July 1st, 2002
Natalie smiled as she watched Joanie sleep. She looked like sleeping beauty. Natalie kissed Joanie's nose. She stirred slightly, smacking her lips.
"What time is it?" Joanie mumbled.
"It's eight." She said, "You need to get to work." Joanie groaned.
"I know that." She said sitting up. Her brown hair fell around her shoulders as she stretched. Natalie smiled kissing Joanie's arm.
"You know, I would really like it if you and Hannah moved into my house." She said, "It would be so much better instead of us sneaking around."
"We're not sneaking around." She said.
"We do when we stay at your place." Natalie pointed out, "I would love for you and Hannah to come and stay with Brooke and I."
"Are you sure?" She smiled, "Because I would love to." Natalie giggled with happiness.
"I'm asking you. I'm sure I want it." She said, "I really want you two there. I want to live my life with you two." Joanie's heart swelled as she looked at her girlfriend. She nodded slowly.
"Totally then." Joanie smiled kissing Natalie's nose, "Hey didn't you have that private lesson today?"
"Shit yeah." She said looking at the clock. "In thirty minutes." Natalie got up and began to pull her clothes on. "I'll be home around fiveish."
"Okay, I'll have dinner on the table then. It won't be too fancy, just some pasta." Joanie said pulling her shirt on.
"That'll be great." Natalie smiled.
* * *
Natalie tightened up her ballet shoes as she waked out of her office. She looked around the dance school. It seemed pretty dead. She looked at the name on her schedule `Scott Wiley`. She smiled. It was always nice to see a male wanting to learn ballet. She walked into the dance studio.
"Scott Wiley?" She smiled looking at a young man, "Hi are you Scott Wiley?"
"Yes. Yes I am." He said.
"I'm Natalie Phillips and I see you want the introduction to dance on my regular hours." She said.
"Yes. I just wanted to brush up on some things." Scott said.
"Okay." Natalie grinned, "Why don't we start with some stretches. It's very important to stretch so you don't pull anything." Scott smiled and started to stretch. He didn't advert his eyes from Natalie.
"How long have you been dancing? You look like you've been doing it for awhile." He said. Natalie smiled softly.
"Basically my whole life." She said, "Why don't you stretch a little more so I can assess your flexibility." Scott grinned at her.
"You can do it." He said taking her hand.
"Excuse me?" Natalie looked at him oddly.
"How flexible are you?" Scott asked. Natalie snatched her hand away from Scott.
"I think this lesson is over." Natalie said with a glare.
"I want to bend with you, you fucking muff diver." Scott spat.
"Get out of my studio this instant or I will call the police." Natalie said standing her ground. Scott looked at her.
"I'll be back, cunt." He growled stalking out of the studio. Natalie slumped against the mirror and exhaled deeply. Why the hell did that guy come here? He was obviously here to bust Natalie. But why? She sighed and walked to the director of the dance school's office. She knocked gently and walked in.
"Miss Phillips." Vanetta Rose smiled, "What can I do for you?"
"Could you run a name for me?" She asked.
"Yeah. Of course." Vanetta said.
"I had a student today for a private lesson and I wanted to see if he was actually registered here. He was on my roster but…I don't know." She sighed. "It's Scott Wiley."
"All right. Let's see." Vanetta typed his name into the database. The computer searched but couldn't find him, "He's no tin here."
"Are you sure?" Natalie bit her lip. Vanetta nodded.
"Sorry. He's not a registered student here. He probably just came in and you signed him up without realizing it." She said.
"Yeah. Maybe." Natalie said leaving the office. She knew she didn't do that.
* * *
"Izzie, could you check on Susie Greefeild's stats?" Syd asked walking out to the front of the clinic. Izzie smiled.
"Certainly." She said taking the chart.
"Syd?" She turned around to see Natalie.
"Natalie, hi!" She smiled, "What can I do for you?"
"I need some advice. I was walking by and I thought I'd ask you." She said, "It's not medical advice."
"All right." Syd smiled.
"There was this guy in my class who wasn't registered and he said some pretty awful things. I think he was there purposely to hurt me." She said.
"Are you all right?" She asked. Natalie nodded.
"He only gripped my wrist hard." Natalie said, "Anyway, Do you know anyone that could do background check for me?" Syd nodded.
"Yeah. Detective Winestat." She said writing down his number. "If you wait five minutes, I can go with you if you want." Natalie nodded.
"Yes okay." She whispered. This whole thing was creeping her out.
"Syd Hansen." Gary Winestat extended his hand, "With what to I owe this pleasure to?"
"I wish it was on better terms, but this is Natalie Phillips. She was getting harassed at work and, could you do a background check on him?" Syd asked. Gary nodded
"I can." He said.
"Thanks." Natalie said and gave him all the information that she knew of on Scott.
"If he is in the systems, then it should only take a few minutes." Gary said. Natalie nodded as she stood behind him nervously. "Here he is. Scott Montgomery Wiley. He has a pretty lengthy record. First degree assault. Second degree. A lot of hate crimes."
"Oh god." Natalie felt sick to her stomach. "Hate crime…"
"He has three warrants out for his arrest in Massachusetts and New York." Gary said.
"Is he picking on me because I'm gay?" Natalie sputtered out.
"Has today been the first day you've seen him?" Gary asked. Natalie nodded.
"Yes, but I've been getting a lot of threatening phone calls this week." She said, "I'm assuming they're from him."
"Does Joanie know?" Syd asked.
"I didn't want to worry her. This is all new to her and she's already had a hard enough time. She doesn't need my problems too." Natalie said.
"She's your girlfriend. I think she'd want to know." Syd said. Natalie sighed deeply.
"When I find out more, Syd, I will tell her." Natalie said. "I promise."
