Chapter 14
Dancing has always been his passion. Dancing was an excuse for him to be with her. Dancing was the reason he is what he is today. Ryan waited in his car for Andrianne to come out. Twice a week, he would pick her up and drop her off, while her brother was away in college and twice a week every week, those ten minutes in the car was a treasure for him.
Andrianne came out with her sports bag slung over her shoulder as she locked the door. Ace student in her school and a very special person, Ryan wonder where in the world could anything go wrong with this girl. There was one tiny black dot that keeps coming up every time things were getting too happy in her life and she keeps reminding people of it.
"They are asking me to join competitions again." Andrianne said as she threw her bag onto the back seat and shut the door. "And they are offering Jeremy to be my partner again." She continued as she got in the car.
"Seat belt." Ryan said coldly as he looked straight ahead on the road.
Andrianne paused before saying anything back. She turned her head to face Ryan and smiled. "I said no. I don't want to dance with Jeremy. I'm in the classes just for the fun of it." Andrianne said as she touched the boy's hand.
"I hate that you know what I feel and you can read my mind, Drea." Ryan said quietly. "But it pays to practice every day." He smiled. "And have a psychology minor."
Andrianne stuck her tongue out at the older boy. "Anyways. I'm blocking from reading your mind and emotion for a day today." Andrianne said as she rummaged through her purse. "Happy birthday old man." She said as she placed a wrapped gift on her lap.
Ryan groaned. "Thank you for reminding me." He said sarcastically. "I told them to ask you to join the competition again. You were great and still are; just that I never thought they would think of paring you up with Jeremy again. He lost so many titles after you. He's not good enough." Ryan said.
Andrianne smiled. Jeremy was not the strongest amongst the dancer but he was not that bad. Although if she were to compare Ryan and Jeremy, Ryan is a way better dancer. "You're not thinking about pairing me up with you, are you?" Andrianne asked.
"Are you nuts?" Ryan spoke as he pulled over into a parking spot. "I'm out of your age range little girl." He smiled as unlocked the door. "I have this friend, whose brother used to dance but stopped because of financial reasons and he does not have a partner here in the States." Ryan started as he carried both Andrianne's and his bag on his shoulders. "He's in my contemporary class and I sort of promise the kids that the great Rianne Perry is coming into my class before her class."
"You're kidding me." Andrianne said hitting Ryan's arm. "Let me guess, your kid's name is Cal Leprechaun." Andrianne smiled. Ryan groaned. "I did not read your mind, Ryan. You wouldn't call him Leprechaun." Andrianne giggled. "Your kids talk. They gossip about the new kid. Apparently his older brother brought him here after his mother got arrested for suspected terrorism."
"He's been here a week, and the news spreads. Great." Ryan sighed as they enter the dance studio. "Are you coming in?" Ryan asked.
Andrianne shrugged. "Do I get to dance with you?" Andrianne questioned. Ryan shrugged. "Okay, okay it's your birthday, old man." Andrianne said. "And we'll try on Cal after class, that is if he want to. Don't pressure him." Ryan smiled as he passed Andrianne's sports bag to her. "Smiling gives you wrinkle old man."
Ryan shook his as they went their separate ways into the changing room. "Hey, Cal." Ryan said as he entered the changing room.
"Mr. Smith." The young boy smiled.
"Listen, you have to stay back a little later than usual. I'll call your brother and I'll send you home myself. Watch your carriage, because your soon to be partner will slaughter the floor even without practice." Ryan said as he patted the young boy's back.
The young boy looked at Ryan and smiled. "You're partnering me with Rianne Perry?" He asked in awe. Ryan just nodded. "She's okay with it?"
"Only if you are." Ryan said. "Only don't call her Rianne."
"Hey old man, how long do you need to change your pants?" Andrianne called from outside of the changing room. "Lacking speed now, old man?" Andrianne said as she wrapped her hand around Ryan's waist as they walked to the smaller portioned room.
"Someday people are going to gossip about us." Ryan joked.
Andrianne struck a shock face. "Like what? Mr. and Mrs. Smith?" Andrianne spoke through gritted teeth. "They already do." She smiled to the students that were already in the room. "And apparently you did not tell me that I'm underdressed." Andrianne slapped Ryan's hand pretty hard. Ryan just laughed.
Andrianne went straight to the bar to stretch when Ryan pulled her back to the middle of the floor. "We do things a little differently in this class, Andy." He said. "Gather round." He said loudly as he placed his hand on Andrianne's shoulder as he stood behind her. "I don't need to introduce to you all who this is. She has been great enough to agree to grace us with her amazing dancing talents."
"Okay, people." Andrianne began. "Firstly, do not believe a thing he just said. I have moderate talent, same as all of you. Only that I have more experience. Even that, I only have advantage in ballroom dance. So I need any pointers you can give me in this class." Andrianne spoke. "So, Mr. Smith, where do I stand?" she asked. "Oh, wait. Today is Ryan's birthday." She said as she ducked away from him. "As a treat, he'll dance with me." Andrianne said as she put on her iPod on the speaker. "Shall we?"
"You need to stretch." Ryan said with a straight face.
"Afraid of losing touch, old man?" Andrianne whispered as she encircle him.
"Paso okay for you?" Ryan smiled down to the little girl. Andrianne shrugged.
"Track fifteen please." Andrianne said to one of Ryan's student. "Play nice old man, I'm a little rusty on Paso." Andrianne added. The track runs for a little over a minute and they danced beautifully unrehearsed piece. Steps and stunts were done with perfect synchronization as if they were one. "What do you all think?" Andrianne said panting for breath.
Ryan leaned on the railing waiting for a response from his students. Most of them was in awe but Cal were in shocked and a little terrified. "It's a little choppy and unrehearsed, what do you all think?" He asked.
