Life in A Dance Routine

Trouble

I'm working with Nikki today on my solo.
"Callie, your dads here to see you." Henry, our person who mans the front desk says.
"My real one?"
"That would be your dad."
He leaves.
"You can't make me go down there." I say to Nikki.
"He's here. Just go see him."
"I can't. I don't want to." She looks at me.
"I'll come with you. Come on."
We walk down together.
"He's not going to take time from my dancer or do anything with her." I smile.
Nikki says stuff like that and it sounds like it's all dance. But you can tell she really cares about her dancers.
I see him in the lobby.
"How is he your father?" She asks me, amazed.
"That's a good question. He's nothing like me."
Nikki stands at the desk and acts like she's looking at her phone. I see her glance at me a few times.
"What?"
"So, Anthony your father now or something?"
"In a way. And don't you dare bring him up again in this conversation."
"Fine. So, this is your dance thingy place?"
"Yeah. And it's a gym thank you very much."
He rolls his eyes.
"A gym is where there are hardwood floors and nets. Not mats and bars."
"Not true."
"So, how's the Olympic Dream coming?"
"It's not my dream anymore."
"Oh. Finally realized you won't be good enough for it?"
"No."
Nikki walks behind him.
"Sure."
"The real reason is because I want to teach not be famous. I just want to dance all my life."
"And don't they just yell at you? They don't do it with you."
"Some yell. Some do it with you."
Nikki moves to the side of us.
"Callie, we've got practice."
"Well who's this?"
"The president. It's my coach. Kind of obvious isn't it?"
"But really who is she?"
"Owner of Rise. Best dancer in the Mid West. Her and her husband are the best dancing couple in the Country! And she's my coach."
"Oh."
"Come on Nikki."
"Nikki, Nikki Jennifer?"
"It's Kilan now. But how do you know that?"
"I have ways. How are your parents doing?" He laughs. I stare at him.
"How do you know of them?"
"Like I said, I have ways."
"How!"
"Your uncle."
"Which one? Got like ten!"
"Liam."
"Explains why you would be with him. Maybe you should go love with him."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because you should be in a jail cell! I know everything that you have done. Not just what Callie told me. It's nice having a friend who knows Karen." Karen, my mom? "And when I heard about you thought it was rather familiar. And I asked her about it. And I was right. I remember telling her about it but never thought it was a member of my gym! You are a dang coward! And if there wasn't small kids around here I would have far more choice words for you. What you have done to your family is ridiculous! Wrong! Not only telling a dancer her dream is not going to come true, you never tell a dancer that. We need that confidence to win! And you saying that crushes it! And even what Callie doesn't know about."
"How do you know all that?"
"Remember Kathy? Yeah. Good friend of mine."
"You tell her, I swear I'll kill you."
"Go ahead. She deserves to know. You can kill me, do whatever. Because I will protect the information of my dancers and about them. It's rare for a dance teacher to know so much about there dancers. But, you are a terrible person. And one of my best dancers doesn't need you distracting her."
"Your best?"
"Yeah. My best."
"Must have a good team then." He says it sarcastic.
"I do have a good team. Thank you for that."
We start to walk away. But he grabs me. "Drop her."
Nikki lunges after him. She pushes me to the side and tackles him. I hear the doors to the gym slam open. Daniel. He looks at me then at Nikki.
The two of them are scraping with eachother. Obvious who's winning, Nikki.
"Go Nikki." He says.
Until my 'dad' pushes her off him with full force. Nikki flies and slams against a table. Daniel flies at him. What do I do?
"Daniel, wait." I say. Nikki stands up. Dusting dirt off her pants. He stops. "I forgot to ask you, how are your parents?"
He calms down. He hates his parents being mentioned.
"You little brat!"
"Oh, and Daniel. He's the guy I was telling you about."
Daniel stands him up.
"You, I hate you."
Daniel pushes him out the door. He walks back in. Nikki and I walk back upstairs.
"Thank you."
"No problem. One thing, always stick up for your dancers."