Silhouettes, Cigarettes, and Boys in Leather Jackets

Chapter Twenty-Four

 I thought he left. I thought Dallas had finally had enough with me and ditched me in New York; I hadn't seen him since he beat up Jack in the alley on Willard Street.

Dallas seemed tired, yet still managed to look like trouble incarnate. His hair was unkempt in the best way, and that leather jacket... I had an obsession at this point.

For several moments, I stood still, staring across the Auditorium at the boy whose life I saved back in Tulsa. My dress suddenly felt tight; the Auditorium felt twenty times smaller. The music seemed to get louder, until my senses were overwhelmed. I needed fresh air.

Breaking eye contact, I rushed out of the Serpent and into the alley next to it. I hid behind the dumpster that Janet usually put her trash in, but it didn't smell. The garbage truck probably picked it up already.

I had to remember what Christopher said. Have confidence, and act like I know what I'm doing. I wasn't not a weak teenage girl; I was a performer.

"Did you miss me?"

His voice startled me, but I didn't let it show. I spun around slowly, facing him. My face was still and controlled. Dallas wasn't ready for me.

"You wish, Winston," I replied, crossing my arms in front of my chest, making my bodice puff. Seduction was an art, and I intended to make the little things count.

He only glanced down for a moment before meeting my gaze again. His dark eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You're different."

"How so?" I flashed a flirty smile, and he scoffed.

"Cut the shit, Kiera. This isn't you."

"Oh?" I took a step forward, raising an eyebrow as if I were getting upset. "And I suppose the weak, spoiled student from Florida is me?"

I wasn't upset. The power I had was that I knew that it wasn't me. I was never confused about what I felt or what my performance was. The emotions I acted out were exactly that: acting.

Dallas shook his head at me, his eyes turning from suspicion to amusement. "Then who are you now? A low-class hooker in a New York club?"

I decided to ignore that he called me a hooker.

"There's nothing low-class about us," I gave him my best sultry stare, and I saw a decision be made in Dallas's eyes.

"You're right, I'm sure you make plenty of money."

I shrugged gracefully, then ran a finger over the neckline of my dress. "I haven't counted yet. I get amazing tips."

Dallas nodded in understanding, his face souring when he thought of the men paying me. "Why did you leave the Hideout?"

"You were gone, so what reason did I have to stay? I thought you skipped town, left me behind." I looked off into the sunset, a semblance of dejection crossing my face.

I was getting good at this.

"Why would I leave? I didn't bring you all the way from Tulsa for nothing." Dallas acted incredulous, as if I were being ridiculous.

I took a step closer, running a seductive finger down his jacket's zipper. "Because you freaked out when I called you Dally." Cue the doe eyes, staring up into his soul.

Dallas hesitated, shaking his head and moistening his lip. "Did you do all this for me? Because of me?" He looked around at the Serpent building, and I shook my head.

"No, I did it for me. It's been good for me," I replied earnestly, regaining his attention. "I've learned a lot."

He scowled at the innuendo in that, likely assuming that I've been doing other things for money. I was only sixteen, but I would never do that kind of thing. I had enough self-respect to know that.

"I could've taught you."

I stared in shock, trying to meet his eyes, but he refused to look at me. The building wall must have been incredibly interesting.

I couldn't believe that he actually said that- the implication I could believe, but not in the way he said it. Dallas said it like he meant it, and it scared me a little.

"You mean that?" I whispered, the tension so thick I could cut it with a butter knife.

Before I could think, his lips were on mine, dominating my senses and changing my world as I knew it. Dallas pushed me up against the alley wall, and I finally realized what was happening.

My hands in his hair, his hands on my back, dreams that I didn't know I had were fulfilled. Who was I kidding? My performance was over; Dallas was in control.

Dallas was always in control.

Suddenly, the back door of the Serpent opened, and I heard Janet's familiar humming as she dumped something in the dumpster. Dallas and I broke apart too soon, startled, but Janet went right back inside, not seeing us.

Still, the moment was over, and Dallas stepped away. He pulled a cigarette and light out of his pocket as he left, and I was able to catch my breath. I sank to the ground, one thought crossing my mind.

Thank you, Christopher.