Connect Us ✔

Chapter 23

Driving home from training on the motorcycle, I'm freezing because I've sweated through my clothes, but the ride isn't long. I take a hot shower when I get home and turn on the heater. I'm so excited after we started planning the choreography that I don't even think about sleeping. I want to go back to the studio and keep dancing, but I have to work tomorrow morning.

I snuggle into my bed and check my phone, thinking I'd just briefly scroll through TikTok. I'm not ready to go to bed yet, and on TikTok I occasionally find inspiration for our choreography, which I save on my phone.

A message is displayed in the top bar of my phone. Tomorrow evening? It's the second time I have to cancel, but there's no other way.

sorry...

training

You're training quite often these days

You're not gonna take a break?

if so i wont spend the break with u

Serious question Oscar

I'm worried

im taking a break in my sleep

Doesn't sound very healthy

its only temporary

training is important rn

How long is temporary?

two weeks

approx

So you're not free for two weeks

maybe i can make some time

Will be hard

I'm not always free either

um

u could send me ur working hours?

i guess im nore free than u haha

He doesn't answer for a while. He's offline, and I fall asleep at some point. Yes, without setting an alarm. When I wake up, my eyes go wide as I see what time it is, and I jump out of bed and race out of the house. I've never been more than an hour late. About time that happened to me, too.

Just before I'm about to walk into the studio, my phone rings and I swear softly, but I pick it up without hesitation. "Maddie, hi," I say. "Don't you have to be in school right now?"

"Hi Oscar." 

I can immediately hear that something's off in her voice. The world really stops for me. I don't care anymore about being late or that I might lose my job soon if I walk any slower—I stop. 

It's not like she sounds sad, but she doesn't sound as happy and cheerful as she usually does. "I'm on my way to school. I have class later today."

"How are you doing, Maddie?" I immediately cut to the chase. "Are you okay?"

"Oscar?"

"Yes?" I stop breathing.

"Uhm... can I..." She hesitates. "I mean... I know I have to go to school, but... can I come over to you?"

I scratch the back of my head. Shit. Shit. What should I do now? "Maddie, I'm not at home right now."

"Are you working?"

"Yeah." Shit. Her voice sounds scared. Why is she scared? I take a deep breath. "Where are you right now?"

"On my way to school."

"When does class start?"

"In five minutes."

"Okay, uh... can you send me your live location? I'll be there in a few minutes, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you, Oscar."

"See you."

This is not going to be nice, and yet I will do it. I run into the studio and walk right up to my boss, who's standing at the cash register talking to a colleague. When she sees me, she laughs. "You're also showing up now? Slept well?"

"Can I talk to you for a sec?"

Kiara—we call her Ki for short—gives my colleague a quick nod, and he leaves us alone. "Did something happen?"

"Not exactly. I just... have a little problem with my sister. I know, I know I don't work enough and I'm really sorry! But it's really important..."

Ki sighs. Her short, blonde hair falls into her eyes as she shakes her head. "You're really exhausting, kid. You're lucky that you're one of my best. Come two hours earlier tomorrow, will you?"

I let out a relieved breath. "Definitely! Thanks! You're the best."

"No prob. Greet your sister from me."

I give her a confused look before I understand. My older sister used to go to school with Ki. "It's my younger sister."

"Oh. Never mind, I didn't even know you had a younger sister."

"I would have told you if Nina came home."

"You'd better. Now go and save your sister from whatever. I'll see you tomorrow. In time."