Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Cooper's motorcycle stopped front of a large building. Jody got off and looked at Cooper. She could not believe she was doing this. Cooper had asked her, and she said yes, just like that. Of course, she had been half-asleep at the time, but still.

Jody had been sitting in a chair at Cooper Neilson's Ballet Company, exhausted from rehearsal. She had to tap her sore feet on the floor to keep from falling asleep. Cooper had come over to her and explained that there was going to be a big party to celebrate his company being open for 2 years. He asked Jody to be his date for the party and she mumbled that she'd be delighted, half-aware she was even speaking at the time. But there was nothing she could do about that now. So now, here they were, going to a party, together.

Cooper held out his hand invitingly. Jody paused a moment before taking it a twirling around is his arms. She smiled at him and her kissed her on the check before escorting her through the door. Cooper took her jacket and hung it on a rack of hangars. Then he took her hand and they walked to the large ballroom.

It was full of table with food and places to sit, as well as a podium on a small stage and a large dancing area. Some slow (classical type) music was playing in the background and a few formally dressed people were dancing. Jody watched them, wishing she were out there. Cooper glanced at her face and took her hand again.

"Come on." he whispered in her ear.

They walked out onto the dancing floor and began to dance, Jody wrapped in Cooper's arms. It reminded her about when Jonathan and Kathleen had danced together at the ABC party from 3 years ago. It also reminded her of the salsa club with Charlie, but she reluctantly tried to push that image out her head and enjoy the moment.

After a few dances Cooper said he had to go talk to the guests and all, since he was the main guy (director, owner, founder, whatever it's called). Jody nodded understandingly and watched Cooper walk over to a table of ballet fans and company members.

Jody watched him for a while before snapping out of her trance and realizing what she was doing. She lightly hit her forehead and then walked around trying to find a phone. When she finally found a phone in the hallway she put a quarter in the use box (not a pay phone, but a box that collects money for the building's people for phone usage) and dialed.

"Hello?" the voice said.

"Charlie! Hey! Sorry I didn't call you earlier."

"Jody? What do you mean 'earlier'."

"Oh, well I got your messages about an hour ago but I didn't have a chance to call you until now. You see, the company is having a big party to celebrate it's being open for two years. So, I got home and played your messages while I was getting changed but then Coop came to pick me up and-"

"Coop?"

"Uh, yeah. Cooper. Anyway, so he came and I had to-"

"COOP???" Charlie said, almost yelling into the phone.

"Yes, Charlie, Coop! Or Cooper if you like it better that way."

"Well, why was Cooper at your apartment?"

Jody sighed. "He was coming to pick me up." she said slowly, as if Charlie was deaf and only knew 2 syllable words.

"Yeah, but why? I thought you were over him! God, Jody, did you forget you had a boyfriend or something? I'm sorry, but really! How many times has this happened already? Do you love him or me."

Jody sighed again and rolled her eyes. She should have known better to tell Charlie about Cooper. "Charlie!!! Hello?!?!? We are NOT dating here! Me and Cooper I mean. He needed a date- not actually a date as in girlfriend, but you know what I mean- for the party and since he thought it should be someone that had at least something to with ballet-"

"He immediately thought of his ex-girlfriend who usually tells him off when Charlie's around, but never does when he's not! Right?"

"No! Charlie!" Jody said, wanting to cry, "He asked some of the other people, but they were either busy or already had dates, so he asked me. He even explained that I didn't have to go if it would be weird or uncomfortable for me. But he had to go with a date, you know you would hate to show up to a party this big by yourself, so I said yes. Mostly out of sympathy though, Charlie."

Charlie paused a moment. "Ok. I'm sorry, Jody. I-"

"It's ok. Look, I really should go back to the party, ok? Bye!"

"Ok, bye Jody. I love you."

"Bye Charlie."

They hung up and Jody gathered herself and went back out into the ballroom. She saw Cooper talking with some girl about her age. Jody watched jealously before mentally slapping herself.

"What is wrong with me? Am I still in love with Cooper? No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! I never loved Cooper in the first place! I love Charlie! I do. I do. I really do. I do! I……… do I? Yes! Yes I do! Of course I do! I almost married him for God's sake! Almost. Almost. I would have! I really would have! Except I slept with Cooper. Cooper. Cooper! How could I hurt Charlie like that? Am I insane? Yes. I have to be. Why else would I do this to Charlie? To myself? To Cooper? Wait! Why do I care about what I did to Cooper? I DON'T LOVE HIM!!! ARG! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! I love Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! I love Charlie! Of course I do! Why wouldn't I? He's sweet. He's nice. He's sweet. He's cute. He's sweet. He's unbelievably hot. I…… I love him. I do. I really do. Cooper's cute, sure, but who cares? He treats me like shit and I don't love him. Nope. I don't. I love Charlie. Charlie." Jody thought to herself as she starred blankly into space.

When Cooper found her a few minutes later he walked up to her.

"Are you okay Sweets?" he asked, putting his arm around her. She instantly pulled away and Cooper look at her, his gigantic ego bruised. "What?"

"Look, Cooper, I don't know why I'm here with you. I'm sorry, but I really really really don't love you. I'm sorry but I don't. I know you still love me somewhere in your twisted screwed up mind, but I don't love you. And you know what, I'm not sorry. I don't care. I'm gonna stay here for the company and all, but just don't talk to me."

"Puuhh!! Whatever!" Cooper said, and then walked over to a skinny blond girl and introduced himself.

"Urh! Hello. I'm Cooper the sleeze-butt!" Jody said mockingly.

She sighed and went around talking to different people about the company and ballet and all. She saw this really sad-looking gut standing over in the corner, watching everyone. She cautiously went up to him.

"Hi! I'm Jody Sawyer. I'm one of the principle dancers in the company. What's your name?"

"Adam. It's nice to meet you, Jody. I'm not a dancer, but I've seen you dance and I think you're wonderful." he said, cheering up and shaking her hand.

"Well, thank you Adam. How come you're way over here in the corner?"

"I just…… I'm not much of a social guy, you know?"

Jody nodded and grabbed his hand. "Come on." She said, and dragged him out to the dance floor. "Let's dance!"

Adam hesitated before taking Jody's hand and dancing a few songs.

Cooper watched jealously from Alicia's arms on the dance floor. Alicia was nice and pretty and all, but she was no Jody. He got an idea and excused himself from Alicia and found a phone. He racked his brain trying to remember the right phone number before dialing it.

"Hello?" Charlie answered.