AUTHORS NOTE: Once again I don't own any Degrassi characters. Also, the quicker I get reviews the quicker I'll update!
I also changed my name to SmileForCraig7....hehe
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"Bridget's School of Dance, Degrassi Chapter, how may I help you?"
"Hi, my name is Callie Taylor, and I'm calling in regards to my resume that I faxed in this morning."
"Ah yes, Ms. Taylor. I'm very pleased to tell you that Bridget has selected you to be an assistant ballet teacher to her children's class on Monday's and Saturday's. We were very impressed by all your accomplishments and look forward to having you be a part of our Youth Staff. We were actually wondering if you would be able to start today for our 4:30 class – our normal assistant teacher has called in sick."
"That sounds fine. Thank you SO much, I'll be there soon!" ::click::
Callie couldn't help but smile. She hadn't danced since she'd gotten to this place.
Craig pulled up to Caitlin's house and walked into the hallway.
"I know she's staying with me for a few days, but I have a big story tonight. Are you sure you don't mind?"
"Caitlin! Its fine, besides, it's the least I can do seeing as how your giving me the whole house to my self."
Caitlin laughed. "Well I'm glad to get Ang away from all that testosterone!"
"CRAIG! We're gonna be late!" Angie shouted, pulling on Craig's pant leg. He grabbed his car keys.
"Ang, smile for the camera." Craig said, pulling his camera out of from under his jacket. Angie twirled around in her fluffy pink tutu, with her hands rounded in the air.
He laughed. "Beautiful." He had been trying to maintain a good attitude, especially after he realized Callie had walked in on him and Manny. But she didn't know the full story. He wanted her to know he pulled away, but since she wasn't returning his calls or emails, it was hard.
Callie turned the key and stepped into the empty studio A room, turning on the lights. She dropped her bag on the ground and walked over to the white bars and mirrors on the wall. She grazed her hand over the stiff, cold bar, and began doing classic ballet moves in fifth position. Dance had always been natural for her, her arms moved gracefully and her feet moved by instinct. She needed this badly. It was her outlet, and on the dance floor she could let all her emotions, especially over Craig, out.
Craig moved closer to the door, holding Angie up on his arm.
"So you're gonna be a prima ballerina, huh?"
"Yep! The best one EVER! And you and daddy and Auntie Caitlin can come see me perform! But Craig, I have to go to the bathroom." He sat her down and she wandered into the bathroom, twirling and spinning. He took a seat on the bench, daydreaming. He daydreamed until he heard a large 'clunk' and recognized a familiar face through a nearby window. He arose from the bench, and peaked into the room. It was Callie, doing leaps and turns all across the room. He gulped. She's perfect.
He studied her for a few minutes, watching how everything about her glowed with talent. She was amazing in his eyes. She stopped and sat on the ground for a moment, fixing the pink ribbons on her silky shoes. The light in the room reflected cherubically off Callie's back in a golden aura, and Craig snapped a picture. But when he put his camera down, he noticed Callie had a wide scar again that went all the way across the back of her neck. This was his first real look of it, because she had always worn her hair down. He felt it once when he hugged her, but thought it was minor. He thought for a moment, recalling everything that had happened that night in the street and in his house. He thought about it until Angie came out of the bathroom, chatting and giggling with four other girls her age.
"Caitlin will be here to pick you up later, okay?" Craig gave Angie a big kiss on the head and left the hallway, and Angie walked with her new friends into the classroom.
"Alright, when I call your name, you raise your hand up really high for me, okay! Alright...Lori Lemtok, Kelly Korkinski, Angela Jeremiah, Maria Sinclair, and Mallory Cash." Callie checked off all the names on the paper.
As Craig sat in his car, he watched through the window as Angie and the other girls hung on every single thing Callie did. She was helping Angie place her arms, laughing, and Craig couldn't help but watch. He would wait there. Wait until she was done.
By the time the end of the class had rolled around, Craig was more than ready to go in. He parked his car behind a large SUV so Caitlin wouldn't see his car when she came for Angie. When they were safely away, he reentered into Callie's room. Callie had a song from the nutcracker playing very loudly, and she was moving flawlessly and dramatically. Craig stood in the doorway, bravely walking in and standing on the dance floor. Callie was about to turn until she noticed his reflection in the mirror, staring at her, not even bothering to blink. She finished her turn until she was in front of the CD player, and she shut it off, keeping her head down and biting her lip. She wanted to be angry. She wanted to yell. She wanted to be sad. She wanted to cry. But she couldn't do either.
"What are you doing here?" She said, now looking up, still turned away from him.
"I came to talk to you."
"No shit."
Craig walked a little closer.
"Excuse me?"
"NO SHIT, MANNING."
"Why won't you let me to talk to you?"
"Because there's nothing to say," she whipped herself around, "And what are you, stalking me?"
"No. Angela Jeremiah is my sister. And Manny came over because she was scared, she was raped and..." Callie felt like her eyes would bulge out of her sockets, and she blocked out what he was saying about Manny, just thinking about Angela being his sister.
OK, so she's my sister. The sister I didn't have to pick up. I stayed waiting in the parking lot for you.
"You lied to me." I can't believe I'm being such a hypocrite to him.
"I was going to tell you – about everything – Ash, Manny..."
"And about how you're some resident rapist? Whatever. Just stay away from me." She said, cutting him off. Callie grabbed her dance bag and stepped off the equipment platform, clapping the lights off, leaving only a little path of light from the hallway streaming in. She sauntered by Craig, this time brushing against him roughly. But as she brushed against him, he grabbed her opposite direction going wrist.
"Rapist? What? I don't know why you won't let me explain. Really. I want you to know that I think I love you, Callie." Oh my god, I did NOT just say that. Stupid, stupid, Craig.
"You don't know what you want." She spoke directly into his ear.
"Yes, FOR ONCE I DO. I, I, want you Callie." He's always so cute when he stutters, because I know he's telling the truth.
Craig pulled Callie towards himself off of instinct and kissed her passionately. But he needed to do it. He needed to know what he felt, because he wasn't sure since the last few days. She was so shocked for a moment that she actually kept her eyes open, and than slapped him. Hard.
