Spinning Circles

Chapter 14

Rigs could not believe he was standing there. Standing outside the school's auditorium knowing that in five minutes he was going to have to do the impossible and utterly inhumane – attend Julie's dance recital. He had made a little effort by changing into a shirt that he hadn't worn for three days straight and brushed his hair. It didn't look right so he had to muss it up again, he couldn't believe he was being this ridiculous. He had tried to figure out various other methods of remedying his disastrous Julie non-relationship with no luck. She still wasn't speaking to him or acknowledging him in general and Saracen appeared to be making some major headway. The thought of having to sit through an evening of children, tweens and teens dancing to popular music in fluorescent outfits was enough to make the bravest man want to retch. He wasn't sure if he was ready for it but it was Julie. He would suffer through a thousand Jordin Sparks songs and numerous tedious dance routines for that girl. Shivers of revulsion ran through his body, he was a brave, brave man.

ooooo

Rigs made the difficult step into the building and realised immediately it wasn't a good idea. There was heaps of families sitting together eagerly awaiting the creative displays of their uncoordinated and supremely ungraceful progeny. Tim Riggins did not belong in there and the speculation garnered if he took a seat in there would be rampant. He needed to find a place to watch without finding himself being judged by the majority of Dillon's dance connoisseurs. The audience seating was too obvious so the only real option was backstage, perhaps in the wings.

Rigs dodged his way out of the auditorium and to the back. Once he had snuck his way backstage he realised that this was also a big mistake. Everywhere he looked were girls of all ages, make up, costumes and moms. The looks he was receiving were beyond harsh and he tried to back out of the heavily mirrored and lit room by walking backwards trying to not garner too much attention. Just as he got to the doorway he felt a tap on his shoulder. He spun around and saw a very angry Julie glaring at him and tapping her foot on the flooring in rapid but rhythmic succession.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"You asked me to come," he replied softly darting looks to and fro trying to keep a low profile.

"And you laughed at me and say no. What are you doing here?" she was dressed in a truly bizarre, flashy non-Julie way but she still looked adorably sexy. They weren't two words that normally fit together but it applied, she had some cute curls in her hair too. He noticed she was pretty worked up, more worked up than having him showing up really warranted. Something was up.

"Are you alright?" he asked placing his hand reassuringly on her back.



She looked at him hesitantly but she seemed to read the sincerity in his gaze. "My dad's not here yet," she sounded miserable and it was difficult for him to relate, his parents didn't attend anything of his. He rubbed his hand in circles between her shoulder blades to comfort her and said the only thing she would probably want to hear.

"This is important to you and he loves you. He'll be here,"

"You think so?" she said hopefully.

"I know your dad, he'll be here." She smiled at him.

"Thanks. I needed to hear that." She took a deep breath and re-examined him. "So what are you doing here?"

"This is important to you and you are important to me," he said it simply and slightly unsure. Her face showed no indication of her thoughts and he was dying on the inside. The guy who'd thrown the tater tot as an opening to sleep with her was now attending a dance recital because he didn't want to hurt her feelings. Not only that but he was putting himself out there, his feelings presented on a platter. Her mouth opened. And then closed. And then opened again similar to a goldfish with really attractive lips.

"Oh," one singular word or syllable that indicated absolutely nothing. She was leaving him hanging with her shocked face and inability to form words.

"Girls - time to dance," the voice broke through what felt like an unending silence. Julie looked at him and then at her dance coach.

"Look I gotta go but how about we talk tomorrow?" she voiced both apologetically and tentatively.

"Sure." She smiled at him and moved off quickly to the stage. Optimistically, maybe she would say what he wanted to hear and cynically maybe she would politely (she was Julie after all) send him on his way. He left via the backdoor and decided that the audience seating would be his best bet. The lights were down and from all appearances the seats were all full, who would have thought? He took up residence in the back corner, arms crossed over his chest, trying to look nonchalant. Coach quickly came in looking quite glam for him but he had someone with him. Freaking Matt Saracen. What the hell was the Stutterer doing here?



The Coach and Matt shimmied their way toward Mrs Taylor. Julie's parents were so freaking enamoured with the QB2 that they even asked the lady next to them to move down and make room. Rigs was so involved with his frustrated ire that it was a welcome diversion when the music kicked in and the stage curtains opened. Julie stood front stage centre, the light bouncing off of her blonde locks and her excitement making her radiate all kinds of good things. Sure the routine was clichéd and kinda embarrassing but she looked awesome.

In fact he was sure that if he held a mirror up to his face he was see a goofy smile spread across his face. He clapped heartily for them as the routine wrapped up, even calling out a woooooooooooooo out and she stood there beaming. She waggled her fingers and beamed a giant grin to her parents and to Matt. Her parents were clapping and smiling and Matt was too. He contained the need to go and give the guy a beat down. She didn't try to find him. Her gaze did not scan the audience looking for him. His heart sank. Obviously the guy she wanted to see was there and she was satisfied. Julie's troupe left the stage, some tiny tutu garbed first graders tiptoed onto stage and swayed their arms back and forth in unison. He had had enough. He pushed himself off the back wall and exited the building figuring he had lost the battle, war and girl with the help of his own stupidity and Saracen.

Author's Note – So only one update today but I was a little stilted creatively. I guess I must be getter better lol. Thanks for the lovely reviews.