed by her senior ballet class Chelsea was working on a dance alone in the studio. Chelsea always liked to go to the studio an hour ahead of time so she could dance she usually worked on her jazz or hip hop dances but that particular night she was creating a contemporary piece for her senior class to the song "Trapped." Dancing was Chelsea's passion and she loved to dance. She danced through so many tough times in her life but it was the dancing that got her through so that night was no exception. She was feeling down because of everything that happened with Cody. She felt trapped in her father's world as she couldn't date the man she wanted to so she put her emotions in her dancing which helped her to come up with an amazing piece. She ran the piece at least 5 times once it was all put together. She had just finished the 5th run through when she heard clapping coming from the corner of the room. It startled her at first as she had been the only one alone in the ballet studio. "Hello," said Drew with a smile as he finished watching her dance.
"Um, Hi," she said as she turned the music off. "Can I help you?" She had no idea who he was. She just knew that he was one of Cody's friends.
"You dance beautifully," he said with a smile as he walked into the studio over to Chelsea. "That was amazing."
"Thank-you," she said as she grabbed her water bottle to take a drink. She was a little embarrassed as she stood in front of him in nothing more than a black camisole leotard with white footless tights, lyrical shoes, with her hair in a messy bun and had been sweating. "What can I do for you?"
"I saw you with Cody last night," he said looking at her with his blue eyes.
"Okay," she said. "You were there when we went out to the bar. What can I do for you?"
"Are you and Cody an item?" he asked. He was not being shy about it. He wanted to go out with Chelsea and the only way it was going to happen was if he was straightforward .
"Cody and me?" she asked. "No. Not at all." It hurt her to say that. She wished they could be but she knew it would never happen. "Why?"
"So you're single?"
"Yeah," she said trying to figure out what was going on and what he wanted from her.
"Nice," he said, "so am I."
"That's cool. I guess," she said. "So is there something you wanted? I have a pre-school ballet class coming in in about 10 minutes."
"I was wondering if you wanted to go out to have dinner with me tomorrow night? I am off from work and I am staying in Phoenix for a couple days. I was just wondering if you would go to dinner with me?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said. "I don't even know you. What is your name?"
"I'm Drew. And I know you're Chelsea."
"Yeah. Nice to meet you," she said hesitantly. She wasn't sure if it was a pleasure to meet him or not.
"So dinner tomorrow?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said, "I don't even know you."
"So you'll get to know me tomorrow night. I'm not a bad guy. I won't hurt you," he said. "I promise." He stared at her with his blue eyes.
Chelsea looked back into his blue eyes with her dark brown eyes. His eyes seemed sincere and they were mesmerizing. "I don't think my dad will approve of me going out to dinner with a wrestler," she said.
"You're an adult," he said. "You can do what you want."
"I know but I'm not sure it's a good idea," she said. She was pretty hesitant not only because he was a wrestler but because he was Cody's friend. She didn't feel it was right to go out with one of his friends when he was interested in her. She would never want one of her friends; like her best friend Alyssa, to go out with Cody when she was interested in him. It just wasn't her to do something so underhanded although if Cody saw them together that might make him want to step up and go against Dave's wishes.
"Come on," he said taking her hand. "I told you I'm not a bad guy. If you're 22 you can do what you want."
"How do you know I'm 22? I never told you that," she said removing her hand from his. "Are you stalking me? And how did you know this is where I worked?"
"It's just some information I heard backstage," he said.
"From who?" She asked curiously.
"Cody," he said. "He was talking about you today. He was talking about your night. He said you were all grown up and you slept with him."
"He did?" she asked as she felt her heart break.
"He did," he said. "Sorry to tell you that. So about dinner tomorrow night?"
"All right," she said. "I'll go to dinner with you." She felt it was the perfect revenge to get back at Cody for talking about her. "Did he tell everyone backstage?"
"Everyone," he said. "So do you want to meet here and I pick you up to take you to the restaurant?"
"That will be fine. My last class ends at 8:30 or is that too late?" she asked.
"8:30 is fine. I'm a wrestler. I live a late life. I'll see you at 8:30 tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow," she said with a smile.
"Have a good night," he said.
"You too," she said with a smile.
He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on her cheek. He looked at her and smiled. "Sorry but I had to. You're just so beautiful."
