One Step at a Time

Chapter Three

"He said he's coming," Edie said to Rose as she sat in the dressing room at her competition. She put on another layer of mascara before she sat back and looked at herself. "This is as good as it gets."

Rose smirked as she touched up Edie's curls. "You really are a bit smitten, aren't you? I've never seen you so excited."

"Shut up, I am not," Edie denied, though the blush in her cheeks gave her away. "We talked for hours, Rose. And he's texted me every day just to ask how my day was..."

"Sounds like he's smitten too," she countered.

"Girl, don't joke... I can't imagine someone super famous like him wanting to slum it with some dancer," Edie argued, though if she were being honest, of course, she wanted him smitten with her.

Rose scoffed. "Who says I'm joking?" She asked just as a knock resounded at the door.

Rose stood up and answered it, allowing Edie to finish preparing. "Yes?"

"Delivery for Edie?" The man asked, holding a small vase of pink roses.

"I'll take those." Rose signed for them and shut the door before returning to Edie and sitting them on the vanity. "Think I'm joking now?"

Edie's eyes locked onto the flowers as Rose set them down and her jaw dropped open a little. "He sent me flowers..." she murmured as she sat forward, smiling girlishly as she took the small note into her hand.

Edie, I wanted to wish you a wonderful performance. I cannot wait to see you on the stage. Take it all in, darling.

-Tom

Her heart melted as she let out a whimpering sigh. "Read this," she said simply to Rose, watching her friend as she did. A nervous smile washed over her face. "Darling... he calls me darling."

"This man really does pull out all the stops... if you don't grab him up, I'm sure there is a line," Rose teased.

Edie blushed and sighed heavily. "He's so sweet..." she mused. "Maybe I should ask if he wants to get drinks tonight... is that too much?"

Rose grinned, happy to see her friend wanting to try again. "There's nothing wrong with a couple of drinks."

"Right..." she agreed with a sigh before there was another knock on the door.

"You're on deck," the voice from the other side called.

"Heard," Edie called back before she stood from her chair and smoothed out her outfit. "Last looks... all good?" she asked Rose, presenting herself to her friend.

Rose smiled brightly as she adjusted the strap of Edie's dress. "Perfect."

"Thank you, Rose... I'll see you later," she said before she walked out of the dressing room to the on deck rehearsal space. There she stretched and focused, getting in tune with her body before it was her turn to perform.

Her performance was powerful. It combined elements of modern, contemporary and hip hop dance to provoke emotion. Pain, loneliness, betrayal all featured in her dance and as it concluded, she felt quiet tears running down her cheeks. Perfect. She'd nailed it.

She paused before she stood to take her bow and she couldn't help but scan the crowd, though the lights made it difficult to see.

Tom stood along with everyone in attendance as they cheered and clapped. Edie's performance was phenomenal and it pulled at his heart strings.

Edie took another bow before she headed backstage, where she was interviewed for internet streaming coverage. The rest of the competition seemed to fly by and before long it was time for the awards ceremony.