A flashlight in the shadows.

Chapter 5: Certifyed...pole dancer?

My family isn't very religious, so my Sundays are usually quiet. I started the day off with some bacon waffles and milk, but that's about as normal as my day got. Jane and dad left to work at the shop, jane went because she wanted money. I've been saving every penny I earned since second grade, so I had a pretty good savings going for me. I was sitting on the couch watching Houston animal rescue on animal planet, when my phone started playing, 'I'm sexy and I know it!' Hannah. I answered,
"Good morning."
"Hey, me and Kendra are gonna try this new thing at the gym, wanna come?"
"Not especially."
"Too bad, we're waiting outside, hurry up." She hung up and I looked out the window to see them in Kendra's car. I sighed, turned of the TV, and ran upstairs to get my gym clothes. I threw a water bottle in a bag and threw on my black shorts with a white T-shirt. I hopped in the car and said,
"What're we going to do?"
"You'll see," Kendra stated, smiling in her evil way. I frowned and said,
"Uh...ok, how long are we going to be there?"
"As long as it takes," Hannah said, flipping her hair. I sighed and leaned my head on the window. We pulled into the parking lot of the gym and walked inside. They led me into a small room that had ten poles arranged in two lines. Once I realized what we were doing, I crossed my arms and turned to Kendra.
"I've told you two before, I'm not interested in learning how to pole dance."
"Aww, c'mon! Just this once, please? For me?" They hugged me and begged. I finally just gave up and said,
"Fine, but never again, ok?"
"Ok!" They yelled in unison. Just then, a woman with bulging biceps and dark hair pulled into a bun walked in. She looked like she meant business. She smiled when she saw Hannah and Kendra.
"How are you two today?!" She had a strong Russian accent that boomed in the room. They both hugged her and smiled. The lady turned to me, half smiling now.
"Is this your friend?"
"Yeah, she's the self conscious one." Hannah said, twirling her body around one of the poles. I smiled and held out my hand.
"I'm Sarah."
"I am Ivanna, pleased to meet you." She took my hand. Her grip was so strong, I thought she'd for sure break a few bones. I tried not to wince in pain as she shook it. She turned to Kendra and Hannah. "Ok girls, show Sarah what you know, then I'll help her out."
"Ok!" They both shouted, smiling. Kendra took out her phone and played 'Blank Space,' one of the worst songs ever. I stood by as they danced in different ways, Kendra wrapped her right leg around the pole and spun around, flipping her hair. Hannah slid down the pole slowly until she hit the floor, at which time she gripped it with both hands, pulling herself up and sticking her ass out more than it would've gone naturally. I tried not to bust out laughing at how incredibly wrong this was. After they'd finished their dance, Ivanna patted the pole next to me,
"Ok, your turn." I straightened up a little, nervous.
"I'm not really sure what to do."
"It's ok, I'll show you, come." She pulled me over and set my hands on either side of the pole. "Ok, first, arch your back." She pushed on my back a little. I tried, but my back wouldn't go much farther than a few inches. She nodded,
"Good, now, jump up onto the pole and wrap your legs around it."
"I won't be able to stay!"
"Your not suppose to, just jump!" I sighed and jumped up, falling flat on my butt the moment after. Kendra and Hannah were dying on the inside. Dina walked in as I was rubbing my now burning ass. She giggled and looked at Kendra.
"What happened?"
"She fell after she tried to jump."
"Ahh, well, are you gonna show me how to do this?" Hannah nodded and pulled her over. I smiled and said,
"Someone's happy today."
"Mmhmm, I couldn't stop thinking of Bennett last night!" She giggled, staring off dreamily. I shook my head and excused myself for some water. I strolled out of the room and down the hall to where the water fountain was. When I bended down to get a drink, I looked over in the gym to see Bennett and Carson playing basketball. Carson went to dunk the ball into the hoop, but Bennett jumped up and swatted it away. I smirked and walked back to the room, smiling.
"Bennett and Carson are playing basketball." Everyone's eyes lit up, except for Ivanna's. Dina squealed,
"We gotta go watch them!" Hannah and Kendra stayed behind to practice, and Dina almost ripped my arm off to follow her. She tugged me to the bleachers and we sat down, me having a drink of water. The boys didn't notice us at first, but when they did, Dina started waving and smiling. Carson smirked at me and asked,
"You two wanna come learn how to shoot?"
"Yes!" Dina shouted, pulling me with her. I tried to decline, but Dina insisted that we play. Bennett showed her what formation to use while Carson took our lesson step by step.
"Ok, so you hold the ball like this..."
"I know."
"Then you bend your knees..."
"I know, Carson."
"How?" He asked, smiling. I rolled my eyes and said,
"I was in sixth grade gym too, ya know." He nodded and told me to shoot. When I did, he walked up behind me,
"Well, you should keep a little more tension here, " he grabbed either side of my hips and dug his fingers into my sensitive skin. I pushed him away with a little more force then intended. He glared at me and said,
"Don't forget our conversation." Bennett came over and said,
"Why don't you show Dina how to stand, I'll work with Sarah." Carson took one last look at me before walking off. I sighed and smiled. He smiled back and said,
"Ok, so show me what he told you to do." I took the shot, but he shook his head. "Your holding the ball wrong, here." He slipped his hand over mine, working his fingers over mine to get them into the black grooves of the ball. I couldn't help but smirk and blush. He saw my cheeks getting darker and said,
"Dina's right there, ya know."
"I wasn't thinking anything bad," I stated, smirking. He rolled his eyes and shrugged,
"Whatever, I was just saying."
"Thanks for informing me." He smiled and sighed.
"When do you wanna work on our skit?" I shrugged and took a shot. It rebounded off the backboard and flew back into Bennett's hands.
"I can't tonight, how about tomorrow?"