"If that's choppy and unrehearsed, I'm going to be burnt." Cal voiced out.
Andrianne just giggled. She looked at Ryan confirming if he was who she thought she was. Ryan just nodded. "Cal, right?" Andrianne asked and he nodded. "That was unrehearsed, yes, but Ryan and I have been dancing with each other for many years, so the connection is there. And no, we are not dating, thank you." she smiled.
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright, you all have seen enough." Ryan said signing for them to start stretching and prepare to dance. "As for you, see you after your class." Ryan said quickly. "Wait, wait. Look up. Drea, did you eat?" Ryan asked. Andrianne shrugged her shoulders. "Drea, don't give me you didn't have time crap." Ryan sighed. "I'll be right back. Elle, start with the first eight, I'll pick up from there." Ryan said.
Andrianne grunted as she stomped out of the room sulking a little. "I'm fine Ryan." Andrianne whined.
"Chris is going to kill me, Drea. Not to mention my father." Ryan sighed.
Andrianne shook her head. "You're such a worry ward. You're turning into Chris. I did eat." Andrianne protested. "Just not feeling my best this few days." She said quietly. "Chris, don't have to know."
"I'm bringing you to my dad right after class. No excuses." Ryan said as he disappeared into the men changing room. "I don't think you should dance today." He added as he handed her a bottle of lightly colored water.
Andrianne made a face drinking the water. "Can I sign an AMA?" She quipped. Ryan shot her a straight face. "I'm okay." She said almost pleading to Ryan. "Okay, Dr. Smith. Anything you say." Andrianne sulked.
Ryan cupped her face. "It hurts seeing you in pain. It might be fine for you to be sick in the past, but now, it's different." He spoke softly. "Your family trusted you with me. And I want to keep it that way. "If you are not so pale anymore in half an hour, you can go to class. If not, I'll take you to my dad." Andrianne just nodded as she smiled.
"Don't worry so much Ryan. I'll be fine." Andrianne said. "Go and teach your class then we'll go home if that makes you happy."
Ryan breathed a sigh of relief as he stood up. "Thank you."
"Hey Ryan," Andrianne paused as the man turned to face her. "I don't think it's a good decision for me to go for competitions again. Not with you and Chris like this. It would just hurt more."
Not five minutes Ryan was teaching the class Andrianne entered and sat in the corner. "You want to join in?" Ryan surrendered. Andrianne smiled as she shrugged.
"Can I?" Andrianne asked the other students who were already fluent in contemporary. Instantly all of them nodded. "Where do I start?" She asked excitedly as she joined them in the middle of the floor.
"Drea, come in front. I know you think you are much older than many of us in here, but you are still the shortest." Ryan teased as Andrianne stomped her feet until she was facing him. "This is contemporary not ballroom. We don't use heels or shoes." Ryan smiled as Andrianne grunted.
*******
Caleb sat on the back seat of Ryan's car as he drove them for some food before heading back to their respective houses. "Cal," Andrianne started as she turned a little to see the boy's face. "What's your name really? I know it can't be Cal Leprechaun."
Caleb let out a little giggle. "It's Caleb Carson Lecuyer." He paused. "It's not exactly easy to pronounce my name, so leprechaun sounds better than leech, I'd answer to leprechaun any day." He said. "How young are you exactly? I mean, obviously you are younger than me, but how much younger exactly?"
"I'd like to think that I am around fifteen, but really I am ten. I mean I'm going to be ten soon." Andrianne said.
Caleb looked at Ryan with a baffled reaction. "I'm not qualified for her age group." He said suddenly.
"Relax." Ryan said quietly. "She don't qualify either. She's going to be in the under sixteen group and not the under twelve. Which is one of the reason I picked you. Since Jeremy and Frank would not qualify under her age group as well."
"Viola is going to partner you to be your co-choreographer and coach right?" Andrianne questioned. Ryan just nodded. "I was thinking about the competition." Andrianne said as her eyes moved from Ryan to Caleb. "The last competition for this cycle is around middle of this month. I was thinking, maybe we could debut then. But since we are in separate schools and we might only meet once or twice a week, I mean I would not want to infer with your studies, why not we make some sacrifices like not taking contemporary classes for a few weeks." Andrianne suggested.
"No." Ryan said shortly as he parked his car.
"No as in no to the debut or no to the not taking contemporary class?" Andrianne asked.
"No to both." Ryan sighed as they walked into the diner. "All of us need to sacrifice our Saturdays. I have school on Mondays to Fridays, and so do all of you. Sundays are my assignment day. So you two are going to practice every Fridays after classes are over and on Saturdays." Ryan said.
"Beats hanging around with you all day Saturday." Andrianne chipped in. Caleb just smiled. "Wait, I still hang out with you." Andrianne whined. "What are you grinning at?" Andrianne said to Caleb as they sat opposite each other.
Ryan just shook his head and ordered ahead for himself and Andrianne. Caleb hesitated for a second before he ordered for himself. "I'll be paying, don't worry, Cal." Ryan said to the worried looking kid in front of him.
"Are you two secretly dating or something?" Caleb finally asked. Andrianne reacted with a burst of laughter to the boy. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No." Ryan shook his head. "She's always like this when ever people asked her the question you ask." Ryan said a little annoyed. "Drea and I, we grew up together. Her brother is my one of my best friends, and she's like a little sister to me."Ryan spoke carefully as not to let go of much of his emotion in front of Caleb.
"What he said, and sleeping with the coach was so last decade. I don't date doctors either." Andrianne said sticking out her tongue at Ryan.
"This is one more reason for me not dating her. She's a kid." Ryan retorted.