Endure

N I N E T E E N

~ Madison's POV ~

"Is it dark out already?" Charlie raised his eyebrows as he looked out the window of the studio. We stepped off the dance floor and into the shop. "Oh my days, how long have we been here?" 

"The same amount of time we're always here," Sera replied flatly from behind the counter. "It just gets dark earlier now. Relax."

"Relax?!" he exclaimed, his voice going high. "Serafina, it's not even seven yet and it's pitch black outside. This is going to throw off my circadian rhythm massively!"

"Your what?"

My phone buzzed in my hand. One glance at the screen and my heart nearly lunged out of my chest. I took in a deep breath but couldn't breathe out. My eyes scanned over the small letters over and over just in case my mind was playing tricks on me. But it wasn't. My phone was still buzzing.

Swallowing hard, I left Sera and Charlie in the shop and walked over to the seating area. My finger shook as I held it over the screen before finally answering.

"Hello?"

"Hey."

I bit my lip and clenched my eyes shut at the familiar sound of his voice.

"I'm on my way to my apartment. Can you come over?"

My eyes shot open. "What?!?"

"I--Sorry. That didn't sound the way I wanted it to. Maybe I could go see you."

"Wh--I--Daniel, what's going on??"

"I need to talk to you about something I just found out. It's important. You're at the dance studio?"

"Uh, y--yeah," was all I could answer as my thoughts began to race. 

"Alright. I'll be there."

"What--"

Click.

I slumped into a chair, my heart now pounding harder more than ever. 

As if simply talking to him didn't make my head reel enough, now his vague answers and lack of explanations had my mind whirling at a million miles per hour.

Why would he even call me?

No. Forget that.

Why did I answer his call?

I didn't have to. I wasn't obligated to answer him in anyway anymore.

And yet . . .

He called and my heart was always willing to answer.

Bright lights suddenly shone through the windows, illuminating the seating area, as a car drove by outside.

"See? It's daylight now!" Charlie exclaimed, throwing his hands up in defeat. "How will my circadian rhythm ever possibly adjust to this??"

Sera rolled her eyes. "Okay, that's a car and you're exhausted. Let's just get outta here." She headed to the door.

"Oh, I need to lock up." Charlie grabbed his keys and turned to me. "Kid, are you leaving now too?"

"Yeah, yeah." I stood from the chair and grabbed my dance bag, swinging it over my shoulder. "Let's go."

The three of us walked out of the studio and into the dim parking lot. With each step we took, my heart beat faster and faster. I didn't even know what was going on. All I knew was that I was going to talk to him. And that was enough for a lump to form in my throat.