Love Me Like You Do

Chapter One

One two three four. One two three four. I thought to myself as I was doing steps to the new dance routine that my coach had practically drilled into my head. I spun once, twice, and as I come out of my last rotation, I stomp my foot down, sending tingles through my foot towards my ankle. I looked up at the wall of mirrors, staring at my flushed face and panting figure.

I arched my back, crossing my legs as I went into a bow while the song ended with its last crescendo. I rose back up to my full height, and go over to the stereo before the same song belted out over the speakers. I took the water that I had sitting on the floor, and started to guzzle it down.

I had been at it for almost two hours at the most, and yet I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right about it. Was it my movement? My rhythm? Or my soul? I shook my head, not wanting to focus so much on my emotions. Emotions were essential yes, but focus too much on them and I'd be like Brianna from last year's squad.

She busted out crying during individual regionals. I'd been there to witness the whole ordeal and Coach had never seemed so pissed off before. I sat on the floor and spread my legs as far as they could go, despite the pain my inner thighs were giving me. The stretching helped to loosen my body up, make it easier for me to move. A knock at the door caused for me to jump.

I groaned and hurried downstairs to answer the insistent knocking. I opened the door to find Mae standing on my front stoop. Her raven black hair was wavy and hung down her bare shoulders, passed the sequin top of her strapless magenta dress. She gave me a kind smile and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around my damp shoulders. She stepped back, her smile undying. "Something tells me that you were practicing," she said as I walked into the house. She kicked the door shut with her foot. "If I had known that you were hard at work I would've came over another time."

I chuckled, walking towards the kitchen. "It's alright, Mae. I can make time for you," I told her as I leaned over, reaching for a stalk of celery. She came up behind me silently, her flats making her quiet as a mouth. She leaned over my body, wrapping her arms around my waist. I rose to my full height, and her body slid against mine. "Mae, what are you doing?"

"Holding you," she replied, her breath tickling my ear. I turned my head to see part of her face.

"But I'm all sweaty." I felt her shrug her shoulders.

"I like the musky scent." She kissed my neck softly and I closed my eyes, relishing her touch. I heard the front door open again and I hurried away from her. My mother walked in, carrying her satchel. She tossed it onto the counter and Mae took her turn sorting through the contents of my fridge. She leaned back out, holding a water and a stick of cheese. She smiled at my mother. "Hello, Mrs. Rabbit." My mother glanced up from her phone, giving her a kind smile before looking back down, continuing to type away on her phone.

"Hello, Mae, it's wonderful to see you again," my mother said, forcing the tone of sincerity. I had grown all too accustom to it. Mae twisted the cap of her water off, clutching it in her hand. My mother made her very nervous. I chewed the celery stalk down to the end, tossing the inedible part into the trash.

"Mae, why don't we go to my studio and work on that routine Coach Raya taught us last week?" I suggested, wanting to put as much distance between my mother and Mae as possible. She smiled gratefully and snatched the bottle from the table.

"I'm going to go dress!" She shouted as she hurried up the stairs. I went to follow after her, but my mother's voice stopped me. I groaned walking back to her.

"Yes, Mother?" I asked distastefully. My mother and I hardly talked anymore, and the fact that she even wanted to have a conversation with me was quite surprising.

"Your father and I have been talking." Yeah what else is new?

"Okay and?" I tapped my fingers against the granite countertop, annoyed. My mother set her phone down on the counter and looked up at me.

"We have decided to go on a weeklong cruise around the Caribbean." My jaw dropped and a smile broke over my face, but it was short live as she turned back to her phone. "So we are going to need you to watch Carrie while we are away." I stood up straight, my posture rigid.

"Are you being serious right now?" She turned her head to look at me, clearly not hearing the anger in my voice.

"Yes, your father and I are calling it our second honeymoon." I rested one hand against the counter top, trying to hold my temper.

"You're telling me that you and Dad are going on a vacation and you're leaving your kids behind?" She rolled her eyes, the smile gone.

"Carter, stop acting like a child. Someone has to watch Carrie while we are away."

"Carrie is also ten years old and doesn't even know who her parents are!"  I shouted back, finally losing my composure. "You and Dad have done this multiple times. It isn't fair!" My mother rose to her feet, slamming her phone down on the counter.

"Carter, this is not your decision. You are a child, not an adult! Your father and I want to spend some time together without you and your sister bothering us." I threw my hands into the air, my inner bitch coming out to play.

"So that's what we are to you! A huge bother! Why doesn't that surprise me?!" I shouted back and my mother's face contorted. She pointed towards the front door.

"Who's piece of shit Mustang is that out in my driveway. It sure as hell isn't Mae's because she's a normal child and asked for a newer better car. You go to a prestigious private school and yet you get the shittest car to show off! But did your father and I buy you anything else? No. Because Princess Carter has to get whatever the fuck she wants!" I stepped back, surprised and hurt by my mother's words. She cleared her throat and straightened her blazer. "Now where is Carrie at?" I glared at her.

"You mean your other daughter that you can't seem to remember? She's at Kate's house. She'll be home at six." I walked out of the room and upstairs where I found Mae, stretching her hamstrings.

"You okay?" she asked with a sad look on her face. I nodded my head and sat on the floor to stretch beside her.