airports // 5sos au

xxxv.

(luke)

A few days had passed since I last saw Emily when I took her to the clearing for her half birthday. We still texted non-stop but I still preferred seeing her in person. Which explains why I'm currently lost inside a dance studio.

To: my dork :-)
What studio are you in again?

From: my dork :-)
studio 2, why? what's up?

To: my dork :-)
Just wondering

From: my dork :-)
im calling bullshit, you're totally up to something hemmings

To: my dork :-)
Even if I was, you couldn't stop me

From: my dork :-)
yeah i could

To: my dork :-)
In your dreams, Smith

From: my dork :-)
i didn't raise you to be like this

I laugh at Emily's message and keep my phone in my hand as I continue to walk down the long hallway. I see a young girl, maybe around seven years old, with a black leotard on and her baby pink ballet shoes in hand. Seeing nobody else in the hallway, I sigh and make my way towards her. She stuffs her shoes into her bag and pulls out a pair of combat boots, leggings, and a small flannel. She puts on the leggings over her tights, ties the flannel around her waist, and takes her hair out of her bun. I can't help but wonder how she changed so quickly- perhaps she's done this more than once- but I soon find myself at the bench that she's at. Maybe it's her confidence in her actions, but I'd be lying if I said that I didn't feel a little intimidated by this little girl.

"Um, excuse me," I stammer, getting her attention, "Do you know where studio two is?"

"Yeah," She nods as she tugs on her combat boots, "Down the hall, take a left, it should be the last door on the left."

"Thank you," I nod, trying to remember her directions.

"No problem," The girl shrugs as she stands up and slings her bag's strap onto her shoulder , "Excuse me, I've got a class that starts in, like, five minutes."

"Oh, sorry," I mutter as I move out of her way. I walk down the long hallway, glancing to the various framed pictures on the walls. Once I reach the end of the hallway, I turn left like the little girl told me to, and soon, I find myself in front of a tall, wooden door with a golden "2" on it. I can faintly hear music playing inside the studio. Assuming Emily's in there, I knock on the door.

"Come in," I hear Emily yell. I open the door and stand in the doorway. She sees me and gasps, falling out of her turn sequence. She tries to gain her balance, but her shoe slides on the floor, causing her to fall on her ass.

"Shit," She winces as she stands up.

"Are you alright?" I ask.

"Yeah, I'm fine," She waves me off as she takes off her shoes, "I should've hair-sprayed the bottoms of my jazz shoes. They've been slippery all night."

"I've never seen you dance before," I say as Emily walks across the room to pause her music that's currently playing from the speaker.

"I dance at school," Emily sits down on the floor and gestures for me to join her, "We danced at, like, pep rallies and football games. We finished our season before you and I became friends, so I didn't have practice or anything."

"Oh, then why are you here tonight?" I ask as I sit down next to her.

"I love to dance and I love coming here whenever I'm stressed."