"Thanks," she said as she blushed.
"Well, I'm going to get going. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow," she said letting him out of the studio. As he was walking out she saw that her pre-school class had arrived so she invited them in. "Come on in girls," she said before shutting the door after they had all entered. That entire night her mind stayed fixed on her date with Drew. He wasn't that bad looking of a guy and he seemed to be a good guy so it was worth the chance for her. She knew her father wouldn't be happy but it was her life.
After she was done teaching for the night she was exhausted so she closed up the studio, locked up and went home. She arrived home and her dad was sitting in the living room with her mom. They were sitting on the couch across from Jordynn who finally made her way home after being gone all night and all day. "Hi, Chels," said Dave as she walked into the room. "We were just talking to your sister about how she should be more like you."
"Oh," said Chelsea.
"How was your night?" asked Alex.
"It was good. I have a date," she said.
"With a student's dad?" asked Alex. "Isn't that a conflict of interest?"
"It's not with a student's dad," said Chelsea. "It's with someone else."
"Um are we done here?" asked Jordynn, "or is this all about Chelsea."
"Go to your room," said Dave. "We're done. You're grounded for a month."
"Ugh. Whatever," she said as she got up. "Wouldn't want to interfere with Miss Perfect." She stormed past Chelsea purposely bumping into her as she made her way to the stairs.
"Sit down," said Dave.
"Okay," said Chelsea as she took Jordynn's place.
"I thought we talked about this this morning," said Dave.
"We did but it's just a dinner date," said Chelsea. "It's not like I'm marrying the guy."
"Is it Cody?" asked Dave.
"What?" asked Alex. "Why would she be going out with Cody?"
"Because she spent the night with Cody last night and he's getting a divorce."
"He is divorced," said Chelsea. "But I'm not going out with him."
"Then who is this guy?" asked Alex. "And nothing happened with you and Cody did it?"
"No, Mama," said Chelsea, "Now keep an open mind when I say this."
"Oh God," said Dave. "This doesn't sound good."
"Dad, come on," said Chelsea. "Just be open minded."
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Drew McIntyre," said Chelsea.
"What?" asked Alex and Dave together.
"Absolutely not!" said Dave. "Absolutely not!"
"He's not a bad guy," said Chelsea.
"I don't agree with this," said Alex. "I'm saying no."
"You don't get to tell me what to do anymore," said Chelsea. "I can do what I want. I am an adult. If I want to go out with Drew I'm going to do it because I WANT to."
"You live in my house," said Dave.
"I know but what's so bad about Drew?" asked Chelsea. "I thought he was nice."
"He's a womanizer," said Dave. "He is not a nice guy. You know what he does to women?"
"NO, Dad what?" she asked.
"He sleeps with anyone or anything. If he's coming after you it's because he only wants one thing and then once he gets it he will kick you to the curb. He is not that great of a guy."
"Dad, I thought he was nice and I'm going to go out with him no matter what you say."
"And I can't convince you otherwise even though he is probably only out to sleep with you?" asked Dave.
"Do you think I would sleep with him?" asked Chelsea.
"I don't know would you?"
"I'm not like that dad so no I wouldn't."
"So you still plan on going out with him?"
"Yes, Dad. I am an adult. I can do what I want," she said getting up. She was tired of being told what to do and what not to do. She wanted to make her own decisions.
"Well, then," said Dave. "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into."
"I do," she said as she walked out of the living room.
"I don't' like this," said Alex.
"Neither do I," said Dave. "I don't like it at all."
"But she's right," said Alex. "She is an adult and she can do what she wants. IF she makes a mistake she will learn. WE all make mistakes at some point and we all learn from them."
"But what I am worried about is her making that one mistake that will ruin her entire life. I don't want her to mess up her life before it even gets started. She doesn't need to date right now. She needs to focus on herself and her dreams. She can go far if she allows herself to but if she gets caught up with guys how far do you think her dreams are really going to go?"
"Well, Dave, I know she's your little girl and she will always be a baby in your eyes but you have got to let her do her own thing and let her make her own decisions. If she falls she will get back up. Let her grow up. Let her be an adult."
"It's hard to let go," he said. "I can't knowing she's making a mistake."
"But that will be for her to decide," said Alex. "Just relax."
"I just hope she knows what she's doing."
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.
