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Dance with Me

Chapter 2 – Late Night

I was back to fiddling my fingers as I now sat in the passenger seat of my car heading towards Tsubasa-senpai's apartment. My encounter with the mysterious, crimson eyed, Natsume distracted me a bit from the more crucial part of my life; the results to my audition.

"I'm sure you nailed it." He said patting my head while driving.

I didn't bother to reply. I just nodded my head and leaned against the window, exhaustion finally getting to me.

I look up to find a bland white ceiling over me. I rub my eyes and sit up to look around. My luggage was placed on the edge of the bed and I could smell dinner coming from outside. Tsubasa-senpai must've carried me out of the car and unloaded my entire luggage here.

I stand up and stretch a bit as I followed the wonderful smell coming from outside the room.

"Hey Mikan," Misaki-chan says from her spot in front of the stove. "Did you sleep well?"

"Ahhh … " I yawned. "Yeah, quite well thank you. Anyway, how long was I out?"

She glanced towards the clock they had on the stove. "About two hours or so."

"I'm sorry for imposing on you two," I immediately blurt out. "I should really get an apartment of my own."

"It's not a bother Mikan," She smiled at me. "Tsubasa and I have one room and we have an extra bedroom that we'd like you to use as long as you need."

"Thanks," I said blushing and ducking my head. I so do not want to know what they did behind those closed doors.

"Awww, you're too cute!" She said laughing as she served a huge piece of omelet in front of me. "I heard you weren't one of those I'll-just-eat-a-salad-and-starve-myself girls. Good thing because after that big of an audition I'm sure you deserve this."

"Thanks," She reminded me so much of my mom that I just immediately liked her. "Where's Tsubasa-senpai by the way?"

"Oh he went out to buy some groceries," I almost choked on my omelet.

"Him? Buying groceries?" I said the moment my airway was clear again.

She laughed at my reaction. "It was either that or cook for himself." She shrugged. "I can't cook and buy groceries at the same time. And you know him; he could've poisoned himself by making his own food."

She was right. Tsubasa-senpai was helpless in the kitchen.

"Ummm … do you have this day's paper or a computer or something?"

"Why?" She asked me as she rinsed some of the utensils she used and then put then in the dishwasher.

"I was planning to look for a job." I smiled nervously at her. "The school I was planning on going to isn't really cheap and I sure won't be able to get sponsors for a scholarship."

"That, you don't have to worry about." She smiled. "I've already made some arrangements."

"Three cosmos," I happily said to the bartender, as I placed my empty tray on the counter.

"Coming right up," He replied.

I took this time to look around the club. From what could obviously be seen, this club was the most happening place in the city from the crowd to the music you could feel a good vibe coming from all of them.

I was lucky that I got a job here. I could tell from the other workers that there was certain standard they had to go through before they were hired. I easily slipped from that bar because Misaki was good friends with the club's boyfriend.

What I was surprised about was that someone my age had been able to set this all up, I mean twenty-one was an amazing age to already have a big business like this.

"Stop staring at everything." My boss, Hotaru Imai, said as she proceeded to give me a flick on my forehead.

"Sorry," I said smiling at her. Weirdly enough, I didn't feel the least bit offended by her actions. It felt as if I knew her even though we had just met a few hours ago.

She stared at me and then turned to some other unsuspecting worker.

"How can you stand her?" The bartender, whom I know remember was named Koko, asked me.

I shrugged, "I don't know, I just feel like I know her already. Like we have a connection with each other."

"Well good luck with that," He placed three cosmos on my tray. "Now, scram. She's hanging around here more because you're still here."

I laughed at him as I headed to the tables.

"Three cosmos," I practically chirped to the three girls.

"Yep," two of the girls said in unison, looked at each other, then giggled.

The third girl who had her hair styled into a perm was staring off into the dance floor.

"I'll just leave them here," I gently placed all of the glasses on the table and headed back to the bar but not before I got to listen in to their conversation.

"That man you're looking at over there is like a god." I heard one of the girls who giggled say.

"Sex God more likely." Her friend with a perm said fanning her face.

I tried to bite back the smile threatening to spread on my face as I remembered what one of my friends said about dancers dancing. Sex on legs.

"Wait …" I laughed "Sex on legs? Are you kidding me?"

"No," He said seriously. "You just haven't found that person yet because you're such a good dancer. It's going to be hard to please someone like you."

"I'm not a good—" But he cut me off.

"Stop being modest," He waved his hands dismissively. "It's not a subject to fight about because it's true."

Yes, well, after that I refrained from ever talking to him about dancing. My dancing was a touchy subject for me. I just never felt confident that I would get what others have spent so much money and time for just by imitating what I watch.

I felt someone take away my tray and flick my forehead. "You're off to dreamland?" Hotaru said frowning at me.

"Oops, sorry." I said blushing profusely.