"Sure, that's sounds good." He took a shot and it landed directly in the hoop. I rolled my eyes and smiled.
"Show off." He smiled and pushed me playfully. He looked down at his watch and mumbled,
"Shit."
"What?"
"I've gotta go, you need a ride home?" I shrugged and turned to Dina, who was smiling at Carson's comments and zoned in. I turned back to him and sighed.
"Sure, let me grab my bag." I walked up the bleachers and followed him to his black range rover. The leather seats were a little hot, but not incredibly so. He started the car and we drove off in the direction of town.
"So, why were you at the gym?"
"It's legal for women to work out, isn't it?" I asked, crossing my legs and smiling. He sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Always the sarcastic one."
"You're one to talk." I poked him and sat back. He smirked and said,
"Seriously, why were you there?" I bit my lip and sighed, thinking wether or not to tell him.
"Hannah and Kendra wanted me to pole dance with them." He busted out laughing.
"You? Pole dance?! That's the funniest shit ever!!!"
"Oh, stop it!" I laughed, shoving him. He drove into town. "Where're we going?" I asked. He bit his lip and sighed.
"I've gotta get my little sister from her dance practice." I couldn't help but smile.
"Aww, that is so sweet of you!"
"Shut up, I'm only doing it because my parents made me," he stated, his eyes darting around a little. I rolled my eyes and smiled at him.
"I'd stick with the good big brother thing, it's a lot more attractive than your macho bullshit," I stated, looking out the window. He looked at me and smirked.
"You find me attractive?" I sat up a little, rolling my eyes.
"Huh, just hurry up and let's get your sister."
"Oh, shit, we almost passed it!" His tires screeched and he pulled into the parking lot of a tiny dance studio. Trenton isn't very large, but there were three dance studios, one for old people, one for kids, and one for teenagers. The kids one had hand prints all over the side of it and big, glass doors. He parked the car and got out, me following him.
"You don't need to come, you know."
"I wouldn't wanna miss this!" I giggled, walking inside the building with him. The receptionist, a young blonde who had some work done, smiled and waved at Bennett.
"Hello, are you here for Cecil?"
"Yes." She pointed to a wooden door at the other end of the room.
"She's in there, go right in."
"Thank you," he walked over and creaked open the door. The room had metal chairs on one end, where all the mothers went to watch their children. The rest of the room was light hardwood floors with mirrors where the walls should be. There were poles running in the middle of the mirrors for the dancers to hold onto. There was a group of probably 20-25 girls, all in either sweatpants or dance attire. They all had their hair in ponytails, and they were all currently attempting the splits. The dance instructor was a middle aged women who was skinnier than a twig and extremely flexible. Bennett pulled me to one of the chairs and we sat down, me feeling out of place in my gym attire. Some of the mothers scowled, others whispered. I smiled and waved at them, sighing. Bennett sat watching his little sister. I remembered her from their house, she was just dressed a little differently today. Her black hair was tied into a loose ponytail and she wore a loose T-shirt with pink sweatpants. Her little face lit up when she saw Bennett, but fell a little when she saw me. I gave her a small wave. She turned back to her instructor, who then dismissed the class. She got up and ran to Bennett, who was now standing with open arms, waiting for her. She jumped into them and he lifted her up in the air, hugging her.
"How was your day, cc?"
"It was good, who's this?" She asked, looking me over. He smiled and said,
"This is our next door neighbor, Sarah." She smiled at me and whispered half way into his ear;
"She's really pretty." I blushed a little and nodded my head.
"Thank you, I like your sweat pants." She smiled bright, revealing her one missing front tooth. He set her down and we all walked outside. When she got to the car, he buckled her in and she handed him something.
"I got it for you." He kissed her cheek and shut the door, slipping a small vile of something into his basketball shorts. I frowned and got in front, buckling up. We turned on the radio and animals came on. Cecil clapped and sang along, making me smile wide. Bennett smirked and kept his eyes on the road, turning onto our street and into his driveway. When he got to the house, Cecil made her way inside. She waved to me,
"Nice meeting you Sarah!"
"You too, Cecil."
"Call me cc!" She smiled and walked inside. I turned on my heels and said,
"What did she give you?" He straightened up a little and shrugged a little too quickly.
"Nothing."
"Uh-huh, tell me! Is it something dangerous?!"
"No, it's just..."
"Drugs!" I asked, exasperated. He shook his heads and covered my mouth.
"No! It's not drugs!" He pulled the little vile out of his pocket and showed it to me. "It's paint." I took it and read the label. It was a dark blue color. I thought back to the easel in his room and smiled.
"You paint?" He swapped the vile from my hands and stuffed it in his pockets.
"Non ya."
"Totally my ya! I'd love to kno..." But I was cut off by a text message. I sighed and flipped it on the screen. It read;
'We're eating out on Tuesday. Wear nice clothes, I'll pick you up.' From Carson. My shoulders slumped and a tear trickled down my face. Bennett frowned and asked,
"Who was it?"
"Carson, I've gotta go, bye." I started walking away, wiping my eyes. He took a few steps after me, touching my arm lightly.
"Hey," he asked. I stopped and looked down.
"Yes?"
"I'm looking forward to practicing tomorrow, we'll meet here?" He smiled. I nodded and smiled.
"Yeah, sounds good."
"Ok, bye, book theif." He smiled and disappeared into his house. I stared for a few extra minutes before walking into the house, somewhat excited for tomorrow.

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Thank you guys! I just wanted to say that I love to read comments, they help critique my work, and I really do appreciate it. If you don't, I understand, and thanks for reading, enjoy the next chapter, bye! :)