“Don’t fuck this up.” Her hard words stop me in my tracks. “I want to see some improvement when you return, and get rid of that childish attitude. Grow up, Aurora.”
“Grow up?” My voice is almost a shriek, and I can hear my own pain.
I feel like I’ve been a grown-up my entire life. I was never allowed to do what the other kids did in school. I missed everything. School dances, football games, boyfriends, everything other than dance. I was always practicing, never getting to do anything else. Most of the time I feel old beyond my years.
“Yes! Grow up!” she snaps. “I have to keep a lock on the refrigerator because you have no self-control. No discipline.” She shakes her head. “I don’t know where I went wrong with you.”
I drop my head, looking down at my simple white flats.
“Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to go? With my luck they’ll change their minds.”
At her words I pick up my bag and turn, keeping my head down. Shame coats my cheeks as I fight the tears that want to break free. I pull open the heavy iron front door and walk out, not looking back at her. I’m sure she’s already gone, but seeing it would just be the final blow.
I walk out, then pause when I finally look up and see a black limo sitting in our circle driveway. A woman stands next to the open door, waiting for me to get in. I’m surprised they sent a limo for me. A feeling of excitement sparks within me, and I push away some of the lingering sadness. She’s on older woman, and I can see the gray hair around her face where it’s pulled back into a braid. She gives me a big sweet smile, and her whole face lights up at the sight of me. I like her immediately.
“Miss Adams,” she greets me, taking the bag from my hand and placing it into the trunk. “You’re even more beautiful in person.”
Maybe the place I’m going will be better than I imagined. At this point it already is, and I’ve only met the person taking me to the airport.
“Thank you. That’s really sweet of you to say,” I tell her as I slip in the back.
It’s still dark outside, and the interior of the limo is even darker. The woman closes my door, and my eyes adjust after a second.
A scream bubbles up in my throat, and I jump when I see a man in a suit sitting on the bench seat beside me. My hand flies to my chest, and I can feel my heartbeat trying to break through.
“Sorry, you scared me,” I say, still holding my hand to my chest and trying to shake off the fright.
He stares at me.
His dark hair and suit help him blend into the shadows of the car, and that’s probably why I didn’t see him at first. I glance up at his eyes, and they are just as dark as the rest of him. Everything about him is dark. Black stubble lines his jaw, and thick hair falls around his face. Sitting beside him, I can tell he’s easily twice my size, and all of him creates a presence unlike anything I’ve ever felt.
The locks in the limo click, creating an ominous atmosphere.
“I’m Aurora,” I say, trying to break the tension, but he doesn’t respond. He keeps staring at me, so I nervously push on. “But you probably already know that.” I let out a shaky giggle.
He reaches out his hand, and I freeze, unsure what he’s doing. I feel the limo pull away, and I have a moment of panic. Certainly, the limo driver must know this man is back here. He must be back here for a reason. He grips my ponytail softly, taking the hair tie out and letting it fall down around me.
He runs his fingers through the long locks, and for a second I almost lean into the touch, so unused to physical contact that I’m desperate for it. Even from a stranger. Midway through my last production, they changed a few of my dances so the male lead Sam was no longer touching me. No one has touched me in so long. My eyes fall closed as I enjoy the feeling. I moan, enjoying it.
His hand disappears, and I realize what just happened. I just moaned out loud. I look over at him and feel my cheeks burn. I wish I could see his face better, but the limo is too dark. Maybe he’s some kind of bodyguard or something. He’s big enough. But why would he pull my hair down?
The stranger leans forward and opens up the compartment next to me. Inside, I see drinks. A bottle of Coke, a chocolate milk, and some smoothie-looking thing with whipped cream on it. My mouth waters. Oh God. I’ve never had any of these before in my life. I stare at them, not sure which to pick. How silly is that? I start to reach for the Coke but change my mind and go for the chocolate milk. But then I stop myself again.
I look over at the mystery man, who’s still just watching me. Maybe he can’t talk.
“Can I have more than one?” I ask as I bite the inside of my cheek, feeling stupid. Maybe my mom is right and I don’t have any self-control.