"Fanny, I'm worried about Sasha." Michelle burst out. The two women were alone in the studio, sorting costumes.
"You'd be a bad teacher not to be worried about her."
"What do you mean?"
Fanny sighed.
"That girl's been in and out of various trouble since she was thirteen years old."
"What kind of trouble?"
"Well, as you know by this point – or should, anyway - her motivation isn't as high as it should be. That's because of her parents, naturally. I always though that her father's open secrecy hurt the daughter more than it ever did him or her mother. And you know the way Sasha acts out."
Michelle nodded, remembering the day when Sasha had shown up in a stolen shirt; and it had only gotten worse from there.
"Well, that's been going on for years now. Pushing the limits. Showing up late; breaking the rules, drinking at all hours as if she was her father all over again. Something's been brewing in that dark head for years and I wouldn't be surprised if it surfaced before long."
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"Hey, Sasha, wait up!" Roman called, jogging to catch up with the tall, dark haired dancer.
"Oh, Roman. Hey." Sasha smiled at him, slowing down slightly.
"You were going to wait."
"I forgot. Sorry." She shrugged.
"What's up? You look distracted. Madam Fanny tightening the strings again?" He grinned, and knocked her gently with his elbow.
"Ha. No. But there's always time."
"Still working on the show for next month?"
"Yup. Not that we'll ever be ready. Might as well go out for cheerleading again with all the fun dance is lately"
"That bad?"
"Not really, I'm just making it up." Sasha rolled her eyes playfully at her kind-of-almost-boyfriend. "But it's not like I have anything better to do with my life."
"I'll agree that Paradise isn't all that thrilling," Roman said, and Sasha nodded.
"Try 'utterly boring' and you're right on the mark."
"Well hey; that just means we'll have to work a little harder to find some excitement, Are you on for Friday night?"
"Are you asking me out?"
"Are you saying yes?"
"What time?"
"I'll pick you up at seven and we'll see what happens from there."
"I'll be waiting."
"You better be because they're a party up in Roxford that starts at eight."
"And you know about this how?" Sasha asked impishly, cocking an eyebrow.
"I got a friend up there that hooks me up with weed sometimes."
"This isn't one of those parties where everybody gets high, is it?"
"Little Miss Perfect, aren't you?"
"No, I was wondering which of my friends could be talked into coming; and if it's Boo then I'll need parental supervision and a PG-13 rating."
"I'd ask Melanie then. Boo might not be interested."
"I guessed as much." Sasha grinned, pulling out her keys and unlocking her car. "Call me tonight, kay?"
"You got it." Roman said, giving her a mini-salute before walking away.
Little Miss Perfect. Sasha thought as she drove away. The fresh cuts on her ribs were still stinging. If only you knew.