I do not own anything Step Up related. I only own Anna.
Heads up, I'm really sorry if this chapter isn't my best and shorter than usual. I'm super sick right now but I wanted to manage to get you all an update for all the wonderful reviews.
Chapter 7
I could not believe what was in front of our eyes. This could not be happening.
After waking up bright and early this morning, Eddy and I headed to Ricky's to meet up with some of the gang. I was curious if my brother would be there since he and Emily left a little early last night.
When we arrived, Ricky was just unlocking the doors. Pen, Jason, Iris, and Mercury were not far behind us. Talks about how great last night was immediately started between them. I started to laugh at them until I noticed a grave look on Ricky's face.
I made my way towards him, "Hey Ricky, is everything ok?" His eyes meet mine and I get a chill down my spine. Ricky doesn't say anything as he hands me the piece of paper that he was just reading. Before I started to read it, everyone else sensing the tension made their way to us, reading over my shoulder as I bring the letter up.
Residents and business owners of the Spring District,
Something great is going to happen. Bill Anderson of Anderson Global Properties has proposed to the city council of Miami of a new development he would like to make to improve the Spring District including a new luxurious hotel and shops. It will cover the entire strip meaning that all business will be torn down as well as residential areas.
It will be wise to start looking for new areas for relocation before the development starts.
Thank you,
Your Mayor
The paper falls from my hands and lands on the floor. No one says anything.
Ricky bends down picking it up and takes a seat at one of the tables. We all spread out around the bar still in complete shock. Eddy is standing behind Ricky re-reading the letter as I sit next to them. I could not believe this is happening, especially by Emily's father. I was scared before about everyone finding out about who she is…now I'm completely terrified. Eddy and I are lucky enough to have a small apartment off the strip but what about everyone else?
This is their homes…this is where they make a living.
A couple minutes later, a happy Sean and Emily walk in obviously oblivious of what is happening.
"What's wrong?" Sean asks when he notices all the grave looks on our faces. "Ever heard of Anderson Global Properties?" Sean and Emily look at each other, each with no worry in their eyes. I tune out Ricky as he explains the whole letter to them. Anguish is all over everyone's faces as if hearing it for the first time all over again. The look on Eddy's face killed me; I've never seen him so pissed before. I could only imagine what is running through his head right now.
"This bar, your home, yours and Anna's sister's shop…all gone." Ricky finishes
"Can you believe this?" Eddy says, "It's the same ass hole that fired me." My heart sinks with more guilt hearing him say that. It's evident all over Sean and Emily's face too but no one else seems to notice.
"This guy can't walk in here and take everything we have," Eddy says as he comes behind me putting his hands on my shoulders.
"Can't you just say no Ricky?" Sean asks as he looks at the letter. "It's not my choice. I'm just like everyone else…I rent," He stands up, "A lot of people are making a living on this strip, and it's all going to be wiped out…GONE."
Sean looks at me for a moment but I don't know what to say. The sound of heels catches our attention as Emily makes her way out. Sean follows after her.
Eddy's hands tighten on me as I lean back into him. Mercury sitting across from me just shakes his head.
"We have to do something," Eddy says breaking the silence. As they start to talk about trying to figure it out, I make my way outside to where Sean and Emily are but only find Sean.
"Sean," he turns to look at me, "We have to tell them who her dad is. We can't keep this from them any longer." Sean just shakes his head, "We can't Anna." "They DESERVE to know Sean. The one person that just earned all their trust by becoming part of the mob, is the daughter of the man who is going to destroy everything they have."
Sean starts to pace with his hands on his head, "Anna, it will only make things worse, I even told Emily that after she said she wanted to tell them too." "THEN LISTEN TO HER SEAN!" I yell. I feel myself start to shake and eyes fill with tears.
"Sean you have no idea how bad the guilt has been eating at me before because of this. Now it has completely escalated when Ricky opened that letter this morning." I sit on a crate with my face in my hands. "I know Anna, but telling them will only make things worse." I couldn't control my anger anymore as I stood up and put my finger in his face.
"No Sean, keeping this from them even longer is going to make things worse! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT?"
I have never yelled at Sean like this before.
Suddenly Eddy and the gang come outside from hearing me.
"What's going on?" Eddy asks as he stands next to me. I wipe the tears that escaped as I look my brother straight in the eyes. He gives me a pleading look not to say anything. I just shake my head and sit back down looking over the canal.
"Sean?" Eddy asks again.
"We…we're just figuring out what to do about this whole situation."
Really, that's the excuse he comes up with? I give Sean a look like he's stupid.
Eddy looks down at me, "You ok babe?" I nod, "Yeah, I'll be back inside in a minute." He looks back and forth between me and Sean before heading back in with everyone else following him.
"Thank you," Sean says. I snap my head towards him, "Don't you dare thank me. There is no reason to thank me Sean. This is all going to blow up even worse then we all imagined and it's going to take me down with you when he finds out. If I lose him because of this…I will never forgive you." He nods, "I under…" I put my hand up cutting him off, "Don't Sean…just don't."
With that I turn and make my way back inside. I feel so hollow inside with the guilt as Eddy pulls me into his lap and kisses the side of my head.
What are we going to do?
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