The Comfort In Our Love

Chapter 4: Dance Practice

*Author's note: Sorry for not uploading for so long. I promise to post a chapter at least every 2 weeks. If I finish the chapter sooner, I will upload it sooner. I hope y'all enjoy.

Next week came and nothing changed between Jaya and I. Although, she did start bringing me a sweater for our anatomy class because I get cold easily. I always forgot to bring one to that class and I think she noticed. The sweater she brought always smelt like her. Her smell makes me feel calm and warm. I don't know this certain Tuesday I fell asleep wearing her sweater. My face was facing her when I put my head down. I just looked up at her a bit. 'She's so attractive when she's focused' is what I thought to myself. She then looked down at me and I had to turn the other way. Once I was able to calm my heart down I fell asleep for the rest of the class. I woke up to Jaya poking my cheek. "Ahhh what's wrong", I said. "Let's go get something to eat. You forgot breakfast again didn't you?", Jaya said with a disappointed look. I start to pout and mumble, "How do you always know? Fine, let's go get food." We get up and begin to walk out the doors with the rest of the class. "Tapiwa, you need to get more sleep at night. You've been falling asleep quite a bit in class.", Tino says while wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "Ya! Are you sure you're okay? Anything going on at home?"Leah asked. "Everything is alright! I've just been worried about what mark I got on the chemistry midterm. That's all.", I replied while wiping my eyes. "Oh alright. Look Leah the pizza is cheaper come on let's get some!!", Tino said while dragging Leah to the pizza place. As Leah and Tino went ahead, Jaya and I stayed back. "Tapiwa, do you want to get dessert with me? Maybe it'll give you some energy.", Jaya said, turning to me. "Sure. Wait, how did you know I like sweets?", I said, stopping to talk to her. "I remember you telling me when we were at the cafe that one time", she said. I remember telling her. As we bought 2 slices of cake I thought about how much I liked that day. I hope we go to the cafe together again. We went to find a seat first and I saw Jaya start to eat the cake. "Jaya, you don't like sweets. Why are you eating the cake??", I asked. "It's okay. I didn't want to feel singled out", she said with her face down. "You can be really cute sometimes.", I said absentmindedly. I froze in shock because of what I just said. "I mean that's really kind of you. It's cute", I said with my voice cracking. Jaya just looked up and smiled. She then continued eating her cake. By then Leah and Tino were coming back with their pizza. "Tapiwa, is that all you're eating? Will it be enough?" Tino asked. "I'm okay now, don't worry.", I replied. We all continued eating peacefully. "Oh right! Everyone is coming to my dance performance next Friday, right? You all have no choice anyways", I say grinning. "You already know that I'll be cheering the loudest", Tino says as he stands up with his arms in the air. "Alright we get it, we get it. We will be there. Luckily, Jaya's birthday party is the next day. Those two days will be fun!", Leah says, pulling Tino down. Jaya and I turn to each other at the same time. "I'll see you at your birthday party", I say. "I'll see you at your dance performance", she replies. I couldn't be more excited for next week.

The weekend came and there were about 6 days until my performance. I went to dance practice as I usually do on Saturday. We have been practicing this dance for months so I know the moves pretty well. We ran the dance about 5 times before we got to have a break. While everyone went to get water my teacher called me aside. "Tapiwa you know what I'm going to say", she said while tilting her head towards me. "I know, dance more full out and with confidence.", I replied while looking away. "Tapiwa, you are an amazing dancer when you dance by yourself. The confidence I feel from your dancing when you do it solo is overflowing. Why can't you do the same thing when dancing with the group?", she said while looking me straight in my eyes. "I'll practice harder. I'm going to go get some water", I replied quickly before walking out of the room. We finished with practice and I had asked my teacher if I could stay later to practice a bit more. She gave me the keys so I could lock up later. I practiced the dance about 6 more times until I was lying on my back on the floor. While I was catching my breath, I couldn't help but just lie there in my thoughts. I don't know why I care about what others think of me when I'm on stage. I don't know why I can't shake the feeling of disappointing everyone. I shook my head and got back up. At this point I was trying to get myself exhausted so I didn't have the energy to think anymore. After about an hour I looked up at the clock and it was 9pm already. I lied down to catch my breath once again. I danced so much I got to the point that it somewhat hurt to lift my body. I was so tired that my eyes started to close and I fell asleep. Next thing that happened was someone shaking me awake. After a bit my eyes started to open slowly. When I opened my eyes slightly, I saw Jaya's face. "Jaya what are you doing here? Why aren't you at home?", I said while half asleep. She didn't even say anything back, she just helped me up and put me on her back. I didn't even have the energy to get off and say I could walk myself. She grabbed the keys that were near the mirror, turned off the lights and locked the door for me. We then left the studio and we were walking under the street lights. "Tino told me you would still be at the studio if you weren't answering my text. After I didn't hear from you for hours I got worried and looked here. I'm lucky I found you", she said while carrying me. "Thank you, really. I don't know what I'd be doing if you didn't show up.", I mumbled while laying my head on her back. "Tapiwa, why do you do this to yourself huh? Were you going to exercise yourself to death if I didn't show up?", she said in a somewhat angry tone. I've never seen Jaya mad before. "I'm sorry Jaya. I won't do it again.", I replied. She sighs and stops for a bit. "I'm not angry so don't apologize to me. Apologize to your body for torturing it for hours.", she said and then continued walking. "I'm sorry body for torturing you for hours", I said while slightly giggling. I heard also laugh a little under her breath. "Jaya, you can put me down now. I think I can walk on my own.", I said. She put me down and linked her arm with mine. "Fine but I'm not leaving your side though. We are close to your house", she replied. Even if it was a movement out of pity, I wanted us to walk like this a little longer.

