Nova Luna

Twenty - Arachne

It was a weird coincidence. We would always cross paths, no matter what we were doing, or where. This was the second time I'd randomly met her in the streets. I'd met her twice in the gallery too. 

It had been four names, and I was starting to get desperate to get any "real" information about her. But I couldn't get contact with her relatives or friends. 

I had spent the most time with her when she was Selene, but I was too concerned about her motivation to write. I failed to see that it was more important that I learn more about her "true" self. I needed a plan. I needed to learn more about her, to get to know her without forcing anything out of her. 

Selene said she was planning to learn how to paint, a reference from her past self: Artemis. Maybe this time, she would love to learn how to be a musician? I didn't know. I'm not a psychiatrist; I was just using her behavioral patterns based on my observations from the time I had spent with her.

How couldn't I pretend that I hadn't met her yet? I didn't want to come off as a creepy guy again, like I did when Selene met me for the first time. I had been trying to come up with a plan this entire time; I had played all possible scenarios in my head, all possible questions, all to get to know her better. Anything, just to keep our conversations going. 

We'd been walking for a little while now in awkward silence. At least for me. 

What move should I make next?

"Could you teach me how to dance?"

"Sure, why not," she replied.

That was easy.

"Actually, I'm about to finish my shift here at the ballet school: you could wait for me in our dance studio?"

Oh, of course. She was an instructor. I didn't know why I hesitated to ask in the first place, thinking that it might come off as creepy again. 

But sure, why not. As long as it would help me keep a close distance to her. At least, if that day comes again, one where she's forgotten who I was and she's changed her name and profession, I could just go back to the dance studio and start investigating. Find out everything. Learn how she does this so quickly.

Now, that's a plan.

Rhea noticed the big smile on my face.

"Don't smile like that, I won't give you my number," she said with a giggle. "You can wait for me in the studio."

We parted ways. I went straight to the dance studio she'd talked about. It was just a small one. Second floor, third building from the intersection, two streets away from the art gallery. When I asked at the reception area, I said I was looking for some dance classes, and I already had an instructor.

"Understood sir, the only thing you'll have to do now is to reserve a spot so that you can use the studio. Unfortunately, we're full for the next two days," the receptionist replied, and I agreed. I signed some papers and paid the down payment for the studio rental. I'd rented for the whole afternoon, and oh man, it wasn't cheap.

Before I left, I stayed for a little while, waiting for Rhea to come and see me. I sat down into the entrance, where the lockers were mostly located, just beside the glass door entrance of the studio.

I had a view of part of the dance studio, and caught a glance of a random dancer. I'd switched seats so that I could watch the dancers practice their choreographies better, just to get an idea on what kind of tutoring I'd ask from Rhea. 

Skin-tight black spandex suit. They were covered, from their wrists, up to their ankles. They looked like spiders playing with each other, dancing with their eyes sewn shut. Each movement they did was a little bit out of sync with the other members, but it just made it look more uniquely surreal. There wasn't any beat; the only sound they were following was the voice of their instructor, counting steps. They never suffered in silence, but three of them fell on their feet, like dominoes who pushed each other down.

"Back to the top," she instructed the whole crew. And as soon as their dance instructor started counting again, I found myself stomping to her voice. Even without the music, I got caught in their performance. I was hooked.

I had a weird idea, but I wasn't planning on leaving the gallery for this place. I still liked painting more, and I felt more connected to the colors I'd been mixing and painting in a blank canvas.

Even though Selene—I mean Rhea was here, I sensed that it wouldn't take her long to change her name again.

"Hey, there you are, what's your name again?" Rhea called, while she walked towards me. "I'm sorry, I'm somewhat bad at names. I teach dozens of people every day."

"Uhm, Elios," I replied. 

"Elios." She sat beside me. "So, do you enjoy what you see?"

"Somehow, yeah," I replied. "But to be honest, I really never liked dancing."

"Then why did you register? You even rented the whole studio for the whole afternoon, you didn't have to do that." She laughed, and tapped my right arm.

"I only wanted to get to know you more really." I smiled back and looked at her.

"But you still want to dance, right?" She chuckled.

"Yeah, of course, as long as you'll be my teacher," I replied. "So, you want to get to know your student? Grab some dinner?"

"You really are annoyingly persistent," she said and laughed, "it's cute." 

Her reaction wasn't far from Selene's. But she wasn't as sweet as Neoma. It was as if her personality slowly transitioned from one name to another.

I would have to treat her as I did Selene. Good thing was that, like her first two versions, Neoma and Artemis, she looked very comfortable with me, but I would have to be careful to not become overconfident.

It made me sad. Since when did it become this hard? When we first met, it all came naturally. I didn't have to force our connection. 

And now I have to think of everything that I say and do, fearing that she might turn me down and not talk to me again, seeing me as the stranger that I am.

"You saved me from a whole afternoon of work, so why not?" She smiled. "But not tonight. How about, tomorrow?"

"Sounds good."

"Damn it, you got me. I guess I have to give you my number now," she said and smirked.

No, this time she had a different contact number.