Chapter 6
The next morning when Rick reached the stage, already dressed and with two cups of coffee, he found Kate lying on the floor, eyes closed while listening to music on her iPod. The dancer smiled for a moment, watching the beautiful scene, her chest rising and falling with her breath, in a set of black leotard and skirt.
Rick then sat next to Kate, leaning the cup of coffee for her, that was warm, on her cheek and Kate smiled, opening her eyes and staring at his blues:
"It's creepy to stare..." She muttered, sitting and accepting the coffee while the two bowed, exchanging a sweet good morning kiss, lingering a few seconds longer.
"How did you know I was watching you?" Rick asked disappointed, thinking he'd managed to surprise her.
"Well, you can be quite noisy sometimes..." She teased him, laughing and taking a sip of her coffee, feeling the warm, sweet liquid. But then she opened a beautiful smile: "But you always manage to surprise me bringing my morning coffee."
Rick smiled satisfied with Kate's words while they drank their coffee and talked about the day, their rehearsal, both eager for the night, when they would go out on a date together.
"... faster, girls, faster! Miss. Cowell, close your legs a little more!" The teacher shouted, clapping his hands and rushing the girls.
It was the dance class now, and the girls went in groups of 3, crossing the room on their pointe shoes, in a jog. The first group consisted of Kate, Gina and Lanie. Gina tried to take the lead, but Kate, who had long legs, used them as an advantage, keeping her ahead of the rival.
"Mrs. Castle, Demming and Carson, follow them!"
The three boys walked up to them, placing a hand on the girls' waist and the other in their arms, guiding them. Kate, Rick's partner, was about the same height as him on her pointes, and smiled as he placed a hand on her waist and then used the other to hold her hand, guiding her.
Kate turned her face to the side slightly, finding him and the two exchanged a discreet look and then his hand on Kate's waist squeezed her a little more, making Kate's body heat.
"Keep this passionate look for the pas-de-deux of the White Swan!" Professor Royce shouted to the couple, angry, and they had to keep from laughing, as they reached the end of the stage. There were only six hours left until their date.
After the last rehearsal at the end of the afternoon, Kate left the room and Lanie, her best friend, dragged her to do her make up in one of the dressing rooms, away from Rick who was in the locker room and Gina launched a look of pure hatred toward Kate, but said nothing this time, as she led Paula to the corner and the two gossiped.
"I'll do your make up girl, is the least I can do for interrupting you two yesterday." Lanie said, feeling sorry as she put Kate's dress on a hanger.
"Relax Lanie. It was our fault for staying in the middle of the sidewalk." Kate reassured her, as she sat on a stool in front of the mirror, smiling at the memory of the kiss.
Lanie, seeing her friend's face, smiled as she picked up the makeup case. In the six years that they'd been friends, Lanie had never seen Kate so happy in one of her relationships, remembering when she had dated Sorenson, a former dancer of the Company for almost 2 years and then Josh, a medicine student, so she was happy to see that Rick made her happy, because she deserved it all after all the stress she'd been through after being chosen as the first ballerina.
"Rick seems to be very special Kate." Lanie said, as she passed the eyeliner in Kate's eyes, with a small smile.
"He is, Lanie, Rick despite his charm and jokes, is very affectionate." Kate admitted, as she looked up.
"I can see how much he likes you too Kate. And that makes me very happy."
"Thank you... But what about you and Espo? Now that he's in a different Cia?"
Lanie and Esposito had started dating a few months ago and seemed to be seriously in love, but now that the Latin had entered in a hip-hop Company and with rehearsals for the Swan Lake, Kate had no idea how things had been between her two friends.
"It's been a little difficult to see each other, in different Cias and now with this season, but the little time we spend together is enough." Lanie said, thinking about the times that they had seen each other for lunch or a date.
"There, all ready." Lanie said with a huge smile to see how her friend looked beautiful and Kate, seeing herself on the mirror, smiled excited to see Rick and hugged her friend.
"Thanks Lanie, you're awesome."
"Go find your dancer."
-
Rick left the locker room and was next to the stage, waiting for Kate nervously. That was something new because, despite making success with women, none had been as important as Kate was for him. Within weeks Kate had challenged him and stolen his heart and so he wanted that night to be special for them.
The dancer wore black pants with a blue dress shirt and checked his cell phone when he heard steps toward him and lifted his head, being amazed by Kate.
Kate wore a black sleeved dress, which had a square neckline and high-heels of the same color, modeling her legs. She had her hair falling in waves and framing her face that was lightly made-up, with a peach colored lipstick. She was beautiful.
"I'm ready." She said, stopping and facing him, then her head slightly to the side, watching him with a small smile.
He looked handsome, his hair with gel and the shirt emphasized his blue eyes. Rick gave her a beautiful smile, approaching and the two stared at each other for a few seconds, exchanging a romantic peck, then receiving a chorus of applause from some dancers who were still there chatting and Ryan, Lanie, Jenny, Demming and Madison whistled, happy for them.
The couple smiled facing each other, a little awkwardly while they were there, in front of the stage being applauded and Rick whispered:
"You look beautiful Kate. You are beautiful."
She laughed softly, twirling a lock of hair and staring at his blue eyes fondly:
"You're not bad yourself either."
And then Rick, motioning for them to go, extending his arm to Kate, who fit her arm with his and the couple went outside, going to the taxi that was waiting for them.