Part Four: Blaze-Time Stopper
Chapter Eleven: Talent
Blaze followed Erik through the hallways of the dance studio. "Who's your friend?"
"Grant. He just moved, remember?"
She remembered. Grant was extremely strange, even for a gay guy.
"So, we're checking out his ex-partner?"
"Damn it, Torrence! You aggravate me on purpose!"
Erik and Blaze looked at each other, then stepped through the door on the right. The girl on stage was bent over, hands on knees, her black hair shielding her face.
"Charlie, I've been under a lot of stress." She stood back up, wiping the sweat form her face.
"Can I help you?"
Blaze looked back. "My friend here is checking out Torrence. You know, window shopping."
The boy smiled grimly. "Torrence isn't the sort to stand for that."
He moved past the Goths, and Blaze watched him get on stage. The girl, Torrience, started the CD with the cool beats and began a weird motion with her legs. As if in a trance, the dark goth moved closer to the stage.
"Cameron…" She ignored Erik's warning by use of her real name.
The woman, Charlie, glanced at her, but didn't say a word. She seemed like a hard woman, her brown hair bound and streaked with gray, her face seemingly set in a permanent frown. Her gray eyes were hard and cold and critical. But Blaze didn't shy from her look.
Torrence beckoned to the boy, and he did the same leg movements as her so that they were now only an inch apart. She seemed to fall limp against his body, but Blaze could see her stomach ripple as the muscles worked seemingly on their own. The boy stroked the girl's back until she regained her strength. Throwing her head back, she moved her hips sensuously. The boy's entire front rippled with the same actions, his more violent and dominant.
The woman touched her shoulder, then leaned in to whisper, "Torrence and Robert are my star dancers. This dance is actually a mating ritual. It's my main event."
"It's beautiful." Blaze could hear Cameron's innocence slip into her voice.
"Wait until you see their costumes. Do you belly dance?"
She shook her head to the question, but kept her caramel eyes on the two.
Charlie looked at her stars. "Tor, stop. I want to see something."
Torrence looked gratefully at Blaze before wiping her face again. Robert took deep breaths. Blaze looked at Charlie, perplexed.
"What are you staring at? Get on stage, girl!"
Blaze climbed on stage, still confused. The old lady wanted her to dance? Erik gave her a thumbs up, then sat. Torrence grabbed Robert's arm, pulling him back, giving Blaze room.
"Lady, I have no clue what I'm doing," Blaze told her. Charlie ignored her, changed the music, then looked expectantly at her.
Crazy white bitch, she thought bitterly. Putting me on the spot.
"Just wing it." That was Torrence. Her soft voice gave the goth some encouragement.
Closing her eyes, she absorbed the music. She wasn't sure of what her body was doing. She wished she could do those belly movements; she was just giving herself cramps trying. So, she winged it, like Torrence said. A warm hand rested on her hip. She opened her eyes and stared at the fading green strips in the girl's hair. Torrnece was guiding her. She swiveled her eyes to Charlie, who was smiling.
"Girl, you've got talent." Torrence grinned. "What's your name?"
"Cameron Mitchells. But everyone calls me Blaze." She put emphasis on 'everyone'.
"Well, Blaze," Charlie said, "how would you like to come in for dance lessons? You're good, but you need a lot of work."
"Yeah. You can work with Maria," Torrence suggested. "I'd do it, but I already have someone to teach."
Blaze smirked. "Well, I don't really know. See, I got a lot of things to d—" Tilting her head, she stared intently at Torrence's exposed moon amulet. "Yeah. I think I will come."
Something caught in the corner of her eye. She looked at her watch, willing the hands to cease movements. The scenery blurred, and things became quiet. She turned completely so that she faced the back of the room.
The blue eyes, so like Torrence's, caught her eyes. They were powerful, or the owner of them was. She felt small and afraid. He smiled arrogantly up at her, then slipped into the shadows.
There was no way that she had just witnessed that.
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elephantsrocmysox: I'm glad you like Blaze. Thank you, my darkly rich imagination.
Rubber-duckiesofdoom: w00t! Thanks for the compliment. I try to update soon to keep all you lovely fans entertained.