A few days had passed and it was the day of the dance performance. I got my hair and makeup ready by myself since my parents usually weren't engaged with what I did besides school. It took me a month to convince them to come watch this performance, I was surprised they agreed. I packed everything in my dance bag and walked down the stairs. "Hey I'm ready to go", I said. I realized that my parents weren't ready. I looked everywhere on the main floor but they weren't there. I went upstairs to their bedroom to see they were on their phones. "Are you guys ready to go to the venue? We have to leave in 5 mins.", I said with a worried look. "It's not that important why are you rushing? Give us 30 mins to get ready.", my Dad replied. My dance teacher had told us to be there at a certain time and they knew this. This made me feel extremely stressed out. "This is my first dance performance in university. I want y'all to be there to see me at least once. Can we please leave soon?", I pleaded. " Ya ya we will watch your silly little dance. We will be there soon. Go wait downstairs.", my Mom said. I walked downstairs and waited. After not hearing any movement, I walked out the door to leave myself. I texted them to say I had left and that I'll see them later. I didn't have my license yet so I couldn't drive there but luckily it wasn't too far away from my house. I ran to the venue because I was already 10 minutes late. Just for one time in my life could my parents show that they care about something else besides my grades? I shook my head to get these negative thoughts out. I didn't want them to hinder my performance. Five minutes later, I made it to the venue. I went backstage and apologized to my teacher and explained my situation. Luckily my teacher was really kind and didn't seem mad about it. It was 20 minutes before the performance so we marked the dance once and waited. While I was sitting, I was trying to calm my nerves down. Suddenly, Tino walked in and came to me. "I know you're nervous but take a deep breath", he said while holding my shoulders. After a few deep breaths I felt a bit better. "Thanks Tino. I really appreciate it. You can go back to Leah and Jaya. I'll see y'all after the performance.", I replied. He pats me on the back and walks out. After he left, I got a text from Jaya on my phone. 'You'll do good. Just do your best and that's enough. I'll be looking only at you' is what her text said. This made me both happy and nervous. It was time for my group's dance and we got on stage. Just before the music started I saw Jaya. She was wearing light blue jeans, a white long sleeve and had a red tulip hair clip. I just looked at her throughout the whole performance. I didn't break my gaze and neither did she. It felt as if I was only performing for her and that alone made me feel relaxed. Once the performance was over, my teacher called me over while we were backstage. "I knew you had it in you Tapiwa. Great job.", she said before walking away. I couldn't be any happier. I went out to the front to meet my friends and parents. Afterwards, I saw my friends near the door and Leah was waving me over. "You were amazing! I didn't know you were that good.", Leah said while hitting her shoulder against mine. "I told you my best friend is amazing", Tino bragged. "You were beautiful on stage Tapiwa.", Jaya said softly, smiling and handing me a bouquet of flowers. "Thank you. Did anyone see my parents?", I said. "Your parents were coming? I didn't see them", Tino replied. I walked around the venue a bit and saw no sign of them. I checked my phone and saw their text. 'Too much of a hassle to get out of bed now so we won't come. See you when you get home.', is it too much of a hassle to support me? I was close to crying but shrugged it off. "Looks like they couldn't make it. Let's go get cake though. I'm suddenly craving it.", I said to everyone. Jaya looked at me with worried eyes I pretended not to notice. We then all walked out the door to go get some cake.