"Leave her alone, Hotaru." A blond male about both our ages approaches her and wraps an arm around her waist. "You must be Mikan. I'm Ruka Nogi, Hotaru's boyfriend."

"Oh, your Misaki's friend."

"Yep," He said smiling. His blue eyes brightened even more. "I'm glad you're doing fine around here. I hope Hotaru's not giving you any trouble."

Hotaru turns around and scowls at him. "I think your pictures are going to leak again, Ruka." She shouts to him as she sulks away.

His eyes were as round as circles as he ran after Hotaru. "Wait, don't do that, Hotaru!"

I couldn't help smiling at them as they walked away. What a cute couple.

I immediately look for my tray and head towards the bar again.

"The dance floor is emptying out huh," I heard Tsubasa say to Koko as I approached the bar area.

"I need a break," I said slumping on one of the bar stools.

Tsubasa smiled hugely at me. "How about you dance? Show me how much you've improved."

I frowned at him. "I'm still working."

"No you're not, you're taking a break."

"I'm working," I said standing up and heading towards the tables.

"I'll cover for you," He said. "Come on, the crowd needs something to move them and from what I remember your moves always did the trick." He gave me his puppy dog eyes on full blast. Even I knew I wouldn't say no.

I sighed, "Fine,"

I headed to the DJ and asked for a party song: something that everybody knew and would be able to dance to.

I could feel the beginning of the song and just let myself go.

I back flipped off the DJ's railing and that set the crowd going. And I just moved to what my body did. I concentrated on the music and let my body move like it was supposed to. Free, wild and … sexy. I slightly opened my eyes and looked at the growing audience of clubbers around me. I felt confident even though they were practically staring at me. I was powerful. I was free.

I could feel myself panting during the last seconds of the song and I finally opened my eyes enough to be able to see him. Mr. mysterious with the fiery crimson eyes was smirking at me and it made me feel hot all over. He was checking me out.

I closed my eyes as the song immediately switched to a new one and the crowd started bombarding me. But I practically didn't notice them, all I wanted to think about was Mr. Mysterious' fiery crimson eyes and his smirk. I really should stop calling him Mr. Mysterious when I already know his name, Natsume

"Hey, Mikan, snap out of it." I opened my eyes to see Tsubasa-senpai looking concerned at me. "I thought the crowd was going to eat you and I wouldn't be able to get you out. But you were too into lala land to notice anything happening."

"Sorry, sometimes I don't think when I'm dancing," I said blushing. "I just feel."

"Well, the crowd sure felt what you felt." I turned to the dance floor to see it as crowded as it could be. Everyone was practically grinding against each other from the close proximity all of them had. No one was even at the tables. "You looking for someone?"

"Huh? NO!" I immediately say. "I wasn't looking for anyone." I shook my head. I almost slapped myself. Way to go, Mikan. I'm sure he'll believe you after that.

Before Tsubasa-senpai could ask me anything, Hotaru suddenly appeared. "You did that huh?" There was something about her tone and a glint in her eyes that just spelled trouble. "I could use some of that dancing around here. It's sure to bring in some customers. Of course, I'll pay you extra for your services."

I couldn't deny that good of an offer. And besides I needed the extra cash. "Deal," I said in reply as we shook our hands

I couldn't help the shaking in my hands as I drove to the dance academy. It was finally judgment day and I was in fucking hysterics. Even after my incredibly tiring dance show my mind was still kept awake by either Mr. Mysterious, I mean, Natsume and the audition results that was going to be posted today in just a few minutes.

I sighed and looked outside my window to the dance academy. People were already crowding inside the building while I was still outside trying to control the jiggling of my foot.

I stepped out, shut my car door and locked it and then headed inside the academy. But I couldn't, in anyway, stand along with all the others waiting in front of the announcements board. My gloom and doom would probably ruin their moods.

I sighed and closed my eyes and did breathing exercises.

Inhale … exhale …

Inhale … exhale …

"Late night?" I felt my heart beat go erratic.

Could it be? I opened my eyes and there he was with that arrogant smirk on his face looking as perfect as ever. His crimson eyes were burning as he looked at me which made me feel uneasy. I didn't look even remotely proper. I had bags under my eyes and my hair was again in a messy bun. I looked horrible.

"Coming through," A small woman was saying as she pushed through the crowd and headed to the board.

This was it. The results.

I looked at the crowd slowly diminish. There were a lot of disappointed faces. And I mean a lot.

"I can't believe only twenty students were taken this year. Ten boys and ten girls." Ten girls huh? I bit my lip trying to stop from saying anything or crying. I had to look at the list but my legs felt too much like Jell-o to stand up.

I heard someone grunt as I felt myself being pulled to the announcement board. It was Natsume who was pulling me. I tried to get some comfort from the warmth of his hand.

It was now or never.

And I looked towards the sheet of paper.

Author's note: I'm so sleepy. And yet so happy.

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