Chapter 12-

No Ones POV-

Eyana had just finished making the last of breakfast when Ash came down with a look that all three of her parents were not sure of.

"You going to tell us now or after we're done eating?" Bryah asked bluntly.

"Now is fine." She sat down and started fixing her plate, ignoring the almost anxious looks on her parents' faces. " It's nothing really, just that Naida emailed me and wanted me to go with them to Italy for Saint Marcus' Day. They had been asked to perform and she wanted me to join them."

"How soon would you have to leave?" Terrell asked though from his tone you could tell what his answer would be.

"If I leave now, I can have about two weeks of practice and get fitted for my costume."

Eyana's brows furrowed. "What is now?"

"This Friday." She said it so simply that her parents almost didn't realize that Friday was two days away.

The table went mostly quiet except for the scraping of Ash's fork as she scooped up some eggs and plopped them into her mouth. Her parents were all around sharing a look that only those three could read. Ash quickly finished her plate and cleaned up after herself. Before she left out she spoke to her parents one last time.

"I want to go. I want to see if I had left something behind when I quit dancing. I want to try again." She gave them a determined look before leaving. They heard her tires move as she drove away to school.

"No." Terrell asserted before anything else could be said. "As a matter of fact, Hell No."

Bryah rolled her eyes at him. "Now you're being extra. I don't see a problem with it."

"I see several, want me to list them." Terrel smiled sarcastically.

"You two bet not start." Eyana reprimanded her wife and friend like they were children. "Look, we can sit around all day and debate on whether or not this is a good idea but at the end of the day, we can't really say no. Ash is 18 for one and two, there is no reason for us to say no. And she wont accept any doubts we have because of the past when she's been doing great so far."

"But test my point. She's been doing great here. She has friends she sees everyday, a boyfriend who we actually like and best of all, she's. . ."

"Normal?" Bryah finished for him. The word tasted like rust on her tongue. She hated saying it where Ash was concerned even if she thought it.

Terrell bowed his head in shame. "I don't want to mess up the progress she's made here just for her to be pulled back into that world again."

Eyana gave Terrell a comforting hug. "She's older now and she has so much more stability, so there's no need to worry so much. If she falls we'll be there."

"Which she won't. She never has before." Bryah reassured him.

Terrell looked between the two before finally relenting. "I guess we're sending our baby to Italy."

Two days later Ash was all packed up with two large suitcases that her parents still didn't think would be enough. She even put on a purse like her father insisted so her wallet was ready for her but not too ready for pickpockets. And he actually did say "pickpockets" in this day and age.

She said her goodbye to her parents but had Tyler drive her to the airport. Ash wanted to prolong their time together even if it was only by a few minutes. The whole way she held his hand and she thought to herself "I'm lucky to have him."

Those feelings he brought up in her multiplied when he was around and it hadn't been just them in a while. The occasional date, yes but then their secluded lunches had become lunch with friends most of the time. She didn't want to tell him that she issued when it was just them too and the conversations they had in their little spot.

There were things they did in private that his friends would probably bawk at because it was with her. Like just now, when he pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it like she was a princess. Or when she returned it but lingered a little longer because she was almost afraid to stop.

When they arrived at the airport Tyler went through TSA with her to wait for her flight. She had paid for his ticket, not with his approval, so that he could be back there with her. Of course he wouldn't be able to come though. There was no way Beth was going to give her son two weeks off in a foreign country with just his girlfriend, especially on school weeks. The teachers barely wanted to allow Ash the time away but the promise of turning in her homework online must have been enough. That and the fact that she was a good student and kept up good grades.

Her flight will be here soon. She had showed up just in time so she wouldn't be waiting long. And during the wait time Ash snuggled into her boyfriend's side, something she only did in private, and absorbed his warmth and enjoyed his smell.

"It's funny that I'm here to see you go away to dance when I haven't even seen it yet." Tyler whispered in her ear.

"You could have just looked me up, you know."

"Yeah, but where would be the fun in that? I have the real thing in front of me so why not see you dance in real life."

She smiled into his chest. "Then I'll have to make the first time you see me dance real special."

"It's starting to sound like a strip tease." He joked and Ash laughed.

"You wish." She snuggled even further into him, happy to just be with him. "Maybe I'll teach you a thing or two so you can dance with me. I usually prefer solo dance styles but I liked the thought of being partnered up with you."

"Me too." He placed a sweet kiss on top of her head.

"And even if you do suck it can't be blamed on me because I'm a fantastic teacher."

Tyler rolled his eyes playfully. "There's the ego."

"I'm talented, why wouldn't I have an ego about my talents?" She looked up at him and her eyes twinkled with mirth. They smiled at each other, so totally in love even if they hadn't said so.

The sweet moment had to eventually end. Ash's plane was called, and it was time for her to board one of her longest flights yet. Her lips captured Tyler's and moved gently and slowly. She wanted to remember the feel of them while they were apart and wanted him to remember hers as well.

Now I know how it may seem. It's just two weeks and they're only dating. Well, this is the first time that Ash has opened her heart to someone and had to leave them for a short while. She didn't realise how much it hurt until she was sitting by the window seat and regretting leaving in the smallest degree.

At the practice stage-

Naida, the head coach for BPDS, was never one for fanfare. She never made a big deal out of things. Ash wasn't an exception to this rule. When she had managed to find out where everyone was practicing and walked into a nice-looking studio, Naida just directed her to her spot and began with her pre-warmups.

Ash was thankful for people like her. Ready to throw her in with the sharks because they knew she was capable. She ignored the looks she was getting from girls who knew her and the ones who were new and focused on her task. After the pre warm up, which were just a bunch of stretches that left her a bit sore from under use, now it was time for the real warm up.

"Everyone gather in ciphers of 5. When I play the music, somebody jumps in and starts the pseudo battle. You don't stop dancing until the song is done. Clear."

"Crystal." They all sounded back. Everyone quickly gathered into their groups and Ash somehow found herself with not only people she knew but people she tolerated.

"Hey Ash." One girl with bubble gum pink straight backs greeted familiarly.

"Hey Tink." Ash greeted back with a smile. Last she had seen Tink she was just as colorful and cheerful. Something never change. Ash though fondly.

Before any of the other girls could greet her Naida started the music and Jay, an exceptionally talented dancer specializing in jazz, went in. She wasn't expecting Pon De Replay by Rihanna to be the warmup song but she quickly switched styles to keep up.

Each girl went adding something special each time. Somebody was more flexible, or technical or just completely off the chart. Ash herself was always up to show off her floorwork and acro but she switched it up since it had been a while since she really danced. Before she had retired, she had been really into krumping and isolation and that set the tone for her turn in the cipher.

It goes one by one, even two by two

Everybody in the club gon' be rocking when I'm through

Not my greatest ending ever but they can't all be winners. Also, HigherAngel- Thanks to you I figured out my introduction for her. Thanks a bunch.

Until Next Time- BigSmallWonder